Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsider. S.E. Hinton does.

The next morning I rolled over in bed. Bright sunshine was streaming through my windows, blinding me. I went to grab my diary but…I had nothing to write. Odd. Oh, that's right: Tulsa is boring. Someone tapped lightly on my door. "Carmen?" my mom's voice called.

"Yes, Mom?" I sat upright as she opened my door.

"I'm off to work," she kissed my forehead and smiled. "Be a good girl, and don't get into trouble while I'm gone, now." What am I, four?

"Fine." She left, her uniform making a scratchy noise as she walked away. I threw my entire body back on my mattress and heaved a sigh. With nothing better to do in this stupid house, I pulled on my favorite pair of jeans and black tank-top and made my way outside.

The sun was still blindingly bright and warm as I shuffled along the street. It wasn't the best side of town…or the worst. Sort of in the middle. I was an idiot to go roaming in a new town by myself. I know better now.

My sneakers dragged on the pavement, pulling me towards the center of town. The scenery went form bad to worse. A group of guys leaned against the wall outside of a bar, smoking cigarettes. One smiled at me, exposing black chipped teeth. I grimaced and moved faster. My mother's voice echoed in my head: Be a good girl, and don't get into trouble while I'm gone, now. Like I'd ever get in trouble. Yes, I'm one of those kids. I read non-stop and my grades are more important than being popular. But, you mess with me and I suggest you sleep with one eye open. Most of the people from my old school new better than to underestimate me. I'm not to thin, more muscle than anything else, and fairly short (for a thirteen-year-old) at 5'2. My brown hair hung short and shaggy, spiking out at odd angles.

I crossed a street and came face to face with my worst nightmare. Preppy girls. Ugh! Just my luck. One looked at my clothes and sneered.

"What?" I asked stupidly.

"Nothing, just haven't seen you before. And I know I would have remembered you," she flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and the two girls behind her giggled. Did Miss Popular know everything? I pushed past her and glared over my shoulder. Great, life is just great.

I didn't do much else besides meander for hours. When the sun started to set, and it got darker, I tried to retrace my steps. And became hopelessly lost. I heard the click-clomp of boots on the pavement behind me. Uh-oh. I turned on my heel and changed my direction, heading towards the way I thought was home. The footsteps slowed and stopped altogether. I turned around and no one was there. Phew! I sighed and continued. I walked down two streets before I heard it again. Click-clomp. Click-clomp. I whirled around to see…

In the dim light of the street lamp I could barley make out his profile. He (I'm fairly certain it was a he) leaned against the lamp. "Hey, there."

I froze. What the hell was I supposed to say to that? "Uh, hi?" I squeaked.

He flicked something out of his pocket. Whatever-it-was shinned like gold in the dim light. A switchblade. "Pretty girls like you shouldn't be all alone at night...you never know what could happen." He grinned evilly, showing a chipped front tooth. There was a 15 foot distance between us. He had fairly long legs; he would be able to out run me.

"I don't want trouble, okay? I just wanna get home." I replied, panic rising in my chest.

He chuckled roughly. "Don't they all?" He took a few steps forward. I tried to move, honestly I did! But, I was frozen with fear. "You scream and I'll make it worse." He lunged at me.

Of course I screamed! Hello, what would you do? I pulled my left knee up into his thigh and ducked to avoid the blade in his right hand. My fist collided with his rib cage and he staggered back. I never fought before. Sometimes I rough-housed with Austin but did nothing to purposefully hurt him. This guy was planning to harm me…my instincts took over. He barreled straight forward. I managed to side step him and whack the knife out of his hand. It went skidding across the street. The guy growled and I got the lovely first good look at him. He had muddy brown hair that was pulled back in a ponytail and striking green eyes. His lips curved into a permanent sneer and his eyes held that wild look that only insane people had. He grabbed my wrist and twisted it behind my back, forcing me onto the ground. Tears formed in my eyes and I had to fight them back. I don't cry unless something real tragic happens

"This normally wouldn't hurt. Hell, most enjoy it. But I did warn you."

"Let her go. Now." A male voice ordered. This distracted Mr. Insane just enough.

I lifted my legs and knocked the guy backwards. He ended up sprawled out in the middle of the road. With his shirt collar in my left hand I punched him with my right. There was a sickening crack and he blacked out.

"You put up a helluva fight, good for you kid." I turned around to face the distraction from earlier. He grinned lopsidedly and put out a hand "Dallas Winston, at your service." I put my hand into his rough one and shook it.

"Carmen Rose. Thank you. You distracted him for me…" I tried to smile. Dallas had white-blonde hair and cold blue eyes that regarded me like a cat does a mouse. Food.

"Nice name. Where ya from baby doll?" he put his arm around my shoulders and steered me away from the crumpled figure in the street. Based on what just happened to me, I should have been more reluctant to leave with a complete stranger. Dallas held the scent of danger. But, he wouldn't hurt me. He had too much pride to hurt a girl.

"Here. Well, I just moved from Los Angeles, California," I explained sadly.

"Ah, you've got a Cali accent. I shoulda known," Dallas pointed out. He had one to. New York, maybe? Some place in the northeast.

"I'm proud of it."

He grinned and led me down an alley way.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, suddenly cautious. The shadows of the alley reminded me that this city was unfamiliar…and almost alien to me.

"To a friend of mine's. You'll like 'um," Dallas promised. I nodded. We turned down a new street. The houses were shabby and run-down, some had the 'DO NOT ENTER' and the 'TURN BACK WHILE YOU STILL CAN' feel. Only a few had a homey feel. Dallas pulled me to a stop in front of one of the safer looking homes. "Enter, Casa de la Curtis."

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