A/N: Hey Guys! If you can't tell by now...We LOVE the Outsiders! However...we do not love that we got no reviews and our viewers were almost none on the last story...it is incredibly disheartening. Anyway...I hope you enjoy this! Let me know what you think!
Everyone thought my life was perfect. Even I did. I had the perfect grades, the beautiful face, and a perfect family. We were wrong.
Everything started out fine. Even though I lived on the 'greaser' side of town, I still had a nice life. We didn't have everything, but we had enough to make us happy. We had clothes, food, a house to call our own. What else could you wish for? It was perfect. Too perfect to last. Nothing that great ever does. In reality, nothing has ever been that perfect, you just never realized it. I learned that the hard way...
The morning bell had just rung and we were all still in the hallways. Me, Aubrey, and Michelle were all gathered around my locker, talking about nothing truly important. Just like we did every morning. The same old routine. It began to get boring and I was tired of all the gossip we shared. I wasn't like other girls on my side of the town. I didn't like gossip. Didn't care to wear too much make-up. And I sure made sure that my clothes covered everything they should. I guess I didn't really fit in here. My home life was good for the most part. My parents were good to me. They always were telling me how much they loved me, but recently the frequency seemed to be changing. They didn't tell me that quite as often anymore. Maybe it had to do with my older brother, Rodney. He was getting to be a real jerk nowadays. I personally thought it was because he started hanging out with that Shepard kid. Tim Shepard and his gang. I've never really like them much, they did too many bad things and didn't feel any remorse. It bothered me.
The girls and I finally parted and went our separate ways towards our classes. I, unlike a lot of greaser girls, actually cared about school. It was the only thing that was gonna get me outta this place. Don't get me wrong. I love my family and school and my friends aren't bad, but I need more than that. I need new experiences, adventure.
The school day passed quickly as I tried to stay unnoticed. The people around here didn't love me. The Soc's hated all greasers so there goes about half of the school population, while the rest of the greasers were either trying to get me to hook up with them or didn't understand why I was working so hard at school when I could forget it and just party through life. I tried to stay out of their way as much as possible. I wasn't exactly one to keep my mouth shut when it comes to what I think of people. It was one of my flaws.
I walked home to find myself alone again. It was always like this now. Mom and Dad were always out working, and who knows where Rodney was. He used to be so sweet, so loving. Now he was hard as ice and didn't care who he hurt. That hurt me the most. The fact that he didn't care. He didn't care about me. He didn't care about our parents. He didn't care about anyone but himself. I used to look up to him. He used to be my hero, the one I only wished I could be like. He was only one year older than I was, but he barely knew I existed anymore. He used to be my rock, the thing holding me together. I could tell him anything, and if anything happened to me or if anyone tried to hurt me, they wouldn't live to see another day. We used to be real close. But then, he changed. Tim got to him. My brother was big, and Tim thought that he could be useful. He was a little over six feet tall and about two-hundred pounds. He played almost any sport you can think of, though he never found interest in being on the teams at school. Too much discrimination. He's always hated the division between Socs and Greasers, and I suppose he figured joining Tim could be a way to stop it all. Tim convinced him that they could make a difference. I knew better than that though. Nothing would ever change the Socs minds about us. We would always be white trash who didn't have a right to even be living. I hated it too. But I knew better than to believe in the possibility in changing it. I wouldn't change myself for it, thats for sure.
I missed the old Rodney. The one who I knew cared. Every once and a while I got a glimpse of him when he looked at me. I couldn't look at him anymore and when I did, the disappointment spread obviously over my face. I knew that he cared about what I thought, he always did. And I liked to think that he regretted joining Tim wen he looked at the sadness in my eyes. The longing for him back. But I knew that was just wishful thinking. Once you're with Tim, there ain't no way out. No back door to sneak out of, and no loop holes. I doubt he would ever want to leave anyway. He'd been brainwashed. He spoke of Tim as if he was God himself. High and Mighty Time Shepard. I couldn't believe how blind he was to believe that. Whenever I would ask why he didn't just leave that good-for-nothing scum bag, Rodney would get real defensive over Tim and say that once you're in a gang, the gang are your family, and you defend family and you never leave them. I never understood what made him want to hang around Tim in the first place. I'd just as soon throw myself off the highest building I could find. But I just can't tell Rodney that. It wouldn't go throw to him. So I just stopped trying.
I knew that my parents were disappointed in him too. It put them on edge that they couldn't stop him. They argued about it now a lot. But they always put on a happy face when I walked in, pretending nothing wrong was happening. I know better. My house wasn't as happy as it used to be. I used to think that I could live here forever and never go a day without a smile on my face. Ha! I'd almost forgotten what a smile was now. No one showed me a real one anymore, and my face refused to put one on. I hated fake smile. Hated fake people.
My friends were slipping away from me. Said they didn't want to be so close with a gloomy girl. I didn't blame them really. I wouldn't want to be around me either, but I just couldn't bring myself to smile or be happy again. Not truly happy at least.
I walked to my bedroom, threw my bag on my bed and began to start doing my homework. Then the front door burst open with a slam. This can't be good. I thought. "I can't believe you would do that Rodney!" I heard my mother yell from down the hall. "We were just having a little fun!" I heard my brother's uncaring voice travel through the house. Wonder what he did this time? I stopped doing my homework and just listened. I caught bits and pieces of what he did. Of course, Tim had something to do with it, and they got caught and thrown straight into jail. My mother had to go bail him out and here we are now, arguing over something that will never change. Rodney will never change.
Their bickering went on for a while and I didn't see that it would end soon. I couldn't take it anymore.
I threw my things back into my bag and laced my shoes back on. Catching a glimpse of my brothers tall, strong figure towering over my mother's short, slim one, I walked out the door and into the sunshine.
I wasn't entirely sure where I was going, but I knew I had to get away. The air outside was nice and crisp, a pleasant change from the suffocating air in my house. I walked all the way to the park and sat myself against a tree. Homework wasn't going to get done, I couldn't even focus. I leaned my head back against the tree and shut my eyes. Trying to soak up the sun and get it to fill my life with light. I really did try to be happy, but it seemed impossible when angry words and empty threats fill your life. I spent most of my time sitting out here leaning against this very tree nowadays. It was my only refuge. The place where I felt closest to happiness. Felt free from the pressures of my life.
My parents arguments were starting to get worse. And they weren't just about Rodney, they just used it as a cover. I'd even seen a few bruises on my mother's arms before. It made me mad, but it didn't happen often, and I knew I couldn't do anything about it.
I tried not to think about that though. This was my happy place. I eventually felt myself falling asleep and I didn't fight it. It wasn't like I got a lot at home.
I awoke to someone kicking my foot lightly. "Hey. You okay?" a tender voice asked. Opening my eyes slightly I turned my head to see who it was. I was immediately blinded by the setting sun. I shielded my eyes as I tried to get a better look at the figure in front of me. "Yeah. I'm fine." I replied, a little confused as to why he asked. He thrust his hand out before me, offering to help me up. I took it hesitantly and he pulled me up. I finally got a good look at him. He was breathtakingly attractive. He had soft brown eyes and honey colored hair with just a hint of brown. Sweat and grease stained his face and you could see the tired in his eyes. Looking over his gray-blue and orange shirt I found his name. Sodapop. That seemed interesting, but I thought it might just be a nickname. No way it was his real name.
"Why are you out here anyway? I was walking home from work at the DX when I saw you here. I thought you might be drunk or something. Maybe worse. Don't you know better than to be out here alone. You could get jumped in a heartbeat?" He asked. You could hear the slight concern in his voice. It was nice to hear that instead of harshness in a voice. I couldn't help but smile at it. But then it vanished as the reason I came out here came smashing back. "I had to get out of my house. Couldn't take it anymore." I said. He just nodded and gestured to my bag. "You runnin'?" He asked. I gave a half-hearted laugh. "Naw. This is just my school bag. Plus, I ain't got anywhere to go even if I did run." I told him. I don't think I could ever bring myself to run away. Sure, things were bad at home, but other people had it worse.
Everything was quiet for a minute or two. "I'm Andrea, by the way. Andrea -." I introduced myself, breaking the silence. He seemed a bit startled by my sudden outburst, but recovered quickly. He shook out his hand again for me to shake. "Sodapop Curtis. But you can call me Soda. And yes, that is my real name. It's on my birth certificate and everything." He said as I took his hand. I couldn't help but laugh a little at his name. He cracked a grin too. There was just something about this kid that made me forget everything. His joy was contagious.
Thunder cracked in the background and it caused us both to jump. We laughed at each other. "C'mon." He said as he began to lead me away. I wondered where he was taking me, but decided not to worry about it. I trusted this Sodapop Curtis. I knew he wouldn't hurt me. He would've done it already, like any other boy around here. But he was different. I liked that about him.
We walked in silence for a short distance before we reached a small house with a chain fence around it. I figured this is where he lived so I followed him to the door. "Why did you take me to your house?" I wondered out loud, confusion written across my face. It seemed strange that he wouldn't just take me home. He shrugged. "I thought you said you were trying to get away from your house." He said. "I can take you home if you want." I smiled at the handsome boy in front of me. "No! No. It's fine." I said, a bit too excited to stay here. I hadn't even remembered about my home. I spent so much time and energy each day just trying to forget and now he shows up and it all vanishes. I wondered silently how he did it. "I'm home. Anybody here?" He yelled as he walked in the door, with me trailing behind him. "Soda?" A boy's voice answered as footsteps made their way downstairs. "Yeah Ponyboy. It's me." Soda told him as he walked over to the fridge, looking for something to eat. Ponyboy. Did anyone have a real name around here. I saw Ponyboy look at me for the first time when I laughed quietly at the thought. He stopped in his tracks. "Hi." He said and drew his attention to Soda, who's head was buried in the fridge. "Soda, who is this?" He asked. Soda pulled himself out of the fridge with a large piece of chocolate cake and went to sit at the couch in the living room. "Oh, sorry. This is Andrea -. She was in the park all alone and wanted to get away from her house so I brought her here." He explained simply. Pony only nodded before taking a seat next to his brother on the couch. I just continued to stand there awkwardly. Soda looked up at me from his place on the couch. "You know you can sit down right?" He said jokingly. I laughed and took a seat in an armchair near the couch.
We sat there watching TV for a while in comfortable silence when the door was burst open. It made me jump more than it should have. I thought for sure it was someone from my family coming to get me and drag me back. I got some worried glances from Soda and Ponyboy, who didn't at all seemed phased by the big bang. Before I could react to them, three burly boys barged into the once quiet living room. They were talking about something unimportant, but they stopped when they saw me. "Man, who's the hot chick?" One of them said. He was around six-feet tall and had rusty colored hair and long sideburns. He had gray-ish eyes that went well with his mischievous grin. I was taken back a bit by the 'hot' remark. People rarely told me I was pretty, let alone hot. No guys even looked at me in school. I felt all of their eyes on me as I looked anywhere else. I didn't do very good with attention, I'd been trying to avoid it all my life, especially recently. Soda explained again who I was and they all nodded and went back to what they were doing.
They eventually all piled into the living room and sat on the floor and in the remaining spots on the couch. I tried to avoid all contact with them, but it didn't seem to work. "So, Andrea. I ain't seen you around before. You new here?" The one with the wisecracker grin asked. He seemed awfully interested in me. I shook my head. "No. I've lived here my entire life. I like to fly under the radar." I replied. He nodded. "Well ain't that a shame. I'm Two-Bit, in case you were wondering. Two-Bit Mathews." He said. I had to roll my eyes at this. "What?" He asked, sounding nearly offended. I gave a slight chuckle. "Do any of you have actual real names?" I asked in disbelief. They all laughed. "Sure we do. I'm Dally. Him over there, That's Steve. And Two-Bit over here, his real name is Keith, but he can't seem to go a whole minute without opening that big ol' trap a' his, so we call him Two-Bit." The boy nearest to me said, a wide smirk setting on his face. Two-Bit came over and attacked him and they wrestled for a while. I just laughed at them.
After a few minutes Ponyboy looked around. "Hey guys. Where's Johnny?" He asked. "Probably at home...getting the tar...beat..outta him." Dally said between breaths as him and Two-Bit continued to struggle with each other, no one having much of an advantage over the other.
Dally was taller than Two-Bit, but not by much. Maybe and inch or two. They were built similarly. Broad shoulders and arms covered with muscle. You could see it more on Dally than on Two-Bit. When they weren't wrestling, Two-Bit wasn't all that intimidating looking, but Dally. One look at him could probably send anyone running.
I'd heard about Dally. How could you not? He was the Dallas Winston. The infamous greaser who landed here after escaping from New York City. He was the one greaser who ran this town, no greaser would dare challenge him. Except maybe a few. A few dumb cocky greasers like Tim Shepard. Tim didn't think about things most of the time, it rubbed off on Rodney.
It dawned on me then how lat it was getting. I glanced at the clock. 8:35 it read. My parents were going to kill me. I hurriedly jumped up and grabbed my bag. I started towards the door when I heard Soda's voice call me back. "Where ya going?" He asked, curiously. "Home. I'm so late. My parents are gonna kill me." I responded. He nodded, and looked at me with almost sympathetic eyes. "You know you can come over anytime you need to. We'd be glad to have company that doesn't stink for once." He said. I laughed. I could hear the sincerity in his voice and felt myself smile. "Thanks Soda...for everything. See you later, guys." I shouted as I launched myself into the rain. I ran home as fast as I could. Trying not to get too wet, and trying not to be too late. I knew I was though, but I didn't want to make it worse. I walked to my door slowly and took a deep breath before entering my own living hell. I didn't want to face my reality again, but I knew deep down I couldn't avoid it.
Not much had changed since I'd left for the park. My mother was still fuming, but Rodney was gone and his place was taken by my father who was yelling right back. Something about money. "I just don't understand how you could be so careless, Rachel!" My father screamed. "Me! I'm the careless one?! I didn't do anything to lose that job! And I'm not the one who had to go buy himself new things that don't even matter and that are pointless to have!" My mother replied, in the same biting tone. I let the door slam shut loudly behind me as I began the walk to my room. The rain that had caught onto me was silently dripping off and onto the floor as I walked to my room. The kitchen grew quiet. But only for a moment. The calm before the storm. "And where exactly have you been? We've been worried sick about you Andrea. It's so unlike you!" My mother said from where she stood. Not even bothering to walk over to see if I was alright. She'd changed. Rodney had changed her. My dad had made her cold.
I paused where I was standing. Didn't take another step, and didn't turn around. I heard the now familiar sound of a glass bottle hit the table and the movement of ice as my father poured himself a glass of Scotch and chugged it down in one big gulp. My father was a different man when he was drunk. He scared me. "C'mere." He slurred to me when I didn't respond. I shut my eyes and tried to control my fear. I took a long, deep breath and turned around slowly and proceeded to make my way over to my father. I stopped a few feet in front of him and stared at my feet. The smell of alcohol was overpowering, burning my nose and throat. I'll never understand why people like it.
I looked for his hands. The hands of a drunk man were the hands of a monster. I'd seen the way my mother looked after a bad day when my father got a hold of her.
He had one hand still clutching to the neck of the Scotch bottle and his other was waiting tensely at his side, ready to strike at any moment. My father had never hit me before, and I didn't want to know what it was like. "I believe your mother asked you a question, Andrea. And I suggest that you find your manners and answer her." My father said, dangerously quiet. I looked over at my mother, tears of fright threatening to spill over. "I'm sorry. I fell asleep in the park and I just lost track of time. I didn't mean any harm by it." I spoke quietly, not daring to talk normally for fear of losing it completely. My mother's face softened slightly. Sympathy and worry were plainly written on her face and in her eyes. She had felt this very same fear I was feeling right now. Fear of the monster we lived with.
My father started to twitch towards me when my mother quickly gathered me up in her arms, forcing me away from my father. "That's quite alright, dear. Just try to be a little more careful next time." She said, loud enough for my father to hear. I just nodded into her shoulder, not trusting myself to speak. She rubbed my back soothingly and I could hear and feel the sobs in her trying to be released. We were both fighting the same feeling, the same monster.
A/N: Hope you liked it! Please Please PLLEEAASEE let me know what you think. Even if it's bad...no one ever got better by people constantly telling them they were amazing. PLEASE Review. And as always, if you have any suggestions or requests let us know in that box just below ;)