Here's the second chapter. Hope you enjoy! Thanks for the reviews :-)

S.E. Hinton owns The Outsiders

XXX

"Took you guys long enough!" a voice excitedly boomed from the back of the diner, grabbing Ponyboy's attention. "My stomachs been rumbling something terrible."

As Ponyboy moved deeper into the diner the figure that accompanied the voice came into view.

Chuckling at Two-Bit nearly jumping out of his seat in the booth, Ponyboy took a seat across the table from him, beside his older brother.

"How was your shift Soda?" Ponyboy asked.

"Not bad at all. It was actually pretty quiet around there today," Pony's brother Sodapop replied happily. He was still dressed in his overalls and DX hat.

"Except for the steady stream of the female variety, eh Sodapop," Two-bit ribbed, throwing a wink to Ponyboy.

"Shut it Two-bit," Soda grumbled, but even still a smile slipped through his lips.

Ponyboy knew that his brother wasn't one to shy away from the topic of girls, but he had been much more weary since Sandy, She'd really done a number on him.

"Where'd you leave Stevie at?" Sodapop asked, turning his attention back to his younger brother.

Ponyboy jerked his thumb towards the window, where the parking lot was in clear view.

"Him and Evie are going at it," Ponyboy muttered. After dropping off Madeleine Evie had started in on Steve about, now that he thought about it, nothing in particular. It seemed she was just fighting for fighting sake. Ponyboy and the rest of the group could now see Steve and Evie outside of Steve's car, both waving their hands all around in each other's faces. "We picked up a girl, a Madeleine someone or other, from the station. I think that's what put Evie in such a bad mood."

Ponyboy's mind wandered back to that moment that she had asked him what his name was. All he could see were those piercing eyes.

"Well darling, that girl would be enough to send anybody through the roof," Kathy, Two-Bit's girl, who was seated next to him laughed.

"So they are sisters?" Pony questioned. When Evie had said, tell dad your welcome Pony had immediately realized that they had to be sisters. But Evie had never mentioned a sister before and as far as he knew she only lived with her mother.

"Half. Her dad ran out on Evie and her mama and got some other broad pregnant. She tries to stay away from that house but that sister of hers is always getting into trouble and her own parents don't pay much attention to her."Kathy explained animatedly. She loved a good story.

Ponyboy had always taken a liking to Kathy even if she was a bit of a gossip. She was real nice, and was actually pretty funny herself. She was a good match for Two-bit.

"Glory, I didn't know that. And you guys had to pick her up from jail?" Two-bit asked, one eye-brow cocked curiously, "what'd she do?"

"Didn't say," Ponyboy replied.

"Well I can't imagine her being any more of a handful than ole Evie," Two-bit laughed.

"You're telling me," a voice new to the table muttered. It was Steve and he didn't look happy. "Who are you talking about."

"Evie's kid sister Mad-"

"Well don't, she's the reason this nights ruined and I've had enough talking about Evie while we're at it too."

"Aww Stevie lighten up, the night hasn't even started. It'll be gooder," Soda called out to his best friend. Steve's shoulders loosened up and but it was clear that he was still in a trying mood. Regardless he pulled up a chair to the table and Two-bit waved his hand out wildly to get the attention of a server.

"Anyone notice the weather outside. I think that's whats about to ruin the night," Kathy murmured, gazing out the window.

Sure enough when Ponyboy looked outside, his view of the parking lot was fuzzy as sheets of rain pelted the ground.

"Shit." The usually happy go lucky Sodapop mumbled glumly.

"It was sure a scorcher out today," Kathy continued, "You know what that means."

Ponyboy immediately tensed.

"You don't think, do you?" he asked the group nervously. The faces looking at him varied from looks of concern to looks of complete dismissal.

"I ain't doing a thing until those warning bells go off!" Two-bit pronounced goofily, slinging an arm around Kathy who in turn shook her head at him.

"Sure and the next time we see you you'll be swirling around inside the tornado with the wicked witch of the west herself," Kathy groaned, rolling her eyes.

Ponyboy found himself chuckling despite himself.

"Well I guess we should get home. Darry won't sit still till we do," Soda exclaimed, slamming down his Pepsi.

"But we haven't even ordered our food yet!" Two-Bit cried out. His lower lip protruded way past his upper into a goofy pout.

"I'm sure we can scrounge up something at the house Two-Bit," Ponyboy reassured him, sliding out from behind the booth to stand beside Steve. He wanted to get the group moving. He didn't want to waste any time if there was a Tornado cooking up out there.

A commotion up near the front of the diner caught everyone's attention.

"Hail! Hail! She's a coming! She's a coming!"

Ponyboy needed no further convincing. "Let's go Soda."

It didn't take much more convincing for the group either. Steve, Soda and Ponyboy ran through the hail, doing their best to cover their heads with their jackets, to Steve's waiting car. Two-Bit and Kathy made a mad dash for his rickety old truck on route to Kathy's house.

Only minutes had passed and the warning bells began to ring.

Steve stepped on the gas and sped through the rain and hail, barely losing an speed at the stops signs. By the time the three of the home pulled up in front of the Curtis home the wind had picked up dangerously. The trees in the neighbouring yard were bending so far over Ponyboy was sure it were only a matter of time before they snapped.

"Let's go!" Soda shouted before whipping his door open and jumping out of the car, running against the wind and up onto the porch. Ponyboy followed suit.