Chapter 1

I lived with my cousins and their parents since I was eight. Well, that is until they lost their parents to a car crash. Terrible accident. The boys were crushed, heck I was too. I considered Lynn and Darrel Curtis as my parents. We were all so close. Each and everyone of us didn't see it coming, not even the gang. I still remember the funeral. Fifteen year old me watching my aunt and uncle that I considered my own parents have a funeral service for them at only thirty something years old. It made me think of eight year old me sitting in a church near my hometown in Texas, watching my two actual parents lying in caskets side by side, their gun wounds covered in their fancy clothes they were buried in.

That was a little over a year and a half ago. We all recovered as much as we were gonna and we have just been living life ever since. We lost another one in this short time though. Poor lost puppy Johnny. Died in a fire, no one expected that turn of events either. Ponyboy and I took the hardest fall for that one. Ponyboy being his best friend and me being his secret admirer since I first laid eyes on his dark chocolate brown anxious eyes. I never did anything about it. I loved but from a distance. I think everyone knew it too. Everyone, but Johnny.

There was one other gang member who I think took it harder then me and Pony combined though, Dally. That same night him and Ponyboy witnessed his death in that hospital bed, he tried to die. Stole from a store and pulled a gun on the cops. It was unloaded, but only Ponyboy knew that at the time. Shot him twice, one in the arm, and one grazed his shoulder. Thank goodness the Tulsa police officers that night had such terrible aim.

He was rushed right back to the hospital he just watched Johnny die in. I think that was the first time I have ever seen tough, young but already hardened by life Dally break. He was in surgery and when he came out and realized where he was and what had happened he wouldn't let anyone in his hospital room. His orders, not the doctors. He was in denial and we all knew it. The boys were crushed by being pushed away from Dally, but none were going to show it. Three days later, Dally tried to break himself out of there. He was caught and put under security. The doctor thought letting him see his friends would make him remember there is still life to look forward to, but he refused.

A week later, we were surprised when Ponyboy and I were told we were wanted by Dally. The doctor led us into his room and I gasped at his sight. I never knew exactly the depth of what could have happened until I saw the gauze over his wounds and I never thought Dallas Winston could look so fragile and hopeless, but in that hospital bed he looked completely and utterly broken. Nothing more, nothing less, just broken.

"Hey, Pony." He first said, so calmly and quiet it scared me.

"Hey Dal, how you feeling?" Ponyboy replied.

Dally ignored Pony's question completely and looked at me, standing at the door, shocked.

"Hey, Kid." He said.

"Hey, Dally." I responded so quiet I could barely hear myself.

Like I said, that was a couple months ago. Dally has recovered and he seems more content with life. He isn't in denial anymore, like he was at the hospital. He is back to his cold hearted Dally everyone knows, at least on the outside he is, I have no idea how he is on the inside because he hides it so well. He's Dally, being tough is what he is known for, and now being known to have two bullet wounds and surviving gave him an all new cred on the streets.

Beside all that craziness, I'm a normal teenage girl. I have girl friends, I like boys, I gossip occasionally, and I stress about way more then I should. I have long straight red hair which makes me look more like Pony then any of my cousins and I have hazel eyes. Living with three boys plus three every now and again definitely gives me a more tomboy style, but I like it. I'm from Texas, dirt and not being afraid of getting down to work is what us Texan girls are known for. I'll dress up occasionally, but jeans and tshirts or sweaters are much more my style.

The boys let me be myself. I do good in school and I have manners, so that is enough for Darry. I'm not afraid of being myself, so Soda's happy. And me and Pony get along just fine. I'm seventeen now, just had my birthday a few weeks ago. It was simple and sweet, I got a chocolate cake made by Darry thankfully, Soda's are too sugary, and I got some notebooks to write my music in thanks to all the boys put together because I like to come up with my own lyrics and sing too. Two-Bit gave me a separate gift I wasn't expecting for sure. I opened it and found he gave me a pack of smokes and my own lighter. I don't smoke, I never did, don't like the smell, even thought I live in a house and town that smokes so I can't escape the smell, but I will not smoke myself.

"Thought it was about time you learn." He said and burst out laughing.

The whole gang knew I didn't smoke, but Two-Bit always has to be funny.

"Beth does not need to be smoking, Two-Bit." Darry said angrily, even though he knew it was joke.

"Free smokes boys, don't go crazy." I said sarcastically and threw them on the table.

The boys quickly pounced on them and I rolled my eyes and went to the porch to start writing in my new song book.