So here it is; one of the stories I brought in from my past account and under a different title. This is part of the Next Generation series I have, and just so you all know, they link back to this story alone. Once the second story of this comes in, all the characters from the other stories will be joined in this one. Ok so to prevent myself from babbling too much, have fun reading! :

Dedication: To Gabby,
For being a truly great friend, 
and never turning your back on me.
Note: I don't own the Outsiders or the characters, except my own.
Chapter 1

I couldn't think that clearly in the class I was in. Equations stretched across the board in uneven twists and turns; my eyes again playing tricks on me. I was no good in math…or any other class in high school for that matter. I wanted to get out badly, but of course, Dad would never let me. I was stuck in hell until graduation.
 "Seth Colbury. Please solve the equation on the board." My teacher lived to drive me nuts! She knew I was no good in every subject known to man, and here she is asking me to solve a problem in front of everyone.

"No."

"Principal's office!" She chimed immediately.

The one person in the whole school that understood me had to be the principal. Going to his office was almost always a relief to me, although it was mainly because he was a family friend and hated to see my father yell at me.


"Seth, you know you have to stop this behavior. It's not good for your family name for one, and you know your father will not like it when I tell him that you've been acting up again." I sighed when the thought of my father came into my head. Most of the time, he was strict, and always wanted things done his way, and no other. It killed me whenever my mother disagreed with him, because he always yelled at her. My little brother was always scared of him, and no child at his age (he is three) should be afraid of their father.

"Yeah, I know," I said quietly. "I just..I don't like to be asked questions, and that's all my teachers ask. Questions! All the time, there is never a break. I just wish I had a father that understood what I was going through. I never wanted one that wants to teach a family business. It drives me insane!"
 "Calm down Seth. Now. Your father is coming to pick you up. You really shouldn't have yelled at Ms. Dumar on the last period of the day." Just as he said this, my father stormed into the room, and held me by the ear.

"Misbehaving again, are we? Thank you for calling me down here. Seth Colbury, your grounded for a month." I knew that was coming…

"Mom, I want to drop out," I said in a low voice. My mother looked at me with wide eyes as she got up from her chair. She never liked it when Dad butted into our conversations. She closed the door and sat back down in her chair.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do Seth?" I could tell by the truth in her eyes that she wanted what was best for me. I nodded slowly. She sighed, almost in relief. "Well, at least you came to me when your father wasn't around. Well, I guess I approve and I'll let your principal know tomorrow." She got up from her seat and locked the door. "I'll also let Conner know you'll be working for him everyday, we'll have to tell you father something for the time being."

"Who is Conner?" I asked.

"He's the man who works at the gas station across town. He's looking to hire people who can work a full day. He's also a family friend." As she said this, the door unlocked and my father came in. His eyes read distrust, and he flared his anger at my mother. In an instant, his hand came at a quickened pace, and slapped my mother across the face. She stared at him in disbelief, her hand reaching up to her red cheek.


"You are staying in school!" he snapped at me. I felt anger rush through my veins, and all I could think was that the plan Mom and I had was over. I couldn't even help myself when I yelled back.

"I am not!" I yelled. "You can't keep me in school! I don't want to take over the family business, and I don't want to listen to you freaking mouth anymore. Stay away from me, and treat Mom with respect!" I didn't help matters much because he just swung at me, and I hit the wall behind me. My head throbbed in pain as he left the room, and my mother came to my side.


"Seth! Are you okay?" she asked. I nodded, almost wanting to get right back up and punch him till he begs for mercy. "I knew keeping you from him was a horrible idea. I knew I should have stayed." she was in tears at this moment in time, and I looked at her.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. She tried to stop crying as she looked me in the eyes. "He's not your father."

I couldn't describe the feeling that swept through me. It felt like loneliness and distrust against my own family took me over. I never felt anything like this before, and my mom seemed to see this. She opened her mouth, about to say something, but she closed it and sighed.

"Why didn't you ever tell me? I thought you of all people would have!" My arm smacked everything off the table and onto the floor in one big crash. Plates and cups shattered all over the floor, as Mom just sat there crying. I really had nothing to say, so I left and went up to my room for the night.

I don't think I ever fell asleep that night. I was constantly trying to let my mind wander into sleep, but there I was, laying awake. I was concentrating hard that I didn't notice the small figure crawling up beside me.

"Seth?" It was my little brother Jamie. He was clutching onto his blue blanket in fear, tears poured out of his eyes.

"Monster trying to get you again?" I asked. He didn't respond to my question, all he did was lock his arms around me. "Just sleep in here tonight." He nodded and laid down, still holding onto my arm for security. I never wanted my brother to be hurt, he was the only one who could ever make me feel better about anything. As soon as he fell asleep, I got up and went down to the kitchen. I felt bad leaving Jamie in the room by himself, but I was thirsty.

Going down to the kitchen, I looked into my mother's study. She cleaned up the mess of course, (She hated when the house was a mess) but there was a box on the desk, opened up. On the sides in marker it read, "Tulsa Memories." It was weird, my mother had said once before that she had always lived in Florida.
Had she lied about that too?
I sat down in her chair, and looked at her things. Inside the box laid letter, a ring, and pictures too. I began to read one of the letters.

Sandy,
Please come back! My life is not the same without you. I miss your smile, the way you laugh, everything. I wish you would answer at least one of my letters. I'm begging you to write me! It feels as if my life is over when I'm not with you. My brothers tell me everyday that I should get over you. I always tried Sandy, but it never works. Please come back because I still love you.
-Sodapop Curtis

I blinked and then re-read the letter several times.

"Sodapop Curtis." My mother's voice broke into my thoughts. I quickly put the letter down knowing that I had no right looking through her stuff, although a part of me was telling me that I did.

"What about him? I really don't care about one of your old relationships. In fact since you kept that secret from me you can just go to hel-"
"He's your father," she said calmly, her eyes averting up to me. "He doesn't know either." I never knew my family could have so many secrets hidden in the dark closet, the one I was never allowed in to. She grabbed the box from the desk and pulled out a ring strung around a chain. She took it off the chain, and took my hand, putting the ring around my finger.

"I realize now that I can't keep you from him, and can't keep him away from you. I want you to go to the airport, I'll drive you, and get a plane ticket to Tulsa, Oklahoma. From there, I want you to make your way to Will Rogers High School and then go straight into a lot with houses. Go to door number thirteen, and ask for Mr. Witman." Her eyes showed a glint of sadness in them. "He's your uncle, Seth. He is the only one related to me who didn't want me to leave. Anyway, you tell him who you are, and that I sent you. He'll show you where your real father lives." I couldn't believe she wanted me to find my father. I smiled, something I haven't done in a very long time.
That morning, I waited for Dad to leave when my mom came up to the steps, and carried up two suitcases. We packed as fast as we could. Everything went into my bags, from shirts to cameras. As soon as I got dressed, we got into the car and took off for the airport. How long was she expecting me to stay?