All credit of 'The Outsiders' goes to S.E. Hinton.

Darry's POV

"Uh... Darry?"

"Yes, Two-Bit?" I was just finishing up icing my chocolate cake in the kitchen. Usually I didn't ice it, but I felt like changing it up this time. Two-Bit was watching TV in the living room, Soda was working, and Pony had just left about half an hour before.

"There's someone here for you."

"I'll be there in a second, hold on."

I heard Two-Bit clear his throat. "I think you should come now."

After setting the knife down on the counter, I walked over to the living room. "I really gotta finish this cake so I can go get-"

I stopped in my tracks, my eyes immediately hitting this young girl standing in the entrance. Sherri Hughes, my high school sweetheart. I barely even recognized her; I hadn't seen her in only a little over two years yet she looked so different. Man, we were so happy together in high school. We were together from sophomore year until one week after graduation, when Sherri decided that she wanted to travel the world, visit all these different countries and stuff. I was planning to join her, but then mom and dad died, and I obviously couldn't leave Soda and Pony behind. Our breakup was messy; when I told her the reason I couldn't go with her, she did nothing but yell at me for abandoning her. She had no one to travel with (in the end she met this guy named Maurice, some French stud who was also on the move). That night was the last time I saw her.

So here Sherri was, standing there in a yellow sundress and white heels. She didn't need those shoes; she was always a few inches taller than all the other girls. Her hair was long, wavy and bleached blonde. Last time I saw her, she had shoulder-length brunette locks. But even with this new look, I could tell it was her right away just from her face, which was now the face of a twenty year old lady.

I stood in the middle of the living room, not too sure of what to do. The way she was standing in the entranceway, you could tell she was uncomfortable with the whole situation. But what was she even doing here?

Two-Bit grabbed his jacket from the couch and threw it on. "I guess I should get going. See ya later, Dare," he said quietly.

Sherri moved aside so that Two-Bit could get through the door. Neither of them said goodbye to each other, not even a little nod. Two-Bit never really liked Sherri, even before she decided to leave me. He said it was because he got "weird vibes" from her, but I really think he just didn't like her personality. She was calm, gentle and very mature for her age. She got the attention of many older guys, I can tell you that. She was very protective and could even be possessive. I think that's maybe what Two-Bit found irritating. She was also a soc; a soc that didn't mind being around greasers. That was pretty rare. She hated how everyone had to be split up into groups. She wished we all could just get along with one another, no more rumbles, no more 'greaser vs. soc'... we were all people, was her philosophy; some just had more money than others.

She would often tell me how her friends gave her crap for her being with me, but she was too much in love to care. We were planning to get married, but were soon awoken with the tragic fact that young love doesn't always work out.

Once Two-Bit was out the door, Sherri put her purse on the couch and sat down next to it.

"What are you doin' here?" Those were the first words that came out of my mouth, directed to the girl who had long ago won my teenage boy heart.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I miss you." I imagined her practicing saying those three words in front of a mirror, pretending that I was right in front of her. She had called me a few months back, and although she left a message for everyone to hear, she went on about how she couldn't stop thinking about me and wanted to get back together. Of course, I ignored it.

She reopened her eyes. "Why didn't you return my call?"

Of course she had to bring that up.

"I think it's better if you leave-"

"Darry! I called you because I needed you. I needed somebody and you were the first person who came to mind. I thought you would be there for me."

"You needed somebody?" I was getting really furious. I walked right up to her. "Sherri, when my parents died, I needed you. But you were selfish and couldn't think about anyone but yourself! I needed support. You were my girlfriend, for Chrissake!"

"I had a dream! And you were going to join me, but then that got all screwed up! I had a right to be mad, Darrel! We were all ready to leave and then your parents died and I thought that my dream was crushed. Look, I'm sorry I wasn't supportive, and I admit I was selfish but... God dammit! I needed someone just like you did."

"My parents died, Sherri! How does that even measure up to your little dream of travelling the world? How!"

I took a few steps back, hoping that I made my point with her. It was funny how we had broken up over two years ago, yet I was still as angry as ever.

Neither of us said anything for a moment. I think we were both thinking of what to do or say, now that the yelling was over.

She took a cigarette out of her purse and lit up. "Maurice broke up with me when we were in Germany."

"Germany, huh?" I took a seat in the armchair, a little bit calmer. "How long ago was that?"

"May of last year."

"So you two lasted for a while."

"Longer than anyone had thought." She let out a little laugh then took a drag on her cigarette. I somehow managed to smile, also.

"How many countries have you visited so far?"

"Only about forty. It was going fast when it was Maurice and me, but now that it's mainly only myself, I'm gettin' around slower. That's why I wanted someone to join me. Someone I cared about."

I knew what she was doing: she was trying to make me feel guilty, guilty for being there for my brothers. But I ignored her intentions and changed the subject.

"How long you back for?"

She took another drag. "Three days. I'm leaving for Greece on Thursday. You remember Angela Knightly, right?"

"The real skinny one who always wore pigtails?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah, that's her. She's comin' with me. We're also gonna spend some time in Turkey."

"Well that sounds excitin' now, don't it?" My voice sounded a little bit more annoyed than I had intended. I was just a little bit disappointed in her bragging about her travels; I had always wanted to leave the country for a bit.

I got up off the armchair and walked over to the wall where a picture of young mom and dad hung. I looked over at it, at all the details from what mom was wearing to the beach landscape in the background. Sometimes I would just stand there, staring at it. I'd think about what they did that day at the beach. They were around my age in that picture, so about twenty years old. It must have been around the time that they first started dating.

I heard Sherri get off the couch and walk towards me. She put her hands on my shoulders and nestled her head on the side of my neck. "I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. I'm still livin' with my folks. They moved to Stillwater. That's 'bout an hour away."

I wasn't sure what to do with Sherri, so I just let her keep herself there. To be honest, even though I was aggravated with this girl, her touch was sort of calming. "You drivin' there today?"

She slowly nodded. "I should be leaving now, actually. I told my parents I'd be there for lunch."

Sherri let go of me and I turned around. Our faces were close, and I definitely felt some tension. That was when she leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips.

"Thanks for lettin' me smoke. I know how you feel about cigarettes." She put her blonde hair behind her ears and smiled. I kept my eyes focused on her delicate features.

She then turned around, grabbed her purse and headed for the door.

"Sherri," I called out before she could leave. "Have fun in Greece for me, won't ya?"

Nodding, she put her purse over her shoulder. "Sure thing, hon."

I was wondering if I should try to squeeze in more than one POV per chapter? Tell me what you think!