Hey guys. Sorry it took so long for me to update. I really will try to update sooner. Well, I hope you enjoy this. R&R please.

June 14, 1966

"I can't believe we have to live in this," I said, standing on the front lawn—if you could call it that—of my family's new rundown shack.

"Now, honey, it's not that bad," my mom tried to convince me.

"Not that bad! The maid's apartment was bigger than this!"

"Alex, you know it's only until I find another job. It won't be that long," my dad said.

"Yeah right," I muttered under my breath.

"Alexandra Marie Johnson, stop your whining and carry your things inside."

I muttered under my breath and did as I was told. "Hm, I wonder which stall is mine," I said out loud.

"It's not a barn," my dad said coming up behind me.

"Of course not. Even horses live better than us now."

That riled him up and he put the box that he was carrying down. "Now, Alex, I know you're upset about this whole situation, but that's too bad. This is hard on all of us, not just you, so enough with the sarcasm." He ran a hand through his hair and when he spoke next, he was much calmer. "I always taught you to be tough, no matter what. This is one of those times. We're a family and we got to stick together through thick and thin. We need you not to argue with us and not to give us this attitude of yours. Your mother and I are doing our best. We just need you to work with us. We on the same page?"

"Yes sir," I said. He picked up his box and continued on his way. I brought the box I was carrying into my new—and much smaller—room and repeated this trip until all my boxes were out of the car.

Afterwards, I stood in my room, staring at all the unopened boxes. I really didn't feel like unpacking. I sifted through the box marked 'clothes' until I came up with a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. I changed out of my skirt and sweater and into those clothes. I grabbed my converse and put them on. I took an old baseball cap out of the box and tucked my long, black hair into it. No need to have every Soc driving around town recognizing me.

"Mom, Dad, I'm going out," I said as I made my way to the door.

"Don't stay out too late," I heard my dad yell back.

"Yeah, yeah," I said, only loud enough for me to hear, and walked down the porch steps. I started walking around town.

The East side really wasn't all the much different from the West side. There were diners and convenience stores. I even walked by the DX, which my friends and I occasionally stopped at to gas up and flirt with the employees. The only thing that was different was that this side of town was more rundown. Smaller, neglected houses compared to large, two-story mansions. Dry, brown grass instead of luscious, green grass. Beat up old Chevys in place of Mustangs and Corvettes. It wasn't all that bad actually, but it was much different from the part of town I used to call home.

"Heads up!" I broke away from my thoughts and looked up just in time to see a football come flying towards me. It took a little effort, but I caught it with ease.

"Hey, can you throw it back?" I looked over in the direction the ball and the voice came from. A group of boys was standing about ten meters away, just waiting to get their ball back. I pulled my arm back, moved it forward, and released the ball perfectly.

"Whoa, what an arm," the big one with the muscles said.

"You wanna play? Dal's team sure could use a new quarterback," the rusty-haired one said. A blond boy—who I assumed was Dal—hit the rusty-haired one in the back of the head.

Hm, did I want to play? I'd have to make friends if I was going to live on the East side. Might as well start now.

I started walking over to them, and as I neared, I heard the rusty-haired one say, "Holy shit, he's a she." I looked down as the blood rushed to my face.

"Where'd you learn to throw like that?" Muscles asked. Dal was staring at me unrelentingly.

"My dad taught me. As the youngest of three girls, I kinda became the replacement for the son my dad never got."

"What's your name?" the one that looked like a movie star—the same boy we flirted with at the DX—asked me.

"Alex."

"Just Alex? Not Alexandra?"

"Nope. Dad's choice again."

"Alex Johnson," Dal finally said.

"Um, yeah."

"Tell me this. What is one of the high and mighty Socs doin' on this side of town?"

I was confused. He looked familiar, along with two of the other boys, but I wasn't sure where I knew them from. "Well, long story short, my dad lost his job, we lost our money and our home, and now here I am," I said, removing my hat.

"You're not wearing you usual outfit. Where's your skirt and sweater set?"

Hm, did I want to give the reason straight out or flirt a bit? I mean, he was cute.

"Well, maybe you should drop by my house some night and see for yourself."

He smirked. "Maybe I will."

It hit me. I knew why he was so familiar. "Dallas Winston!"

"That's the name, babe, and you seem awfully excited to know it."

"We met at the movies. You were trying to hit on me and my friends."

"Good to see ya finally remembered."

I smiled. "You were with him," I said, pointing at a dark-skinned boy. "Johnny, right?" He nodded and looked down at his shoes. "And you're the one with the strange name," I said, looking at a reddish-brown-haired boy. "You have a brother with another strange name and one that roofs houses."

"Ponyboy," he answered. "This is Sodapop," he gestured to DX. "And this is Darry," he motioned to Muscles.

"Nice to meet you," I said. Soda gave me a big smile.

The rusty-haired one stepped forward. "Since none of these other knuckleheads got any manners, I'll introduce myself. Two-Bit Matthews."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Two-Bit Matthews."

"Believe me, the pleasure is all mine milady," he said and bowed. I laughed and he stood up grinning. "And this here is Stevie." He motioned to the guy standing towards the back with the style hair.

"Hey Stevie," I said.

"Steve," he corrected. I made a mental note of that, but decided that I was going to call him Stevie anyway. "And don't worry. Two-Bit won't be hittin' on ya for long. He's only got a thing for blonds."

"Hey, who knows? Maybe I'll make an exception for her," Two-Bit replied.

"I'd run for the hills," Johnny said, jokingly. I laughed.

"Okay, if y'all are done your chitchattin', let's get this show on the road," Dal said.

"Uh, Dal, I think you mean get this game goin' 'cause I don't see no show."

"Shut up, Two-Bit!" Dal said. Two-Bit grinned at me and winked. I smiled back.

"Alright, Alex, you can be on Dal's team," Darry said.

"No," Dal replied.

"What do ya mean no?"

"I don't want her on my team. You can have her."

I wasn't sure whether or not to be offended. I chose not to be, making the decision that Dal just wanted to prove he could beat Darry.

"Fine, then," I said, "let's get playin'." I saw a smirk appear on Dallas's face, but I wasn't' exactly sure why it did.

We set up on the 'line' and as soon as Darry yelled 'hike,' I was on the run. We made eye contact and he released the ball in my direction. But before the ball even reached me, I was down. Knocked flat on my back by Dallas Winston.

"Incomplete!" Soda called. Dallas climbed off of me and offered me a hand up. I took it, and we were soon setting up again. And Darry was soon throwing me the ball again. And I was soon tackled by Dallas again.

By the umpteenth time, I was getting fed up with it. "Can you move?" I asked, looking up at him and trying to control my temper.

"Yeah." I waited for him to get off of me, but he didn't.

"Are you going to move?"

"I dunno. I kinda like you in this position."

"Ugh!" I shoved him off of me and stood up. "Sorry boys, but I think I've had enough football for one day."

I caught them glaring at Dallas before I turned to walk away. My footsteps were soon being followed by heavier footfalls. "Hey, Alex, wait up." Darry was walking beside me. "Don't go. Dal's just being Dal. He ain't all that bad once you get to know him." I just glanced over at him and continued walking. He continued to follow. "C'mon, we can go back to my house. My mom's always happy to see new faces. And she makes the best chocolate cake."

I considered it for a moment, before turning to him with a smile plastering my face. "I'd love to go back to your house." He grinned back. I realized for the first time that day that he had a really nice smile.

"C'mon, I'll race ya," he said.

"But I don't even know where you live."

"Guess you got a problem then," he replied, dimples appearing as his grin widened. He took off running and I laughed as I ran after him.

He collapsed in the front yard a few blocks away. I caught up and lay down beside him. We were both breathing heavily. I felt great. It'd been a while since I'd been for a good run. I'd almost forgotten how much I loved it.

"That…was great," I said.

"Wanna go again?" He looked over at me and wiggled his eyebrows. I laughed.

"Dar, is that you?" a woman called from inside the house.

"Yeah, mom," he called back. "C'mon," he said to me. We got up and I followed him inside. The rest of the boys were there. Unfortunately, Dallas included.

"Well, hun, who do you have with you?" his mom said when she saw us.

"Mrs. Curtis, I'd like ya to meet Alex Johnson, Darry's new girlfriend," Two-Bit said.

"Really?" she seemed surprised. I didn't miss the color coming to Darry's face.

"No. We actually just met. She just moved here." Darry shot a dirty look in Two-Bit's direction.

"Really? Where from?"

"The other side of town, actually," I replied, smiling.

"That must've been nice."

"Yes, ma'am. It was."

"So how'd you two meet?"

"I was exploring this side of town, and I almost got hit with their football."

"Darrel," she scolded.

"Don't look at me. It's Soda that can't control the ball."

Soda smiled sheepishly. "Sorry 'bout that by the way."

Mrs. Curtis was shaking her head. "It was really no big deal. I caught it."

"Yeah, then she played with us. That is until she got fed up with Dally," Johnny said. Mrs. Curtis glanced over at Dal. He just shrugged. "She's actually pretty good," Johnny continued.

Mrs. Curtis smiled at me. "It's about time someone put these boys in their place."

"Hey, she can put me in my place any time."

"Keith!" she said appalled, but a grin appeared on her face. On my face, too.

"Keith?" I asked.

"Let me guess, he told you his name was Two-Bit?"

"Yup." I grinned at him. "I think I should start calling you Keith."

"Aww, c'mon. Even my teachers at school are starting to call me Two-Bit. Don't ruin it."

"I'll think about it." I turned back to Mrs. Curtis.

"How 'bout some chocolate cake and milk?" she asked.

"I'd love some. Thank you."

"Me too."

"Yeah, mom, share the love."

"Y'all want some, y'all can get it yourselves," she replied. "C'mon." I followed her into the kitchen and Darry followed me. "Sit down," she told me. "I'll get it for you."

"Thanks." Darry sat with me.

"How old are you anyways?" he asked.

"Sixteen. How old are you?"

"Seventeen. I turn eighteen in a few months."

"I bet you're a senior this year, too." He nodded. "Lucky. I wish I could graduate this year." He grinned. "So you play any sports?"

"Football."

I grinned back. "Any other ones?"

"Nah, football's my thing. How 'bout you?"

"Well, I love running. I can pretty much play any sport, but I don't play on any teams."

"Here you go," Mrs. Curtis said, placing a piece of cake and a glass of milk each in front of me and Darry.

"Thank you," I said.

"Yeah, thanks mom."

She smiled. "You come around any time you want," she told me. "No matter what time it is. You're always welcome."

"Thanks." She left the room and I heard her 'yelling' at the rest of the boys in the living room. "Your mom is so cool."

"Yeah, I think so. She's really great."

"I wish mine was like her. Mine's always tryin' to get me to be something I'm not."

"What's that?"

"Really girly, like my sisters. To tell you the truth, I prefer being around my dad. He doesn't judge me or nothing. He teaches me how to play sports and how to fix cars and all kinds of things. My mom just wants me to be like my sisters and act 'ladylike.' She actually calls me Alexandra, even though that isn't my real name. She just likes to pretend that I'm her little debutante."

"That must be tough."

"Yeah, I guess it is, but I do as she wants when we're in public. Like at school, I wear skirts and blouses. But when I'm on my own, I dress how I want: Jeans and a t-shirt. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like to look nice and girly. Just not all the time."

"Yeah, me too." I laughed at the serious look that was on his face. I hit his arm. He looked at me and laughed.

"So what's the deal with Dallas? He that pleasant with everyone?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Plus, he's used to girls swooning over him. You were more disgusted than swooning."

"What? So he's gonna be a pain in my ass because I'm the first girl who doesn't wanna sleep with him?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Ugh. That's gonna frustrate the hell outta me."

He laughed. "You'll get used to it. We have. Besides, if he bothers you too much, just let me know, if ya know what I mean."

I laughed too. "Oh, I know what you mean."

"Hey guys, we're headin' to the movies. You wanna come?" Two-Bit yelled.

"You up for it?" Darry asked me.

"Sure. Let's go." We both got up and followed the rest of the boys out of the house for the drive-in.