Title- Trying to Adjust
Chapter Title- A Little Introduction
Chapter Number- 1
Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders
Summary- We all know Two-Bit has a little sister. What is he going to do when their mother is killed? Will he grow up to support her or dump her in a home? Told as Two-Bit's sister.
Note- This, kind of, came to me.
"Aw, but I wanna come," I whined. I was five seconds away from giving him the puppy-dog pout. I knew It never worked.
"Not today Liz," he said sternly. He wasn't usually stern. My brother is a fun loving guy. He can't keep from cracking a joke, but I will admit, he isn't the brightest student.
"I never get to come," I pouted and folded my arms across my chest. He gave me a look that clearly said he wasn't giving in. I stomped my foot, but he grabbed his leather jacket and shut the door.
I looked around the house. There isn't much a six year old can do by herself. Mom wouldn't be happy if she found out my brother left without me, but he always made sure to come back before she got off work. She wouldn't be happy either way; he always came back drunk. It's a wonder he could drive that drunk. My brother must've realized something because five seconds later he re-opened the door.
"C'mon, kid, I'll probably be home later than mom tonight," he said. I couldn't keep a grin from spreading across my face. I grabbed my coat and slid on my tennis shoes. I followed him closely into his car. I opened the passenger car door and slid into the seat. I put on the seat-belt and adjusted it so it was snug against my body. My brother isn't exactly the safest driver.
"Thanks," I said, turning my head to face him. He grinned, but didn't say anything in reply.
He parked his car outside the Curtis house. Well, you never know with my brother. It could end up inside one of these days. I unbuckled my seat-belt and stepped out of the car. My feet were thankful to feel land underneath them. I followed my brother up the steps and into the house.
"I had to bring Liz over today," he told them. I smiled at the mention of my name. I love to hear people talk about me, but in a good way.
"No problem, I'll set another place," Darry said and turned into the kitchen to get more silverware and an extra plate. "It looks like she hasn't had a good meal in a few days," he commented. How can I? My brother is constantly eating out (over here, most likely), my mom has to work hard to support us. My dad ran out on us because he's an asshole. (That's a word I learned from my brother.) I'm only six, I can't cook.
I guess I should explain about my family. First, there is my mom, Elaine. She has long, curly, red hair and green eyes. She's pretty, thin and short. She barely eats because she always working. I don't remember my dad much. He left our family when I was three. That was around three years ago. My brother's name is Keith. Except, everybody calls him Two-bit, even mom. He always has a smile and cracks jokes. (I don't understand them yet, and mom tells me not to repeat them.) He constantly steals things from stores, but mom doesn't know about it. I had to help him once. He has red hair, but it's not as light as mom's, its browner. He also has gray eyes. He's almost nineteen.
My name is Elizabeth, but I don't think I was ever called Elizabeth. I'm always called Liz, and mom calls me Lizzy. I have curly, red hair. It's in-between my mom's and my brother's. My eyes are green, like my mom's. I'm six. I'm thin and short and my face is covered in freckles. I don't remember the last time I had a good meal with my mom and brother.
I was glad I was at the Curtis house. I liked the Curtis brothers. The oldest was Darry and he was nearly 21. I mean so close to being 21 it was about three feet away. Okay, I think it was more like three months, but who's counting? He's big and strong and he works all day. He has to take care of his younger brother's; Sodapop and Ponyboy. Sodapop, or Soda, recently turned seventeen. He dropped out of school to get a job to help Darry. Ponyboy (Pony) turned fourteen about three months ago. He's a smart boy and he's gone through a lot. The Curtis parents died around five months back, I think.
There was also another boy there. Steve Randle is Soda's best friend and he's seventeen. He stayed in school with my brother, they have some classes together (like I said, Two-Bit isn't the best student.) Steve's real good with cars; in fact, he works part-time with Soda at the gas station.
I sat down in front of the couch and stared at the television. I was trying to watch the dumb show, but they insisted on playing Elvis loud enough to wake the dead. (That's not saying the dead are bad people.)
Two months ago, two of my brother's friends died. One was Johnny Cade; he died because he saved a bunch of little kids from a burning building. Well, that's not the reason. A beam fell on his back and broke it. He also inhaled a lot of smoke and got burned. Pony had gone with him, but Pony is all right. The other boy was Dallas 'Dally' Winston. He was shot down by the police. He robbed a store after Johnny died, he couldn't take it.
In our town, there are two main groups: the Socs and the greasers. The Socs are the rich kids: we are not Socs, not by a long shot. They live on the West side of town; the greasers are on the East. Greasers are the poor kids, we are greasers. I understand the basic concept of it, but not most of it. Two-Bit says I will when I'm older.
After dinner of baked chicken and peas, Two-Bit left me with Darry and Pony. He went out with Steve and Soda to go see a game with Kathy, Evie and some girl. I called mom to let her know where I was. She was relieved I was in capable hands, she really trusted Darry. Sometimes I don't think she trusts Two-Bit a lot.
I fell asleep on the couch. Two-Bit came in and shook my shoulder. I slapped him away.
"C'mon, kiddo, you have school tomorrow," he said. I groaned. He got fed up and picked me up. I rested my head on his shoulder. He put me in the passenger seat and strapped the seat-belt. He drove home quite carefully. He carried me back in and set me on my bed.
I barely heard anything the rest of the night. It must've been late, I was awfully tired. I fell asleep about a half an hour after I was put in bed.
Okay, so what do you think? Yes? No? Hate it? Love it? Undecided? Continue it? Drop it? This probably is about 15 chapters with no sequel. After I am done with this… anybody wanna co-write with me?