Author Note: I do not own the rights to these characters. The rights, forever and always, belong to S. E. Hinton. Any characters not from the original Outsiders are my own characters. The name Typhani is pronounced as Tiffany.

When you're young, life's a breeze. You're wild and reckless, and nothing else seems to matter to you but to have fun. Your parents love you so much they can't get you into any trouble. Well, it used to be that way.

I was running barefoot in the tall grasses of the country playing football with the boys. Kevin and Jamie, Soda's cousins, were over for the weekend so we wanted to spend some time with Kevin and Max played with Jamie. Kevin's favorite thing to do was play football so that's what we did when he came over.

It was Soda, Kevin, Dallas, Travis, and I versus Johnny, Pony, Keith, Darry, and Steve. The odds were as even as they were gonna get. Kevin and Darry were the best two football players so they were put on separate teams.

We played 'til we all got hungry. Soda's mom, Sue, called us in for lunch. I sat next to Soda and across from Kevin. I studied Kevin. He was exactly the same as Soda but his hair and face were different. He was cute, funny, smart, sweet, and athletic. What else would you want in a guy? Nothing. He was perfect. But then if he was like Soda, Soda must be perfect too.

"Typhani, Typhani, Typhani! Snap out of it!" Someone shouted and then there was a hand waving in front of my face. I figured out it was Steve, sitting on my right.

"Cut it out, Steve!" I pushed away his hand and hit him on the shoulder.

"Well, then quit staring at Kevin." He joked. He was laughing so hard he almost fell out of his chair. I almost helped the chair and knocked him out of it. I was mad at him for embarrassing me in front of Soda and Kevin. I got up from the table and put my plate in the sink. I walked into the living room where Dallas and Travis were. They were goofing off and I didn't particularly want to be with them, so I went back to the kitchen.

"Keith, will you give me a ride home?" I asked.

"Sure." He was half paying attention to me. "Does that mean Travis too?"

"Well, I can't just leave him here." I snapped back.

I went to the other room and Soda followed me. I kept walking until he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. What does he want with me? I turned and looked at him angrily.

"What?" I urged.

"Do you like Kevin? Like you have crush on him." Soda asked. His face covered with discouragement like he already knew the answer. Truth was I did but I liked Soda too, more than Kevin.

"Why would I tell you?" I pouted.

"Because I'm your best friend and you tell me everything. Or I find out from Steve or Keith." He admitted.

"You find out from Steve or Keith! Oh, I can't believe they go behind my back and tell you these things. And yes I do like Kevin." I blurted out. I went to the living room upset with Steve and Keith. I told only them and not Soda for a reason. Steve was the only one I told about my liking Soda and if he told Soda, I was gonna murder that boy.

Two-Bit's mom, Sherri, drove Travis, Dallas, Steve, and I home around two-thirty. That gave us time to clean up and get ready for church.

I ignored my dad when I walked in. I didn't want to talk to anyone right now. I marched right up to the bathroom to clean up a little. I took a shower so I would smell more like a girl, like my mom would say. She didn't like that I played football with all the boys, she didn't think it was lady-like. I didn't care, I just played anyway, and I enjoyed it. I got out of the shower and dried myself off. I put on a clean shirt and jeans. My mom always told me to wear dresses and skirts but it just wasn't me.

When I finally went downstairs to socialize with my family, they weren't even there. I called out for all of them but no one answered. I went into the back and front yard to check for them, still no sign. Then all of a sudden the phone rang and I ran inside to answer it.

Typhani: Hello?

Two-Bit: Hi Typhani. Your parents told me to tell you that they were over at my house if you want to come over. Then we're all going to church.

Typhani: I guess I'll come. Do I have to bring my church dress?

Two-Bit: Your mom said to.

Typhani: Okay I'll see you in a bit.

Two-Bit: Bye.

I gathered my dress and shoes for church and went to Two-Bit's house. I put my clothes in a paper bag from the store. I headed over to the house in a slow walk. Our families always got together before we went to church but that was when my dad liked everyone, my friends and their parents.

The door was open like it normally was and I just went right in. I found no one in the living room and saw that the backyard screen door was open and figured everyone was outside. As I got closer to the back door I could hear the chatter from all my friends' parents. The first people I saw were Johnny's parents, Martha and Ray. It was really weird to see them going to church because they constantly beat Johnny. I set my bag of clothes on the couch before I went out.

Martha greeted me first when I came out. "Typhani, oh it's so nice to see you." She hugged me and the way she did it was like she hadn't she me for years even though I saw her yesterday at Johnny's house. When she released me I walked over to where all the boys were. Max, my two-year-old brother, and Hannah, Keith's nine-year-old sister, were over by their parents. Travis and Dallas were wrestling, Johnny was talking to Pony, Steve and Soda were laughing about something, Keith was searching for something to drink and Kevin and Darry were playing football. I was deciphering who to hang out with and decided I was in no mood for real socializing. I went over to Johnny and Pony.

"Hey, Typh, how's it going?" Johnny greeted.

"Not too bad. I just want to sock Keith and Steve in the nose." I confessed.

"Why?"

"Well Steve and Keith are the worst secret keepers ever. I tell them something and they share it with whomever they want to. Soda being one they would tell." I explained.

"Soda's like your best friend though, why don't you just tell him to begin with?" Pony said.

I looked around to make sure Soda wasn't anywhere close enough to hear what I was going to say. "I normally tell them about my crush on Soda. I just hope that's not what they're telling him. That's why I am so mad at them because I don't know what I'm telling them that I wouldn't tell Soda."

Sue came over and told us that dinner was ready and led us to the table inside. I sat next to Kevin and Darry and Steve across from me. I leaned over the table and whispered to Steve, "I hate you."

"Why?"

"Because you tell Soda my secrets when I won't tell him." I whispered in anger. I leaned away from the table and ignored Steve for the rest of dinner. After our big feast, I got dressed for church. Keith laughed at me because it was weird for the boys to see me in a dress but my mom said that this is the only time I have to wear a dress. Unfortunately, Keith's sister Hannah was only nine and I couldn't complain to her about stuff because she wasn't my age and she doesn't like me very much, I don't know why. Everyone got dressed up for church and all the boys looked real nice in their fancy clothes. During church, I kept on ignoring Steve. But by tomorrow I would be fine. I don't tend to stay mad at people that long and everyone knows that.

Today Kevin was leaving. This morning we all helped him pack after a large pancake breakfast that his mom made. He let us keep the football he brought, so we could keep it for memories. This was most likely the last time we would see him again because his dad was in the military and they travelled a lot. Who knew where they would end up next. I went with them to the airport to say our last good-byes.

"Bye guys, hopefully I'll see you guys another time." Kevin said. He hugged all of us farewell and he was gone the second he released Johnny from a hug. Kevin loved us all. He didn't care about the way we acted, he gets along with almost everyone he meets. And everyone he meets loves him back. Like I've said before, he's perfect.

I was real disappointed that Kevin had to leave. I had to biggest crush on him and it could really be months, maybe years, until I see him again.

The rest of July went by pretty fast and it was pretty boring. All the exciting stuff happened in August. At the beginning of the month we celebrated Max's third birthday. He invited all his friends from his day care thing and all they were was loud and destructive. If something was in their way all they had to do was knock it down, so some of my stuff ended up broken. I secretly invited my friends over and nobody noticed that they were there. We only hung out in my room and talked and that was pretty boring. Keith and Dallas were the brave ones and went downstairs to get the food. Darry was pretty scared to be here because he didn't want to get caught for being somewhere he is not supposed to be.

Travis was hanging out with us too, only really to be with Dallas. He and Dallas were the best of friends. It was weird because Dallas was really rebellious and Travis lived on the safe side but they got along and I guess that's all that matters. I didn't think anything could tear them apart but I was wrong.