Disclaimer: I do not own, or make any profit from, the Outsiders.

A/N: Thanks for all your REVIEWS! BTW, some of you want to see more of Darry and those guys. I am writting this in only first person from Babygirl's p.o.v. for a reason and you can't see them if she can't, sorry. However, there will be a lot more of them soon. There will probably be about 7 more chapters and an epilogue. I won't be skipping far ahead in time, but there may be a sequel. This is going on roughyl parallel with the book. So far, Johnny's been beat up, but hasn't killed the Soc. It will be hinted at or explained and somethings after that part will be changed. Well, now that's answered: enjoy the new chapter! I'm really proud of this one so please let me know what you think.

Babygirl

"Yep, it's an original name, but my dad was an original person."

Chapter 6: The Only Thing?

The next day dawned familiar and boring. Milly was unwell and John busy and gruff as usual, so Eugene drove me to school alone. I didn't mind. All the while, I was secretly planning a way to payback Eugene for his kindest favor towards me yet. I didn't make much progress.

Once I arrived, I was looking forward to telling Nelly that, this afternoon, I would be accompanying her to etiquette classes. She took the news rather well.

"Oh yeah? Well, we can both suffer I guess." While she didn't show her excitement, I knew how much she appreciated it.

"You're welcome." I mumbled rolling my eyes, but not really bothered.

At lunch, the incessant tip-tapping of Miles' fingers on the table was driving me slowly crazy. Just as I register that was what was making me grind my teeth ( a habit both my mother and Darry had scolded me about as incessantly as the tapping), Nelly snapped. In frustration, she grabbed his hand and slammed it down on the table. He looked up, eyebrows raised passed his hair line and eyes unnaturally wide. She greeted his shocked expression with a look of utter... well, I'd call it ticked off-ness. Snickering could be heard around us in the several decibels quieter cafeteria, and Miles grew politely red. Nelly smirked, as smug as ever. I watched the scene with only mild interest, until I overheard one of the whispers floating around the lunchroom.

"Pss...pss...holding hand..hehe." I blinked hard and looked down at the table. Miles wasn't blushing because Nelly had fazed him, he was blushing because she was practically holding his hand. I nudged her and glanced at their almost intertwined fingers. She started in realization and let go so fast her hand was a blur. If it had happened to me I would have run out of their so fast it'd have made their heads spin! Nelly didn't budge though. When the murmurs and giggles really began to annoy her it was clear; partly from her expression and partly from her announcement:

"What the heck do you think you're looking at? Fix your eyes on something else or I'll fix them for you!"

"Eleanor!" yelled sister Treadwell.

"Eleanor?" Miles and I asked in unison. Nelly threw us a threatening glance before leaving the table and going towards sister Treadwell.

"Are those classes doing you no good, child?" the sister asked, her patience at it's end. She was one that couldn't be fooled of Nelly's real nature.

After just a moment of thought, Nelly innocently said: "No, not really." I couldn't help but notice that she looked a little proud. It was like, even though it may not be best, she was proud that no one could change who she was. For some reason, this pulled my insides into a knot. I wondered why for a second, but not for long because I was totally distracted by the loud, resounding WHAM!

I have to admit, I was impressed that Nelly didn't tear up, whimper, or even flinch at being smacked with that strap. She was tough. She was determined to stay tough too. That's when what had been bothering me came slinking back in like a muddy dog: was I?

"What are you so nervous about?" I threw at Miles, hoping it would distract me.

"Game." Was all he said. I nodded in understanding. First games were nerve-wracking things. Then, I remembered that was all he had said all day.

"Good luck." I offered. He nodded and gulped. Geez, this kid was a scardy-cat. But what was I? A Soc? It was my turn to gulp. Never.

Etiquette classes made me fell much less civilized. I couldn't remember my silverware, and didn't honestly care to. As for the ballroom dancing, it was an awful failure as well. I was paired with a wheezing, stumbling Soc named Winston while Nelly drug poor, and good looking, Mark Scruto, around that dance floor like she was trying to mop it up with him. The sister in charge kept scolding her for not letting the gentleman lead.

"Sorry," Winston offered for about the millionth time.

"It's okay Winston." I sighed, for about the millionth time. All of the sudden, Nelly came swinging over and Mark slammed into me. I lost my balance and hit the floor.

"Oh man. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" I opened my eyes and shook my head a little to clear my vision. Looking down expectantly, with his face just inches from my own, was none other than Mark Scruto.

"Fine." I breathed.

"What were you thinking? Are you trying to kill someone?" Nelly was being chastised by the sister again, this time for my attempted murder. "Here Nelly, you are with Winston and you two-" she pointed at Mark and I, "dance together." she ordered. I blinked, not daring to believe. My stomach tingled and my legs wouldn't work.

"Can you get up?" Mark asked.

"What? Oh, yeah." But I made no move, unless you count my eyes which were moving quite a bit.

"Here, let me help you." He pulled me up and kept a hold on my hand. Then his other hand went lightly on my waist. I tried to hold back grin. He flashed me one that told me I had failed.. It was such a sweet smile, like Soda's. Then, I realized that if Soda or Darry knew I was this close to a boy and his hand was on my waist they would flip!

All the same, I danced with the Soc, not thinking of anything. Actually, I was just trying to keep up with the waltz: one, two, three, one, two, three. He was a good dancer. Who would have thought a baseball player could waltz? I would have felt awkward not speaking, if we hadn't been forbidden to talk. Looking over his shoulder I spied Nelly and Winston, expecting scowling and stumbling. However, Winston was doing much better with Nelly leading, and she was smiling at me. She winked and I cocked my head, not understanding.

"You're welcome." she mouthed, and I grinned wide. What a friend! She had done that on purpose.

"Thanks." I said.

"For what?" Mark asked.

"Huh? Oh nothing. Helping me up, I guess." He squinted at me, probably trying to decide if I was nuts or not.

"No problem."

After classes, I invited Nelly over in her dress clothes for dinner. Milly had suggested bringing other children over. I'm sure she meant Soc kids, but Nelly was dressed nice for our class and she'd never know the difference, I hoped. We had to take the bus because Eugene was late and I had to be on time for dinner.

As we arrived at the door I saw John's car was home already. That's weird.

"Wow. This is were you live?" Nelly asked.

"For now anyway." I said. I headed up to the side door that led into the kitchen. I wanted Nelly to meet Eugene first. As I reached forward to open the door, a disgruntled looking Eugene swung it open.

"Baby?"

"Yeah." I said, wondering why he looked so surprised to see me. He glanced over his shoulder. There was noise coming from inside.

"Wait here a minute." Then, without waiting for an answer, he shut the door.

"So," began Nelly in a casual tone, "You get locked out of your own house often?"

"Ha-ha Two-Bit." I scoffed.

"Two-Bit?"

"My friend Emily's brother."

"She's got a brother named Two-Bit? Is this some north side thing? Does everyone have brothers with weird names?"

"Well, his name's Keith, but everyone calls him that because he always gets his two-bits worth in Actually, it's usually more than that."

"Cool. You think your gang could give me a tuff name like that?"

"Maybe," I said, moving the trash can.

"What are you doing?" She asked. I climbed on top and tried to peek in the window. Nelly coughed and I jumped down.

Eugene stood at the door with a rare frown. "Here," he offered, handing me several dollars. "Your daddy said to take this to a ball game or something and get something to eat for you and your friend while you're there. Stay on the south side Baby."

"A ball game? What'd Milly have to say about this?"

"She didn't have nothing to say." he sort of spat.

"Go on now, girl. Don't be going over to the north side or anywhere other than the ball game."

"Alright!" I said enthusiastically. He didn't have to worry. There was practically no where else I'd rather be, except home of course, but my brothers may show up, or Emily, or my old team. At last-a baseball game! This was going to be great.

We ran almost the whole way there. After paying admission, we hit up the concession stand and spent practically everything I had in a few minutes. Carrying the loads of food and about 3 sodas, we tried to find a seat where we could spy on Miles in the dugout. Tons of people were there. I wondered why teenagers would bother themselves with a little league game, that is until I saw the opposing team.

There was Sam, walking on to the pitchers mound. One side of the stands rose in cheers and applause. I spied Emily's red hair among them from a yards away. Her brother and mine were no where to be seen. I was going to call her over here, but then realized that I was sitting on the Soc side. What was going on? Suddenly, I was torn. Soc side on the left, Greaser on the right. Where was I supposed to sit? I could go to where I belonged with Emily and Nelly would follow, but poor Miles would be abandoned. Maybe we could get away before he noticed. Just then I heard Nelly let out a low hiss.

"Pst! Miles!" He turned around looking rather pale, and smiled weakly. Great. Now we were stuck. I pinched Nelly.

"Ouch! What?"

"That's my old team. Who do I cheer for?"

"Your old team and Miles."

"That's kinda weird."

"So? You're an original person."

"I am?"

She rolled her eyes.

"But where do we sit." She thought about it for a second.

"Follow me." We went around back behind the concession building and Nelly began stacking up crates that Coke bottles come in. Then we climbed to the top and sat on the roof. From there, the view was great. We could see everything, but no one noticed us.

The north side won, of course. Miles didn't strike out, so that wasn't too bad. No one spotted me, so that was good. When we walked back, I dropped Nelly at the bus stop that would head to the church and I headed back to the south side. As I was walking, the sun was leaving its last rays of color smeared across the sky. I thought about Ponyboy and what he had once said about Darry.

The only thing that kept Darry from being a Soc was us.

Could it be that the only thing keeping me from being a Soc was them?

A/N: Did any of you guess who Emily was? Look out because in each chapter I hint and foreshadow at what's coming up next. There was a lot of important stuff in this one. Thanks SO MUCH for reading. Let me know what you thought, please!