Disclaimer: No, I do not own 'The Outsiders' nor do I own any of the characters. I only own Jamie. So HA! And please, no flames. It's my first story and I just needed to get it out. So R&R and I hope you like it.

"One! Two! Three! Ladies and gentlemen! I am proud to introduce the World Wrestling Champion, Darrel Curtis!" Two-Bit announced. Everyone clapped and cheered as Darry had Sodapop pinned down on his stomach with his hands at his sides. "Anymore takers?"

I raised my hand, "I'll take a shot."

"Jamie, I don't wanna hurt you or nothin'." Darry started but Two-Bit interrupted him.

"Darry, you ain't gotta worry about baby cousin over there. She may be fourteen but she's tough. Just do the best you can and pray to God that you don't get your leg broken in the process."

"Alright lady and gentleman. I want a clean, fair wrestling match. No broken bones, no bloody noses, and no popped joints. You got that Jamie?" Two-Bit said. I rolled my eyes. "I can't believe you're still not over that."

Steve hit his ice cream spoon to a large pot to signal the start of the wrestling match. He started to charge towards me but I got on my back and flipped him over with my feet so he landed a few feet away from my head. "C'mon Darry, I know you can do better than that." I got up again, watching Darry grinning with amusement. After a while of him trying to pin me, I had him in a headlock.

"Ja-mie! Ja-mie!" Pony, Steve, and Soda cheered from the couch.

I flipped him over and pinned his hands to his back.

"One! Two! Three!" Two-Bit announced, "Boys, we have ourselves a new World Champ! Jamie Sanders everybody!" I heard loud cheers as I collapsed next to Ponyboy on the couch.

"You are one tough kid, Jamie. Where'd you learn those moves?" Darry said panting heavily.

"Growing up with a cousin like Two-Bit over here, you learn a few things." Everyone laughed and started playing cards and watching T.V. Cousin did love his Mickey Mouse.

At about midnight, everyone left home and it was just me, Darry, Sodapop, and Pony left.

"You ain't gonna go home Jamie?" Ponyboy asked. "Nah. My parents ain't gonna notice I ain't there. I'd rather stay here than do nothin' at my house."

I walked into the kitchen and looked around in the fridge for a beer. If it was one thing that me and Two-Bit had in common, it was drinking beer. "Y'all ain't got no beer?"

"I got the last one!" Soda yelled from the couch. I walked back into the living room and snatched the beer from Sodapop. "Thank you."

"Hey!"

"Quit your gabbin'."

"I'll arm wrestle you for it." He said seriously.

"You're joshin' me." I said taking a swig of beer.

"Naw, I'm serious. Right here, right now."

"Soda, you ain't gonna win." Darry said from the kitchen.

"Watch me."

"Alright Soda. Don't say I didn't warn ya." We walked over to the table.

"Ready?" I asked Soda when we got our arms ready. "Ready. Go!" Soda was struggling real hard and started taking me down, "You're real strong," Soda laughed. I put in the rest of my strength to take him down. "I win." I said taking another swig of beer. "How does this girl do it?" Said Soda rubbing his shoulder.

Ponyboy's P.O.V

I walked into the kitchen to get a bowl of ice cream to soothe my throat from screaming and cheerin' so much.

Man, seein' Jamie so happy makes me smile. She's not really noticed at home. Sort of, neglected, if ya know what I mean. But when she's with us and laughing and smiling and all, it's like she glows. And she always tells us how great we are and how grateful she is to be friends with us.

Truth is, I think I might like that girl. I'm closer to her than I am to anybody else and when I'm with her, it's like my whole world comes together piece by piece. I talk to her about anything and everything and she don't think the things I like are stupid or out of reach. She always said, "Pony, you can do whatever you want because, look around, there ain't no one here to stop you." That girl has a positive attitude that reminds me of Two-Bit. Always jokin' around and making everyone smile. She's one of those girls who is beautiful on the inside and outside but could turn real nasty if you got on her bad side.

"Pony? You alright?" She asked me. "You're lettin' your ice cream melt." Which was true because my ice cream looked more like soup now. "You always got your head in the clouds, huh Pony?" And she smiled at me. Man.. That smile. When she smiles like that it makes me feel like everything's gonna be alright. She don't like me… But there's a little voice in the back of my head nagging at me,

'You never know...'

But I know that's impossible.

Still remember when I first saw her face,

It was just your average day

It was May or maybe June I think I remember,

Ran home and told my mom I was in love

She said boy, you're just too young to even understand the word

And I don't think you're in it at all

It was the first time in my life that I

Had ever felt this way inside

And I knew that it was real

It was the first time

Just like the snow fall coming down in June

Impossible but it could be true

And I knew that it was real

It was the first time

Jamie's P.O.V

I headed back onto the couch and Soda threw a blanket at me. "Sleep good Jamie."

"Thanks Soda."

He smiled and headed down to his and Ponyboy's room. I knew Pony was still in the kitchen, probably slurping up his ice cream soup. Ha-ha..

Man, that boy. I could swear sometimes he's in his own world. He's always day dreaming and thinking up the craziest things. And the thing about him is, in my eyes, he's more handsome than Sodapop could ever be. Just the way he talks sometimes.. Man, that boy could really dream. I like that about him though, he's sweet, funny, and don't always think you gotta kick a guy in the head to straighten things out. That's why he's my best friend.

'Don't tell him that...'

Who is that?

'The Easter Bunny… Your conscience you idiot.'

Well sor-ry.

"You ain't gonna go to sleep now Pony?" I asked, because he usually goes to sleep earlier than most of us.

"Yeah, I'm headin' up right now." He yawned and put his bowl in the sink.

"Night Ponyboy Curtis." I walked over and gave him a hug good night.

"G'night Jamie Sanders." He gave me a tight squeeze before walking down to his room. And before I knew it I was on the couch.. Nightmaring unpleasantly.

"Pony! Run!" I said while we were sprinting down the deserted street. "Run and keep running!"

"No! I can't leave you!" He said tears rolling down his face.

"Yes you can Pony! Yes you can! I'll hold them off but I want you to keep running!" I yelled, frustrated that he was being so stubborn. He nodded and ran ahead of me.

"Greasers! Where ya goin'! Don't ya wanna see what's behind door number one!" And as I pushed Pony forward more, all I heard was a gunshot and darkness fell…

I sat bolt upright, whispering Pony's name and breathing heavily. I went to open his door very quietly, turning the doorknob slowly. Peering inside, he and Soda were sleeping soundly.

I sighed.

"Jamie?" Ponyboy whispered. I tip toed over to him. "Shh... Pony. Go back to sleep."

"No, what's wrong?" He said rubbing his eyes.

"It was nothing Pony. Just go back to sleep." I said, trying to tuck him back in.

"Naw, it's okay. I'm awake now. I'll stay up with you." He climbed out of bed stretching.

"Thanks Pony." We walked back to the couch and sat down. I rested my head on Pony's chest and he stroked my hair. "Now, tell me what's wrong."

"Just a bad dream is all, Pony." I said yawning. "You sure you're alright Jamie?" He asked. "Just stay with me and I'll be fine." And I fell asleep to his steady heart beat.

Next morning:

"Awww! Look, it's Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming!" I had awaken toSteve hollering. It was weird, becuase you would usually hear this kind of stuff from Two-Bit.

"Shut up, Steve." I muttered as I stood up and stretched, seeing Ponyboy stirring. "Pony! Get up!" He frowned, "Why?" Pulling the blankets towards him. "Because I'm boss and I said so. Ya dig?" He pulled himself up.

"That's what I thought." I said joking around with him. "Hey cousin, I got somethin' to tell ya." Two-Bit muttered sadly. "Sure cousin." He led me outside on the porch and closed the door so no one could hear.

"What's wrong Two-Bit?"

"Jamie, umm, ma and Auntie Linda were talking last night." He said hesitantly.

"So? They're sisters they talk all the time. Just like you and me."

"Yeah, but I overheard a few things and, I don't think you'll be staying here very long." He hung his head.

"Whadda ya mean I ain't gon' be stayin' here long?"

"Auntie Linda is talkin' bout movin' y'all to Texas and.. and she don't plan on comin' back." Pulling up his head, he looked at me with unshed tears in his eyes.

Texas? I couldn't leave Tulsa.

A lump was developing in my throat. "W-Where in Texas?"

"Dallas."

I looked at my cousin again. One stray tear rolled down his cheek. Unable to take the silence, I chimed, "Man, Dallas ain't that far away and-"

"And nothin' Jamie! We grew up together and went through everything together. We's is best friends and I don't wanna lose you, not now. I can't stand it. We lost Johnny, and Dally, now you."

"Aw c'mon Two-Bit I ain't dyin'. I'll always come visit."

"Jamie, you're never going to visit because your mom won't let you. I know it and you know it too." He stormed inside to the kitchen leaving me out on the porch.

Two-Bit was right, I ain't never gonna visit because my ma will never let me. She don't like this town. She told me the first time we came here when I was three, "It's too dirty. And look at all these hoods! Never in my life.." She was a Soc growin' up and I just ain't like that. Fancy cars, bein' a cheerleader with a skirt that's way too high and a sweater that's always itchy: that ain't the life for me. I'm too wild, too.. hood. Ain't no way am I goin' to God damn Dallas and that's final.

I hope...