Summary: This is about how The Outsiders "gang" when they first met..Just my idea of how it might of happened.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders..I do however own Jamie Mathews, Kelly, Kelly's mom, and my Mountain Dew bottle.-

Title: Early Beginnings

Chapter title: School Days

Note: Here is the list of the character's ages that was requested:

Two-bit: 10

Jamie: 6

Pony: 6

Soda: 8

Darry: 12

Steve: 9

Johnny: 8

Dally: 9

Now on with the story..-

Two-bit's P.O.V.

"Jamie, Come on get up and let's get ready for school" I said trying to get her up for the 15th time this morning. She was a deeper sleeper then even me at times. Jamie groaned and rolled over "Jamie come on!" I tried once more.

"Go 'way Kief'" she told me sleepily as she threw her teddy bear at me.

"No Jamie you have to get up now, cause we have to get ready before we wake Mom up and the sooner she gets up the sooner she can get rested up for work tonight." I replied sternly. Yes, I can be stern with people when I have to be.

"Fine I'm up." She groaned sounding defeated.

"Alright, Munchkin, here are your clothes, I'll be in the Kitchen, come out and see me when your done so I can brush your hair." I replied as I walked out of her room and closed the door. I walked out of her room and closed the door I walked into the Kitchen to get both of our cereal bowls ready. This was pretty much our daily routine since dad left. Mom works at night so that Jamie and I don't come home to an empty house. So when I get up in the morning I get myself ready, then go get Jamie' clothes for the day (She still has some trouble finding clothes that match or generally go together), get Jamie up and ready, we eat breakfast together, and then I get mom up so she can drive us to school. Same routine, different town. Mom depends quiet a bit on me, so I can't let her down!

"Alright, Keif', I'm ready" She shouted as she ran into the Kitchen holding her hair brush.

"Ok, Jamie, sit down at the table." I replied putting the bowls on the table and taking the hair brush from her as she sat down. "How do you want your hair today, Squirt?" I asked as I brushed the knots from her hair.

"Um...Ponytails" She shouted excitedly she has always like being involved in how her hair is done.

"Alright, I'll be right back I just need to get some hair bands." I informed her before going into the bathroom quickly and walked back into the Kitchen to put her hair up carefully. "All done, let's eat" I added as I sat down next to her to eat breakfast with her.

"Thanks Kief'" she replied as she ate happily. She took slightly longer to eat then I did. So as she finished eating I went to wake up Mom. I knocked on her door. I heard her say "Come in" softly from the other side. So I went inside to talk to her.

"Good morning, Ma." I replied as I walked towards the bed to give her a hug.

"Good morning, Keith." She replied with a smile before kissing my cheek.

"We're pretty much ready to go when you are, I just need to make sure that we have everything we need in our backpacks." I informed her.

"Alright, Keith, I'll be out in a few minutes" she replied with a yawn.

"Ok, Mom" I said as I walked out into the hallway and closed her door to let her get ready. I went back into the Kitchen at the very moment that Jamie finished her breakfast. "Jamie go get your shoes and jean jacket on to be ready for Mom to take us to school." I requested of her as I put our bowls in the sink and went into the living room to check our backpacks and make sure we had everything we would need. A few minutes later Jamie ran back into the room before looking at me quietly.

"What's wrong, Jamie?" I asked slightly worried by her quietness as she as she usually had a smile when it happened, however, now she wasn't smiling but biting her lip slightly.

"It's just that my tummy hurts, Keif'" She replied as she took a few steps towards me holding her stomach.

"Why? Are you still nervous?" I asked her knowing that I wasn't feeling that great right now either. She nodded quietly. "Understandable, Jamie, but don't you want to see Kelly and those other two kids you know?" I asked her.

"Yea...but...oh I don't know" she replied as she looked at me quietly before stretching her arms up to me. This was something she did when she needed me to comfort her or make her feel better. I walked over to her and picked her up to hug her tightly. What can I say this I love this Munchkin to death and right now she needed her big brother. I heard into the kitchen as we continued to hug. Only when Mom walked into the living room did I pull away from the hug slightly.

"Feel better, Squirt?" I asked looking at her. She nodded so I set her down and handed her, her backpack. I grabbed my backpack, also, as we followed Mom out to the door to go to school.

The ride to school was uneventful. However, when we got to school, I got out of the car quickly helping Jamie out of the car, also. I grabbed my backpack and waved goodbye to Mom as she drove off. We turned towards the school building and started walking towards it. I looked over and saw something.

"Jamie go wait for me right inside those doors" I told her pointing towards the entrance to the school, as I wanted to take a better look and figure out what was happening. Jamie listened to me as she headed for the doors. What I saw was about 6 older richly dressed kids pushing around two younger kids dressed in hand-me-downs. One of the younger kids didn't look any older then my sister and the other was only, maybe, a year or two younger then me. I immediately felt for them, I mean, it's not like they asked on the poor side of the fence, it's just what life gave them. I ran over and pulled all of the older kids off of the younger kids, which was rather easy since they hadn't been expecting me. I used my knowledge of how to fight and defend myself to knock three of them to the ground quickly before they fully realized what was going on. I stood my ground ready to attack the others if I had to. The other three kids helped up their friends and glared at me.

"You'll pay for this grease!" The one who looked to be the oldest growled at me.

"Yeah watch your back, Kid!" one of the ones I'd attacked yelled at me as they glared at me once more and walked off. I watched them leave before I turned to the two younger kids.

"You guys, alright?" I asked as I helped the youngest one up from the ground. He was shook up but other wise looked alright.

"Yea we're alright" The older one replied looking at me "Thanks for helping us out" he added with a smile while looking the younger one over.

"Anytime" I replied with a slight smile, also.

"I'm Sodapop Curtis and this is my little brother, Ponyboy" Sodapop replied as we headed towards the school entrance.

"I like those names" I replied smiling towards them "I'm Keith Mathews" I added since they had told me their names. I'd never really liked my name but it was just that, mine.

"Nice to meet ya, Keith" Soda stated as we walked inside the building. Jamie looked at Soda and Pony slightly before hiding behind me.

"Nice to meet you both, too" I replied before looking down at my sister "And this is Jamie, my little sister" I added nudging her out from behind me.

"Hi, Jamie" Soda and Pony greeted her in unison.

"I'm Soda and this is Pony." Soda informed her as his face lit up slightly like a great idea just hit him. "If your in kindergarten, then your in Pony's class, since there is only one kindergarten class here" Soda stated.

"Really?" Jamie asked excitedly, shyly, but she was excited none the less.

"Yep. Oh and speaking of which all of us better get going to class." Soda replied before heading towards the kindergarten room to drop off Pony. I followed him so that I could drop Jamie off. After we dropped of the little ones, Soda and I headed towards the other side of the building for our classes.

"Hey if you meet me outside after school I can ask my parents if you can come over and my best friend, Steve, and my other brother." Soda suggested happily as we approached his classroom.

"Sure my mom will be outside anyway, so I can ask her then" I replied.

"Alright see ya then, Keith" Soda said before giving a slight wave and disappearing into his classroom.

"See ya, Soda" I replied as I continued towards my class which was right down the hall. I was amazed at how quickly I'd made friends with Pony and Soda. I just hoped that his friend and parents were as nice and everything that Soda and Pony were. I looked into the classroom and sighed softly. Now for another fun filled day of school I thought to myself as I entered the classroom.

Note:

I personally think this chapter Sucks! But then again I am the writer so maybe I see flaws that others don't sigh Anyway please review and tell me what you think! Also, I say thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter I apperciate it! -

-- Lexi