Okay, I've had this on .com (username: ZKAngel18) for a while (it's titled "The Outsiders" because I lack a creative nerve when it comes to titles sometimes). So I decided to put this on here. Good luck with it. I've had a few people just appalled that I made a character gender bent.
Yes, a character is gender bent, and no, I am not sorry about it.
Now that that is out of the way. I love the book "The Outsiders" and came up with this after reading most of Hinton's books and watching "The Outsiders" like fifty times (just not all at the same time). This takes place after "That was Then, This is Now" and "The Outsiders" and before "Tex". I do have a couple characters from "That was Then". Like Mark. You'll see how Mark and Bryon fit in that.
So yeah, now that that is out of the way as well. Enjoy the show!
"When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home." Those words are still etched in my mind as I rode the bus back to my hometown. It was my first year in college, any boy did it kick my butt. I was ready to come home anyway. I missed Darry and Two-bit and my side of town. I was the first greaser to make it to college and actually survive the year without dropping out.
I can't believe that after all these years of living without my best friend and Dallas, I still see the words on the paper when I wrote my theme for school. I missed them and regretted that I never got to fulfill Johnny's wishes of making Dally see a sunset. After I read Johnny's letter and thought about it, he was right. Dally wouldn't have gone on his own. Now that I think about it, Johnny's death has been a big part of me since they died. I thought about him constantly. I thought about Dallas too, just not as much. As much as I hated thinking about the night my friends died, it's the only way I can sleep at night knowing they aren't going to come back to life.
I looked at my used composition notebook again, rereading the words I wrote three years ago. I was a good writer then. I knew what I wanted to say and how to explain everything. I just refused to let my English workshop know it actually happened. I wanted to make sure they knew it was fiction and that was it. I didn't want them to know that I went through everything. Even my teacher thought this was impressive. Like I said, I wanted them to think it was a figment of my imagination.
I watched as everything I grew up with came into view. I smiled and closed my worn notebook and stuffed it in my bag as everything from my childhood came rushing back: Mom and Dad, Soda, Johnny, Dallas, Steve, Two-bit, the lot, the drive-ins, the rumble, my old school. Everything was coming into focus, just like everything had changed in the nine months I've been away. It was still the same buildings, roads, and the people looked the same. Have I changed or something?
I got off the Greyhound and grabbed my luggage. I was gonna return next semester but I wanted everything with me. I stepped into the building and looked around. It was the same as when I left. Well, everything was the same except a grinning Darry and Two-bit. I ran to them, dropping my bags and booking it into their arms. I wrapped my arms around them, making sure they weren't apperations I conjoured up and actually muscular Darry and laughing Two-bit.
"Look at you, Pony," Darry said as we finally got a good look at each other. We've written to each other and talked on the phone and stuff but nothing compares to actually seeing them and feeling them in your arms.
"I know, " I said with a wide smile. "Look at the two of you. I swear you guys look the same."
For that instant, I forgot about Soda, Johnny, and Dallas. I even forgot about everything my life here was like.
"Naw, we ain't the same. We're just older. I mean, look at Darry," Two-bit said. Leave it to Two-bit to make Darry feel even older.
I looked around and noticed Steve wasn't with them. "Where's Steve?"
"Workin' at the DX," Two-bit said. "They've been pretty short handed and they are still as busy as ever."
I didn't want to tell them yet that I wanted a job. The scholarship is great every year but I want my own money to spend while I am here. After all, I am seventeen.
Darry hit the side of Two-bit's shoulder to chastise him. I smiled as Two-bit grimaced and rubbed where Darry hit him. Darry looked at me with a smile.
"Well, get your bags, you're coming home with us," he said as he pointed to my dropped bags that were scattered on the floor.
I turned back to them and gave them an embarrassed smile before going and picking them up. Maybe things have changed around here. I didn't expect Two-bit or even Darry to grab my bags from me and carry them to the truck. I wouldn't let them take my bag. It held everything precious in my life. My compostion notebook with my theme in it. My pictures of my family and friends, and a necklace Soda sent me once. I just wear a plain necklace I got from Cherry when I graduated. I didn't want to ruin anything about it.
I sat in the middle as we rode home. Everything was the same as when I left. Even the buildings were. The Cade house was still empty, the lot was full of greasers, and the streets look just as bad. Nothing was new, except for the fact that Two-bit is living with Darry and I. That happened just after I left. Darry told me over the phone one time. At first, I didn't believe it. Now, I can't believe he waited this long to move in.
I felt my heart shudder when we passed the park that Johnny killed Bob in, or the place where I was jumped for the first and last time. They brought back painful memories that I can' t erase. I tried not to let either of them know I still dream about the murders and Dally's death. I still dream like when Mom and Dad died. This time, I don't have Sodapop to comfort me in the middle of the night.
"Welcome home, Pony," Darry said as he parked the truck and let me out.
The house looked the same. The same yard, the same doors, even the same porch that I loved to sit on and watch the colors in the sky and think about how things have changed. I smiled. At least this was the same. Two-bit and Darry unloaded my bags and we went in. Everything was still the same, even before Johnny and Dally died. There was still cake left out from breakfast and smelled and felt like home. I walked into my old room and looked around. It didn't have nearly as much life as the rest of the house. Was it because of Soda and me leaving?
Darry and Two-bit left me alone to unpack and I rearranged the room to make it look the same. My books scattered to the four corners of my room. Pictures on my bulliten board and notebooks on my desk. This felt better but it was still missing a big part: Soda. Nothing was the same without Soda. Even after I left for college nothing was the same. Glory, the things that happen when one person leaves.
Later on, after dinner, I finally bound up the courage to tell Darry my plans.
"Darry," I said as I looked to my lap for support. "I want a job."
Darry looked at me like I was crazy. "Why?"
"I want my own money for the summer. I don't want to have to ask you for it all the time."
"Fine," he said without much argument. "Where are you going to go?"
I shrugged. "Anywhere they will take me."
I decided to see Steve. He never came by last night and I wanted to see my brother's best friend. When I walked in, the place looked the same. It smelled the same. I even recognized Steve right away. He still looked the same and kept his hair combed in greasy, complicated swirls I'm glad I can't do with my own hair. I had this feeling in the pit of my gut that he wouldn't recognize me. I know my looks have changed a little.
"Steve?" I asked as I walked to the counter.
"Depends on who's askin'," he said as he leaned against the opposite sides of the counter.
"Someone who is interested in a job here," I said. I knew Soda's presence would linger here, and I kind of wanted it.
"Why would a girl like you want a job here?" Steve was trying to flirt with me. I want to see his face when he realizes that I am Soda's little sister.
"Well, I want money and my brother worked here," I said.
"Who was your brother?" Now he was confused. He still thinks I am at college.
"Sodapop Curtis," I said with a smile.
I can admit Steve's face was priceless. He went from pure shock from head to toe and a smile all in one shot.
"Remember me now?" I asked with a smile.
"Glory, Pony, I thought you were someone else." Steve gave me a smile and leaned against the counter. "How many days do you feel like working?"
"Weekends, weekdays, wherever you want me," I said with a nonchalant shrug. I just want money. I work up at the university in the library.
"How about Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays?" Steve said. "You start now."
My first day wasn't all that exciting. I already knew the inner workings of the DX Station from when Soda and Steve worked there together. I knew how to pump gas and even count change. There weren't very many people. I didn't care. It gave me time to catch up with Steve. I may have said that I sometimes hated my brother's best friend on occasions when I didn't want him to open his mouth, but after getting to know him again, he wasn't half bad. He just worked the same job he did three years ago.
"So, at work, what do you want me to call you? I am sure Pony is first on your list."
I chuckled and shook my head. "No, Curtis is fine. I'd rather people not know I am here just yet."
"They're gonna," he said. "You're the Curtis Girl. Like hell they ain't gonna recognize you."
"Fine then, I'll look like Soda."
"How will you do that?"
"You'll see tomorrow," I said with a smile as I jumped off the counter and started for the door. "See you tomorrow, Steve."
"Yeah, see ya," he said as I closed the door.
It was a nice night to walk. It wasn't cold or raining. It was a nice night, too bad my mind started wandering again. Before, I would have thought about was kind of pictures I could draw, or a story I could write. Now, after everything has happened, I think about what has happened. It's sad to think that one horrific night could cost me my imagination. I mean, I didn't do this after Mom and Dad died.
I walked into my house and looked at Two-bit sprawled on the couch and Darry watching the news. I smiled when Darry looked up and saw me. He smiled and shook his head.
"And where have you been?" he asked, trying to be the old Darry that would have yelled at me for not telling him where I was going.
"Working," I said as I stepped farther in. "I got a job with Steve Randle Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays."
Darry smiled and shook his head. "Okay, I'll talk to Steve about hours."
"Don't do that, Darry," I whined. I can still pull the youngest kid stunt every now and again.
Two-bit, who had just woke up from his nap, started laughing. "Listen to her, Darry. She actually wants to work."
"Alright, little buddy, what do you want for dinner?"
"Anything," I said as I walked to my bedroom to change.
Maybe coming back for the summer was a good thing. Maybe this is what I need to forget. I know it's going to be hard at first. Steve and Two-bit don't know I hang out with socs sometimes. But they aren't the usual socs. They became my friends after this whole mess with Johnny and me. Cherry has helped me through some of my college stuff after she graduated. Funny, we even go to the same college. Randy is at another college and him and Marcia are engaged. He still talks to me, and checks on me every now and again. If someone told me before the murders happened that I'd be friends with socs, I would have thought they were off their rocker. Now, it just seems normal.
