Sixteen
Chapter One

Author's Note: If any of you are familiar with the TV show, Freaks and Geeks, you'll probably recognizes a similarity between the show and this story. I only wanted to do an Outsiders take on it, and I can't even begin to express how amazed I am with how this chapter turned out. I hope you all like this as much as me. :)

Here's a little background information that should be noted. This story begins in Oct. 1964 - almost a year before the book takes place (so, Soda recently turned 16 as well as the main character). Most of the characters are sophomores in high school. Darry, Soda and Pony's parents are still alive, so Soda is still in school. I think I'm going to make both boys still work at the DX - instead of full time, Soda will be part time with Steve - but I'm not sure. Yes, this fanfic will follow the events of the story, and I don't know if it'll actually reach the point where the book begins. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders or Freaks and Geeks.

I follow behind a group of greasers from Tiber Street Tigers; my nerves are eating away at my insides and inside my stomach, the butterflies are going absolutely crazy.

Their group continues onward, stepping through the high school's front doors and into the October air. I stop right outside the entryway, scanning the parking lot nervously for Sodapop Curtis and the group of boys he hangs around.

I feel myself yearning to vomit when my eyes settle on Sodapop and his friends. I anxiously gnaw on my cheek while sauntering towards the group.

I recognize Two-Bit Mathews and Dallas Winston as the boys leaning against the old, beat-up truck, and if I remember correctly, Steve Randle is perched on top of the hood with his arm wrapped around an unfamiliar blonde's waist.

Sodapop looks up, failing to suppress a smirk as his eyes catch mine. "Well, I'll be damned," he laughs. "I didn't think you'd actually take me up on my offer." I merely shrug my shoulders, teeth moving to bite on my bottom lip. "You know Two-Bit, Steve and Dal, but this here is Sandy, Steve's girl, Evie, and Dally's girl, Sylvia." He points each of them out to me, and before I have a chance to introduce myself to them, Sodapop beats me to it. "Fellas, this is Eileen. She's in most of my classes." Sylvia smacks her gum loudly, fully observing me.

"What's a ritzy broad like her doin' out here?" She asks rudely, turning to face Soda. "Ain't you got other friends you can hang out with?" Dallas chuckles quietly under his breath, and from the corner of my eye, I can see Steve and Evie giggling quietly together. Sodapop rolls his eyes in annoyance, turning to look at her.

"Sylvia, can't you be nice for least once?" He turns to look at me again, casually wrapping his arm around Sandy's waist. "Well, a couple of the Brumley boys challenged old Stevie here to a drag race at 12:30. We're all gonna skip until then. You wanna come?" Evie snorts loudly, laying her head on Steve's shoulder; Two-Bit stands beside her, grinning uncontrollably. Unintentionally, I tense up.

"Do you really think she'd wanna skip school? C'mon, Soda, that's like asking Buck to give out free drinks to the whole bar. It ain't gonna happen." Evie announces. I can feel my cheeks heating up, and with each comment these girls throw at me, I feel myself regretting my decision to even come out here. Sylvia nods in agreement, leaning against Dallas. Two-Bit takes a swig of beer.

"I dunno, Evie," he comments, pulling the bottle back. "It might take a little persuadin', but I think we can get her to agree." I bite back a smile while silently telling myself to relax.

"C'mon, Princess," Dallas gripes. "We ain't got all day for you to make up your mind. Hurry before the lunch bell rings." Everyone turns their attention towards me; once again, I tense up. I can feel my hand starting to become slick with a thin sheet of sweat, and without even thinking, I nod my head. Sylvia doesn't appear too happy with my decision, but Sodapop and Two-Bit look excited that I'm agreeing to partake in their erratic activities.

XxXxXxX

Steve and Evie claim the cab, generously leaving the rest of us to ride in the bed of his truck. "Drag racin' is real fun," Two-Bit explains, casually slinging his arm around my shoulder. "'Specially if you're in one. Hey, Sodie, do you think Steve'll let Eileen ride with him durin' the drag race?" Sylvia grins wildly.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. I bet she'll have loads of fun." Dallas smirks at his girlfriend's suggestion before pulling her chin towards hers. Following that, the two start kissing and progressing into other things I've never wanted to witness. Sodapop grins jovially, not realizing the torture it'd be putting me through.

"I'm sure if we beg him enough."

"No," I answer weakly, barely able to control the wavering of my voice. I shake my head slowly for more emphasis. The small group looks at me; Sylvia and Dallas look down on me while everyone else stares sadly, silently expressing the hurt they're feeling from my decision. I swallow hard, chewing the inside of my cheek - a habit of mine when I'm nervous. "No." I get a grip on my voice, firmly stating I won't do it. "I'm not drag racing with Steve. I don't want to." Sodapop eases up, allowing a small grin to take over his lips.

"Trust me, Eileen," he smiles. "It sounds scary at first, but once you get goin', it's a hell of a lotta fun. C'mon, I promise ya ain't gonna regret it." Underneath me, I can feel the truck decreasing in speed. I break my attention away from Soda and to my surroundings, temporarily setting the idea of me getting up close and personal with drag racing to the side.

"I thought 'em Brumley boys were suppose to be here," Two-Bit comments, looking around. "It ain't like 'em to show up late to a drag race."

"I ain't too sure why we're here so early. I didn't think the race was suppose to start until 12:30." Sandy comments quietly, playing with her fingers.

"Steve, what the hell're you doin'?" Soda inquires loudly, pulling Sandy forcefully against his body. Her eyes widen suddenly at the contact, but her surprise is replaced with innocent giggles seconds later.

Steve throws the driver's side door open and hops to the dirt covered ground below. "I dunno," he answers, shutting the door behind him. "We ain't got nothin' better to do, so I figured we'd come early." Evie's door opens, but unlike Steve, she climbs out at a slower pace - almost like she's trying to make herself more appealing to everyone around her.

"Sylvia, come with me to the woods," Evie demands. "I gotta take a piss, and I ain't itchin' to go alone." She rolls her eyes, but, nonetheless, she pulls away from Dallas. Sandy sits up abruptly.

"Evie, I'm comin' with." She announces, carefully climbing over the wall of the truck bed. Sandy hits the ground and smoothes her skirt lovingly before skipping to Steve's girl's side. Evie and Sandy turn, and with Sylvia following behind slowly, they head towards the woods.

Before I know it, they're out of sight, and I'm left alone with Two-Bit, Soda, Steve and Dally.

"Ey, Steve, the boys and I were talkin', and we think you should let ole Eileen here ride with ya durin' the drag race. We gotta break her into our crazy antics somehow." Soda smirks, elbowing his best friend playfully. Steve snorts loudly.

"I ain't 'bout to let her ride with me," he answers. I feel relief wash over me instantly, drowning out any feeling of offense I was beginning to experience. "You nuts, Sodapop? Evie'll have a fit if I let another girl ride with me. Sides, I ain't takin' the chance of her messin' up my interior."

"C'mon, Steve," Two-Bit whines in protest. "She ain't gonna mess up the insides. Lighten up, Buddy." Dally snorts quietly.

"It ain't like she's Two-Bit," Dallas comments. "I'll bet anythin' I have when I say there's a real good chance she's cleaner than 'im." Although it's an insult to him, Two-Bit nods his head happily.

Steve looks towards me, eyeing me suspiciously. Inside, I can feel myself growing hotter. In fact, I would go as far to say that there's a good chance my internal temperature has exceeded the external by several more degrees. My eyebrows scrunch together nervously; my teeth find their way back to my cheek, absentmindedly chewing away at the inside.

"It ain't gonna kill ya, Steve, let her ride with ya." Soda coaxes, gently nudging his friend. Off in the distance, the low rumble of engines make themselves present. Steve looks towards the noise, and once he realizes the Brumly boys are drawing near, he sighs loudly. He looks me straight in the eyes, not giving me a single word. To be honest, he's intimidating me more than usual, and I'll give anything I have to make him stop.

"You can ride in the passenger's seat, but on one condition," Steve warns lowly. "If you so much as mess up a single thing, you better run. I finally got it to the way that I like it, and I ain't too hot for the idea off fixin' anything inside again." He's terrifying me, and even though I have as much courage as I can muster up, I still nod my head weakly. "All right, c'mon, them boys are comin', and they're gonna wanna start as soon as they get here." Steve steps away from the truck, heading straight for the driver's side. Dallas and Two-Bit climb out of the bed wordlessly, but Sodapop watches me gleefully.

"You're gonna have so much fun, Eileen. Steve's a professional when it comes to drivin'. Hell, believe it or not, but that boy can drive anything on wheels." Soda hops over the side of the truck. He hits the ground hard, but nonetheless, he turns, offering his hands to me. I take them silently, allowing Soda to help me reach the ground safely without my skirt flying up - exposing something teenage boys don't need to see.

One of the trucks pull up along side Steve's. I finish getting myself situated while straining to hear what words the two boys are exchanging to each other. Each are mysteriously talking quietly, and the only things I can pick up on are "75 dollars", "1 week" and "you're gonna lose".

The two competitors get themselves ready, patiently waiting for the countdown to begin. Two-Bit steps in front of the trucks, positioning himself in the center of both vehicles to prevent any human harm.

Once the countdown begins, my nerves start running high. Swallowing hard, I clutch the handle above my door tightly and I grab a hold of the seat in between Steve and me. At the moment, there's only one thing on my mind.

I hope Steve Randle is as good as Soda made him out to be.

Steve presses the pedal to the flooring of the truck, sending the automobile lurching forward. My heart begins to pound harder, and the constant fear of it pounding through my chest looms over me.

Brumly pulls ahead of us, and underneath his breath, I can hear Steve muttering a few swear words. "I ain't 'bout to let that asshole win!" He exclaims, applying more pressure to the gas pedal. The speedometer continues to climb higher; the two Brumly boys ahead are soon beside us and before long, they're behind his truck. Steve begins to grin; he's fully aware that he's won the race.

Not too long after the two started their drag race, it ends. Steve won, no doubt, and like Sodapop said, he's an absolute professional at driving.

I turn towards Steve with a grin slowly, very slowly, consuming my once scared face. He unsuccessfully cocks an eyebrow at me, wondering what my problem is. "What's wrong with your face?" Steve asks quietly - a rarity for him. My happiness dims; a couple chuckles escape through my lips.

"Your friends were right. That was fun!"

XxXxXxX

It doesn't take much convincing from Soda to persuade Steve to give him and Sandy a ride back to her house, but he seems a little more apprehensive when I ask the same question. "You ain't a greaser," Steve stares, overlooking my appearance. I nod my head once. "Ain't it gonna be dangerous for some greasers to take a girl like you home?"

"I don't see why it would be," I retort, planting my fists firmly on my hips. "I'm not from the West side, so none of you are going to get jumped. Besides, everyone is still in school and at work, so you'll be fine." Steve rolls his eyes, quickly growing annoyed with me. Frankly, I don't care right now. I'm upset.

"Steve, please?" Sodapop pleads. "Her house is on the way to the East side, so you don't have to go out of your way." I shift, crossing my arms over my chest and resting my weight on my right side.

He groans loudly, burying his face in his hands. "I give up," he mutters. "Get in the back of the damn truck. If it'll get you off my back, I'll take you home. Good Lord." I smile victoriously, climbing into the back with Sandy and Soda. Evie and Steve both find their ways to the front. He starts the truck and begins the journey to my middle class house.

XxXxXxX

"Eileen!" Dad exclaims once he realizes I'm home. I shut the door behind me, kicking my shoes off and dropping my backpack to the ground. "Sis, what are you doing home so soon?" I can see from the look in his eyes that he's not exactly pleased with my choice of skipping class. In response, I shrug my shoulders.

"I was hanging out with my new friends. They're from the East side."

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