Hello, again I will try to update as often as I can, now of course The Outsiders belongs to S.E Hinton, and there is a part in the story that I knocked off from Evanescence and that bit belongs to them.

Please leave reviews they make me really happy.

Enjoy.

I walked up the first stair carefully not wanting to trip and I skipped the second step that was missing and got through the threshold.

"Well, this is different" My brother said while in back of me.

I kept looking around; it wasn't much different than the outside, the walls were chipping some of the walls had holes. And the sofas were covered in plastic- if that would help. My brother was right, this is different from our two story house in a gated community.

I cupped my nose and mouth, there was dust everywhere.

"How do you kids like it?" My Dad asked

I decided not to answer his question, my brother however had a lot to say regarding our new home.

"You can not be serious.! It is dusty and dirty, there's holes in the walls, this is hazardous to our health." Nathaniel said while pointing to the different holes in walls and the chipped paint.

My Dad stared at him, and with no emotion said:

"Best get used to it"

I opened my mouth in shock my Dad was really serious about our punishment, he has never really punished us and this was different, he was serious about keeping up with his punishment.

"Where will our rooms be?" I asked finally speaking and silently praying that the room weren't in bad condition.

"You can have your aunt's old room, down the hall and make a right" dad said pointing his fingers giving me directions, while he went outside to get some suitcases from his car.

I walked off to where he told me observing the halls I saw photos of my father and his family.

Nathaniel resembles my dad, they're like twins.

I smiled to myself and made it inside my 'new' room.

I laughed to myself, the room was ridiculous.

There was a over used mattress at the corner, the walls had stains of who knows what and the carpet was ripped and as well had stains. The drawer in the far right was used and abused cabinets were missing handles and the mirror was cracked. So much for being in a better condition.

"Dad" I called

"Yeah Clare" he said a smile on his lips

"Well I can not sleep in that" I said pointing to the mattress.

The mattress has not been used in years, who knows who has been squatting in here or what animal has been making the bed a home.

"Sorry to break it to you untill the new furniture comes in on Monday, that will have to do unless you prefer to sleep on the floor" My dad said giving me a smug smile.

"You are really enjoying this aren't you" I asked my dad arching my perfect auburn eyebrow.

My Dad came in and hugged me kissing the top of my head for comfort "It's for your own good" He said sympathetically

"Now let's clean the house" He said excitedly

I groaned

I have never ever cleaned, I didn't even make my own bed, a lady would do that for us.

My Dad, brother, and I continued to move all our suitcases to are respected rooms and began to clean.

"You are in charge of yard work" My Dad told me handing me all the equipment needed.

I looked at him incredulously "Out in the sun, but Dad I'll burn" I said

I was truly worried I am extremely fair skinned, I burn quickly and I also wanted an excuse to get out of doing yard work. I have never made my own bed, what would he think I am able to mow a lawn.

"Here's a hat" My dad retorted throwing me a brown straw hat that he wears when he is out in his old garden back home.

Like that would help, I rolled my eyes and put on the stupid hat and re tied my shoes and changed into jeans and a plain white shirt so I wouldn't get my nice clothes dirty.

I walked out and the gang of boys were still present.

Great, this is going to be incredibly embarrassing.

I dropped all of the equipment and laid my eyes on the lawn mower, looking at it if it was my greatest enemy. I walked towards it slowly dreading the idea of me actually using it.

I observed the mower unaware of the sting that I had to pull to turn it on. I kicked it but nothing happened there were no buttons or anything-still oblivious to the string- I assumed it was broken.

I smiled, no chores for me "Dad the lawn mower is broken" I yelled poking my head through the living room window.

"How many times did you pull the string" My dad asked leaning on the threshold of the front door.

"What string?" I asked confused

I walked back to the lawnmower and observed it and behold I finally saw the string.

"So I pull the string?" I asked my Dad with an amused Nathaniel on his left.

My Dad nodded also amused.

I pulled it once and it roared but suddenly stopped.

"It's broken" I said hopefully.

"You need to do it a couple of times" My Dad said smiling clearly enjoying my struggle

I huffed

I pulled it three times and I had to use my full strength and it roared to life and yelled because the darn lawn mower jerked me forwards.

I heard an audience with laughter and it dawned on me than not only was my father laughing but along with him were the gang of criminals whom lived in front of us.

I felt the blood creep up to my face, and my face was burning hot of embarrassment and anger.

I looked at my brother and he was attempting to cover his mouth from laughing-traitor.

"Just walk around the lawn with it" My Dad said in between his laughter.

I nodded my head, It must have been a funny scene to watch I admit the lawnmower was almost my size and I had to use my full strength to push it.

It took me approximately an hour to finish mowing the lawn, which by the way was done horribly. It wasn't even, but at least it looked somewhat presentable.

And I was very pleased with myself.

I breathed heavily and sat on the sidewalk hiding from my Dad, my logic was if he can't find me he can't give me anymore chores, and I was extremely tired and sweaty.

"Come on sweetie that was nothing" one of the criminals across the street of me said and laughed while the boy with tanned skin and super greasy hair nudged him.

I ignored the comment, but noticed that Ponyboy wasn't in the front lawn anymore.

"Clare" My Dad yelled looking for me

My eyes went big, and I turned to wave at him, defeated.

My Dad rolled his eyes I guess my plan wasn't rock solid.

"There's more to do" He told me with a smile.

I stood up from my spot my legs shaky from the hard labor.

"Dad you do realize they have child labor laws now" I said smirking

"Yeah yeah clean the bathroom" He said rubbing my hair.

I stopped in my tracks bathroom there was only one bathroom. I inhaled deeply and kept walking forward to clean the bathroom.

The bathroom was small, my closet back home was bigger. But thank the Lord it wasn't as horrible as I anticipated just dust all over, and surprisingly the bathroom window wasn't broken.

Alas we finished, a total of seven hours of cleaning it is now dark outside and the stars are shining ever so bright and I was memorized.

I walked outside and stared up in the sky long and intently staring at the stars, as if it was my first time ever seeing stars.

"Hey you ok?" I hear a man's voice say

I snapped out of my trance and I see it is Ponyboy.

I smiled to myself and at him for his concern "I am fine thank you" I replied

Lifting my head up again to see the stars.

I saw him in lift his head up at the sky wondering what had my full attention.

"I can see the stars, all the lights in California frightens them away" I said memorized.

I put my head down and caught Ponyboy staring at me confused

"What do ya mean by that?" Ponyboy asked me

His accent was cute.

"In California there are so many mechanical lights that shine brighter than the stars to the point where you can't even see them" I replied

Both still staring at the stars.

"Here in Tulsa I see all of the stars each individual star shining bright" I concluded

I felt silly telling him why I was staring so intently at the stars but I was memorized.

He hummed "Well, I guess some things we just take for granted even the simplest things like the stars" He said still staring at the sky

I smiled to myself.

"How you enjoying Tulsa" He asked striking up a conversation

I turned my head away from the stars and looked at him. He had beautiful eyes green with some gray in them.

"Well I haven't really seen Tulsa, other than my property" I said with a small laugh pointing to my ugly house.

He smirked "Well I betcha it won't be as great as sunny California" Ponyboy said lighting up a cigarette.

I smiled "Well believe or not Ponyboy" I said "I think I will enjoy Tulsa"

I meant it genuinely, one because I can enjoy staring up at the sky and second Ponyboy is really cute.

"And why is that" He asked me

I smiled feeling a little blush "I can stay like this all night" I said staring back at the stars

He smiled and when I looked down he had reddened

"Ponyboy get inside, it's almost eleven o'clock" One of his older brothers yelled Ponyboy turned around

"In a minute" He yelled back his voice a bit frustrated.

He turned back to me and smiled "See ya... neighbor" He said smirking at me

"See you, neighbor" I say arching a perfect eyebrow and smirking.

Ponyboy smiled at me and jogged back home.

I smiled and stayed staring at the stars.

I stayed there awhile until I decided to back inside I made my way to my new room and changed into my pajamas.

I decided to not sleep in the mattress I put a few blankets on the floor and put my pillow there as well.

I covered myself up and stared at the ceiling and smiled

I can get used to all of this.

I can get used to Tulsa.

Maybe this wasn't a bad idea after all.