I pressed my shoe harder on the gas pedal. The wind whipped my hair around my face and shoulders ruthlessly. I raked the curly mass off my forehead and adjusted my sun glasses that perched on the bridge of my nose. The stereo speakers shuddered along with the drums of Ringo Starr to my favorite Beatles song. The tires of my yellow Mercedes Benz 230SL rolled at amazing speeds along the interstate.

"Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone, help!" I sang, giddy from freedom.

'Tulsa, 8 miles, next four exits' a sign informed me. Almost there, my adrenaline had been up since I passed the state lines into Oklahoma. California was miles and miles behind me and so was my old life. My six-year-old twin brother and sister had gone to live with my aunt in Oregon and I had packed my stuff for a different destination. My best friend since fifth grade had moved to Tulsa almost a year ago and recently to Joplin, just outside of Tulsa. Carmen Rose invited me to join her after my parents died in a bank robbery gone wrong.

I flipped my blinker on and sped off onto the off ramp into Tulsa. This town was smaller than Los Angeles, but the alien factor of being in a new surrounding made me not stop to investigate the city. Boy in leather jacket leaned against graffiti covered buildings smoking cigarettes and girls in frilly skirts flounced down the street gossiping. In California we only had surfers and skaters; it's very odd to see how people act based on where they live.

The song changed and I hummed to the unfamiliar tune. I reached over to the passenger seat and pulled a notepad from my purse. "1752 Violetwood Hill. Turn left at the Soda Shoppe, and take Meade Park till you hit Violetwood. Big red, can't miss it," I read aloud my next instructions. I looked for the Soda Shoppe and turned left. I followed the streets until it turned into a winding path to the top of a hill. Oh, Violetwood Hill, duh!

"Wow," I breathed. Towering in front of me was the biggest, most majestic mansion I had ever seen. Made entirely of red brick with two towers. I checked the address twice to make sure before parking in front of the door. I yanked the key from the ignition and emerged from the car. My adrenaline rush began to wear off and I staggered to knock on the door.

"It's open!" a voice called from inside. I entered cautiously.

"Carmen?" I called.

"Madison!" I was trampled by the short being that was my best friend. Carmen looked up at me from under her over-grown bangs and grinned.

"Did you crawl here or what?" she demanded.

"No, you're just impatient," I mirrored her grin then whistled. The inside of the house was just as marvelous as the outside. "And when did you win the lottery?"

"Um, well it's a long story, really," Carmen stuttered and gnawed on her thumb nail.

"You don't have to tell me," I let that drop. But I would ask later.

Just then a wolf came prowling into the room. On second glance, it was just a large dog. It was beautiful! All black with tan limbs and a white chest.

"Dustin, come meet Madison. Madison, this is my dog Dustin," Carmen introduced happily.

I knelt and held out my hand. Dustin came forward and sniffed my hand then licked me. "I guess he approves," I said and patted Dustin's head. His gold rimmed eyes gazed up at me.

"And he's got your eyes!"

"He does, good boy."

"Well, if it isn't Madison Elwell. How've you been dear?"

"Mikayla, hi! I've been better," I hugged Carmen's mom. Her mom had lost a bit of weight and her long brown hair was pulled back in ponytails that hung down the front of her shoulders. The divorce obviously agreed with her.

"I'm sorry about your parents, but I am glad to see you. Carmen, help Madison with her bags and show her to her room," with that Mikayla turned on her heel into the kitchen.

I led Carmen out to my car and grabbed my two duffle bags from the back seat and my purse from the front.

"That's it?" Carmen raised an eyebrow. When did she learn how to do that?

"Who taught you to raise one eyebrow?" I wondered aloud. I haven't ever been able to do that!

"My friend Two-Bit…he could probably teach you, too," Carmen shrugged and grabbed one of my bags.

"So tell me 'bout your friends, what are they like?" I nudged her with my elbow.

"Where should I start?" she mused then grinned," Dallas Winston. Dally is a major bad boy. He lived on the streets of New York when he was ten and has been in and out of jail. He's tuff-er than hell and you'd probably think he's hot. Oh, and he's sixteen."

"Sounds like fun," I muttered and rolled my eyes. "Who's next?"

"Steve Randle." Carmen said his last name like a swear word. "He's seventeen and a car wiz. He works part time at the DX in Tulsa and…" she paused, "that's about it. He ain't that good lookin' either."

I laughed and nodded. I locked my car and followed Carmen into the house.

"Johnny Cade, sixteen years-old. His parents beat him so we all kinda look out for him. He's really sweet and quite funny once he opens up. He's so damn shy." We climbed the stair and she opened the door to my new room.

"He's awfully cute, with big brown eyes and that puppy-dog look."

"Okay," I threw my bag onto the queen sized bed and flopped down after it.

"Um, then there's Two-Bit Matthews. God, he's hilarious! Life with Two-Bit around is never boring. He's eighteen and loves Mickey Mouse, too! You'll like him.

And Darryl Curtis, we all call him Darry. He's the eldest Curtis brother at twenty-one. He is like a parent to the guys. Well, his parents died about two years back-"

"That's terrible!" I broke in. Carmen gestured towards me. "Well I should know."

"True. Anyway, then Darry's younger brother Sodapop, don't laugh, is gorgeous. He's sixteen and works at the DX with Steve, who's his best friend. You'll never meet anyone like Soda. He's funny and sweet, I swear he's broken the hearts of all the girls in Oklahoma."

I giggled.

"Then there's Ponyboy…" Carmen sighed dreamily.

"Ponyboy, huh?" I raised my eyebrows up and down.

"Yeah, he's my boyfriend. He's wow… He's Soda's younger brother and is almost fifteen. He's a romantic and loves fiction. Pony likes movies and books and sunsets. And I love him."

"Whoa, you what?" I sat up straight.

Carmen smirked, "You heard me. I love him."

"I call maid of honor!" I laughed.

Carmen hesitated before joining me.

"When do I get to meet them?" I inquired.

"Tomorrow, I guess. I'll call them. Yell if you need anything," Carmen left and shut the door behind her.

My new room was twice the size of my house in L.A. Not literally but you get it. It had a queen sized bed on the left side and a large desk and bookcase in front. The double doors to a closet were behind me and to the right was a window. No wall just a window. I unhooked the latch and stepped onto the balcony over-looking the garden. My window faced west so I had the spectacular view of the sun setting on the horizon. I sighed sadly and let images of my parents flood to me in dangerous waves.

My dad pushing me on the swings when I was four, his laughing blue eyes starring down at me with admiration. When I was eight, we went fishing and I fell in the river. Dad pulled me out and took me right home to my mother. Mom…

She had beautiful dark skin black eyes, and black hair, the opposite of my dad's tan skin, gold eyes and blonde hair. She had the most beautiful laugh. Her voice still rang in my ears. "I love you, my babydoll. Don't you forget that."

"I won't Mama, I promise," I said to the sky.