I do not own the Outsiders!

Jolene's P.O.V

Damn locker. These things never opened right. I knew Ponyboy and Johnny were waiting; they had seemed welcoming this morning about taking me to the DX for lunch.

"Hey guys!" I really hoped I wasn't being too enthusiastic, I knew how annoying that could be.

"Ready for lunch," Johnny didn't seem to talk much but he had a cute smile. He reminded me of a shelter dog. Like he'd been through so much that the littlest things could set him off inside but on the outside he just looked like everyday grease.

"You bet are we walking there?"

"Well, if we're lucky Dally will come give us a ride."

"Dallas, as in Winston?"

"Who else?" Johnny smiled again as a burgundy t-bird skidded in front of us. Dallas had blonde hair almost white when the sun reflected on it, and almost clear blue ice for eyes. I'd heard about him around town, he seemed cool to me. But I didn't find him dangerously attractive like other girls did; at the moment he seemed like the big brother type.

"Is he in your gang," I questioned while making air quotes around gang. If this was the whole gang they wouldn't last long.

"Yeah, he's in it. You'll see the rest of the boys tonight. That is if you wanna." Pony seemed so nervous, I don't know why. Johnny offered me the passenger seat, and I sat while Dallas eyed me over.

"So what's a pretty little thing like you doing with us," Dally questioned while pulling away. Could he go any faster? But, he did and now we were at about eighty-five.

"Johnny and Pony walked me home the other day and they invited me to lunch. I'm scheduled to meet the gang tonight." I didn't realize I was smirking till Dally smirked too and I realized they were identical. That freaked me out.

"So, I'm assuming you have a name little lady?"

"I'm not little, Dally and my name is Jolene. Jo if you'd like." His laughter could be intoxicating as was my smirk, or his, whoever had it first.

"Here you go kiddos, see ya tonight," I stepped out of the car and stuck my hands in my jeans pockets. Tonight sounded fun. We walked up to the counter of the general store and an employee walked over greeting Pony and Johnny, and scanning me. What was with these people had they never seen a girl before? His nametag said "Sodapop." Hmm interesting name, sorta like Ponyboy.

"Soda this here is Jolene, she's gonna meet the gang tonight. Jo, this is Sodapop my older brother."

"Well hello Jo, you sure look pretty." Talk about your polite, I was in a white t-shirt and holey jeans.

"Thanks Sodapop, you look good yourself." I was only being kind, but all the girls within earshot turned and gave me the death stare. Soda was kind of cute, but I wasn't going to crawl all over him like the blondes in this place.

"Thanks, but you guys mind getting a table? We got a line starting."

…

I downed my coke as we were leaving the DX, and thanked the boys for taking me out.

"No problem and hey, if the boys like you would you want to maybe join the gang?" Wow, a gang never thought of that. They were nice and protection would be easy. But in the back of my mind a possibility was condensing that maybe I would have friends, like family that actually took care of me. I'd never had that before.

"Really, that would be great." I smirked, but knowingly now.