A/N -- Hello! This is my first FanFic. The first few chapters will be a little slow and are set a few months after the book. In later chapters the story will flashback to the events of the book and then will continue on from there. As you will see from the first few chapters, I have made some changes to the events in the book. (Namely Dallas and Johnny don't die-I know this will make some readers very happy!) Also there are a few original characters-one in particular. Please read and review if you want-Otherwise, enjoy!
Disclaimer -- I do not own 'The Outsiders' or the characters from the book.
Chapter 1
The sun was shining brightly on me when I opened my eyes. I blinked slightly and rolled over in bed. I looked beside me to find the other side of the bed empty. 'Hmm,' I thought, 'Wonder where he went so early? Maybe he's making breakfast' I smiled to myself then shook my head with a silent laugh. It was a great thought, but it would probably never happen. I rolled onto my back and stretched my arms and legs, taking up the whole bed. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment, the sun warming my face, enjoying the quiet, still room. Slowly I pulled myself into a sitting position and tried to stifle a yawn. I'm not really a morning person, but there were things to do today. I threw my legs over the side of the bed and placed my feet on the floor. I looked around the room for my jeans, which I had thrown off the night before. They were laying in a lump on the floor at the end of the bed. I stood and grabbed them, pulling them on. I stripped off the men's button down shirt I was wearing, grinning to myself. I didn't even remember putting it on last night. There was a laundry basket sitting beside the dresser filled with clean clothes, waiting to be put away. I grabbed a clean shirt off the top, put it on, then rifled through the basket to find a pair of socks. I turned and scanned the room searching for my cowboy boots. I found them in the corner and I sat on the edge of the bed as I pulled on first the socks then the boots. I stood and looked in the mirror above the dresser, grabbed a hair tie and pulled my long brown hair into a messy ponytail and rubbed my eyes. A shower would have to wait until later. There were things that needed to get done.
I opened the bedroom door and stepped out into the short hallway. Immediately I was bombarded with Jimi Hendrix's 'Foxy Lady' blaring from the radio, the shouts of young men coming from the living room. I could smell bacon and heard a voice yell, "Has anyone seen my other shoe?"
I headed down the stairs and turned the corner to the kitchen and was immediately sprayed in the face with a squirt gun. I looked up at my attacker and was greeted by a grinning fifteen year old. He looked back at me, his amused eyes darting back and forth, trying to decide whether to laugh or to run. He decided to run, revealing the little blonde haired, blued eyed, six year old girl who had been standing behind him. She too was holding a squirt gun. She pointed it toward me. I knelt down to her level, looking her directly in the eyes and raising my eyebrows as if challenging her to use it. She looked up at me with a huge grin, resolved not to risk it, laughed and ran off, chasing her partner in crime I just wiped the water from my face and shook my head, 'Saves me washing my face,' I thought with a chuckle. I walked into the kitchen and found a pan of half eaten bacon on the counter. I grabbed a slice and stuck it in my mouth, it was cold, but crispy. I grabbed another piece and headed into the living room. No one looked up as I entered the room and stood near the doorway. There were several young men sprawled around the living room, in various positions, chatting with each other, reading the paper, and listening to the radio. The TV was on, the volume turned high so you could hear it over the radio. There was a guy lying on his stomach in front of the TV. The little blonde girl was sitting on his back. There was an empty wheelchair in the corner behind a chair.
'Ah another morning in the Curtis house,' I grinned to myself.