I hated every question they asked me, but I answered them all. I almost hated them for keeping me here… Almost. I'm was surprised they were being so nice to me, with the exception of that Dally guy. Even though I was a greaser too, I was still a girl, and a stranger. Those two things don't mix well. They seemed to be done with their questions and every ones food was gone now so I took the opportunity to ask them a question myself.

"Who are you guys?"

It sounded stupid coming out of my mouth but they knew my name and they hadn't formally told me theirs yet. They must have been surprised by my sudden question, because they just stared at me for a moment. I opened my mouth slightly but quickly shut it and looked down at my hands for the millionth time. They really knew how to make a girl nervous.

"I'm Sodapop" I looked up "And that's my brother Ponyboy". They have even weirder names than I do, Ithought to myself.

I nodded and kept quiet as Soda introduced me to "the gang".The boys started to talk among themselves. I wasn't really paying attention. There were so many other things on my mind. I really needed to find a place to stay and I needed to get some more money. I sighed in frustration. Johnny must have heard me because he was looking straight into my light green eyes. Pony notice and looked towards us. I quickly looked down and blushed hoping no one would notice. Not much good that did.

"Aw, look Cali Baby is blushing" I glared at Two-Bit. I wish they would stop calling me that. The rest of the guys just laughed.

I groaned "He-hey Cali" I looked up sharply at Ponyboy who was now speaking "Where are you going to stay?"

The table was silent, except for Dally who said the offer to stay with him was still open. I clenched my fist under the table. Dally was a typical greaser. Probably just got out of jail for god knows what, and had a different lay every night. How disgusting. I shrugged implying I didn't know what I was going to do. Not that is was any business of theirs. Just them Pony looked at Soda. It's seemed like that were having a conversation with their eyes. Soda smiled at his brother and nodded. I was so confused at this point.

"Why don't you stay with us for a while?" I looked between the two shocked "Just until you can find a place of your own"

I was speechless. I had met these guys just a couple of hours ago and there were going to let me stay at their house? Maybe they weren't so bad after all. I thought it over in my head for a moment. I guess if they were really going to hurt me they would have already and who I am assuming was their older brother seemed okay enough. Plus, I didn't have any other places I could stay at the moment.

"Are you sure it'll be okay? I asked quietly.

Soda grinned down at me and nodded "The boys stay over all the time, and I'm sure Darry won't mind"

I smile weakly for the first time in a long time and thanked them. It almost felt weird to smile. Besides Dally I was bringing to warm up to these strangers. I still didn't trust them by any means but I could at the very least stand being around them. Soda, Two-Bit and Pony seemed nice enough. I haven't really gotten a chance to talk to Steve, and Johnny didn't seem to talk to anyone except Ponyboy. I wondered if he's ever talk to me.

"Was that a smile I see Ms. California?" my smile grew a little wider at Two-Bits comment. I felt kind of happy. It was a strange feeling.

We all started walking back to the Curtis house after that. Which I guess you could say was my new home. Shortly into the walk I started having second thoughts about staying with these guys. After all I barely knew them and what if they were really going to screw with me now that I agreed to live with them. No, I wouldn't let that happen, I couldn't. Without another thought I felt my feet stop under me I was going to make a run for it. I almost went unnoticed but one of the boys must have looked back or heard my foot steps against the pavement as I ran in the opposite direction of them, because all I heard were voices calling my name and six pairs of feet chasing behind me. What have I gotten myself into now?

Ponyboy's POV

This sure was going to be exciting having a girl in the gang, I mean. I don't think she trusts us yet, but I'm sure we'll make her feel at home in no time. I just hope Dallly doesn't get rough with her again.

"Hey Pony?" I looked up to see johnny

"Yeah Johnny?"

"What do you think of Cali?"

I thought for a second. What did I think of her? Well, I thought she was mysterious and beautiful mostly, but she was also different from most other girls I had known. I really wanted to know more about her.

"Ah shocks, I don't know man. I mean she's kind of a mystery huh?"

He nodded in response without another word. I glanced back for a second and to my surprise I saw California standing still looking down as if she was debating what she should do next. I called to Soda to show him her strange actions and almost simultaneously the strange girl took off running without another word. Soon after we all began chasing after her. She was pretty fast but not too fast to out run all six of us, especially me.

California's POV

Everything was a blur and I just wanted to get as far away as possible. For the first time tears started coming down my face but I didn't stop or to wipe them away. I couldn't hear the boys call after me anymore so I turned to check where they were. This was a bad idea. Before I knew it I was tumbling to the ground with Ponyboy, Johnny, and Sodapop not far behind.

"What the hell Cali?" I sat completely still with my face in my hands. I still had tears streaming down my face and I could feel blood running down my leg where I must have scratched it. "Cali, come on look at me… What ya run for?"

I wanted to yell at him to go away for all of them to just leave me alone. I didn't want their help. I didn't want to see them ever again. But all I could do was bury my face deeper into my hands and cry. I hated myself for being so weak and in front of these people no less. I was pathetic. I felt someone move my hands from my face and I was too defeated to sot them. When I looked at who it was Soda's concerned eyes burned a whole into mine. I couldn't stand it. I quickly turned myself away from him and the rest of the group watching us.

"Aw, come on Cali, we ain't gonna hurt ya" This was Ponyboy talking now.

"And why the hell should I believe that! I don't even know if Ponyboy is your real name!"

The others had made their way to us by now and I felt like an animal in a zoo. I was trapped and made a spectacle of.

"Look, the braud obviously doesn't want our help"

"Shut up Dally, she's already gotten enough crap from you" Two-Bit barked

I looked up in fear knowing that Dallas wasn't the type to talk back too and I was right the two boys started to brawl right then and there.

"I-I should go" muttered trying to stand up.

Soda looked at me with sad eyes "You don't have too! Please Cali just come back to the house. You're leg is bleeding. We'll clean it up and you can get to know us"

He had a point about my leg. It was stinging pretty bad and needed to be cleaned. So I nodded hoping not to cause anymore trouble. Dally and Two-Bit managed to stop fighting and we all walked back to their house. This time they made me walk in the from between Pony and Johnny. I didn't mind them so much. They definitely we're the toughest in the gang, especially Johnny. He looked kind of like a lost puppy. Honestly, he was kind of like me.

"Does your leg hurt bad?" I shook my head and gave Pony a weak smile.

"You can trust us you know" he told me sincerely "we're not like most gangs around here."

I sighed and shook my head :I don't trust anyone"

"Well, have you ever tried? I mean besides Dally we haven't done anything to ya and Two-Bit even got into a fight for ya!" his voice was so stern it shocked me at first. He had point though.

I sighed once more, "I'll try Ponyboy. I promise"