Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders. Blah, Blah, Blah. (:

Fifteen year old twin sisters, Isabelle and Amanda never got along. In fact, right now they're fighting over a pair of shoes that both of them want to wear to school.

"But they're mine! Mom got me them for Christmas, just wear your red ones." Amanda shouted at me, Isabelle. I don't know, to me I always thought that Mom and Dad favored Amanda more than me. Each year at Christmas she'd get one more present than me. Same with our birthday. I never could stand her, even from the time we were toddlers! The only memories I have of her and me from that age were me throwing bottles at her face. Wonderful, wonderful memories. I got so fed up with her that when she wasn't looking, I took the shoes, ran to the nearest room and locked the door.

I could hear her having a fit and running down to Mom and Dad. I rolled my eyes and turned around to see Soda sound asleep in his bed. I walked over and shook him to get up; he had school, too. He finally got up and shooed me out of his room, even though I tried to explain to him that it would be a death match as soon as I walked out of his room, I don't think it bothered him much, though. Seeing as though half of his brain was still asleep.

I reluctantly walked out of his room and headed to my room, Amanda was in there putting on the red shoes that she told me to put on. I plastered a grin on my face and put her shoes on. Later when we got to school, Amanda went over to her friends, and I walked over to the first familiar faces I saw, Two-Bit and Steve. Of course I was with Soda, so Steve had to be nice to me. I really don't know why he didn't like me. I think it was because I gave him that ridiculously hideous nose of his when he and the gang were daring him to kiss me. I punched him. I guess that's a pretty good reason not to like somebody.

We started small talk for about ten minutes till the second bell rang, then we all headed to homeroom. Ponyboy and Amanda were both in my homeroom because we were all freshman; seeing as though Pony skipped a grade and our last names were next to each other. I talked to some random kids who sat around me. Occasionally I'd ask Ponyboy if we had homework in certain subjects. Amanda was talking to some of her friends. Then the bell rang and we all headed off to first period.

When school was over, Soda gave Pony, me, and Amanda a ride home. Steve took Two-Bit home because his car wouldn't start. When we got home, the day was extremely uneventful. I actually decided to do my homework of all things. I got stuck on geometry and went to Pony's room to ask for help. While I was in there, I heard Mom and Dad call up the steps to tell us that they were going to the grocery with Amanda and that they'd be back in a half hour. Pony and I thought it was no big deal, so when we were done with our homework, we went downstairs and watched re-runs of I Love Lucy. After about five episodes it crossed my mind that Mom, Dad, and Amanda still weren't home. "They probably got stuck in traffic, there is a football game at the school tonight." Ponyboy tried to convince me, and I guess then it worked.

I went to go bug Soda who was in his room, making his best effort to finish his homework. "What are we going to do for dinner?" I asked, making him jump. "I dunno. Go ask Mom and Dad." He said, trying to shoo me away. "They're not home, yet." I told him, he looked up. "Then go ask Darry, I'm trying to study for my exams." So I guess he wasn't just doing his homework. But I really wanted dinner, "Darry's not home yet, either." I could tell he was getting aggravated. I don't know what was with him, lately. He's been acting like a stick of dynamite that's about to explode. "Okay. Fine, I'll make dinner tonight, and let you study." He gave a small smile, "Thanks. Oh, hey. Do you know how to simplify fractions? I forgot all that stuff." He asked and I explained it to him then went to make dinner; corndogs and french fries. Not your typical dinner, but I was really the only thing I could make.

Darry came home right when I was taking the fries out of the oven. "Sorry it took me so long to get home. Some idiot crashed into the train over there off of 48. Corndogs and fries?" He asked, "Why didn't Mom or Dad cook?" He asked. I took off my oven mitt and explained how they went to the grocery store about three hours ago and still weren't home. "You mean, Kale's Grocery? The one off of Route 48?" He asked, seeing as though the grocery store that was in town was closed for the week because some idiot tried robbing the place, but ended up shooting everyone in site. I occurred to me then. I nodded slowly, "What did the car look like?" I asked. Darry sat down at the table, "I don't know I was so far back I couldn't see. They got the car out of there before I crossed the railroad." Just then, the phone rang and a few people came in the front door. It was like clockwork. I went to go answer the phone, acknowledging Dally, Johnny, Steve, and Two-Bit who had come over for their annual Friday night poker game. When I picked up the phone, a real business like voice replied on the other end, "Is this the Curtis residence?" He asked. I nodded, then realized that he couldn't see it, "Yes." I said, waiting for him to say something back. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but we have some very bad news for you." I could feel my eyes bulging out of my head and all of the guys staring at me. I slammed the phone down on the receiver and began bawling. My eyes instantly met Darry's and he looked confused, all I did was nod and he seemed to understand, because he nodded profusely and slammed his hand down on the kitchen table. I ran over to my room, and the rest of the guys just stood there, dumbfounded. After all, they didn't know what was going on.

When I got to my room, I let out the biggest bloody murder scream anyone could ever belt. I heard footsteps coming down the hall to my room. I sat down on my bed and waited for the person to come into my room, and sure enough Dally came walking into my room, sat next to me and rubbed my back, telling me everything was going to be alright. I grabbed his shoulder and cried into it, I guess Darry told them what happened after I went upstairs. Dally kept telling me that everything was going to be alright. See, Dallas and I used to date each other, back when I was thirteen and he was fifteen, we'd dated for about a year, which for around here is a really long time. I broke up with him because he wanted more out of me than I was willing to give him, if you know what I mean. But we remained friends, which surprised me.

He convinced me to go to the living room. When I did, I saw that all of the guys had the worst expressions on their faces, and I think I even saw Steve shed a tear. I knew that Darry, Soda, and Pony were crying. After all, they were our parents. But they were everyone else's parents, too. And Amanda; the last thing I did with her was yell, scream, and bicker. I didn't even tell her sorry. I should have let her wear the shoes, and if I were to know that it would be her last day on Earth, I would have let her wear them. She was like a sister to all of them, and was a sister to Darry, Pony, and me.

I walked over and sat in between Soda and Steve so I could give Soda a hug, and the least unexpected thing happened. I felt Steve rub my back and whisper, "Isabelle, everything's gonna be alright."