Embracing the Future

Chapter 1:New Friends

A/N: In the prologue I accidentally put that she was on the porch, and then was climbing off the roof. Forget that I put porch! I meant to put roof.

"Are you alright?" Mom called up the stairs

"Ya." I said the effects of sleep not entirely worn off. I stumbled out of bed tripping over the broken alarm clock. I rubbed my head as I stood up mumbling curses under my breath at the stupid clock.

I walked into the bathroom and took a quick shower and did my make up. I don't really do make up, I'm more natural, I'll put on a bit of lipstick but that's about it. I put my hair, which fell a few inches below my shoulders and was angled, into a pony tail.

I came to the top of the stairs and looked at the clock Crap! I thought, I'm gonna be late!

"Mom!" I yelled as I ran down the stairs "Have you seen my-" BAM! The kitchen door opened just as I was coming up on it and hit me square in the face. I fell backwards and landed on my back "Oooow." I mumbled as my head spun.

"Oh my!" said my mom as she put a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter "I'm sorry, sweetie. You ok?"

I smiled slightly "Just dandy." I said as she pulled me to my feet. "As I was saying before the door interrupted me," I said shooting a glare over my Mom's shoulder at the swinging door "have you seen my backpack?"

"Yes, yes, I'll go get it." She walked away as I stood there getting more and more nervous, wondering what the kids at school would think of me.

"Here it is." She handed it to me with a smile, "Don't worry honey, everything will be fine. Remember when you get home I'll be at work, and I won't be home till its late so I have a meal in the fridge that you can just heat up when you get hungry."

"Ok Mom," I said forcing a smile "I'll see ya later." I walked out the door and headed down the street. We're gonna have a tough time paying the bills this year, aren't we I thought sadly.

I was so spaced out that I barely noticed it when the school came in sight. I smiled slightly thinking once again how it was a new life; he'd never find us here.

Just as I was about to go up the steps of the school I stepped on a piece of paper which sent my feet flying out from under me. I yelped and prepared to hit the ground when I felt someone catch me from behind around the waist. I gripped their arm tightly because I hadn't quite found my balance. The person righted me and I opened my eyes to find myself staring into a pair of gray-green ones. The boy had long light brown hair, sort of red when the light caught it right, hair which was greased back. He immediately removed his hands, which I hadn't noticed, had been on my shoulders from standing me up.

I blushed, suddenly embarrassed, and mumbled "Um, thanks."

He smiled slightly and said "No problem. The names Ponyboy, by the way."

I smiled and echoed "Ponyboy...original. I like it. My names Arri." I felt comfortable with him; like he was an old friend and we just hadn't talked in ages. "Do you happen to know where Mrs.Fedeyko's English class is? I'm new here and am totally lost." The first bell rang in the background as I said this and students hurriedly mounted the stairs and scurried off to class.

He nodded and said "Yup, on my way there now."

"Oh, yay!" I squeaked "I won't be totally lost and alone then!"

A bit of amusement flickered across his features and his lips twitched but then it was gone, and his eyes were emotionless again. "Common." He said with a small smile and started walking.

He seems nice. I thought, I mean he did catch me. That was so weird though, when he caught me, why did I feel so safe?

"Arri!" I jumped and gave a small squeak of surprise; he laughed and said "I called your name 3 times. Why didn't you answer?"

I smiled "Spaced out, sorry."

He smiled back "Its ok, I have a tendency to do that too. Anyway, we're here, and I'm guessing I'll need to show you again tomorrow since you weren't paying any attention on the way here, so you probably have no memory of how to get here." He said stopping in front of a door opening it and pushing me in before I had a chance to answer and closing it behind us.

The lady behind the desk who I guessed was Mrs.Fedeyko glared at us, "You're late." She said sharply.

"Got lost," said Pony "she's new here I had to show her the way."

I nodded vigorously for emphasis and she studied us before telling us to take a seat. Why, I thought to myself, is everyone staring at us? And it was true, as we walked down the rows to two empty seats in the back; everyone seemed to be giving us dirty looks. My bouncy walk slowed down and I glanced over my shoulder at Pony who was looking at the ends of his scuffed sneakers and not looking at me.

I frowned, "What?" I snapped angrily at a kid who snickered when I walked by.

He smirked and spat at me "Grease." He said under his breath.

Pony's face flushed and I just stood there confused, Grease? What is that? Pony grabbed my arm and steered me to my seat and pushed me down into it before plopping down into his own. I stared at him; he looked angry, sad, embarrassed, and frustrated. I'll ask later.

My morning classes went by and it was time for lunch, seeing as the only friend I'd made was Ponyboy and of course I couldn't find him, I sat down at a table in the corner. A few minutes later I heard the sound of a chair being pulled out and looked at Pony "Hey," I said. He gave a small smile and again I felt comfortable so I asked "That kid in class, why'd he call me grease? What's that?"

He immediately looked uncomfortable but he then seemed to recover himself and said in an emotionless voice "It's what people like them rich kids, socs, call kids like me, poor kids, Greasers. He probably called you grease because you were talking to me. They automatically assumed you were one of us."

An awkward silence fell as I processed this and finally said "So just because we don't have any money, they treat us like dirt." Pony slouched slightly. I felt a white hot anger burn within me. How dare they. They had no right! None at all! It's so stupid! I stood up from my chair fast and it banged against the wall, surprising Pony so that he jumped slightly. "Why I oughta." I mumbled starting for the nearest soc. table.

Pony quickly jumped up and grabbed a hold of my arm "Don't bother, Arri. They're not worth it."

I stared at him for a minute, sighing finally and letting myself relax in his grip. I plopped back down in my chair and mumbled "That's a load of crap."

He smiled "You learn to ignore it. We had a rumble last year to chase 'em off our turf, won't last for long though. It actually should be ending soon, I can feel it."

"A rumble?" I asked slightly confused "Like a big fight?"

"Ya, we won." He said proudly "Good fight, got a concussion though."

"Really?" I said excitedly "Hate to admit it, but I love a good fight."

"I'm guessing that's your way of saying 'Sounds cool gimme the details!' Right?" he said raising his eyebrows and smiling.

I smiled "No duh!"

As he was telling me about the fight a boy with rusty colored side burns walked over to our table. "Hey Pony!" he said walking over and sinking into the seat next to Ponyboy "Who's the chick?" I glared at him.

Pony smiled "Hey Two-Bit, this is Arri, she's new here. Arri this is Two-Bit, he's part of our gang."

I was immediately warm and welcoming and smiled at him "Hi. Don't mean to be rude but you look a little old for high school."

"Yup," said Two-Bit "Haven't graduated yet. I should've years ago but I didn't wanna so they just kept holding me back. Besides, it's not half bad here."

He and Pony started talking and I spaced out, thinking how it was gonna be awful coming home to an empty house. I could hear someone calling my name and snapped back to reality.

"Arri! Arri! You awake in there?" said Pony as Two-Bit started waving his hand in front of my face saying "Hellooooooo? Anybody in there?"

I smiled and said "Yes, but I'll have to put you on hold for a second, Arri is not fully back to reality."

Pony grinned and Two-Bit laughed "I like you kid, your tuff."

I leaned over and whispered to Pony "Tuff?"

"It means cool, you know, sharp.

"Oh," I leaned away and looked back at Two-Bit "Thank you." I said with a smile.

"What were you thinking about?" asked Pony.

"Nothing really. Just how I'm going home to an empty house. It's gonna be so boring."

"Hey, you can over to my house and meet the rest of the gang. Or at least whoever in the gang is there."

I beamed at him "Really? Wheee! That'd be fun!"

They laughed and Two-Bit said "Ya, maybe we can play some football. Oh, wait we can't we're playing with a girl, she might break a nail."

I was about to snap at him when I saw the laughter dancing in his eyes, I glanced at Ponyboy who had his head down and was trying to hide the silent laughs that were taking over him.

I rolled my eyes "Ha, ha. Very funny."

The bell rang telling us to go back to class so I grabbed my tray and put in the stack and went to walk away when Two-Bit skipped over and linked arms with me "Where do you think you're going Miss Arri?"

I rolled my eyes and gave an exasperated sigh "Class." I said as Pony walked on my other side an amused look on his face. I got my arm back from Two-Bit linked arms with Pony and started skipping forcing him to skip along to class with me.

"Um, Arri?"

"Uh-huh." I said turning to look at Pony stopping in mid song. I had somehow managed to break out into song as we skipped, but I couldn't help it I had friends now, I was in bliss.

"I kinda feel like an idiot."

I laughed and stopped skipping and unhooked our arms as we walked into class.

I'll update soon! This took me forever to write, but it was fun so that's ok!

Em