DISCLAIMER: As you all already know...I DO NOT OWN THE OUTSIDERS!

Janice Cade is what they named me, but "The Girl" is what they called me. By "They" I mean, my parents. They didn't allow me to do much of anything. I went to school, I came home from school, I did my homework, I took a few hits from dad, occasionally stole some alcohol for mom when she didn't feel like going to the store, took a few more hits from dad, and before he died, I would go to my brother Johnny's room and talk to him. It used to be that my old man would take out half his anger on Johnny, and half of it out on me. Now that Johnny's gone though, it's all on me.

"Janice! Get your lazy ass down here now! Before you make us late!" My dad called to me.

I put in the black hair clip that Johnny had one year managed to scrape together enough money to buy me, then hurried down stairs. Dad shoved me roughly towards the front door the second I stepped off the last stair. I pulled open the door and stepped outside into the fresh air. The sun was shining brightly and the grass was green. and brown. Squirrels scurried up and down the dying tree next to the house. Outside the house, we looked like any other Greaser family. Inside, we were like some, but not most. The bottom of my black dress swayed around my legs as the wind blew softly before I climbed into our car. It was old and rusted, but at least it ran.

Several minutes later we arrived at the grave yard. I didn't expect anyone to be there besides us and the priest. It wasn't anything close to what I had expected. There were lots of people there, most of them looked like Socs. I'm guessing they were relatives of the children he had saved from that burning church. Who ever would have thought that my big brother would end up being so brave? A bit of pride mixed in with the lump in my throat that my tears was bringing. A group of boys stood near the grave dressed in old looking suits. There were five of them in all. She made eye contact with the smallest one accidentally and quickly looked away. The priest began to speak.

"And now," said the priest ten minutes later, "Johnny's sister, Janice Cade, has asked me if she could now sing a song she has written in his memory."

I avoided looking at my dad who I knew was glaring at me, because he had forbid me from singing at any point in time. He just hated the fact that I was actually good at something. I took the priest's spot near the grave and began to sing.

"You're were my, best friend…You helped me through, the good and the bad…You were my, best friend…Helped me through when I was sad. And now you're gone…Here no more. I wish that I had said this…More often before. Big brother I love you…I need your strength to survive. Big brother I love you…Wish I had said it when you were alive. And so I take this time…To realize…To say goodbye…For Now…" I sang smoothly

I looked at my parents to see my mother hastily wiping her eyes, but my father standing there, anger in his eyes as he glared at me. I looked over to the group of boys and saw tears on their cheeks. It was just then that I realized my own cheeks were wet. I wiped away a few of the fallen tears and slowly walked back over to my parents. My dad placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed tightly. It hurt badly but I didn't wince for fear somebody would notice. I was sure that the hurt could be seen in my eyes though, so I looked down at the ground. It was a few moments later that I heard somebody speaking to me.

"Um…Janice, is it?" they asked.
"Yes?" I asked as I looked up at the smallest boy from the group of boys I had looked at earlier standing next to me.
"I- I'm Ponyboy. Ponyboy Curtis. I was real good friends with your brother, I was-"
"You went to Windrexvil with him. And you helped him save those kids." I said, "You were his best friend. It's nice to finally meet you, I just wish it wasn't…well at his funeral."
"Yeah…how did you know that we were best friends?" Ponyboy asked
"He told me so. He talked about his friends all the time. He talked about you second most. He talked about some Dally boy most. Is Dally one of those boys over there? I've always wanted to meet him…the way Johnny described him he seems…wow." I replied.

Ponyboy looked down at the ground then said,

"Dally died. When Johnny died…he couldn't take it I guess. He went and got himself shot by the cops."
"Oh my- I…I'm sorry." I stuttered.
"Ponyboy, come on. It's time to go." said a man who approached him.
"Darry, this is Johnny's sister. Janice." Ponyboy said.

The man, Darry, looked down at me. A soft smile suddenly slid onto his hard face.

"Why…you look just like him, except you're a girl. Hey, you guys!" Darry called over his shoulder to the rest of the group of boys "Come here."

The group walked over to the three of them and I looked over my shoulder at my father who was looking on disapprovingly.

"I have to get going now, I think…" I said.
"Wait." Ponyboy said "I just want you to meet the rest of Johnny's friends."

I glanced at my dad once more then turned towards the guys who were now standing in front of me.

"This is Sodapop." Ponyboy introduced a particularly handsome boy, "This is Steve." he pointed to the boy next to Sodapop. "And this is Two-Bit."
"It's nice to meet you all." I said, "But really, I have to go now."
"Bye." All of the guys chorused.

I gave them a weak smile then turned towards me parents, and we left.