Chapter 2
I woke up to the crunching to gravel. I kept my eyes closed, telling myself I had just forgotten to close my window last night. Slowly I opened them, and everything came into view. I was laying under a neon sign that read "The Dingo." The crunching of gravel had been someone's footsteps. That someone was heading for me. Oh shit. I thought, fumbling for my bag and switchblade. They stopped and smiled. I realized I must have looked rather stupid. I stopped and looked up at the person. It was a boy about my age. He had a large scar across his cheek and looked rather scared to bet there. I noticed his eyes were black. I cleared my throat. "Um….hi. I'm Derrick O'Connel." I said. He looked relieved that I wasn't about to attack him and then said "Hi. I'm Johnny. Johnny Cade." He stuck out his hand for me to shake, and I stood up and shook it. "So….where exactly am I?" I asked, looking around. I knew I wasn't in my home-town anymore, because I knew that place like the back of my hand, and this definitely wasn't it. "Tulsa." He said, looking at me curiously. "You new here?" He asked. "Uh….you could say that." I said, rubbing my arm where I had slept on it. My hand was asleep.
I must have looked pretty pitiful standing there like that, because another kid about my age came up. "Hey, Johnnycake, you coming or what?" He asked. "We're all waiting for you inside." I glanced inside to see who "we" was. I couldn't tell, there were too many people. "Uh, yeah, in a sec Ponyboy." Johnny replied. Ponyboy? What kind of name is that? I thought, looking at him quizzically. He looked right back. "Oh right. Pony, this is Derrick. Derrick, Pony." I nodded at Ponyboy. "He's new here." Johnny continued. Ponyboy looked as if he didn't trust me, but then lightened up a little. "OK, cool. So I guess we'll see you around, huh Derrick?" He said, getting ready to turn and leave.
"Hey wait a sec. You know where I could find a place to stay for a while? I don't know how long I'll be here." I said, glancing around. There was no sign of a motel and even if there was, I didn't have money to pay with. He nodded. "Yeah, come with me." We walked inside and sat down with a bunch of other guys.
"Guys, this is Derrick. He's new in town and wants a place to stay." He looked at the oldest one there. "So Darry, what do you say? Can he stay with us?" The big guy looked at me and then nodded.
"Really? Hey thanks!" I said, brimming over with happiness. I still didn't know any of the guy's names other than Ponyboy and Johnny, so I looked to Ponyboy. "Oh right. Derrick, this is Darry," the big one nodded, "Sodapop," a handsome one nodded, "they're my brothers." Ponyboy added. "and that's Two-Bit, Steve and Dally." The other guys nodded. I wondered vaguely about the name Two-Bit but then brushed it out of my mind. "Really, thanks for letting me stay at your place! You don't know how much it means to me!" I said, extended my hand to Darry. He shook it. "Oh, I think I do." He said quietly.
Author's notes:
I know its not all that exciting, but it should get a little better. At least I hope so. It's my first fan fic, so please read and review, I really need some pointers here! Thanks for reading it!