TITLE: A Change is Gonna Come

CHAPTER/TITLE: Chapter Twenty One/ New Shepherd on the Block

RATING: T (language and mature content)

A/N: A lot of you wanted to see Jesse getting involved in the Shepherd gang. Here is a little preview of things to come as Jesse gets involved with them. There will be more of him and the gang. And if you're skeptical because he is so young, it's not uncommon for gangs to take in kids as young as around that age

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Outsiders.

Chapter Twenty One: New Shepherd on the Block

"Look, kid," Steve mumbled, "I ain't too keen on this whole drivin' you home from school so let's make a deal. You, shut your trap and I'll keep my fists to myself."

I turned toward the car window and rolled my eyes. We hadn't even been in the car for one whole minute and Steve was already reading me the riot act. Two-Bit was at home sick today so it fell on Steve to make sure I got home without getting the tar beat out of me. Of course, he just might be the one to do it. I hated it when Steve drove me home. In fact, I hated any time I was forced to be alone with my brother's best friend. How someone as kind as Sodapop could pal around with someone as cold as Steve Randle was beyond my understanding. Things were a little different for the past couple days though at least.

We had, I guess, a common goal; to keep Sodapop sane. Steve kept a sharp eye on him at work and Darry and I watched him like hawks at home. Sodapop loved to play tricks, tell dirty jokes with Steve, work on cars, roughhouse, even rumble. Sodapop was not some soft Soc. But my brother, was a lover. Yeah, I know I sound goofy saying it, but it's the truth. Soda was chasing girls before any of the rest of us. He was always with a dame. Always. Before Sandy there was Mary Sue, Linda, Sara Jane, Beth, Rachel, Martha and Joanne. After Sandy, he had trouble being with girls for a long time, but that didn't stop him from fooling around. Between Sandy and Danny, there was Susan, Donna and Connie. My brother wasn't and isn't no dirty grease who changes broads every night, I'll tell you that right now, and you better believe it. He treated girls real nice and all. With all the girls, Soc and greaser, that threw themselves at Sodapop, he could've had one every night without trying, but he ain't like that. When he was alone it was like he wasn't really whole. I don't understand it all. Maybe when I'm older I'll figure it out and get it right. Sodapop was just in love with love. Not all mushy though like girls who draw hears in their schoolbooks. What do I know? I'm still just a kid and I don't think I'm making much sense anyway.

"He doin' okay on your end?"

Steve's voice broke me out of my chaotic thoughts and I didn't speak right away, surprised he had said anything to me.

"Hey, stupid, you can talk now."

But I couldn't. I had already forgotten the question. I had forgotten just about everything. My eyes had caught a glimpse of something out the window and it knocked any speech out of me. Steve must've followed my horrified gaze.

"Looks like Shepherds got themselves a new member," he grunted. "Who's the runt? That kid can't be old enough to –"

And then he must've realized what I had already pieced together back after we turned the corner and came up on the alley. I heard him let out a long string of curses as he killed the engine. He was out of the car before I could catch my breath. I quickly fumbled with my seatbelt and hopped out.

"What the hell are you doin' Curly?" Steve hissed.

"What's it look like, idiot? Initiation. This here is the new member of the Shepherd gang. We're seein' what he can do."

I couldn't see my own face, but I'm pretty sure it was pale white and horrified. A group of the Shepherd boys had surrounded a small kid. The dark haired boy was pouncing on top of a kid who was probably twice his size.

"We're goin' easy on the runt," Curly snorted. "Don't worry."

I could feel myself getting hot and my body was shaking.

"Does Tim know about this?" Steve spoke before I could.

"I'm in charge of initations now," Curly said proudly, "so beat it. This ain't your business."

"Wrong," Steve spat. "The kid is our business."

I glanced at Steve in shock. What did he care?

"He wants to be with us," Curly grinned in a way I really didn't like.

"He's eight years old!" I shouted and Jesse's head snapped up at me.

"I'm not weak!" Jesse yelled and stomped his foot. "I'm not weak. I'm not."

"No one ever said you were weak, little man," Steve shook his head. "This just – isn't the place for you."

"Don't tell me what to do! I'm not a kid!"

"Yes, you are!" I tried to be firm without shouting at him.

"You can't tell me what to do. You're not my family. I have no family!"

"Danny –"

"She's gone! She left! She don't care 'bout me!"

"Don't you get it?" I spat before even realized I was talking. "She left to protect you! All of us! I know that! She wanted you to be safe! This isn't safe!"

I tried not to squirm under the look Steve was giving me just then. I had gone off and ran my mouth and said way too much. Great.

"Don't matter," Jesse huffed. "She left. Nobody cares 'bout me. Go away."

"Jesse –"

"You heard the kid," Curly snapped. "Beat it."

The rest of the group started walking toward us at his words. I was stuck where I was. I couldn't leave Jesse. Not with them. In a flash, I saw Jesse – the brave, bright boy – turning into someone like Tim or Dally, hard from everything in the world. Mad at everything in the world.

Steve pulling on my arm brought me back to reality and I reluctantly let him haul me away, although I never turned around, my eyes locking with Jesse's until we reached the car. As we sped away, I felt like we were abandoning Jesse, just like he thought everyone else had abandoned him.

He was angry and confused, probably scared too but too proud to admit it. He was looking for a way to escape. To be part of a family. To hurt others like he'd been hurt. Plenty of kids I knew had done the same. Most of them never were the same again. Most of them just got angrier and more violent.

Most of them never made it to their 18th birthday.

I could see Jesse getting gunned down by the cops, just like Dally.

And just like Dally, I could Jesse, gladly welcoming death as a chance to be free.