Chapter One: Neighbors

Soda POV

I saw the moving van across the street. We didn't get new neighbors often so I was curious. Me and Steve went out on the front porch. It looked like the actual people moving there hadn't arrived yet.

After a couple of hours, an old car pulled into the yard. A man and woman got out. They looked tired. Must have been driving all day. The woman opened the back door and it looked like she was moving something. Then, a very sleepy looking girl got out of the car. She looked around fifteen or sixteen, but she looked different. Most girls wore their hair down and dresses. She was in tight jeans, a t-shirt, and her hair was pulled up in a messy bun.

Georgie POV

The house looked better and worse than some we had lived in, so I couldn't complain. Right now it was summer, so I could get used to Tulsa before school started. Man, I hated school. No matter where we were.

We had been going in and out with boxes, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.

"Hey!"

I turned around seeing two guys waving me across the street.

"Hi."

I was kind of shy, but I walked over anyway. They were both cute, but one was just soooo pretty. I had to get a grip before I spoke again.

"You movin' in today?"

"So, that explains why I was carrying all of those boxes."

They both smiled. Maybe I would like it here if they appreciated my sarcasm.

"I'm Steve and this is Sodapop. But, we mostly call him Soda."

"Is Sodapop a nickname?"

"Nope. My real name. I've also got two brothers. One's Darrel, one's Ponyboy."

"Original names. I like them."

"Well, now we've gotta know your name."

"Georgie."

"Cool. Word of advice, stay on this side of town. Ask Soda, you're looking for trouble if you go anywhere else."

This wasn't a surprise. But, I already had to go to the other side of town today for Mama. I decided to keep that to myself.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"If you do, don't go alone."

"Soda, we gotta get to work."

We said our goodbyes. I liked them. I hoped I'd see more of them.

Later that day, I had to go on a few errands, and that meant going to the other side of town. I took the bus, and knew I would take it back home, but I would be walking around this side of town for a while.

After a couple of hours, I had done everything I needed without a hitch. I was sitting at the bus stop with my groceries when these guys in a red mustang pulled up, looking me up and down and smiling. These weren't the types of smiles like Steve and Soda had. These were different.

"Haven't seen you around before."

"I guess you haven't."

I looked at my nails, making it clear that I wasn't interested in talking.

"You live on the other side of town?"

"It's none of your business where I live. Now, leave me alone."

They didn't say anything else, and pulled away. But, my heart sank when they only pulled a couple hundred feet away.

When I got on the bus, I noticed that the car was following. I was scared, but I wouldn't show it. I had lived in New York. I knew how to handle myself. I just didn't know if I could do it with my arms filled with at least ten bags of groceries.

I got off of the bus, and from there I had to walk seven blocks. The mustang was following me, so I started running. At one point I was looking behind me and ran into someone. I fell hard, and my groceries went everywhere.

"You should probably watch where you're going."

The voice was lighthearted, and spoke with a chuckle.

"I'm sorry, I just..."

"Wait. Are they following you?"

"Yeah. They are."

When I finally looked up, I saw a boy my age. Maybe a little younger. He looked familiar, but I knew I hadn't met him. He started helping me pick up my groceries.

"Where do you live?"

I told him, and he said he lived across the street. That's when I realized he must be Sodapop's brother, but which one? We finally got all the groceries up, and he took half of them.

"Come on. I'll walk you home. It'll be safer that way."

"Darrel or Ponyboy?"

I asked out loud not really thinking that it might sound creepy.

"Ponyboy. How'd you know?"

"I met Soda earlier."

We talked for a while. The mustang passed us and they told Ponyboy to watch it. I told them they were pigs. They sped off before they could see where I lived, which was a relief. I thanked Ponyboy and told him I would see him around. He was only a year younger than me. He'd just turned fifteen, and I had just turned sixteen.

I didn't talk to any of them for a week, but I was hoping that would change, soon.