Hey! WoW finally updating this story! Had some time on my hands…which has been very rare for me. Hope this goes where you guys like!

Disclaimer- I do not own the Outsiders…S.E. Hinton does!

Pony's POV:

I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling. The clock to my right read 6:30. In about an hour I was going to have to get up, and face the hell of being the new kid at a new school. Soda told me to be positive. Easy for him to say; he'll have all the girls in two seconds hanging all over him.

I decided that gaping at the ceiling wasn't going to calm my nerves. I rolled out of bed and tip toed across the floor to the cracked open door. Walking down the stairs, I could hear Aunt Nancy snoring very lightly. The sun was just rising as I opened the sliding glass door that lead to the back deck. I breathed in the cool, ocean air and leaned against the banister. I watched the waves roll in and out, what a calming effect it had on me.

The sun rising reminded me of another time, another place, another world. I could picture the house in Tulsa, the rusty gate that surrounded the old home, the barking dogs off in the distance, and the sound of kids yelling profanities down the street. I could feel the humid air that filled my lungs as I sat in the park. The smell of homemade cooking filled the house, and Darry's voice could be heard announcing a meal was ready. His black shirt threatened to rip whenever he went to give me a bear hug. I was always jealous of those muscles of his, and the leadership he had.

My eyes started stinging with tears. I couldn't hold them back, so I let them roll down my cheeks. Darry was mine and Soda's safety, our parent, and our brother. He's gone; I'm not sure if I can handle it. I've been holding it back for months now, but the sight of his room… I shook my head of the thought. I had school today, and I needed my head to be clear. My shoulders slumped as I realized I didn't have anyone to help me or anyone who needed helped as I walked through the halls of California High. Soda is a junior, I'm a freshman, and I don't have my best friend to walk with. Man, I can't even think his name.

"Pony honey, what are you doing out here?"

I jumped as I heard my Aunt Nancy call my name. I didn't even hear her open the screen door.

"Uh, just getting some fresh air; I'm kind of nervous…" I gave one last glance at the sunrise, and then turned towards Aunt Nancy. She was wearing her blue nightgown, her hair in curlers. I tried not to laugh, but she saw the look on my face.

"I'm sure you are dear. Being new can be very scary," she replied. She grabbed my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "And don't tell anyone I curl my hair, I want them to think it's natural."

She walked in the house with a wink, as I followed after her chuckling. She really knew how to cheer me up.

After I was dressed, I waited for Soda out in the car. It took me twenty minutes to get him up, but I got what I deserved as soon as his eyes opened. Let's just say his knuckle sandwiches aren't the best things for your hair when you're trying to look good.

He climbed into the truck, and we were off. My stomach did flips and turns with every turn around the corner. I knew what the school looked like; we had been given a tour yesterday. It was big, much larger than my old school. It reminded me of a college campus. Our team mascot, the Sharks, was plastered all over the school. I wondered if they had a track team; that's the place I would fit in best.

We pulled up to the school and I felt my legs turn into jelly. It looked very daunting when there were kids milling around and cars in the parking lot. Soda gave me a shove on the shoulder, "Hey buddy," he used dad's nickname, "You'll be fine, promise. I won't let anyone stuff ya in a locker or give ya a swirly."

"Soda!" I said, giving him a shove back. He jumped out of the truck laughing and I had no other choice but to get out too.

"No, but seriously, anyone gives you a hard time, talk to me," he commanded, pointing a finger at me.

"Yes sir," I said sarcastically.

Soda grabbed my backpack and spun me around. It was time to face our new school, together as brothers.

Johnny's POV:

"Are you ready for a new day at school?" Shirley asked me as I ate my breakfast.

"Yea, I think. Nervous, but I think I'll do okay." I replied with a smile. Deep inside, I was horrified. I didn't know anyone at the new school, and my legs and fingers wouldn't stop shaking. My whole life I knew someone at school, and that's how I got through. I was alone now; I was going to have to face it sooner or later.

I had to take the bus to school. There was only one car in the family and Kenneth had to leave before me to get to work. As soon as I walked on the bus, heads turned. No one gave me a look of disgust like I would get in Tulsa. No one sneered or laughed. Everyone just stared. I was the new kid, and they were just checking me out. I found an empty seat and took it. But I wasn't alone for long. Before I knew it the bus was filling up fast and my seat was about to be occupied by another person.

A boy, around my age, sat down next to me. He gave me a side glance and then smiled and looked away. I smiled back, but I'm not sure if he saw it.

He turned again to face me, "Hey, I'm Charles, you new to Crestmont High?"

I finally got a good look at Charles. He was one of those good looking guys who could probably get any girl he wanted. Most definitely a jock, football or baseball I'd guess. He seemed nice.

"Yea, I'm Johnny. Moved here from Tulsa, Oklahoma," I answered. Charles smiled and nodded his head, "Cool man. So you got any new friends yet?"

I was taken aback by his question, "umm, no." That's all I could say, "No". Man I'm stupid.

"Don't sweat it, I got ya covered," he stated, and that was that.

I made a new friend in five minutes. Maybe this was easier than I thought.

The bus pulled up to the school and the students started pouring out. Charles grabbed my shoulder once we got off the bus, walked me towards the doors to the massive high school, and welcomed me to Crestmont High.

"Alright man, I gotta know. Do you play any sports? You got a girlfriend? Do you do drugs?"

I stared at him as he asked the questions. Was he serious? I guess he was, because he looked at me waiting for an answer.

"Uh, no, no and…no; why?"

"Man, it's the questions to ask! I'll find you a sport you'll enjoy. Don't like any, I'll find ya a club. Girlfriends, easy, I have plenty of friends who are girls. You're probably thinking I get around aren't you?" I shook my head no, "Well, I'm not, truthfully I've never had one, yet, I'm still lookin'. As for the drugs, good, stay away, don't be a hippie man, it'll mess with ya."

I tried taking all this in. If I wanted to fit in I had to listen to this guy. He was my only guide in this crazy world called high school.

"You don't talk much, do ya?"

I shook my head, but then quickly added words to try and break my habit of being quiet, "No, I've always been quiet."

"I'll help ya there too man! So, what's your first period class?"

I pulled out my schedule, "Science, what about you?"

"Science too, but uh, I think we're in different levels. I'm honors, I'll be glad to tutor you though if you need it."

I couldn't believe this. Not only did this guy flat out offer to be my friend, he offered to tutor me too, "Sure, why not, you're helping me with everything else."

"Like I said, I got you covered. Johnny, you and I will be good friends, and masters of Crestmont High!"

Masters of Crestmont High? Good friends? Man, was I getting good luck or what. I wondered if my ex-best friend was having as much luck too. I almost forgot about him. I just kept thinking of one thing as Charles took me to my first class. It wasn't Pony, it wasn't Tulsa, and it wasn't nerves.

Everyone in school called me "grease". My parents called me "dirt" or "good for nothing". My friends were the only ones who called me by my real name, or by the nickname Johnnycake. Charles had remembered my real name. He didn't even have to ask me again. He remembered; that's all it took for me to feel like I really belonged.