Disclaimer: Upsettingly, I do not own The Outsiders nor do I make a profit from S.E. Hinton's work fabulous work. Sadly, S.E. Hinton is the only true owner of The Outsiders.

A/N: Thank you to FrankElza for helping me with this chapter. She's amazing and has stuck with me through every one of my stories.

Ponyboy's POV

I climbed out of bed, getting ready for summer school.

I showered, greased my hair, and went to the kitchen to eat some breakfast. I had been trying to keep myself busy after we got the news, but things are different. I can't sit still, can't let myself get lost in my thoughts. I was worrying myself sick about the cancer coming back or even Darry and Soda. Leukemia was inherited, what would I do? I can't loose another family member. I had already lost my parents and had survived cancer, what else would I lose?

I pushed all unhappy thoughts out of my head as Darry drove me to the high school. We said goodbye as I trudged into our dreary old school building.

I prepared myself for the long school day ahead where I would be left with my thoughts. I knew that they wouldn't be helpful or happy thoughts either.

Darry's POV

I may not be Sodapop, but I knew something was off with Ponyboy. He was quiet and was always trying to find something to do to keep himself busy. He read a lot less and daydreaming less than before the news. While I am happy he is paying attention, it worries me that he has changed so much.

I hoped that Johnny or Sodapop could get through to him before he cracked, because it wasn't going to be pretty.

I dropped him off at the school and headed to my back breaking job of roofing.

Ponyboy's POV

I couldn't even tell you what we were talking about. I grabbed me books and hurried out of the classroom.

Soda was in the truck, smiling as wide as ever and I couldn't help but smile back. I hopped in the truck and we drove to the Dingo to grab a Pepsi and just hand out before going to pick up Darry.

Soon, though, two greaser girls were talking to Soda. One looked about sixteen or seventeen. She had long blonde hair with green eyes and tan skin. The other one looked about my age. She was shorter with strawberry blond hair, just slight waves. Her eyes were like the ocean; deep and blue with a hint of green speckles in them. Her skirt was actually touching her knees, which was rare for a greaser girl. She was stunning, but she didn't seek to notice. She just stuck with her sister, quietly.

"Is that your little brother? He's so cute. He looks like you with shorter hair." The older one gushed at me like I was six.

"Yes he is." He said, pushing me forward a bit with his words, noticing my discomfort at the mention of my short hair. She stuck out her manicured hand.

"My name is Lizzy and this is my sister, Jamie, She's fourteen, almost fifteen." They both smiled as I shook both their hands and introduced myself.

Soda pulled Lizzy aside to another table and gave me a suggestive wink. I say down with Jamie. We talked for a few minutes about books.

"What book are you reading?" I asked her curiously. She grinned, showing off her naturally white teeth.

"Gone with the Wind." She replied. I laughed while she cocked an eyebrow at me.

"That's my favorite book." I told her. She laughed.

"You want to hang again sometime? Maybe talk about more than books." She asked softly with a laugh. I nodded as Soda cane over.

"Sorry, Pone, we got to pick up Darry." I said goodbye and she slipped me a folded up peice of paper. I smiled at saw that she had given me her phone number.

I was hopeful that she was going to be a really good friend. I really needed someone to distract me from my worried and pessimistic thoughts.

When Darry saw us he hopped off the roof and made his way to the truck. He threw his tool belt in the cab and hopped in the truck. He noticed our happy faces and gave us a confused look.

"What did you guys do today?" He asked suspiciously. Soda grinned.

"The usual. Went to the Dingo and Ponyboy met a girl." Darry's eyebrows shot up as I blushed furiously, she was just a friend, not even that.

"Y-You did w-what?" He asked, startled.

A/N: This is not a romance at all! She will appear maybe once or twice as a friend to vent to.