Greased Lightning

Chapter One

Tempest

I don't own anything! All rights to the Outsiders goes to S.E. Hinton.

...

A young boy with long and greasy hair, stands alone in the dark with no lighter. His life story was a pale yet bleak one. The weight of his own memories anchoring him down, though the future shines only of black light ahead.

Time passes by with every day giving birth to a colder dawn. As another storm approaches, he thought that maybe a permanent rain and a deep sleep would end it all. But that was no longer an option.

He looked up to see an overcast above him, not surprising in the least. The sky was sprinkling with precipitation, not of rain or of snow however, but of ash. His every chapter breathing the same, detailing two well known acquaintances of his - pain and misery.

And as life forges on, leaving the boy held still and tangled by all its complications; the book morphs into a darker one. As it shifts into a black shade the words grow ever harder to read. Pages are torn out and important words faded. Until the book itself becomes ash - in other words, trash. As the book is blow away, extinguished by the winds of time, with pages flying off and being left off here and there. The book then becomes an unreadable one. In which, all of its experiences are rusted into oblivion; and all the hearts its touched, left in the dust.

...

"I wonder what it's like to be forgotten."

I left the movie theater, my eyes still adjusting to the abrupt shift in light.

I was watching another Paul Newman movie. I've only seen a few before including this one, but I just wanted to see this one again. Paul Newman was real tuff, but I'm not. Oh well, I guess I am me and that's how I'll always be. But my life, the life I'm living, it's for them. Though I know I don't have much to live for. And let's face it, I never did, especially not without them. I was born to be a Grease, and I'll die a Grease too.

Just like them...

I surveyed the surrounding area. The sky was bright and blue with the golden sun situated at the apparent apex. (Are they all gone?) The Socs, I meant. I sure hoped they were. It was all empty and quiet. Well, I guess it ought to be, right? After all, school's still going on right now.

I should be in school. I know I should, but what's there for me? There's maybe all but five people there I'd actually like to see. Besides, after all the stuff that went down, I missed like two whole weeks of it anyway. And the school year's almost over. It's not like missing a few more's gonna change anything, right?

But ever since then, I can safely say that my grades have improved, greatly even. And it's all just for them. But since there's not so much time left, they haven't really changed much, if at all.

I walked down the road alone. The sun was more or less burning the jacket off my back, but I still felt cold inside. The road headed towards the house of a good friend. I don't live in my old house, and thank God too. It's far too painful to stay...

Realizing the obvious, I began to worry. It is quiet, too quiet. No one was at the house: no one was there to help me. I was all alone now, alone in this world, with no one who truly understands me...

But at least I've got some good friends. I may not look it, but I will readily fight for them in a heart beat. I'll have their back, and I want to be there for them all the way. Why? Because I know they'll do the same for me, and they're all that I have left...

At the intersection of the road, someone walked out in front of me and stopped at my very sight. He was alone too, I recognized him instantly and vice versa was true as well. His eyes glared daggers right through me. I could literally feel all of his hate intensely burning at my insides. Though I tried, I could not return the favor.

Randy Adderson was his name, and I internally shuddered at the sight of him. One of the guys who could've easily killed me that day. But I showed no fear, you just don't do that. Though he doesn't have the right, I guess it's real understandable why he's mad at me of all people. I'm certain that Marcia dumped him the day she figured it all out. And since then, the guy's not the same. Cherry and Marcia told me how they were genuinely nice guys; real tuff, funny and talented. A guy who a cut above the rest, not just to Greasers, but to other Socs, and they admired him for that.

But I've never known that kind of person. I don't think I ever will. And here before me sure wasn't him, the guy that Marcia describe, that is.

"It's you're fault! Why couldn't you just die?" the hatred was rising quickly.

"Then and none of this would've happened!" he shook with a desperate look in his eyes. Somehow I was starting to believe him. He knows I didn't kill Bob, though if it weren't for me, he wouldn't have died then. But everyone else seemed to think otherwise.

All I could do was let my head sink, I tried fighting it but I wouldn't listen to me. I never do. My unresponsiveness only got him madder.

"That's it, Grease. You're gonna pay!" he rushed at me quickly. He tried a right hook, but I managed to catch his hand and returned it with a right hook too. I punched just hard enough to make his mouth bleed slightly. He swore at me again, wiping away the blood with the back of his hand. I backed up more while he ran towards me again.

This time, he punched faster than I could see; so I closed my eyes, rose one of my hands in front of me and sent the other at his direction. I hit him some how, but no hard enough to make much of an effect. His other hand swooped under and hit me square in the stomach. I was pushed down and then kicked him as he tried to follow up. I got up as quick as I could but he hit me again on my left cheek. I dodged his next move and leg sweeped him.

I wasn't thinking right, then. I don't want to fight. There's no use to it all. But I know I have to. It's too late now, there's nothing I can do right now.

Again, I wouldn't listen to me. I walked back slowly in a real dumb look on my face.

Struggling on the ground, he lunged and grabbed my foot and tripped me down, my back flat on the floor. He started wailing on me, I closed my eyes real tight and kept my hands in front of my face, trying to shield myself. But they were no help. I kneed him away from me and I managed to stand again and throw out a left swing. He reeled backward and I eyed him sorely, wanting to stop this right now.

He didn't seem to get the message. Randy was a real good fighter, so was I, but not like him. He was quick and pretty strong too. Some how I didn't think he want to fight much longer either.

This time, we both made a quick dash at each other. I managed to get close enough to swing me right fist around and aim for the side of his face. He caught this and prepared for that hit, so instead my hand drew back and the other hand thrusted into his stomach.

"Randy, stop. Just...just leave it, there's no point." My voice came out toneless but weak, and I turned away and walked towards the house.

"Stop? And what?" I stopped to look at him. His breathing was unsteady and heavy, a insane look was imprinted on his face. One out of desperation as well as a need for honor.

"Lose to a Greaser? Never." I tried blocking him again, but he bypassed my guard and pushed me hard enough to hit the wall behind me pretty hard. Though I didn't lose my balance and fall over, he drove me to the wall and held me up by my shirt collar.

My body was aching so much and I could barely breath. My arms felt so heavy that I though that at any moment now, they could fall off my body. My eyes looked into his. Mine weren't the same now. Now, all I felt was sheer hatred for not just him, but all Socs. They were the ones who cause my true suffering and it's because of them that they've left this world. So would I join them now?

(No...)

His eyes looked sorry. It was like if there were any other way he knew, that he'd take it. Back before we met Cherry and Marcia, at least we knew what to expect of each other. That's what we lived in for almost all of our lives. Greasers and Socs. The traditions have remained the same. But a Greaser with a Soc girl for any reason except for hollering at each other, sparked a flame never lit before. And even though no Greaser would admit it, that's the way we'd like it all. Predictable and expected, no real surprises came our way as long as things stayed the way they were. But times have changed, and those not ready for it were swept away by the storm, including me.

Why did kids need to fight? For belonging and brotherhood? Was it something to be proud of?

...I doubt I'll ever know.

He staggered before we both became motionless. He looked back to the side and his eyes light up. "Heheh," he looked behind him and smiled. "You're gonna get it now." Three more Socs, ones he probably knew, were walking down the street towards us. I punched him as hard as I could. He dropped like rock, and I started running like there was no tomorrow.

I always could run faster than most Socs and most my friends too.

When I got to Greaser territory, they stopped, seeing other Greasers around. They just stared each other down before the Socs left. But I kept running to the house, though at a much slower pace than before.

When I got to the house, I opened the door. I've been here so much times that I was starting think I've lived here forever. After looking for a sofa, I jumped up and plopped on top of it, exhausted. I wasn't off too bad right now, I've been through worse. I guess I got lucky this time, if Randy was with another Soc then maybe I would've never gotten away.

I eventually went to the bathroom. Ignoring my bloody face at first, I felt real dirty so I washed it off. I looked at a mirror, dang all that fighting and running really messed my hair. I still grease it a lot but it hasn't grown back since Windrixville.

I walked towards my room; all I wanted was to rest my head. I was still throbbing from the pain of our fight. It felt weird being in this room, though. It didn't belong to me and I didn't like the thought that not too long ago, someone else was living, breathing, and sleeping here.

I passed a picture with a wooden frame. It was in black and white. The picture was one of my whole family. Mom and Dad were there, it was a long time ago. I remember the laughs we shared and a time when things were always better. It brought back a smile to this greasy boy, for the first time in a long time.

Back then, the Greaser and Soc conflict was non-existent to me. So if things didn't take a turn for the worse...(Would I be a Grease? Would I ever met all my friends, the people I fight for? And if we did, how would I treat them? Like dirt like I was a Soc? Or like a brother as a fellow Greaser?)

I don't know, but I wonder...

And soon enough, the smile had melted.

I don't even know why I have this picture! It's no good now, all it is, is reminder of how much life sucks right now! I couldn't stand to see it anymore. Back when we all shared laughs together? That was a long, LONG time ago...

I threw the picture far in the back of the room... I don't want to see it again.

I found a paper assignment from my English class. I had to write a them that was important to me. I jumped at the chance when I first heard about it. Maybe this was my chance to maybe change something in this world. Maybe I could let people know that things were rough all over, no matter who you are and what you do. Life may not be so fair, especially mine, but maybe I can matter through this. I can't say I forgive the Socs, I just can't and I don't think I'll ever. But maybe one day, they'll realize that we're human too, not so different from us, right?

But maybe this won't change a damn thing at all...Even so, I don't want to bring myself down anymore. Maybe it won't matter so much, I don't care. Something needed to be said and I'm not gonna miss an opportunity like this. I know what I want to right, and I'm doing this for them and everyone else out there like us. Maybe there were other cities around that had the same problem, so maybe I can help them out.

I got out the phone and called my teacher, "Hello?" "Hello?" another voice answered. "Who is this?" obviously curious since my voice was well young enough to be someone who should be in school right now.

"Mr. Syme, the theme; how long does the theme have to be?" "Uh, as long as you want it to be. Just who is this?" I barely listened to him after he answered my question.

"It doesn't matter (it really didn't), thanks Mr. Syme," I hung up and went to a table to get ready and write it all down.

I wrote in big letters, Greased Lightning. I knew what I wanted to write about, my life. The things I've been through and the things me and my friends have experienced. Though, I didn't want it to be in my perspective, I didn't want people to know what really went down, at least not all the specific details. But just enough.

I thought about it for a long, long time. I knew who I wanted to be the eyes and ears of this story. I knew how this story would go down, so very close to my - or our lives. But I think it'll be sufficient. I knew now how to start it all:

When I stepped out of the darkness and into the light, I had two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home...

But then I remembered one thing. I had to write my name...I hate my name, I always did, but it was mine and that's how things are. I'm probably gonna put an alias or something when I finish this, but as for now, I wanted my name to be written proudly, for once. Just that this is my own, original story. So I did, I wrote it in a big and fancy font and deeply bolded. Almost the same size as the title.

Johnny Cade

Author's Note:

Like my other stories, this is not going to be a One-Shot. But it will not be updated so much at all. Well anyway, this is a major AU of the Outsiders, very similar but with a quite a few significant differences here and there. And there will be a lot of direct references from the actual book too.

So were any of y'all surprised by the end, because if so then I did a good job here. 8)