Emma: (author – not to be confused with the character; no similarities AT ALL besides name and the fact that I gave Emma W. the same cat as me) Well, I guess I have to have a disclaimer on here *frowns

Pony: Well, ya, you kinda do, I mean if you don't you'll go to jail or something.

Emma: No Pony. I won't go to jail, but I could get in trouble, and I don't like getting in trouble.

Pony: Chicken.

Emma: Horse.

Pony: Goody-two-shoes.

Emma: Who doesn't wear two shoes!?

Pony: Hobos don't.

Emma: Ya, whatever. I am not a goody two-shoes; I just don't like getting in trouble – that does not mean I don't do anything bad. I just don't like getting caught or in trouble. So if I think I'll get caught or in trouble for doing something, I try to avoid it. Does that make me a goody-two-shoes Pony?

Pony: No. And besides, I was just messing with you. I don't like getting in trouble either.

Emma: Cool. Now on with it.

Pony: *mutters* this ought to be good *smirks*

Emma: I do not own The Outsiders, nor do I own any of the characters besides Emma, her NY friends, Jet, and anyone that does not appear in any of the S.E. Hinton books.

Pony: Oh! So you don't own us. You don't own me. *snickers

Emma: No. I don't. But don't rub it in.*pouts

Now let's get on with the story and stop boring the readers with our pointless arguments.

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Authors Note: (I'm sorry that this intro is so long – I'll try to keep it short from now on)

If you have not read From Greaser To Country Girl And Back (by texaskid – she gave me permission to branch off her story) (here's the link (remove spaces) .com/stories/8518410/from-greaser-to-country-girl-and-back-a-steve-randle-outsiders-love-story) then you will probably not understand a lot in this story – or know any background on Victoria (character of texaskid) – which I may or may not fill you in on through out the story.

So basically, just go read it. You can read my chapter first, though (since your already here and I really want people to read my story) Please rate/review! Ok, now I'll shut up and let you get on with the story. (btw credit goes to texaskid for parts of this chapter – anything in Victoria's POV is her writing and the scene with Dally visiting his dad in jail is also her doing.)

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Prologue:

Being kidnapped by the toughest gang in Tulsa was the worst thing I think I ever had to go through. The PR, also known as the Paramount Rattlesnakes, were pretty ruthless when it came to ruling their turf. I just happened to get kidnapped by them because I reminded the leader of his kid sister who had been killed in a car wreck. After getting free they kidnapped some of my friends to include Pony, Curly, Two-Bit's sister Jackie, Angel, and a few of my country friends. I went ballistic and took on the gang leader. Shawn 'Big Dog' Williams. Funny when you say it that way he doesn't seem so dangerous, but when you meet him - a guy as strong as Darry and as mean as Dally and Tim mixed together - you have one bad hood. He injured me pretty good, that fight was incredible, but I got what I wanted in the end – him to leave me and my friends alone. Then after sleeping off the damage for a week Dally let me out of my room for a bit. After talking to one of Big Dog's gang members, a man named Blade, I went to talk to Dally about keeping me in bed for the next few days. That turned into a blow up with me screaming at him then him poking me to prove I was still hurt. I was angry so I banished him from my room.

Victoria's POV

After I had banished Dally from my room Curly timidly entered. I cocked an eyebrow and he grinned. "Heard there was a massive ticking time bomb in here and I didn't want to get hurt." Curly joked.

"Just go away Curly." I growled.

"We need to talk." He demanded.

"Alright fine. What's wrong?" I asked.

"This isn't easy for me to say but...there's a girl that's been in town for a few weeks and she looks eerily familiar. Do you by chance have a little sister?"

"Nope, my mom couldn't get pregnant after she had me. She and Rich tried for years."

"What about Dally?"

"You're looking at her."

"Does he have any other?"

"That would mean he was cheating on my mother."

"She's about 14 and she looks a lot like Dally."

"So I've told you what I think. Now leave." I said fiercely.

"But Tore..."

"No go away." Curly sighed but he left. Steve brought me dinner later that night.

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Emma's POV

I had only been in Tulsa three weeks, and it was better than New York, but it was still pretty tough. Especially staying with the Shepards. They were a unique bunch. Tim was the leader of a gang, and he and Curly brought home girls a lot. And Angela – wow what a character. She's basically you're normal, bitchy, slutty, little sister. She is actually a couple months older than me, but she is certainly less mature than me; in all ways but one. Which I will not mention.

I was just starting to get accustomed to life in Tulsa, Oklahoma with the Shepards when an unexpected curve ball was thrown at me.

Dallas' POV

To say the guards were surprised to see a visitor for Dennis Winston would be the understatement of the year. Nevertheless they let him back to see the inmate.

"Swear on your life I've only got one little sister."

"What makes you think me swearing will prevent a lie?" Dennis asked.

"Good point."

"Look, I was never good a fooling you and as far as I know you and Liz..."

"Victoria, you aren't privileged enough to call her Liz."

"Fine you and Victoria are my only children as far as I know."

"Did you ever cheat on my mom?"

"What difference does it make Dallas?" Dennis asked defeated.

"Just tell me." Dallas demanded.

"Only once when Toria was two."

"With who? Some cheap wannabe?"

"You're mother. As much as Tina loved me Sasha was always better in the sack." Dennis grinned at his son daring him to say something.

"You jerk. My mom gave you 10 of the best years of her life and you can't even treat her right. I'm glad she left you." Dally spat. He stood up and left the jail feeling disgusted with himself for every believing in his father. On the way back to Tulsa Dally thinks about the implications of what Dennis did and realizes the girl Tim told him about was most likely his little sister.

Four days later Dally decided to let Victoria up and she went back to roaming the streets.

Tim's POV

"So I guess she is my sister. The bastard cheated on my mom." Dally informed me before taking a long drag on his cigarette.

"I thought so; she looks a lot like you. White-blonde hair and everything." She was pretty much the spitting image of him.

"Really? Huh." He grunted throwing his butt on the ground and grinding it into the pavement with the heel of his boot.

"So what are you going to do with her?" I couldn't keep her much longer.

"What do you mean what am I going to do with her? You took her in, not me. She may be my sister but she's not my problem. You deal with her; I don't need another sister to deal with; Lizzie's enough trouble." Then before I could even open my mouth to argue, he turned and left.

"Great just great. She's not my sister. She's not my problem either." I pulled out a cancer stick and lit up. "I'll just have to kick her out. Curly and Angel won't talk me out of it this time. She's too much trouble. I've got enough problems with the gang and Liz." I don't know why I was talking to myself. Kicking her out wouldn't be easy, though, she had kind of grown on me.

Emma's POV

"I know this is enough of a shock for you, I mean coming here looking for your father and finding out he's in jail, discovering you have a brother and a half sister, but I really can't let you stay here much longer." Tim had just finished explaining to me that my father was in jail, I had a hood for a brother, and I have a half sister because my dad was a bastard and he cheated on his wife with my mom. Now he was kicking me out?

"Why not? I'm not too much trouble am I? I stay away from fights, I try not to eat too much so you don't get down on food, and I stay out of your way. What is it? Do you not like me or something?"

"No, no! I do like you, it's just, I really can't let you stay much longer, is all."

"Where will I go?" I asked, tears already starting to form in my eyes, but I willed them not to fall.

"I don't know. I don't really want to have to kick you out, but my mom's coming back from her business trip soon and you can't be here."

"So that's it? I'm like a party you throw when your parents go out of town, and all the evidence has to be gone when they come back? Curly and Angel talk you into letting me stay by making you feel guilty about leaving me on the streets, and you give in. Then you finally start to like me, and I finally start to trust you. But as soon as you remember Mommy's coming back from her little vacation, you shoo me out the door like an unwanted pet."

"Aw, come on, that's not fair. You know that's not how it is."

Tim's POV

"Do I?" Her face was so hurt and accusing and disappointed, my heart tugged. I knew I shouldn't feel this way about anybody, but she had been through so much and been hurt so many times I felt horrible for pulling the rug out from under her for another time too many.

I didn't know how to answer.

"That's what I thought." She said sadly. Then she went up to her room, announcing she was retiring early.

"At six o'clock on a Friday night?" I mumbled.

"And she didn't even touch her dinner." I say out loud, clearing off the supper table.

Victoria's POV

When Dally stopped being a pain in the butt and let me back out to run the streets, I dropped by Tim's place looking for the girl that was supposedly my half sister, only to find out Curly had taken her out to dinner. Angel wasn't happy to tell me that but she realized what I had on her and grudgingly agreed. So I went walking only to be picked up by Tyler.

"Where to?" Tyler inquired.

"Where ever Curly would go if he took his sister to dinner." I told him. Ty dropped me off at Dairy Queen and I spotted Curly with a blonde. She definitely had Dally's hair. It was really white blonde. I walked over to the table and sat down next to Curly. From this angle she did look a whole lot like Dally. "So this is the chick?" I asked.

"Her name is Emma." Curly corrected.

I glared at Curly and then turned back to the girl. "I don't know why you're here girly and personally I don't care. Our pops ain't rich; none of us are and unless you can prove you're worth it Dallas ain't gonna give a rat's rear end about you. Me...Well I might if I think your intentions are honorable but that will take some time." I told her simply.

She just looked back at me with a sort of blank look, and for a minute I thought she was about to say something, but she just turned back to her milkshake.

"Give her a chance Liz."

"I guess."

Emma's POV

Curly and I were at Dairy Queen having diner when a girl came marching in who apparently knew Curly.

"So this is the chick?" She asked, inspecting me from head to toe.

"Her name's Emma." Curly informed her.

She glared at him then turned to me.

"I don't know why you're here girly and personally I don't care. Our pops ain't rich; none of us are and unless you can prove you're worth it Dallas ain't gonna give a rat's rear end about you. Me...Well I might if I think your intentions are honorable but that will take some time." She told me.

I was a little shocked by her forwardness. I was about to tell her that it wouldn't matter if he cared or not because my mom never cared and we were far from rich, but decided against it – first impressions are everything.

"Give her a chance Liz."

So that was her name. I wonder if it was just Elisabeth or just Lizzy.

"I guess."

Then she left without a further word to me or Curly.

"I would like to tell you her bark is worse than her bite, but I can't. She's alright though once you get to know her." Curly tried to ease the tension the girl had left behind.

"Is her name Elisabeth or Lizzy?" I'm a very curious kid.

"Actually, it's Victoria. Her middle name is Elizabeth, though, and some people like me, Tim, Dall, and some of his gang call her Liz or Lizzie Beth. I wouldn't suggest you call her that, though."

"Why not?"

"Well, you don't really know her yet, and she doesn't know you yet, either, so I would suggest you just call her Victoria for now."

"Oh, ok." I took another sip of my milkshake. "Who exactly is Dallas? Like, I know he's my brother and she's my half sister and all, but like, can you tell me anything else about them? They feel like distant strangers."

"Well, Toria's pretty tough and tuff, she has a lot of spunk and you really don't want to cross her. Dally – well hm. He's – he's a hood. He has a mile long police record; he loves to party, picks up girls easy, and doesn't really give a flying hoot about anything. Except Toria – but that took time, too."

"Great, another New York, just what I need." I mumbled.

"Ya, well life's tough kid. Get used to it."

"Hey! Don't you tell me what's tough. I grew up in New York, I know tough, you don't have to tell me. I was just hoping Tulsa would be a new start, is all." My straw made an annoying sound as I finished my milkshake and sucked in air.

"Well, sorry you're hopes had to be crushed, but Tulsa ain't the greatest place in the world, probably not much better than New York." Curly tried to get the waitress' attention so we could get the bill.

"It's an improvement. In New York I slept in alley ways, got beat up by stupid hoods everyday, and Mom almost never had food in the house. I was struggling to stay alive. My mom hated me, I had no one. Well, I had the gang, and even though they weren't cruel to me like they could have been, they weren't perfect either. So anywhere is better than New York." The waitress finally came over and gave us our bill. Curly paid and we left.

"Look kiddo, I realize you had it really tough there, but if you want to survive here, listen up. Socs here are ruthless. They'll jump any greaser they see and enjoy it. Stay away from them, and whatever you do - DO NOT go on the other side of the tracks – Soc territory. You'll be dead for sure. At least if you get jumped on Greaser turf, some one will probably help you. Mind your business; don't talk to drunk Greasers, and STAY AWAY FROM THE NORTH SIDE AT ALL COSTS. All of the really bad gangs are there. The Tiber Street Tigers, the PR, and other gangs you don't want to mess with. Follow these rules, never walk alone at night, and you'll have a chance at surviving in the jungle."

"Yes Daddy, I won't talk to strangers, I'll mind my manners, stay away from bad guys, and always carry a blade." I said in a little kid voice, mocking him.

"No! Absolutely DO NOT carry a blade! That'll just give Socs or anyone else a reason to really mess you up if you run into trouble." He looked angry.

"Curly Shepard, I have carried at least one blade or more with me everywhere I go since I was six years old. I know how to use one if I need to, and I certainly don't take orders from you!" I hated when people tell me what to do. I know he meant well, but honestly? What did he think I was – a china doll with no brain? Seriously, sometimes men have no clue.

Victoria's POV

Three days after the encounter with my sister I found myself arguing with Dallas. Something about her had made my heart go out to her. Especially since I found out Tim would be kicking her out.

"Look Liz...I talked to the old man. That girl is our sister. He couldn't stay away from my mother for long." Dally said.

"Well that's more of a reason to give her a place to stay. Shepard won't keep her much longer and I don't want her out on the streets."

"Where do you expect me to let her stay? She can't stay at our old place and I don't want a girl her age at Buck's. We're out of options."

"What about here?" I asked.

"You'd have to talk to Darry. And he's got it tough enough to feed you, Pony, and Soda. But if you can get him to agree then so be it." Dally said. I nodded and went to talk to Soda. It was a bit difficult to convince him but I knew it'd be easier than convincing Darry on my own.

"Darry listen..." Soda started. He went on to explain Emma's problem about the Shepard's no longer giving her a place to stay and how she didn't have any family besides me and Dally in the area and it'd be just awful leaving her out on the streets. Finally Darry gave in and Emma now had a place to stay at the Curtis'.

Emma's POV

I was in my room, packing up my stuff, because Mrs. Shepard was coming back tomorrow and I had to be gone, and listening to my music when Curly and Angel came in.

"Look, Emma. I'm sorry, I really am. I tried to reason with Tim, but he's right, we were nice to you by letting you stay here these last three weeks, but Mom's coming back, and we just can't let you stay here. It's time you continue with what you came here for." Curly told me with a kind of pity on his face, proving he really was sorry.

"To find my dad. And I did. But I can't exactly go to live with him now can I?"

"No, but you have Dally and Toria."

"Oh, ya right. That'll really work."

"Well, I don't know what to tell you kid, but you can't stay here. I'll miss you, but maybe I'll see you around?"

"Ya, maybe."

"Here, take this. You'll need it. It's all I can do to help you. Use it wisely." He handed me a wad of cash.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

I smiled and nodded.

"No, seriously, don't mention it. Ever." Then he turned and left the room.

"Doesn't want anyone to know he has a soft side." Angel spoke up. I had forgotten she was there sitting on my bed. "Look, I know it may seem like I don't really like you, but I do. I just, I have a rep."

"So basically you're doing the same thing as your brothers – protecting your rep."

"Ya, but I have to. Anyways, I do like you, you dig okay, and I'm down with that." I almost laughed out loud. Angela Shepard talking like a gangster; hilarious!

"So I'm giving you some stuff to help you out." She handed me a bunch of her clothes.

"They're too small on me now, but you're so tiny baby clothes could fit you." Of course she was exaggerating about how tiny I was, but she was definitely getting more curves.

I couldn't believe she was giving me her clothes; all her clothes were too small for her, and she usually just cut them down to a minimum of material till they fit her, let alone the fact that she was actually being nice to me for a change.

"Good luck in the jungle kid." She said and left the room.

That was the second time Tulsa had been referred to as a jungle. It was more like a forest, dangerous, but only a small portion compared to the real jungle – New York.

----------- 2 hours later ---------

"Hey, uh Emma?" Tim cautiously entered my room.

"Ya?" I had just finished packing the last of my stuff.

"Someone's here to see you."

"Who? I don't know anyone in town."

"It's your sister."

"Oh."

"She wants to talk to you."

"Well then, let her in."

He left my room and seconds later the girl from the diner, who apparently is my sister, well half-sister, entered the room.

"Emma?" Victoria asked nervously.

"Ya, I'm the chick." I joked flatly, referring to our encounter at the diner.

"I heard Tim is kicking you out."

"Ya, so? Why do you care? You certainly seem like you don't like me, let alone care if I have a roof over my head." She hadn't been particularly kind to me that day, so why did she care to make conversation with me now?

"Hey! Listen up girly." There she goes again. "It may seem like I don't like you. That may or may not be true, but even I don't know that yet – I don't know you. But just because we don't know each other doesn't mean I don't care. Something in you sparked something in me, maybe you remind me of myself after my parents died I don't know. You're my sister, apparently, and I don't want you living on the streets, I do care if you have a roof over your head. And even of you weren't related to me, I wouldn't want you on the streets in Tulsa. I wouldn't do it to Evie and that's saying something considering who she is, and I can't do it to a fourteen year old girl so I'm...I'm gonna take you in."

"Take me in? You don't even know me! I don't know you, either, or anything about you. Like for instance – where you live – where I'd be staying."

"Well, since our fathers in jail, Dally is in charge of us, which is a stupid idea seeing as how he's barely around, none the less he is. He decided he didn't want me staying at our old house because he comes in at all hours of the night – so I'm staying at our friends', the Curtis', house. I talked to him about what to do with you, and he said he didn't know where to send you, because you obviously couldn't stay at our old house, and he didn't want a girl your age staying at Buck's place…"

"Buck – the guy that throws all those big parties?" I interrupted.

"Yeah, we're sort of, friends, or acquaintances I guess. Anyways, he didn't know where you could stay. So I asked Darry, Ponyboy and Sodapop Curtis' older brother, their guardian since their parents died, and he said you could stay there with me."

"Oh, ok. Um… Are they nice?"

"Yes, and I'm sure Two-Bit'll like your sarcasm a lot, chick." Victoria said.

"Two-Bit?"

"Yeah, another one of the gang."

"Gang?"

"Yes, gang – a group of friends, a bunch of kids. Now – enough with the questions get your stuff and come down stairs, Darry will be mad if we're late for supper."