Disclaimer: I don't own any of S.E. Hinton's characters or ideas, kids. Enjoy!

My name's Amie Juliet Mathews, and lately my thoughts have been weighing on me so much I've decided it might help to write it all down. I guess it couldn't hurt. It was actually my buddy Ponyboy who suggested it; he's always writin' and daydreamin' and drawing pictures and it seems to work for him. He's my brother Keith, or Two-Bit's buddy too and man, let me tell you, that sure does get complicated sometimes.

See the thing is, Two-Bit and I have this group of friends we're real tight with, I mean I would kill for any one of these guys, and them for me. I've got Two-Bit to thank for even meeting them seeing as he's older and when he's ticked off sometimes he brings that up. It's like he sees them as more his friends. It sure hurt the first time he hinted at that, but I've gotten over it. Partly because the guys assured me they didn't see it like that, and partly because I know Two-Bit only says it 'cause he knows it's below the belt. He's not hacked off that often anyhow.

You might think havin' seven guys as my closest friends might get rough and it sure has over the years, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I've been alive almost sixteen years and I don't have any complaints about it yet. Least not ones that last too long.

I guess before I restart my story I should fill y'all in on the boys. First off there's my brother. He's my best friend in the world, and despite all he does wrong he's my hero. Two-Bit's got the same dark-red; I guess you'd call it auburn, hair as me and these gray eyes that just make you want to crack-up. They're happy and laughing. Maybe he does shop-lift a little too much and maybe he likes his girls on the trashy side but once you see those eyes you can't hold anything against him.

Then there's Dally Winston. Pony says Dally's so real it's scary and he is. That kind of transfixes me though. He's tough, he can handle anything, and he doesn't need us at all. We, or at least I, need him around, but he could take off tomorrow, never talk to us again, and be fine. It kinda makes me feel honored that he chooses to stick around us. Actually, I should take that back. Dally needs Johnny. But, he could get along without him if forced to. I'll get back to Johnny later. Dally's got white-blonde wispy hair, and almost colorless eyes, that's how light a blue they are.

Next there's Steve. Steve Randal has got brown hair though I'm not sure the exact shade 'cause I'm sure it's lighter than it looks. He keeps it heavily, I mean heavily greased. All the boys, save Dally and Darry, go in for hair grease, but Steve makes hair combing an art. He somehow comes up with these kind of curls I'm sure aren't natural. He's got hard almost bitter brown eyes. Steve's got a wild temper and he's always frustrated with his old man, but I guess we can calm him down pretty well. He's always real gentile around me.

Then they're the Curtis'. Darry, the oldest, is cut. I mean crazy cut. He could whip just about anyone in a second if he wanted to, but I don't think he'd want to. He's got dark-brown hair which is always clean- cut. That's the kind of guy he is. His eyes are this blue color some days, but then some days they seem more green. Darry's the Daddy and I love him for it. I always feel safe knowing he's looking out for me, no matter what.

Glory, Soda's next. Sodapop Patrick Curtis is every girl's dream. No joke, you've died and gone to Heaven when you've just seen him. He's without a doubt, one-hundred percent gorgeous, and guess what? I've known him my whole life. He's got blonde hair that shines in the light and seems to be a million different shades at once. Your knees go weak looking into his eyes. They make you drunk. That's the only way I can think to describe them except that they're brown. Through all his golden glory, Soda's a doll, even though he's got every right to be a jerk as good lookin' as he is. He cares about everyone and always makes sure you go to bed happy, no matter how bad your day's been.

Ponyboy is the youngest Curtis, and the youngest of the gang. He's got red-brown hair, though its much lighter than Two-Bit's and mine, and beautiful green eyes. He's shaping up to be every bit the looker Soda is, though he's oblivious to it, and shyer than anything around girls. Pony's a dreamer and though none of us deserve the bad wrap we get, Pony's way out of our league. And let me tell ya, the kid's goin' places in life. I worry about all of us besides Pony when it comes to the future.

Johnny Cade's next. I can't even think about Johnny without my heart pounding so hard and fast that I'm convinced it'll explode every time. Then my ears get to ringing, and I have a hard time concentrating on anything. It all kinda blurs. Johnny's got hair that he combs so it's always falling in his eyes in this beyond cute way that drives me crazy. It's jet black, and he's got eyes to match. His eyes kinda glow with this knowledge none of us has but him, though lately I'm scared to death to look into 'em too long. He's quiet; he bides his time to talk and every time he does, it commands everyone's attention. Seems like it's always important, too. Maybe just to me, though. He's sensitive. Not in a pansy way, I mean he's tough too. He's there for any of the guys in a fight and he's grease, but he seems to absorb emotion like he's keepin' it for us all. Protecting us 'cause only he's strong enough to bear it all.

Well, have you guessed Johnny's the source of a good part of my confusion? You'd think bein' a teenage girl would be enough to deal with without being in love, or thinkin' you are, with one of your best friends.

I guess I should begin the story: