Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders…but that would be SO COOL! I own Jessi, my BFF owns Ali.

The Outsider

Chapter 1

Jessi leaned back on her favorite oak tree in the lot, silent tears rolling slowly down her face. It's not like she loved her mother, or was even close to her, but it did suck that she had just died like that. What am I going to do? I don't have anywhere to go, I don't have any money, I don't have a job, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do!

She got up slowly, not sure of whether she should trust her legs just yet. She had just run from the hospital, not wanting to believe what her mom's doctor was telling her. She wasn't sure if anyone else cared, but the whole gang had been with her. They had always come with her when she went to see her mother. She fell back against the tree, her legs giving out beneath her. She sat down, pulling her knees close to her and resting her forehead on them.

She felt someone come skidding to a halt, and she could hear their slow breaths. They sat down next to her, not saying a word. Without looking up she said, "Hi, Pony."

He smiled. She knew him too well. He replied, "Hey, Jess."

"I suppose you came out here to comfort me, right?"

"Well, yeah! Jessi, you're my best friend…"

She looked up and smiled weakly at him, "I am?"

"Of course. You cannot tell me you didn't know that."

"Well, true, I did, but it sounds so much nicer to hear you say it."

"Now come on, tell me what's wrong!"

"Ponyboy Curtis! Were you not listening? The doc said my mother died! I have no place to go, I have no money, no job, no future! I may as well…run away and just…leave this behind me! I have nothing to live for anymore!"

"Now that is a complete lie! You're going to stay at my house. Darry and Soda won't mind a bit. We all love you, Jess. Soda can get you a job at the DX. What are you talking about, no future? You're the smartest one of all of us."

"Now that's a lie if I ever heard one. Pony you're smarter than me!"

"I've got book smarts. You've got the street smarts. You can take care of yourself. You know, you can't run away from your problems! You can't jus' leave the gang! You have everything to live for!"

She thought this over. True, she could always stay at the Curtis'. They never minded. And she was pretty smart, wasn't she? She said to him, "Thanks, Ponyboy. I could never get along without ya!" She hugged him and she felt good about her "current situation".

Jessi was 16 years old, and had light brown hair, which fell in loose curls all the way down to the small of her back. She never liked the idea of short hair, and her mother couldn't afford to have her hair cut anyway. Her eyes were a light shade of green, and when she was happy they twinkled with excitement, when she was sad, they were glossy, and when she was mad, her eyes glinted with red. The whole gang knew that they shouldn't mess with her when she was mad. She had been known for kicking some serious ass.

Jessi wasn't all kick-ass, though. She had a sweet side. She understood stuff that some didn't. She was a real social-butterfly; she just had a real short temper. She was really into movies. Going to the drive-in was weekly regular for her. What the gang mostly knew her for was her love of sports, especially football, and dancing. When they chose teams for football, everyone wanted Jessi. She was the best tackler and runner. Music was a big part of Jessi's life, but only her friends knew it. She could dance to any type of music, slow or fast, and it always kept the gang entertained. Sometimes one of them would join her. It was usually Johnny, as he was one of the only ones who could dance, which was surprising. Ponyboy could dance to some music, Darry could dance, and Two-Bit would dance with her jus for laughs, but it was usually Johnny who joined her in dancing.

Her past was uneasy. Jessi's dad walked out on her mom when she was only 10 years old. Her parents had a few fights, and her dad just couldn't take it anymore. Jessi had no idea where he was now. Then a few weeks ago her mother was feeling sick. She was coughing up blood and she would get dizzy and faint all the time. Jessi borrowed Two-Bit's car and drove her to the hospital, where they found out that she had tuberculoses. She was immediately admitted into the hospital, and put in intensive care. She had died early that morning. Jessi, not being able to take that she was out of family, had run, but only made it as far as the lot and her oak tree.

A few weeks later

Jessi had been staying with the Curtis' for a while in an extra bedroom upstairs, and her house had been re-possessed by the bank. On one particularly sunny day, the whole gang decided to play a game of football. Sodapop, Jessi, Steve and Two-Bit played against Darry, Ponyboy, Johnny and Dallas. During the first quarter, Two-Bit, the quarterback, stopped in mid-play saying, "Whoa, whoa, stop…my blonde radar is tingling!" Jessi looked at him with disbelief and said, "Two-Bit, come on! We just started the game! Don't go off hunting for probably non-existent blondes right now!" He turned around and pointed off towards a girl yelling, "Blonde! 4 o'clock!"

He ran off to the unsuspecting girl. She had shoulder-length golden ringlets, and hazel eyes. None of them had ever seen her before, but they knew she wasn't a Soc. For one, Soc's wouldn't dare enter into the Greaser territory, and for another, she didn't look like no Soc. She was wearing a black leather jacket, a girl's white wife beater, and a pair of old, ripped jeans, black converse, and a black backpack over her shoulder. Two-Bit came to a halt in front of her and said, "Hi!" She stared at him and said, "Hi…" Jessi, who had taken off behind him, came up next to him, yelling, "Two-Bit! Go back to the guys and leave this poor girl alone!"

"Aw, Jess, come on! Let me have some fun!"

"Two-Bit…" She glared at him and he immediately went off to the rest of the gang, sulking. Jessi said to the girl, "Hi, sorry about him. He's got a thing for blondes…and he has issues with controlling himself." She smiled and the girl gave her a 1/2 smile, as if she was wondering if she should let her guard down.

"That's okay…I'm pretty used to it."

"I'm Jessica, but everyone calls me Jessi." She held out her hand and she took it slowly saying, "I'm Allison, but everyone calls me Ali."

"Come on. I'll introduce you to the guys."

She steered her off towards the guys, who were standing in a circle, waiting for Jessi to come back.

Ali wasn't too keen on meeting new people, especially since that Tim Sheppard person tried to hit on her in 'The Dingo', but she followed Jessi anyway. She tucked her thumbs in her pockets as they approached the boys, she learned long ago that looking cool could get you out of trouble if that is what this turned out to be. "Ali, this is Ponyboy, Darry, Dally, Steve, Johnny, Two-bit and Sodapop. Everyone, this is Ali." Ali looked up from the ground her eyes falling on the one Jessi called Sodapop. Sodapop smiled at her with warm dark eyes and a welcoming smile. "Hey." he said addressing her. Ali felt her heart leap as he spoke to her. She quickly calmed her nerves and said hello. "So Ali, you know anything about football?" Steve asked. Ali shrugged looking down at the ground again. She said, "I've played it once or twice."

"You any good?" Dally asked.

Ali shrugged again. "Dunno."

"How about joining our game then?" Two-bit said grinning.

"I would," Ali answered. "But I really have to get going." she said turning to leave.

"Wait, you just got here!" Two-bit said cutting in front of her. "You can't just leave!"

"Where are you heading anyway?" Darry asked.

Ali turned around looking at Darry. "Dunno…somewhere up north."

They all looked at her for a moment, wondering if she was running from the fuzz or something. It was Two-bit who broke the silence, "Well, I think you can stay for one play eh? Please!" Ali sighed and nodded, saying, "Alright, one play." She took off her leather jacket and threw it aside. Two-bit smiled happily and the games began.

"Hut, hut hike!" Two-bit yelled throwing it towards Ali. Honestly, Ali wasn't much of a football person, but she wasn't about to look like an idiot in front of everyone. She ran as fast as she could and jumped in the air catching the ball only to be tackled by Sodapop. They both crashed onto the ground with Ali still holding the ball.
"This is so not my forte." Ali thought to herself. Soda got up and held out his hand towards Ali. Ali hesitated, and then took his hand. Soda pulled her to her feet, winked, and walked away. Ali felt her ears redden slightly, but quickly covered them with her curly blonde hair. "Not bad." Ponyboy said smiling as they all came towards her. "At least she can catch." Steve added a little coolly. Ali brushed her pants off and grabbed her leather jacket, and slinging her backpack over shoulder, said. "I better get going."

Just then a black ford rolled around the corner with an Arizona license plate.
"Shit!" They heard Ali say. She turned and ran down the street fast and turned into a dark ally. "What's that about?" Johnny said looking after her. "Dunno." Jessi said shrugging. "But whoever that person is in the black ford must be looking for her." Jessi paused for a moment and watched the ford turn onto a different street. "Do you think we should go after her?" Jessi asked the guys. "I dunno, she could be put us in a lot of trouble if she has committed some crime." Darry answered.
"No more trouble than hanging out with old Dally over there! Im going to find her." Jess said running in the same direction where Ali disappeared in the darkness. Before anyone could protest, Jessi was halfway down the street.

Jessi was a fast runner, so she caught up with Ali in no time. Tackling also being one of her strong points, she rammed into the girl, sending them both to the ground. "Now what the was that about, Ali? You see some black ford and you just take off like that? No explanation or nothing?" She said to her, not getting up off of her, fearing she might run again. Ali looked up at her, blocking off all emotion. She had also learned that if you showed emotion, you would end up getting hurt. Jessi was still waiting for an explanation, so Ali said to her, "I don't have to tell you or your friends anything!" Jessi looked down at her with disbelief. "How can you say that? I pull Two-Bit off you, I introduce you to my friends, and we invite you to hang out with us and play football, and you can't have the common courtesy to show us any respect whatsoever?" She answered back, "Look Jessi, Its real cool that you wanna help and all but you and the guys have been through a lot, I can tell, and I don't want to worry you or anyone else with my problems, its not worth it." Jessi thought for a moment before responding. "It would make you feel better if you told someone what was wrong." Ali sighed and ran her fingers threw her curly blonde hair. "Alright... I'll tell you, but not everything."

Jessi got up off of her and sat on the cold pavement waiting as Ali got up and joined her. After a few seconds of silence, Ali began to talk, "I was born in Arizona and lived with my parents happily until I was 5. Then my dad lost his job and started drinking, that's when my problems started. He would come home drunk and beat my mother, and sometimes me. I lived in hell for 12 years, dealing with my stupid and pathetic parents. A few weeks ago my father almost stabbed me in the leg with a busted bottle. I...I got...I got scared, and ran away."

Both of the girls were silent for a moment, then Jessi spoke up, "And that's who was in the black ford? Your dad?" Ali sighed and pulled her knees towards her body, resting her head. "No." she answered in a weak voice. "My parents aren't the problem." Ali was silent and buried her head in her knees. Jessi put her arms around Ali comforting her. "This person in the black ford must have been really terrible to her." Jessi thought to herself.

After a few moments like this Ali sat up and took a deep breath, "The guy in the ford was my ex-boyfriend, Scott." Ali began. "We've been off and on for about 2 years now, I never really loved him, I think I just went out with him because I wanted someone to care for me...I broke up with him on a pay phone in Texas last week. He must have traced the call and followed me." She turned to look at Jessi, her expression serious. "Listen Jessi, I don't sleep around like other girls do. I may have been unloved by my parents but I have plenty of self respect." Jessi nodded. "I never thought that." Ali smiled for the first time sense she arrived in Tulsa. Ali said to her, "I...I really wanna thank you for letting me talk to you about this Jessi...it means a lot to me." Jessi smiled and nodded. "No problem." Jessi smiled at her and helped her up. "You know, you may be rough around the edges but you're real nice inside." Ali laughed, smiling at Jessi. "Well, thanks."

Jessi kicked around a stone on the ground for a moment. "So, are you going to stay in Tulsa long?" Jessi asked. Ali shrugged. "Not unless I have a reason." Jessi smiled. "Why don't you stay with me at the Curtis's for a while? To be honest with you, it's kind of nice to have another girl around. I'm always around the gang, and it gets pretty lonely, being the only girl and all. Im sure you'll like Tulsa a lot once you get used to it. And don't even worry about that Scott guy, we got Darry on our side, and he can take a bull if you let him!" Ali laughed and nodded. "Alright, I'd like that."

Just as they were about to start back Jessi took hold of Ali's arm looking at her seriously. "Ali...would you consider us friends now?" Ali thought for a moment before answering. "Ive never really had friends before, so you tell me." Jessi smiled and nodded. "I think we're friends, maybe even best friends." Ali smiled and nodded. "I like that idea." So they started off towards the Curtis's together, Ali hoping that maybe this time she actually found a place where she belongs.

The next morning Two-bit walked into the Curtis's house slamming the door. "Hey everybo- well, well, well!" he said smiling to himself. The familiar blonde was sleeping on the couch, her hair spread out over her pillow. "So she came back," he said smirking. "Dreams do come true!"

A/N- So? How was it? I hope it's not as bad as I think…well, this story is a role-play by my best friend, Sarah, and me. After a while, you'll probably see a difference in our writings and can pinpoint who's writing what. I'm Jessi, Sarah's Ali. Is this a cliffhanger at all? Sarah and I weren't really sure. We don't even know what Two-Bit's going to do…you know Two-Bit! So, uh, please review, because that would absolutely FANTASTICAL! Sorry about the fluff there at the end, we couldn't do anything about it. So please review! The more reviews, the sooner you get an update!

Love,

DC & D91

(abbreviations, in case you were confused. I'm DC (Dangerous Combonation) and Sarah's D91 (Dopey91) Just wanted to clarify!)