Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders, only my OC and her little world, nothing else. I don't make any profit from this, either.

A/N: Well, here it is, the beginning of my NaNoWriMo fic, and just in time for Good Fic Day! I hope you enjoy it. :) It introduces a previously mentioned character from my one-shot "War will make corpses of us all." If you haven't read it, beware, there will be some spoilers for this story. If you have, well, there's not too many spoilers I guess, but there is a little bit. Much thanks goes out to RileysMomma for making awesome suggestions and helping me out with editing and just being there as my beta. You seriously deserve to have free snacky stuffs forever!


The morning sun streamed through the windows of the classroom, making it almost bright enough to not need any lights on. The windows were open to let a little breeze in, and I could hear birds chirping in a tree nearby. I would've loved to sit by the window and gaze out of it all day long, but it was that exact reason I chose a seat in the middle of the classroom. I would have gone further back than the front seat – I didn't like being front and center, as it seemed like everyone was staring at you – but a group of snobby girls had commandeered my ideal seating area.

I barely even noticed their whispers and giggles anymore, though, as I concentrated on the notebook before me. I tightened my grip on the pencil as I wrote out my schedule in the very front of it, biting my lip and trying to remember what order my classes came in. I thought I had a slip of paper with all the information written down, but I couldn't find it upon perusal of my sack. I sighed and went through my bag again, and this time I found what I was looking for.

Gently unfolding the paper, I smoothed it out and began copying it. It was a good thing I found it; I had gotten a few of the classes and their times and locations mixed up. I would have been embarrassed as all hell if I had walked into the wrong classroom; I didn't like to draw much attention to myself.

This school was so different from my last one – much bigger – it was almost confusing. My old school was so small it only had one room per grade, and the teachers rotated throughout the day. Thankfully the kind secretary in the office offered to show me to my homeroom and gave me directions to the rest of my classes. I only hoped I remembered them, as I didn't really want to stop and ask for directions. The people here were much more standoff-ish, and nobody had bothered to give me a second glance. While I appreciated not being the center of attention, it was so different than the many greetings a newcomer would receive at good ol' Charlie N. Wilson High. It almost made me nervous, as if they were waiting for something, though what exactly I had no clue.

All I really wanted was to go back to my old, small high school, with my familiar desk almost near the back, next to my best friend, Helen. Helen always had a knack for cracking me up early in the morning, and it became something I looked forward to every day. I felt a pang of heartache shoot through my chest, and I wondered if she had gotten my letter, yet. I sent that, what, last week? No, I think it was in the middle of the week before …

Biting my lip again and twirling a piece of my ponytail around my finger, I was lost in thought until some guy in a worn leather jacket came along and cruelly pushed my books off my desk.

Startled, I looked up to see cold brown eyes, and the boy chuckled as he walked to the back of the room and settled into a seat in the back, taking a comb out of his pocket at the same time to brush his greasy hair. What a great way to start at a new school, I thought.

Sighing, I reached down to gather my books, when all of a sudden there was another pair of hands there.

"Here, let me help you," another boy said as he gathered a couple of books and handed them to me.

I was startled, as this boy looked similar to the bully with his leather jacket, greasy hair, and cowboy boots. If I had seen him elsewhere, I probably would have never even glanced his way, in case he spotted me and decided wanted to hassle me. But, squatting at my side, and looking up with those grey eyes that had a certain sparkle in them, he looked almost approachable.

Almost.

"Oh, thank you," I replied, settling my books on my desk again, arranging them in order of my classes.

He took a seat next to me and leaned over so he could talk to me better. "I haven't seen you around before, you new here?"

I nodded. "Yes. Yes, I am."

He leaned a little closer. "What's your name?"

I nervously pushed my long bangs out of my face before I replied, "Anne. Anne Larson."

He grinned. "Everybody calls me Two-Bit."

I had to chuckle. "That's an interesting nickname."

He took a breath, as if to say something else, when the bell rang and the teacher stepped into the room. I was instantly all business, my notebook open and my pen poised to write any pertinent information.

I heard a snort and a snicker beside me, and I looked over to see Two-Bit grinning absurdly. "What?" I whispered.

"Nothin, doll, never mind."

The day passed in a whirlwind of activity, and I was already overwhelmed by the time lunch rolled around. I flinched when I realized that I had forgotten to pack something to eat, even though we barely had anything to eat anyway, and I furiously hoped that no one would notice. Instead, I took all of my books and began working on my homework at a small table tucked away in a corner.

I started twirling a strand of hair from my ponytail again, concentrating on the book before me rather than the activity around me. I hadn't seen the bully nor Two-Bit when I walked in, but then again it was rather crowded and I never bothered with more than that first cursory glance. My grey pencil skirt and white blouse blended me into the background of a sea of color from madras to sweater sets, and I enjoyed the camouflage of sorts that it gave me.

Someone suddenly sat down at my table, startling me. I looked up into the most gorgeous set of dark blue eyes I had ever seen. The boy now sitting in front of me flashed me a grin that dazzled me and I was half-afraid my jaw was going to hit the table.

I swallowed, suddenly tongue-tied, but he didn't seem to notice as he spoke smoothly. "You're the new girl, huh?"

I nodded. "Uh huh."

Another smile. "I'm Bob Sheldon. And you are …?"

"A-Anne. Anne Larson."

"Well, Anne, how is your first day at Will Rogers high? What do you think of it?"

I shrugged. "It's cool." I half-chuckled. "It's really big."

"Small town girl, huh?"

I grinned, and my eyes sought the table. I didn't know why I had such a hard time looking him in the face. He was just so different from the guys at my old school. They mostly just blended into the background, with me, but Bob naturally stood out. He had a charisma about him that attracted and a calmness that soothed away any uneasiness. He seemed laid back and casual, not uptight like one would expect a popular person to be, for that's what he was. He had to be one of the boys in the popular group. If not, everything in Tulsa was completely backwards.

"Hey, do you want to go out for a coke after school?"

I was startled by his question, mostly that it was directed at me, and I had to take a moment to regain my voice. "Um … what?"

"There's this place near school, called Rusty's. I go there all the time; it's a nice place to just hang out for a bit. Would you like to get a coke there with me after school?"

I swear I could feel my ears getting warm. I had only just met this boy, but something about him prompted me to want to answer in the affirmative. I looked down as I answered him. "Sure." I looked up again to see those beautiful eyes flash with light.

He gave me another smile and said, "I'll meet you at the bottom of the stairs after school."

I nodded and smiled. "Ok."

"Great," he said in reply before getting up and walking over to a group of boys I presumed was his friends.

My mind whirled as my eyes struggled to find the spot where I had left off on the page. I had just been asked out! Maybe this town isn't so bad after all.