Okay, let's kick this thing. This fic will be a little different because Dally and Johnny are alive. I didn't bring them back to life or anything. This fic takes place before their deaths. Now let's get into it.

I don't own any characters from The Outsiders

Louis

Chapter 1: The Kid

"Darrel. You can have the weekend off. You've worked pretty hard."

Darry looked up at his boss. He was smiling. Darry smiled too.

"Thanks boss. I'll see you Monday."

"Have a good weekend Darrel."

The boss walked away and Darry got up from the bench. He was glad he had the weekend off. His back was beginning to hurt again. Ever since his parents died, his whole family had to work real hard to stay together.

One thing he was worried about was that he was being too harsh on his youngest brother Ponyboy. He had heard that Pony wasn't too keen on being treated like that. But Darry didn't want to take any chances on him and Soda being sent to a boy's home.

Darry climbed into his truck. He looked at his watch. It was 11:00 p.m. His brothers should be home by now. Ponyboy better not be out all night. It began to rain. Now he knew his brothers would be at home. As Darry was driving home, he spotted something. Actually it was someone.

Out walking in this weather? Darry slowed down his truck. He looked at the person walking up the street. It was kid. A boy actually. Darry squinted his eyes.

"That better not be Ponyboy," he said to himself.

But it wasn't his brother it was someone else. He looked like a greaser, but Darry had never seen this guy around. The youngest greasers around were Ponyboy, Curly and a few others. All the others would be with their parents at home.

Darry slowed down next to the kid. He rolled down the window.

"Need a ride?" he asked.

The kid looked at him. He looked terrible. It seemed as if he hadn't slept in days. There was also a scar on his forehead. The kid pushed down his hair. He seemed to be trying to hide it.

He looked like he was around Pony's age, 13. He had on a jacket that didn't fit him too well, a dark green shirt, and long jeans. Darry felt sorry for the kid. The kid answered Darry.

"I guess."

"Get on in."

The kid walked around to the other side of the truck and got in. Darry then asked,

"Where are you heading?"
"Don't know."

Darry looked at the kid. It seemed like needed a place to stay.

"Where are your parents?"

The kid didn't answer.

"Do you have anywhere to stay."

The kid shook his head. That settled it.

"Do you want to stay at my house? I have two other brothers."

The kid looked back at him again. Darry could see a small smile on his face. It was barely noticeable. The kid answered.

"Okay."

Darry put his foot on the accelerator and started for his house. He hoped Steve, Two-Bit, Johnny and Dally weren't planning on staying over. This kid needed somewhere to stay. Darry reached the house. He helped the kid out of the car. His leg seemed to be damaged a little.

Darry walked up to the porch and let the kid inside first. He then walked in to see his two brothers watching TV. Waiting for their eldest brother to return. Soda looked up and asked,

"Darry. I thought you were practicing abstinence?"

Darry and Ponyboy smiled. The younger kid even got a slight smile on his face. Darry started up.

"I found this guy walking down the street in the rain. I figured he needed a place to stay. Is that okay with you guys?"

"Sure," said both Ponyboy and Sodapop at the same time.

"You can hit the couch," said Darry. "I'll be right back. I'm gonna change clothes. Also I'm gonna need a mosauge from you, Soda, in a minute."

"Okay," said Sodapop. He turned to the kid. "My name's Sodapop. Don't laugh. It's original."

"My name is Ponyboy," introduced the youngest Curtis brother.

"What's your name," asked Soda.

The kid looked at the Curtis brothers. He answered them.

"Louis."