A/N: Yay! I've started another story! At first I was going to wait until I've actually finished it before posting, but Crimson (read her stuff! She's great!) convinced me to post it =P so yeah I hope you all like it!! I only own Melanie, her mother, Nate, Ed, Molly, Molly's shop… I think that's like all… yeah…heh! Enjoy!

!~*Chapter One*~!

Flapping my golden brown hair against the wind, I ran. I ran up hills, down slopes, through the long grass of the prairie and the hard asphalt of the streets. I stopped, breathless and hunched over, and made a mental note never to wear tight jeans again.
        I slowly straightened up, clutching my side in pain and looked around heavily. I was near good-looking stores, with expensive looking cars parked on the newly paved streets. The people were dressed up in really nice clothes, and I shuddered. I was close to the rich side of town, which meant I had run at least six or seven miles.

        I quickly scanned for a clothing store, and luckily there was one really close by. I hesitantly opened the door, glancing half-heartedly up at the sign that read, "Molly's Material ~ Dressy, Casual, Sportswear."

        I browsed a bit, looking at the cute shirts and casting an evil eye at the dresses and skirts. I gave a small smile as I remember my mother trying to force me to wear dresses as a kid... out of all the times she attempted, she succeeded maybe twice.
        I quickly bought a pair of short running shorts, a tank top and a sports bra. The lady gave me a once-over and her cheerful expression faltered before handing me my clothes – probably wondering what in the devil I was thinking wearing jeans and a T-shirt covered absolutely in sweat. I gave her a small smile in return and handed her a ten from my pocket.

        Taking my bag of newly bought running gear, I hurried into the dressing room and changed. Peeling off my wet-with-body-fluid clothes, I stuffed them into the bag. If I was to run back the six to seven miles, I was definitely not going to wear jeans.
        Slinging the bag onto my arm, I flung my hair back and put it up in a tight ponytail. I usually wear messy and loose, but I didn't want to stop every twenty seconds to fix it.

        Coming out of Molly's shop, I unwisely threw my old clothes into the trash. Hopefully mother and Ed wouldn't wonder where they went.
        My body unconsciously gave a frigid shudder and my eyebrows narrowed as I stared at nothing. They were the reason I took off running. I don't even know my mother anymore. Fucking Ed had to ruin everything. I hated them both, I missed my father. It was all my mothers fault. Stupid Ed.

        I shook my head and held it in my hands, staring at the sidewalk. I scolded myself for acting like a child all the time. You're sixteen Melanie! Act like it! I ordered myself. I nodded, then looked around to see if it was safe to cross.
        It was. I hurriedly waved to the person who stopped for me to move as I ran across the street, and they honked twice. I gave them a puzzled look, then realized it was one of the Socs I knew from school… his name was Nathan. He pulled over onto the curb and I stopped moving.
        As Nate got out, the moonlight shone brightly and briefly on his royal blue eyes. I squinted and my heart did a leap. He grinned and leaned against his car.
        "Hey, Mel, what are you doin on this side of town? Do you visit here often at 9:00 at night?"

        Most... greasers... don't get this kind of greeting. I asked all my friends about it, and Two-Bit told me that it was because I was 'fucking gorgeous.' Soda laughed and added that I was the nicest person he knew, and Dally breathed into his cigarette and patted me on the back, claiming that I didn't take shit from anyone, except for maybe himself. Steve said it was a deadly and loveable combination. I just shrugged and laughed.
        "Family troubles caused me to split, and I ran all the way here," I laughed and added, "I wanted to buy more comfortable clothes for running back home."

        He looked me up and down and I felt my face turn a little pinker. I silently prayed he'd think it was make-up.

        "I'm sorry about your family… Hey did you wanna stop by my place for a little bit? My parents are out and my little brother's at a friends…" he trailed off and gave me a wink, grinning.
        I smirked and playfully hit his arm. "You wish Nate!" I giggled, then added, "Maybe I would, but I gotta get back home… The last thing I need now is them calling the fuzz on me."

        Nate looked a bit disappointed, but he nodded. "Well, can I at least drive you home?" I raised an eyebrow and he laughed. "To YOUR home, and I promise no where else."

        I shrugged. "Okay, well, a ride would be nice… could you drop me off a couple miles from home then? I wanna get a few more miles in my workout today."

        "Damn Melanie, you have a hot body already. I'll drive you the whole way, you don't need anymore miles."

        I blushed again and smiled. "Okay Nate."

        He grinned and opened the car door for me, then ran around the car to his side and started the engine. He put his arm around the back of my seat and we sped off towards Greaser Country.

        We drove in silence for a while, when he abruptly said, "Hey, Mel, why don't we go out sometime? I'd love to take you out."
        I whirled my head around to face him, shocked. "Are you serious?"

        Nate shrugged. "Yeah, why not?"
        "Because I'm a greaser and you're a Soc!"

        Nate removed his arm and used both hands on the steering wheel to turn the corner and into my driveway. He turned off the engine and laid back in his seat, facing me. "I know, but I'm startin' to really like you Mel."

        "Nate you KNOW all the shit that would put us through if we started dating… I'm sure your parents and our friends would disagree and raise hell."

        Nate looked half confused and half irritated. "What, are you saying my parents would do something?"

I sighed and looked at the seat cushions. They were so much nicer than what I'm used to, I thought, tracing the stitching up and down. "No, Nate, I just meant that out of both of our parents yours are the only ones who… I don't know… care about you. Mine don't give a rats ass about me, I don't think they'd know when my birthday is let alone who I'm dating."

Nate instantly softened and lifted my chin up so my eyes would gaze into his. "I'm sorry Mel, I didn't mean to sound so angry… I guess you're right though; it would tear our relationship apart if everyone knew we were dating. We'll stay friends though, right?" he looked at me with pleading eyes.

        I smiled. "Of course!"

        He grinned back and leaned towards me. I closed my eyes and felt his lips against mine. He scooted closer so his chest pressed against mine.

Suddenly a bright light flickered on and I quickly opened my eyes. Looking in between Nate's head and shoulder, I saw Ed with Rover, our dog, walking down the path from our house to the driveway.

"Nate!" I groaned, "Get us out of here!"

He got off of me, started the engine and sped out of the driveway. My step-father's footsteps got louder and more frequent as he started running towards the car, shaking his fist at us and yelling obscenities such as, "Who the hell are you? Why are you in my goddamn driveway?! Get out of here fuckers!"

I thanked God he didn't recognize me.

"Where are we going?" he asked, and I pointed to a house down the street. "If you could drop me off there that would be great!"

His grin from making out with me in his car faltered a bit, the probable cause being that I didn't suggest his house. He pulled into the driveway and looked at me expectantly. I smiled at him, leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. He ruffled me hair and I thanked him for everything. I quickly opened the door and got out of the car, slamming the door before rushing up to the house.

I opened it without knocking, only because this was like my second home. Johnny and I, one of my friends, probably spend more time here than our own homes.
        I gazed lovingly at the chairs, tables and sofa in the living room I was standing in. I could feel all the love and friendship radiating off of everything… this was truly my home.
        "Hey Mel, you gonna buy anything or just stare?" I heard the comedic voice and chuckle of Two-Bit carry through the house from the kitchen.
        I skipped into the next room and found the eighteen-year-old sitting at the table facing me, grinning and eating a cookie. Seven more could be found lying on a napkin on the table.
        "Stocking up on the sweets, huh Two-Bit?" I joked, grabbing a cookie and ruffling his hair. He grabbed my hand and pulled me on his lap.

"Hey, don't touch my cookies!" he playfully scolded, yanking it out of my hand and stuffing it in his mouth. He grinned a mouth full of crumbs at me and I laughed.
        "Where's the Curtis'?" I asked, realizing he was the only one here.
        He chewed the cookie vigorously and swallowed, wincing. "Hot damn that was a bigass cookie. I wonder who made those. Hmm they looked pretty normal so couldn't have been Soda; you know that he made green pancakes once? Jesus. I figure it was Darry, Ponyboy ain't much of a cook if you ask me."

I got up off of Two-Bit's lap and grabbed his face in mine. "Two-Bit, stop talking about cookies. Where's everyone?"

He grinned up at me and placed his hands on my wrists. "They're at Pony's last track meet, doll. It's just you and me here. Hey!" he suddenly said, taking one hand away from my arm and cupping his ear, "What's that? I think I hear the bed calling us, Mel, can't you?"

I tried my best to keep a straight face and pretended to listen hard. "Oh my goodness Two-Bit! I think you're right! But that isn't the bed calling, it's the toilet! How many damn cookies did you eat?"

He burst out laughing and smacked my butt. "You're a funny one Melanie. But seriously, come on," he grabbed my arm and threw me on the couch in the living room, "LET'S GET BUSY!" he yelled, jumping on top of me and doing obscene motions.
        "TWO-BIT! Oh God my virgin eyes!" I screamed, covering my eyes with my hands and laughing.
        He stopped moving and gave me his trademark grin and kissed my lips lightly. "You know I love you Mel," he chuckled.

He got up and pretended to dust off his legs. "Mel!" he groaned, "You got me dirrrrrty!" he grinned again, drawing out the 'r.'

I laughed and shoved his chest. "So, where are Steve and Dally and Johnny at tonight?"

He pursed his lips together and frowned. "Hmm good question. I'm bettin' Johnny went to the track meet too. Dally's probably at Tim's or Buck's, and I know for a fact that Steve is out with Evie at the drive-in."

"Neat. So what you been up to today? How come you're here all alone?"

"I tried to pick up some girls at Buck's today, since me and Cathy split last week, but before I got too into it their boyfriends came around so I left." He grinned and added, "I came because I knew you'd probably be by and I didn't want you to be lonely," he gave me a puppy dog look and traced a finger up my arm.

I laid my head against his chest and he played with my hair. "You're so good to me Two-Bit," I laughed.

"Hey, I try baby."

We sat on the couch flipping channels for a while. I was just about to put on Mickey Mouse when the screen door flew open and I nearly jumped a mile in the air. Ponyboy came running in yelling and grinning so wide I thought his ears would pop off.

"Jesus Pony! I nearly peed myself!" I shouted, however I was laughing at the scene he was making.

He turned to me with that huge smile on and threw open his arms for a hug. "I WON ALL MY RACES!"

I flew off the couch and smothered him in a big hug. "Pony that's terrific! If I would have known you had a meet today I would have gone!"

We both pulled away and he sank onto the couch next to Two-Bit, telling him every detail, from what races he ran to how many times he ended up lacing up his shoes. I giggled, and turned to the door as it swung open again and Soda and Darry entered.

"Hey Soda! Hi Darry!" I gave them both a hug. "Pony said he won the races!"

Darry's eyes were full of pride. "Hell yeah, he sure did! You should have seen him, he was so fast-"

As I listened to him tell me all about his little brother, I turned my gaze to Soda briefly and he gave a wink. I grinned at him, then looked at Darry again. I was so happy Pony and Darry had a better relationship. Before that whole terrifying ordeal with Johnny killing that Soc and him and Pony running off to Jay's mountain after Darry hit him, I could just feel the tension between them. Darry was too hard and Pony was… a teenager. He couldn't help it, and neither could Darry. They both didn't want any more deaths, what with they're parents and all. We nearly lost Johnny and Dally too. It was the scariest time of my whole life; I went to bed crying every day. I even slept once in Pony's bed next to Soda because I missed him so much.

"He reminds me of you, Mel, with that incredible stamina you have!"

I jerked out of the memories just in time to hear Darry finish up talking about Pony to direct the conversation at me. "Oh, yeah! Thanks Darry! Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he beat my old track record next year!"

He grinned, patted my shoulder and excused himself. "Alright gang, it's well past 11. Pony, Soda, get your butts in bed!"

Pony scowled at Darry, and Darry stuck his tongue out at him. Grinning, Soda ushered his brother upstairs and they both yelled goodbyes to me and Two-Bit. We shouted after they're retreating figures and Darry, who had picked up the paper and was reading in his favorite chair, then started heading out the door.

"I'll walk you home, Mel, just in case you changed your mind or something," Two-Bit awkwardly offered, and I accepted. I knew what he meant. 'Just in case you didn't wanna deal with your parents, then you could stay at my house.'