Disclaimer: I don't own or have anything to do with The Outsiders.

She looked down at the address written on her palm then at the rusted, hanging-askew mailbox. Then she walked with obvious trepidation to the front door and knocked. She quickly put her hand at her side, still in a fist. When shouts came from the inside, she seemed to panic for a second and took a step back. Then she got a hold of herself and walked back up to the door. It opened and a very handsome, very built young man three inches taller than herself opened the door. His arms were like tennis balls.

"Can I help you miss?" he asked.

"Um…yes…well, I was wondering…you're Darrel Curtis right?"

"I am…who's asking?" His eyes narrowed and she nearly took another step back, but the end of the concrete step was already poking through her thin-soled sneakers.

"I'm Audrey Marsh. I'm…well I'm your cousin and I really need a place to stay."

He looked at her more closely. "Audrey? Really? Wow, you've certainly grown up." She smiled at him broadly. "Come in, come in. How long are you gonna be in town? Where're Aunt Jeannie and Uncle Dave?"

She hung her head and felt the familiar taste of tears at the back of her throat. "Last week they were hit by a drunk driver," she said in a hurried monotone. If she didn't say it fast and if she looked into her cousin Darrel's eyes she would start crying and that was the last thing she wanted to do."

She felt him pull her into his arms and that really was too much. She cried into his shoulder for a little while, and then he led her inside. The house was a little messy, but Audrey didn't mind. She sat on the couch which reeked of cigarette smoke. Oh…she could certainly use a smoke right now. Her mom and dad didn't like that they smoked, but now they were gone…forever. She'd never get yelled at about how unhealthy it was, and how just because her friends were doing it didn't mean she should do it too.

He had left her alone in the living room, but now he came back with a handkerchief. She wiped her face and hoped she'd gotten most of the mascara. His kind eyes nearly brought back the tears, but she fought them off.

"I'm really sorry to hear that Audrey."

She shook her head. "It's all right. I mean, it's not, but I'm going to be okay. Grandma said she can take me in, but not for another three months. She's in the hospital for smoking again. Could I please, please stay here with you guys until then? I can pay some rent, not much, but I do have a little money."

"You can stay here without paying rent. I don't want your money. You're family, right?"

She smiled weakly. "Thanks Darrel."

"Ah, no one calls me that. It's Darry."

This time her smile was bigger. "I really appreciate it." She looked around. "Where's Sodapop and Ponyboy?"

"Soda's still at work and Ponyboy is at school. Will you be going here until Grandma finds a place?"

"Yeah…I guess so. I was so worried about finding a place to stay in the meantime that I hadn't even thought about that."

"Well, I'm glad you came here. Are you tired? Hungry? We've got some leftovers from dinner in the freezer."

"I'm all right, thanks."

An awkward pause hung over them, then Darry said, "I've gotta take a shower. I'm goin to work in about ten minutes. Will you be okay here by yourself?"

"Yeah, I will."

She set her bag by the couch and got up to look around. There were pictures of Darry, Sodapop, Ponyboy and Auntie and Uncle John. She still couldn't get over their death, and now her parents had gone too in the same way. She walked into the kitchen and saw a pile of dirty dishes in the sink and crumbs covered the table like a cloth. A spill was on the floor that had probably been there since the night before. She left and walked into what she figured was Darry's room. The bed was made, there wasn't much else. A lamp on the nightstand, a book on the floor, and some Venetian blinds on the window with places broken and snapped. She left and went into Soda and Ponyboy's room. There were books everywhere. On the nightstand, on the floor, on a bookshelf. There were pictures of horses taped to the wall, and a picture of Sodapop, Ponyboy, and Darry was framed and on the nightstand. She left and went back into the living room. It really wasn't a very big place and Audrey was grateful all over again that Darry would sacrifice so much space to her for three long months.

He left for work, but before he did he gave her a quick hug. "I'll see you when I get home, but that'll be pretty late so don't feel like you have to wait up. Soda should be home in fifteen minutes or so for lunch break. I'll call him when I get to work and let him know you're here. I'll see you later, all right?"

"Right." Then he was gone.

Because she had nothing to do for the fifteen minutes that Darry would be gone, she decided to clean up a little. It gave her something to concentrate on other than the ache in her chest that hadn't gone away at all. Grandma had promised it would. Or at least, that it would ease a little. The constant urge to cry was always upon her.

Finally, right after the last dish had been put away, Sodapop came through the door. He called out, "Hey Audrey! You in here?"

She stepped out and he whooped. "Gee Audrey! You've grown up so much I hardly recognize you! Come here!" She came over and he swooped her up and spun her. "It's good to see you again!"

"You too Sodapop! I sure did miss you!"

He grinned. "I heard about your parents. I'm awful sorry."

"Don't be, but it is sweet of you."

"Wait till Ponyboy sees ya! I wonder if he'll even remember you."

That was just like Sodapop, to change the subject as fast as possible from anything sad. He ran into the kitchen and whooped again. "I'm glad you came to stay instead of cousin Barry. You remember that kid?" Audrey giggled.

"How could I forget?"

Sodapop came back in. "I'm only here for lunch, but I can stay if you need me to. Steve'll understand."

"No it's all right, it really is. I brought a book and stuff I can take care of myself."

"Well, Ponyboy will come back in about an hour. So you sure you'll be all right?"

"I'm positive."