Rowan's POV

It's been about two weeks since I met Dallas Winston in prison, and still no call. I figured he's probably already used his one phone call on somebody else. After a movie, I walked down my street and saw some Socs harassing a boy ahead of me. I had to go around them; it was the only way home. I should stay out… I thought to myself. The last thing I needed was jail like Dally. But then one of the Socs pulled out a blade and started cutting the boy's neck. I ran to his aid, and kicked the Soc with the blade right in the head.

"Look what we have here," one of them said in a teasing way. "A dumb broad who thinks she can fight."

I stared him in the eye. "Well, look what we have here," I replied, ready to get hit. "A dumb Soc who thinks he can beat me." My knuckles met the side of his face, and he fell towards the ground.

The other Socs started to close in on me, when a whole bunch of other greaser guys came out of nowhere. Probably the kid's buddies. I got nailed right in the lip, and could taste blood. Ignoring it, I dragged the kid out of the fight.

"You okay, kid?" I asked him wiping my lip.

He nodded. "Yeah, my neck's just bleeding a bit. My name's Ponyboy."

I helped him get to his feet. "I'm Rowan. I'm sixteen and I've been living down the street for two months."

Ponyboy shook the dirt off of him. "I'm fourteen. Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

I chuckled. "I grew up in Boston. Plus my Dad is probably one of the biggest ass-kickers someone could meet."

Ponyboy smiled when his gang came over. "What the hell are you doing walking out by yourself?"

"I was just walking home from a movie, Darry. Besides, Rowan came and helped me. Before any of you."

Then I saw a familiar face in a crowd of strangers. Dallas Winston.

"Well, well, well," Dally said. "Lucky meeting you again the day I get out, huh?"

I looked up at him. "I thought you had a month to go, Winston." I playfully punched him.

"Careful there, I don't wanna end up like that Soc you pounded." He lit up a smoke. "I got out early for uh, good behavior." He licked his upper lip. "Lucky me, seeing you with my boys."

And here I stood with Dallas Winston. A flirty stranger who anyone could adore. "Aren't you going to introduce me, you punk?" I joked around.

He slightly shook his head and pointed down the line. "Two-Bit, Steve, Darry, Sodapop, Johnny, and uh, you know Ponyboy. Boys, this is Rowan."

Sodapop stepped towards me as we all walked to his house. Boy, was he a cutie. "Thanks for saving my kid-brother," he said.

Darry placed his hand on Soda's shoulder. "Yes, thank you. We didn't know he was stupid enough to be walking around alone."

I messed up Ponyboy's hair. "Aye, don't worry 'bout it. He's just gotta learn to fight."

Ponyboy protested. "Hey, I can fight!"

"Yeah sure," I replied.

The whole gang laughed and I noticed that Dally has whispered something to Johnny.

"Rowan, you should hang with the gang for now on. Be our girl!"

Steve laughed. "Yeah, you would definitely want a looker like her to hang with you, wouldn't you Johnnycake?"

Dally punched Steve in the arm. "Lay off, man!" He came over to me and put his arm around my shoulders. "But yes, we need a girl like you to hang around. Whaddya say?"

I took his arm off of me and put him into an arm lock. "I say I'll see you later. Come to my house down the street. I'm 112." I released him and walked down the street. "We can do something illegal!"

Dally looked at me and smiled. "Sure thing, Row. Sure thing." He lit a smoke and saluted.

Dally's POV

"Some cute girl, huh boys?" I asked the gang.

"I'll say," Sodapop said. "Where'd you dig up this one?"

I grabbed the cigarette out of my mouth. "Prison."

Ponyboy's eyes widened. "You mean she's been living here for two months and was already in the slammer?"

Steve went wild. "Damn, Dally, she's the female version of you!"

Two-Bit joined him. "Yeah, she's Dal without the-" Darry put his hand over Two-Bit's mouth before he could finish.

I continued smoking. "No, no, no. She wasn't behind bars. She was visiting her father, my cell mate."

Johnny joined in on the conversation. "You think you like her, Dal?"

I shrugged. "I dunno, man, I met 'er two weeks ago."

"Besides, he has Sylvia," said Steve.

I shook my head. "Nah, man. The broad's been two timing me again when I was in prison. I'm done with her."

Two-Bit looked at me, his icy blue eyes looking shaky. "You plan on seeing Roman again?"

I slugged him. "It's Rowan, stupid. And yes, I'm gonna ask her to go to Buck's with me tomorrow. So we can hang out and stuff."

"Good luck, Dally," Darry said.

I nodded my head and grabbed Johnny. "We're gonna go scare little kids, c'mon Pony." We started talking.

"I don't know, guys," I told 'em. "I dunno if Rowan will fall for a guy like me. I have nothing big but a police record. Besides, nobody stays with a crummy ol' guy like me." Johnny put his hand on my shoulder and patted my back.

"You'll get 'er, Dal. Don't worry."

I shook him off. "That's the thing- I don't need anyone to love me, and I don't need to love nobody else. I've been doing just fine on my own. Now, let's go do something illegal."