Author's note: Hiya, guys! Here we okay with the one, the only, Motley Ace Curtis! In all honesty, starting this story is freaking me out. Usually I at least have a general idea of what I want to have happen in a story before I start posting it, but with this one, I'm only sure about how I want it the end. The question is, how to get there and how to make it interesting. So, take a leap of faith with me into the scary black hole and let's do this!

Disclaimer: The Outsiders is not mine in any way, shape, or form. If only wishing made it so...

THIS IS A SEQUEL TO STONE COLD, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY READ THAT, YOU WILL BE REALLY BLOODY LOST! I SUGGEST YOU GO READ THAT FIRST! Unless you like being confused. Whatever makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

Chapter 1: If You Tried

MOTLEY'S POV

I thought this was gonna be everything I wanted. I thought I was finally gonna be happy. I wasn't gonna have anyone bossing me around or telling me what to do. Nobody was gonna hurt me anymore. I was gonna be free.

It just didn't work out that way.

Let me start at the beginning.

XxXxX

I don't think I've ever been as nervous as I was on my way out of Tulsa. I only had one thought playing in my head over and over and over again. Somebody's gonna stop me and take me home. Somebody's gonna stop me.

Yeah, not if I can help it.

I was a little calmer once I was walking down the highway. People were less likely to recognize me out here, realize what the bag slung over my shoulder meant. It wouldn't be too hard for most of Tulsa to work it out. If I had a nickel for the number of times I've heard people talking about how they're surprised I put up with Darry and haven't just lit out for Texas by now…

"Uh, Curtis? You walkin' off in the direction of nowhere for any reason in particular?"

I'd only just reached the bus stop and turned to find Tim Shepard sitting next to me in his car.

"None of your business, Shepard." Usually I worked harder to be nicer to Tim, but I just wasn't in the mood today.

Tim looked at me for a second. Then he noticed the bag. "Holy shit. You're actually gonna do it."

"So?" I didn't have to answer to him.

"Curtis, c'mon. Think this through."

"I have. And it makes sense. Now piss off."

Tim shook his head, turned around and drove back to town. Something told me he was gonna go tell Darry exactly where I was. All I could do was hope and pray the bus got here before Darry did. I didn't have a chance to outrun them if I was on foot.

Thankfully, my prayers were answered. Sort of.

Our truck pulled up right behind the bus. I hopped off the bench and hurried over to the doors that just couldn't seem to open fast enough.

I got on the bus as fast as I possibly could and grabbed a seat at the back. It started pulling away from the curb. I was home free. I'd done it.

I looked out the window and saw Darry and Soda standing there. Ponyboy would still be with Two-Bit. He wouldn't know.

Glory, kiddo, I'm sorry.

"Motley, come back!" Darry shouted.

I ignored him. What else is new?

"Motley, please!"

It was so much harder to ignore Soda. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. Leave me alone, Soda. Just accept the inevitable and let me go. Forget about me. Please.

"Motley Ace Curtis-!" The rest of Darry's shout was lost as the bus really got going.

I sat there in stunned shock. I'd actually done it. I mean, every kid's thought about running away for the stupidest things, but most of them just go to sleep in their bed that night, too comfortable and happy right where they are. I'd actually gone and done it.

The main question was: what was I gonna do now?

"Hi."

I turned. There was a curly-haired brunette chick sitting across the aisle from me, smiling broadly. I was used to that by now. I get attention the same as Soda. I just don't put up with it as much as he does. This time, however, I didn't see why I shouldn't talk. I had nothing better to do. "Hi yourself."

"Do you know those people out there?"

You couldn't just talk about anything else? "Just some guys I gotta leave behind."

"They sure didn't seem to like the idea."

"Well, that's their problem, now isn't it?"

"Ooh, ice."

"Yeah, I'm good at that."

"So, why? And who are they?"

"They're my brothers. And we've been havin' some issues lately. People lying and breakin' promises and tellin' secrets that ain't theirs to tell. You know how it rolls."

"Yeah, I do." There was something about her face that told me she did genuinely understand. "I'm leavin' for pretty much the same reason. Me and my folks don't get along, so I'm goin' to college somewhere as far away from here as possible.

"Impressive."

"Where're you goin'?"

"I dunno. I'm just gonna wing it."

"No college?"

"I was under the impression you had to graduate high school for that one."

She looked at me with renewed interest. "You're a dropout? You really didn't strike me as the type."

That's weird. Everybody was shocked when Soda left school and I didn't. "I ain't a drop out. My twin brother is, though. But whatever. I just ain't finished yet."

I think it hit her then exactly what was going on. "You're not over eighteen yet, are you? You're not movin' out, you're runnin' away."

"Somethin' like that."

"You trust me enough to tell me that? I mean, I could run straight to the cops the minute I get anywhere near a phone."

"You really didn't strike me as the type."

"Ha ha. But really. Why d'you trust me?"

"I don't. The thing is, even if you did tell somebody, I'd be outta there before they could show up, so it wouldn't matter anyhow. And your body would be in a ditch on the side of the road."

She stared at me, then started laughing.

Isn't it nice when somebody gets your sense of humor? Especially when most people get freaked out by it? When I say stuff like that, most everybody thinks I'm dead serious. I'm really just messing around. Most of the time.

"So, where're you gonna go first?"

"Oklahoma City. Get my bearings. Then we'll see where I go from there."

"Well, here." She pulled a piece of paper out of her bag and started writing on it. "This is gonna be my phone number as soon as I'm settled in. You seem interesting, and I don't want this to be one of those 'met the perfect guy, talked to him some, then let him go and never saw him again' things."

Well, this was going different than I'd expected. But I took the paper and pocketed it anyhow.

"So, d'you have a job? Or, had?"

"I worked down at these stables in town. You know the Slash J stables?"

"Yeah. So, you worked with horses?"

"Nah, I worked with the dogs. Trained em up to race."

"Y'know, technically that's illegal."

I hadn't thought about that. "Well, it's not like any of the cops cared. Half of em turned out to watch."

"So, you got along well with the police?"

I started laughing. "Me? Hell, no. Half of em woulda liked it best if I'd just gotten shot and killed. Y'know, except for all the paperwork. They just ignored some of their own laws every now and then so they could do what they wanted, y'know? Hypocrites."

"I never had very much to do with the police. My parents would've skinned me if I did."

"Mine would for everythin' I do too, if they were still around."

"Your parents are dead?"

We were getting into an area of conversation that really isn't my favorite. "Yeah, they are. Car wreck about eight months ago."

"I'm so sorry…"

"I never got that. Sayin' you're sorry. It's not like you did anythin'. You didn't kill em."

"You don't wanna talk about this, do you?"

"Not particularly, no."

"Well, let's talk about somethin' else. I'm Christine. What's your name?"

I paused. "Ace."

She cocked an eyebrow. "That's different."

"I like it, and don't you go givin' me any shit for it."

"I wasn't planning on it. I like it. It's good different. Are there any other weird names in your family?"

Another pause before I shook my head. "My twin's name is Patrick. My kid brother's name is Michael. My older brother's name is Shaynne, after our dad." Halfway true.

"And your older brother's the one you're fighting with?"

"Yep. He's the colossal asshole of the universe."

"You've got a real mouth on you, you know that?"

"I've got a real nose too. What's your point?"

"I'm just saying."

"If it bothers you, don't talk." I'm not the type to sit there and let somebody criticize me.

"It's fine. I just… I wasn't expecting it, that's all."

"Were you raised under a rock? You look at a guy like me, and you don't expect a little language?"

"You're right. I should've realized. I just thought maybe you'd be different."

"Well, I ain't. And that's just life."

"You could be if you tried."

Thoughts? Sarcastic comments? Questions?