A/N: Yes, so my other main story is not going to be worked on for a while because when I become obsessed with movies or books, I write fan fictions on them. So, this is my Outsiders fan fiction. I do not own Ponyboy, Sodapop, Darry, Johnny, Two-Bit, Dally, Steve, Cherry, Randy, Bob or Marcia. They belong to S. E. Hinton. She's an amazing author. I do own Carrie, though. Oh, and some of the things may be more like the movie than the book because I've only read the book 2 times && seen the movie like 14. Anywho, it's based 3 months after the whole Johnny/Dally fiasco. So, enjoy! I am well aware that I did not do her books justice. But still. Review please! Oh, && like the original, it's in Pony's pov. kthnx. lol
Chapter One
I sleepily rubbed my eyes to try and shield them from the harsh sunlight entering my room. I faintly wondered why it was so bright for winter, but ignored it. It was a saturday, and the normally noisy house was eerily quiet. The Curtis household hadn't quite been the same for the past three months.
It seemed like just yesterday Johnny, Dally and I were sneaking into the drive in. I shook my head to clear the thoughts of them out of my mind. I moved to sit on the edge of the bed and wondered vaugly where everyone was.
Quietly, I got up and opened the door. Voices were murmuring in the living room. I edged closer to hear what was being said without being seen.
"I just don't think it's too hot of an idea," Darry said. Someone shifted on the couch and sighed.
"But he could use the company. Besides, she needs a home and she's the same age as him. He's been living cooped up since the deaths. It would be good for him to have someone else to talk to," I heard a familiar female voice reply. It sounded like a voice I hadn't heard for three months. It sounded like... Cherry Valance. What was she doing here talking to my brother? I decided to make myself known so I cleared my throat and entered the room.
"Hello Cherry, fancy meeting you here," I said a little stiffly. I hadn't talked to her since the day of the rumble (I refused to remember what else happened that day).
"Hi Ponyboy," she acknowledged me, then turned to Darry. "Just promise me you'll think about it?" Darry nodded and Cherry got up and left without another word.
"What was that about?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at Darry. I glanced around and for the first time relized Sodapop was no where to be found. That was odd considering Soda didn't work on saturdays and Steve did.
"Nothing," Darry muttering, picking up an empty beer bottle. Then he added, "Soda went down to the DX to hang out with Steve for a while. And Two-Bit is definately-" he paused to pick up 2 more empty beer bottles, "-too hung over to do anything." He disappeared into the kitchen. I sighed. I knew what that meant. Either I stayed home and helped Darry clean up, or I left and did something. I wandered back into my room to get dressed and such when I found a note on my bed. I reached over and picked it up, recognizing Soda's handwritting.
Ponyboy,
When you read this, it'll probably be too late to find me. I've decided to spend some time in Texas. I have some friends down there. Tell Darry I'm ok. And tell Steve I'm sorry. He'll understand. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you before I left.
-Sodapop
Great, I thought. Now what am I gonna do? I folded up the note and, after I was dressed and ready, I brought the note out to Darry. I watched his expression turn from confused to surprised to upset as he read. Then he turned to me and half-heartedly smiled.
"Well, we all knew he was gonna leave eventually. I just didn't think I'd be so soon," he said. I was a little confused and surprised, but I just shrugged it off and told Darry I was going for a walk. I glanced down the street half expecting to see Randy's mustang. I shook my head again. Why was I now rememebering all this stuff after I tried so hard to forget?
I passed the vacant lot and rememebered looking up at the stars with Johnny. I looked at the lot, then did a double take. Just like the night of the rumble, Cherry's sting ray was parked in the lot and she looked like she was waiting for someone. The only difference was there was another person in the car as well.
"Hi Cherry," I said, trying to see who was in the car. Cherry looked up, relieved. I didn't notice; what I did notice was the girl in the car had her feet up on the dashboard and was reading.
"Ponyboy, did Darry talk to you?" she asked, sounding hurried and somewhat hopeful. I shook my head. I knew she wasn't talking about Soda's disappearance. Suddenly the conversation from earlier popped into my head. "But he could use the company. Besides, she needs a home and she's the same age as him. He's been living cooped up since the deaths. It would be good for him to have someone else to talk to." Relization hit me as if someone had punched me. I glanced from Cherry to the girl in the car.
Cherry noticed me looking at the girl. "Her name's Carrie. She's your age and she needs a home," Cherry said, rubbing her arms. It was definately way too cold to be this sunny. "She's been livinng at my house but my mom is kicking her our same as how her family did. She needs a home and I thought maybe you and your brothers could take her in.
"She won't be much trouble. The only reason she can't stay is because my mother says she's a disgrace to our social standards. I personally think she just doesn't like her." Cherry sounded rather bitter talking about her mom. I rememebered something she had told me at the drive in.
"Things are rough all over," I murmured, then looked back at Cherry. "What did Darry say when you asked him?" Cherry rolled her eyes. "He said Soda's leaving was still new and you wouldn't want anyone else in your house for a while, but he said he's talk to you about it." I was a little indignant about the fact tha Darry was still assuming things and not asking, but I didn't let it show. I glanced back at the girl, Carrie.
"Can I meet her?" I asked. Cherry tapped on the glass and motioned for Carrie to come out of the car. She slammed the door shut. She was holding Pride and Prejudice in her hands. Seeing the rings on her fingers made me rememeber Bob. The 14 year old in front of me stood slightly awkwardly, but with the air of someone who grew up in a rich neighborhood. She was kind of a cross between Cherry and one of the many greaser girls Two-Bit picked up. She wore too much eye make-up and jeans, but her hair was done all fancy and she read.
"Hi," she said. She didn't sound shy, just bored. I moved forward a step. "I'm Ponyboy Curtis," I said, smiling down at the girl. I was at least two or three inches taller than her. I saw Carrie snicker at my name, but replied with her own, Carrie Sheldon. Funny that with all the flashbacks I was having I couldn't figure out why the last name was so familiar. Turning back to Cherry, I asked if Carrie had all her bags.
In response, Carrie opened the door and pulled out two bags. In a sarcastic voice tha reminded me a lot of Two-Bit, she asked "Does that mean I'm not a hobo anymore?" She grinned at me and I couldn't help grinning back. She was pretty cute.
"Shoot kid, Darry'd have to be out of his mind to kick you out," I said, and reached forward to take one of her bags. She stepped back and said curtly, "I can carry them myself, thank you." I nodded.
"Thanks Ponyboy, you dig okay," Cherry said before getting into her car and driving off. I mearly watched the car drive away. When I turned back to Carrie, she was smirking again. "You dig okay? What is that, some kind of greaser language?" she teased good naturedly. She really was a lot like Two-Bit. I wondered why I didn't care some Soc was calling me a greaser.
Carrie snapped her fingers twice in my face. Born a Soc or not, she definately didn't act like one. I turned and strolled out of the lot without making sure Carrie was follwing me. Judging by the footsteps I heard behind me, she was.
I swore loudly as I nearly fell flat on my face. I steadied myself and looked up at who I ran into. "Shoot kid, you nearly scared me to death," Two-Bit said. He didn't look hung over, just drunk as usual. I don't think he was though. I heard Carrie snicker, then suddenly she was standing beside me. I saw Two-Bit shift his gaze from me to her and back again.
"Still picking up them upperclass broads, eh?" he asked, clapping me on the shoulder. I almost burst out laughing looking at Carrie's face. I swear she was about to spit on him or slap him or something. Instead she tugged lightly on my jacket sleeve (actually it was Dally's. I still had the jacket he'd given me the day we went to Windrixville). "Come on, Ponyboy," she whispered. Two-Bit just grinned and cocked an eyebrow. We walked up to the house with Two-Bit trailing. I warned Carrie that Darry might start yelling, then pushed open the door. Carrie entered first, then me and finally Two-Bit.
I wandered into the kitchen to talk to Darry while Carrie and Two-Bit talked. I took off Dally's jacket and set it on a chair. "Hey Darry, I talked to Cherry," I started timidly. I could hear Carrie and Two-Bit arguing in the other room.
"Shut your trap and leave me alone," she hissed. Two-Bit chuckled. Normally, Two-Bit would have been slapped for something like that, but Carrie was a different type of girl. I relized too late that Darry had been talking to me. I didn't want to let him know I hadn't been listening so I just told him Carrie was going to stay with us.
When I entered the other room, Twi-Bit and Carrie were laughing about something. "You dig okay baby," Two-Bit said, which made Carrie laugh even more. Then she turned her glowing hazel eyes onto me. I suddenly felt embarrassed that she was in my rundown house, hanging out with people like us. We were trash compared to her.
"Your friend is pretty darn funny," she told me, grinning. There was definately something alike between those two. Darry walking into the room and looked a little surprised to see Two-Bit.
"This is my brother Darry. He's tough so be sure to follow the rules," I added. Everyone started laughing except for Darry, because it was true. A strand of dark brown hair fell into Carrie's face and she brushed it away impatiently. She introduced herself to Darry, then nudged one of her bags.
"Um, am I sleeping in here or...?" she asked. Darry nodded curtly and disappeared into the kitchen again. We were in for a long month.
A/N: So that's chapter one. There was more, but I decided that it would make more sense to end the chapter here then to keep going then have a really short chapter 2. Please review so I know what to change and such! Especially if the names get confusing because Carrie, Darry && Cherry were kind of giving me a headache because they all rhymed. Ha. Oh, and if you have any better ideas for the title, that would be super. lol. I just put the first title that popped into my head. It doesn't make much sense.