I don't own The Outsiders and the song Cherrybomb belong to The Runaways. I apologies for last chapter being short but was working up the courage to post it.

Can't stay at home, can't stay at school

Old folks say, ya poor little fool

Down the street I'm the girl next door

I'm the fox you've been waiting for

Hello Daddy, hello Mom

I'm your ch ch ch ch ch cherry bomb

Hello world I'm your wild girl

I'm your ch ch ch ch ch cherry bomb

The Runaways

Tara got chewed out once she got home by her father but she managed to convince him that she told him she was spending the night at Sarah's and he probably just forgot. As much as Tara's father liked to lay down rules, he wasn't very good at following through with them, which is how his new girlfriend Jessica was able to push him around so much. Tara hated Jessica because Jessica treated her like a six year old instead of a sixteen year old and if she got her way long enough, Tara's dad treated Tara like that too.

Still, it was better than living with her mother in New York who, since getting the divorce a year ago, turned into a real party animal, trying to catch up on all the dates she never got to have on account of her marrying young. Tara tried to live with her mother but a new boyfriend quickly came along who didn't like the idea of a kid in a picture so she was sent back to Tulsa, which was a shame since she hoped living in New York would have made her a more exciting person.

Well, now she knew she didn't need a change of scenery to be interesting. She just had to change herself.

Ignoring Jessica's disapproving stare (Tara was able to put her long gray skirt over her black one but it was hard to exchange her red blouse for her other one so she just kept it on when she walked in the door), Tara made her way into the bathroom and inspected her face.

Her hair was blonde, which Tara hated as she felt it made her seem even more like a goody goody. Maybe she could dye it jet black or auburn red except Jessica would throw a fit and get her dad to throw one too. Jessica was surprisingly uptight for a woman dating a divorced man, thought Tara as she gave her face a once over.

Her skin was pretty clear, thanks to the Clearasil she made her father buy at the pharmacy every time she had a breakout. Her blue eyes were her best feature and Tara thought a little mascara might play them up even more.

After eating breakfast, Tara announced she was going into town to buy a few things and left without even waiting for her father or Jessica to respond. That felt great; her first deed as a rebellious teen. As she headed through her neighborhood to the bus stop with an attitude in her walk, she walked past crumbling houses listened to the sound of Elvis drifting through windows, parents cursing at each other in kitchens, boys being yelled out by girlfriends on front porches and the easy life of small children playing on the streets.

She took the bus into town, planning to buy make up at the pharmacy and then heading over to the salon to get advice for her hair. She saw some tough looking greaser girls chewing gum in a sophisticated bored manner and Tara knew that she wanted to be like that: to be effortless, yet untouchable. She was going to show Tim Shepherd that he could break as many hearts as he wanted but she was going to break more with her new look.

Tara got off at her stop and was already to go into the pharmacy when she spotted a sleazy looking shop boasting the name "CHERRY BOMB". It was dingy looking inside but she saw they sold short skirts and go-go boots along with jewelry and make up. Tara summoned her nerve and went inside.

The walls were the same color as urine and the clothes inside looked much more intimidating than they did in the window: blue jeans, brightly colored pedal pushers, cleavage baring tops, and black high heels along with the boots.

Behind the counter stood what Tara wanted to be: a beautiful curly haired blonde with each strand perfectly in place wearing a low-cut black tank. She was painting her nails a shade of blood red and smacked her gum as she leaned against the counter. The whole look overall conveyed "Mess with me if you dare." That was the look Tara wanted.

"You know a picture lasts longer," purred the girl, not looking up.

"Uh…" Tara tried to think of something to say.

"What, cat got your tongue?"

"I want to look like you," blurted Tara.

The girl smirked. "Who broke your heart?"

"The whole damm world," answered Tara, trying to sound as tough as she could.

"My name's Dru," said the girl.

"Dru's a funny name."

"It's short for something."

"What?"

Dru gave her look. "None of you damn business, that's what."

"I'm Tara," offered Tara, not wanting to get off the wrong foot.

"Nice name."

"No, it's not. It sounds like Disney Princess. Yours sounds like someone tough. I want to be like that. Can you help me?"

Dru laughed. "I can pick out some nice clothes for you if you want. Lucky for you, I love corrupting the innocent. But we need to work on your attitude a little more."

Tara's face broke into a beaming smile.

"Ok lesson one: you don't smile. You smirk, dig?"

Hi would anyone mind reviewing, just so I know if anyones out there. Criticism is good along as it's kinda constructive and preferable more written in a Sodapop way than in a Dallas way. :) Thanks to my beta dizzyizzy123!