Hello all! I'm very excited about this fic!

S.E. Hinton owns the Outsiders, I do not. The character Paula is mine however. She is about 15 in this story. Sam's mine too. Enjoy!

May 1966

"This is the last time," Paula stifled a yawn with her small hand. Her other hand brought the small white stick to her mouth. Closing her eyes she inhaled deeply.

"What're you talkin' about? You have enough left for at least one more joint," the boy sitting next to her said as he took what was left of the stick from in between her fingers.

"You know what I mean." A breathy sigh slipped through her lips. Letting her body slide down the wall until she was laying flat on her back, Paula looked to the twinkling stars up above.

"Yeah, and you've said it before. It doesn't mean anything."

He had a point. She had said it before, too many times to count. But she knew if she didn't keep saying it, she'd for sure never get around to ending it. He was wrong, it did mean something. He just obviously didn't like it.

"You know the trouble we'd catch if anyone found us here," she said aloud. Her brother would whoop her ass, that's for sure.

"It's four in the morning. It ain't exactly busy out 'round this time." She knew Sam worried just the same as she did, his cool persona just wouldn't allow him to show it.

"Whatever," sighing again, Paula gave up and let the marijuana fully relax her body.

"Want to make out?" he wasn't exactly the most tactful guy out there, but at least he was honest.

"No."

" 'kay."

XXX

Less than an hour later, Paula wrapped her jacket tightly around her body and set off in the direction of her home. From behind her she heard Sam ask the same question he did every night,

"You want a ride?"

"Please. I can hear your car a mile away. I'll walk."

"So–tomorrow this time," it was more of a statement than an actual question.

"Maybe, don't get your hopes up." It was a lie. He knew it just as well as she knew it. She'd be there. She needed to be. Sam shook his head at her and the hopped into his rust bucket of a car taking off the opposite direction.

It was a nice evening out, the spring days of May were refreshing after a long winter. The jacket Paula wore was mainly for security, not warmth. In the dark of the night Paula cursed as she stumbled over a discarded brown fast food bag.

Shit.

She was a house or two down from her own home and she'd noticed the living room light shinning bright onto the front walkway. Cursing her luck, Paula crossed the street, walking until she past her house, making sure to stay out of the light. Quickly as she could Paula crossed the street again, sprinted into the neighbour's yard and climbed quietly as you can possibly climb over a chain link fence.

Maybe, her mother had just forgotten to turn the light out before she went to bed. Or maybe she passed out before she had the chance. In a quick motion Paula lifted her bedroom window and hoisted herself in as smoothly as possible.

Ignoring the thud of her heart beating loudly in her chest Paula listened for any movement in the house. Everyone seemed to be asleep. She kicked off her shoes and hopped into her bed. Squinting her eyes together as tight as they could go she read her alarm clock at 3:49. Only three hours till she had to be up for school. Groaning at the thought Paula rolled over in her bed pushing her face into her pillow.

"If you were trying to be stealthy, you suck at it."

Paula nearly jumped right out of her bed at the sound of another voice.

"God, Angela, you could of gave me warning before you scared the shit out of me," she sent a glare, willing her sister to see it even in the dark.

"How much do you think I like being woken up this early in the morning?" Angela did have a point there but Paula didn't much care. Angela had disturbed her sleep pattern countless times before.

"Whatever. G'night."

"Tim would have a fit if he knew what you were up to."

"Shut it Angela. It ain't your business."

"You'll owe me."

A/N: I know that the only character yourrecognize is Angela, but don't worry Curly, Tim, Ponyboy and the rest of the gang will be heavily involved in this story! Hate it or love it, review please.