Disclaimer; I don't own the Outsiders. I only own Kayla and Kelly.

Through it All

"Hey Kelly. You ready to go?"

"Oh, yea. Let me grab my last book and I'll come with you Ponyboy."

"Alright, I'll meet you at the car."

I nodded and Pony walked away. I rode with the gang home after school. It isn't a real gang, more a close group of friends. We all have each other's back.

Ponyboy is the youngest of all of us at 14 years old. He has brown hair with golden streaks and green eyes but for some reason he says they are gray. Ponyboy is always daydreaming or reading a book. He is the sweetest boy I think I have ever met.

Johnny is another member. He has jet-black hair and chocolate brown eyes that give him a scared look all the time. I would give anything to have the warm color of Johnny's skin. Johnny is the gang's pet and like a little brother to all of us. We are pretty much all he has because his parents abuse him. He is 16 but could easily pass for 14.

Two-Bit is the clown of the group. I swear, that boy can just not keep his mouth shut! He has rusty colored hair and long side burns that he is very proud of. His gray eyes always seem to be filled with laughter. His most prized possession is his blade that he acquired through his "god given" talent of shoplifting.

Dally is the tough guy. To be completely honest, he scares me a little even though I know he would never hurt me. Dally grew up in New York and was thrown in jail at a young age. He is hard as a rock and doesn't let anything touch him. He has blonde, almost white, hair and piercing blue eyes that look like ice. The only emotion I can ever pick out in them is hatred.

Steve is another member of the gang. He has black hair that he wears in complicated swirls. Steve is a real tough guy, though not as tough as Dally, with a short temper. His old man loves the bottle and Steve frequently gets kicks out of the house. He works down at the DX with his buddy and another gang member, Soda.

Sodapop is Pony's older brother and my best friend. He is the best looking boy I have ever seen. He has brown hair with golden streaks just like Pony but his eyes are his own. He has deep brown eyes that are dancing with laughter. He has a real nice smile, the kind that makes you smile back no matter how you are feeling. That boy must smile in his sleep he smiles so much. He is a blast to be around. He is a real good listener even though he can't sit still for a long time.

Darry is the father of the gang and second oldest at 20. Darry has the same hair as his brothers, Soda and Pony, and he has eyes that look like pieces of ice. Like I said, he watches out for everyone in the gang and keeps us out of trouble.

The eldest of the group is my sister, Kayla. Kayla has red hair that I am very envious of and small hazel eyes. She is kind and a little shy but she is the best sister I could ever ask for. She recently turned 21 and is my legal guardian.

You see, my parents are dead. They were going out with the Curtis's to another town for the day. They left Kayla and me at the Curtis's for the day. The Curtis's and my parents were coming back from their day trip when their car stalled on the train tracks. Everyone in the car was killed on impact.

When the police arrived at the Curtis's house wanting to speak to Darry and Kayla, I knew something bad had happened. My feelings were confirmed when Kayla and Darry broke the news that our parents were dead. Kayla wrapped her arms around Pony as he bawled. I clung to Soda and we cried together for what seemed like hours. Darry just sat in his chair and stared out the window, his eyes showing no emotion. I think that was the day Darry grew up and his life changed.

Luckily, the state kept the families together. I got to stay with Kayla and Darry became the guardian of Sodapop and Ponyboy. Our families have always been extremely close but the accident brought us even closer. We have grown up with each other our whole lives. Our mothers were best friends since my mom moved to Tulsa in middle school and our dads were good buddies from the day they met. When my mother got pregnant with Kayla, no one was surprised that Mrs. Curtis was also expecting. Darry and Kayla are only three months apart. Our parents say that Kayla would never have walked if she didn't want to keep up Darry.

Soda and I were also born within a few months with Soda two months older. Soda has been protective of me since anyone can remember. He would hold my hand when I was scared and would never leave my side. He was there with me through my first break-up and my first day of high school.

Ponyboy is like my little brother. I remember getting to go see him in the hospital. He was the first baby I ever held in my arms and I loved him ever since. He is so smart and I know he is going to do something wonderful in his life.

I slammed my locker shut and tucked a stray strand of hair out of my face. I am 16, just like Soda and Steve, and in the 10th grade. I have brown hair that curls slightly at the ends and big bright blue eyes. I don't get mad very easily and I get along pretty easily with everyone, even Socs.

Socs are the kids who live on the West Side of town and enjoy jumping kids who live on the East Side, where I live. We are called greasers because they boys wear grease in their hair. We are the poorer kids while the Socs have all the money and they get all the breaks even if they cause the trouble. I think deep down though, some of the Socs are nice.

"Over here Kel!"

I turned around and smiled at Two-Bit who was waving me over.

"Hey Johnny. Hey Steve," I said sliding into the back of Two-Bit's car.

"Hey Kelly! It's great to see you too. My day was great, thanks for asking," Two-Bit said sarcastically.

I just rolled my eyes ignoring him. We dropped Steve off at the DX and then headed to the Curtis's house. Pony and Johnny sat at the table doing their homework while I sprawled out by Two-Bit on the floor who was watching Mickey Mouse, drinking beer, and eating chocolate cake.

Around 6, I decided I would make dinner for Pony because it was his night to cook and he had not finished his homework yet. How can he have so much homework the first week back from school? I pulled out leftover hamburgers that I am guessing Darry had made the night before and made meatloaf with them. I also found a can of green beans and threw them on the stove.

"Hey! Anyone home?" I heard Steve yell.

I heard Soda go into the dining room and ruffle Pony's hair and Pony tried to bat his hand away because he hates when people do that to him.

"What smells so good in here?" Soda asked popping his head into the kitchen.

"I hope your hungry because I made meatloaf," I replied.

"Hungry? Am I ever," Steve said walking in.

"Good, you two can set the table," I replied.

I heard the door slam and Darry in with Kayla right behind him. Darry roofs houses and Kayla works as a secretary at the law firm downtown. My dad got Kayla the job. Darry drops Kayla off at work in the mornings after he takes Steve and Soda. He also picks her up after work.

"Who is ready to eat?" I asked bringing the food out the table and everyone attacked it as I set it down.

About halfway through dinner, Dally decided to join us.

"Hey kids," he said sitting down.

Two-Bit came out of the kitchen with a new beer in hand and slapped his back. "Hey Dally! What you been up to today?"

"Just been around. What have ya'll been doing?"

"I was working while Soda over here entertained his fan club," Steve said.

"Hey, it has been boring this whole time you guys have been in school!" Soda defended himself. "I think I deserved to have some fun."

I rolled my eyes. "Soda, it's Thursday. We have only been in school for four days!"

"And those for days have been nothing but boring. I haven't even seen Sandy!"

I frowned a little at the mention of her name. I love Soda but his current girlfriend is awful. She cheats on him and lies to him all the time. Soda, Sandy, Steve, and I were all hanging out at the Dingo about four weeks ago so Soda and Sandy had been dating for about two weeks then. Soda and Steve went to go talk to some of the Shepard gang so it was only Sandy and I. As soon as they were out of earshot, she turned to me and said, "You back off. You had your chance with Soda but he is mine now."

My jaw dropped open. "Sandy, Soda and I are only friends. I love him like a brother and nothing more."

"Yea, sure, whatever. Just stay away. Got it?"

I got so mad that she said that. Soda was one of my best friends and I love him like a brother. I can't see myself dating him. I looked at her, smiled, and walked out of the Dingo. The only person who knows about what happened is Steve. I told him the night we saw Sandy with another guy at the movie sucking each other's faces. Steve doesn't like Sandy very much either.

"Kelly, lets go head home," Kayla said yawning.

"Oh, sure," I said putting my sink in the sink. "Let me just grab my books."

"Bye Kelly. Bye Kayla."

"Goodnight all! See you in the morning," I yelled letting the door slam behind me.

Phew! So there is the first chapter! Reviews, ideas, and corrections are much appreciated. I'll update soon!

Summer: