Hello people of Earth. This is my first fanfiction. The Outsiders is my favorite movie AND book. Soo.... Yeah. I hope you like it! Please review!

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CHAPTER ONE

"Hey kid, watch out," Two-Bit warned. I was looking at the ground, and had almost ran into a metal pole. I looked up, stopping just an inch before I would have been knocked out, and muttered the word, "Thanks."

We were walking to the convenience store up the road. It was dark, but it sure wasn't night.

I had woken up at five in the morning and walked to my living room to see Two-Bit sitting on the couch, watching television.

We were both bored to tears, so we decided to stock up on food. Two-Bit basically lived with me, so I didn't mind. He'd probably just end up stealing something, anyway.

"So Pony, what have you been up to?" He asked.

"Oh, nothing much, still getting over…" I paused. "you know."

Two members of our gang, Johnny and Dally, had recently died, a little over two months ago. I hadn't ever really liked Dally to much, but Johnny was my best friend, besides Sodapop, my older brother. It all hurt just the same.

We arrived at the store, and a attempted pulling the door open. It was locked. I glanced through the glass wall. All the lights were off. Two-Bit read a sign. "Closed," he muttered quietly.

I read my old, beat up watch. Still 5:30, I thought. The store didn't open till 6:00.

I sat down on the ground.

Two-Bit finally responded, "You've taken it pretty hard, haven't you?"

I nodded.

I wanted to cry, but you just don't cry around Two-Bit. It was just to awkward.

"Hmm, I suppose I have too."

"Really? It hasn't seemed like you have," I lied. Two-Bit hadn't been his normal, talkative, self.

He just shrugged. Apparently he wanted to talk about it just as much as I did.

It became awkwardly silent. A breeze came through, and I shivered. I had forgotten my jacket, again.

I stared at my watch, wishing time would pass faster. Fifteen more minutes till an employee would come and unlock.

Two-Bit sighed heavily.

"I'm bored, lets go walk around here till it opens."

I just nodded. I was pretty quiet.

Two-Bit and I stood, and we picked a random direction.

I was getting colder and colder. I decided to challenge Two-Bit to a race. I was on the track team at school, and running would make me warmer.

"Race you to the stoplight," I challenged.

"You're on!"

We lined up at the nearest parking space, and I shouted, "Ready, set, go!"

I bolted as fast as I could, Two-Bit trailing behind me. I steadied my pace and slowed a bit. I could run circles around him, any day. I finally reached the light, and caught my breath as Two-Bit caught up.

He gave me a scowl and I just smirked. I was warmer now, and I saw a car pulling to the convenience store.

"Come on," I said, and started walking.

We finally reached the store and walked in. I just walked by the cashier without giving him a glance, while Two-Bit smirked as his eyes gleamed at something in the back of the store.

He shrugged as he felt his pockets and walked back. I strolled to the chips, we were short on them.

I picked up some regular potato chips, and went on looking for things in the store I might need.

I went to the right side of the store, which is where they hold the books. I looked at the selection, but there was nothing I haven't read before.

I couldn't think of anything else we needed,-besides eggs, but this place didn't have any- and walked back to Two-Bit.

He casually whistled and picked up hat. He yanked off all the tags and placed it on his head, as if he had walked in with it on. I gave and odd stare, then just left for the check-out counter.

I put my bag of chips and placed a few coins on the counter. The cashier gave Two-Bit a suspicious look. I held my breath, but, to my relief, he just smiled at me and said, "Have a nice day." I nodded and followed Two-Bit out.

Once we got out of view and earshot, he started laughing wildly. All I could do was grin.

"Man, that guy was clueless!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah, pretty dumb," I smiled.

He laughed some more and I just stood there, rocking on my heels. After you know Two-Bit for as long I have, you find that if you laugh every time he does, you'll get a sore throat.

When he was finally done laughing, we started home. The sun had just started to peek out from the hill, and it was beautiful. I could just barely glance at it though, it would have been too embarrassing if Two-Bit had noticed.

We were a while away from my house, but we walked way more than this regularly. It kept us fit.

I glanced back at Two-Bit and said, "I'm going to jog the rest of the way home."

"Kay."

I eventually got far ahead of Two-Bit, and I could enjoy the nice, fresh air. It had warmed up a bit. The only thing bothering me was the loud noise the bag was making shaking in my hand. I had very sensitive hearing, and I hated it.

After another 10 minutes of jogging, I had almost reached my house. I could see it just up ahead. I climbed up the two steps and opened the gate, then up the steps into my unlocked house. It was never locked.

Soda was sitting on the couch talking to Steve -his best friend- and Darry -my other older brother- sitting at the table reading the Sunday Newspaper. "Hey, you were up early, usually we have to drag you out of bed!" Sodapop greeted me. It was still 6:45. Darry barely looked up from his newspaper and said, "Hi." I held up the chips, "We didn't have any, Two-Bit's on his way."

"Sweet! Throw 'em here!" Steve exclaimed.

I threw them and Steve ripped them open.

"Now don't eat all of them," Darry said, still staring at his paper. He was in one of his moods today.

I just plopped down on the couch and sighed. I was tired, from all the jogging.

In just 30 seconds, there were chips all over the floor, and Soda and Steve were wrestling. Darry got up and left the room. He knew when he was about to burst, and it wasn't good.

Steve was playfully punching Soda in his stomach, while Soda just laughed and laughed. I just sat there, staring at the ceiling. I did this a lot, if I didn't have my nose stuck in a book. Don't ask me why.

By now, there were chips crumpled up all over the floor.

"Gee, thanks guys. That was my last 50 cents!"

They just ignored me. I sighed and wondered where Two-Bit was.

I stood and peered out the door. No sign of him. I called out.

"Two-Bit, you there?"

No answer. I looked at Steve and Sodapop.

"Guys."

They ignored me.

"Guys!"

The two suddenly stopped and simultaneously said, "Yes?"

"I don't know where Two-Bit went. Come with me to look for him."

They nodded.

"Ok…." Steve said.

Sodapop suddenly yelled, "Darry, we're going out. Be back in a minute!"

Without waiting for a response, we stepped out of the house and down the street.

"Two-Bit? Where are you?" I shouted.

The next five minutes were filled with loud calls to Two-Bit.

Finally I found a sign of him. The hat he had stolen at the store. That either meant he never wanted the hat in the first place, or he was in trouble.

Guess.

Suddenly I heard a loud groan and my mind raced back to when we had found Johnny lying in the lot, after he gotten beat up by some Socs.

I remembered seeing his face completely swollen, and the tears running down his face. I tried to shake the thoughts away by looking at Two-Bit.

I screamed, "Oh my God! Two-Bit!" and ran to his side.

"Ponyboy?" he groaned.

"Yeah," I said. "It's me. What happened to you Two-Bit?"

His face was streaming with blood, and he had cuts all over him. I expected him to cry, but strangely he didn't. I could sure tell he wanted to, though.