Disclaimer: Well, apparently you're not allowed to use script format on here – but the only reason I did it in the first place is because I saw a ton of people on here doing it. But whatever – I don't want my stories to get deleted or whatever.

So here's my disclaimer: I do not own anything except most of the storyline, Emma, her cat Jet, and anything else you don't recognize from S.E Hinton's books.

Now I'm going to go cry in a corner because I don't own Pony.

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Okay people I hope you enjoyed my last chapter. And I know the link didn't really work in my intro last time so the first part of the link is quizilla. com and then the rest of the stuff. So enjoy this chapter, PLEASE review!!!! And if you haven't read From Greaser To Country Girl And Back – GO READ IT!!!! You will understand my story better!!!

It's also at http :// www. fanfiction. net/ s/ 2855153/ 1

Just remove the spaces.

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Chapter 2: Meeting the Gang

Emma's POV

I woke to the sound of thumps and yelling. For a minute I thought I was back at the Shepard's, but then I heard laughing and a very grown up voice, who I assumed belonged to Darry, speak; "Hey you guys quiet down, you're going to wake up Emma."

Too late, I thought. I didn't really want to get up though, I figured someone would wake me up when I needed to, and since I had already slept in past the sunrise, I might as well go back to sleep – I had nothing better to do.

So I just turned over and thought about last night.

Night Before, the Curtis' house

When we got to the Curtis' Victoria went in first. She had one of my bags and I had the other. She walked in said "hi" and went straight to one of the bedrooms off of the hallway. She motioned for me to follow, so I did. It wasn't a really big room, but it wasn't small either. There was a window, a dresser, a small closet, and a double bed. Victoria dropped my bag on the bed.

"This is your room. It used to be Soda's before he moved in with Pony. You can put your stuff in the bottom three drawers of the dresser, use half of the closet, and have half the bed. This is my room, too. Don't touch my stuff I won't touch yours, stay on your side of the bed and closet, and with luck this might just work."

"Uh. Thanks. For sharing your room with me. You didn't have to."

"Actually I did. Darry has his room, Pony and Soda are in Pony's room, and they never go into their parent's room. So I kind of had to share; it's not like you could sleep on the couch and change in the bathroom all the time, you're a girl."

"Uh, ya. Well, thanks anyways."

"Whatever besides it's not like I'll be here that often." She shrugged as I threw my other bag onto the bed.

"You can unpack later. Come meet the gang, before they think I took you in here and killed you."

I laughed, but only because I didn't know what else to do. She turned around and led me back to the living room, which was full of noisy, tough looking boys.

Victoria let out a shrill whistle and all the boys looked up. "Uh hey guys listen up. That's Sodapop Curtis – the middle child." She pointed to the boy sitting on the couch, smushing another boy with his butt – he gave me a really big grin and a small wave.

"Underneath him is his little brother, Ponyboy – the youngest in this house besides you, and that's Johnny Cade Pony's best friend." She pointed to the small, shy looking boy sitting beside Sodapop and Ponyboy – he just gave a small, shy smile.

"Beside him in the chair is Steve Randle, Soda's best friend, and my boyfriend." How could anyone date someone that ugly and creepy looking?

"And that is my best friend Two-Bit Matthews. His real name is Keith, but no one calls him that, so just call him Two-Bit." This time she pointed to the guy sitting on the floor, watching Mickey and wearing a Mickey t-shirt. At the mention of his name he looked away from the TV. He gave me the biggest, goofiest grin and waved at me in slow motion, as if I was yards instead of feet away from him.

"Hey how's it going?" He said.

"Ok." I replied simply.

"Well, that's pretty much everyone except Dallas and Darry, who must not be home right now." Victoria concluded.

"Darry's in the kitchen making supper." Soda interrupted.

"Oh, ok. Well, I guess I should tell you guys who this is." She said, turning to the guys. Everyone looked at her anxiously and nodded. "Everyone, this is my kid sister Emma."

"Hey. Hi. Nice to meet you. How's it going? Hi." Everyone greeted. "Mhhm." Ponyboy groaned from underneath Soda. Soda decided to get off him then – but only to jump on Steve – which turned into a wrestling match.

"Hey." Ponyboy said when he could breathe again.

"Hi." I said shyly.

"Come meet Darry." Victoria grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the kitchen.

There was a big, tough, scary - yet somehow worn out and tense – guy stirring something on the stove. He looked like he had a lot on his plate if all those guys in the living room were here all the time – I kind of hoped they weren't.

"Emma, this is Darry. The oldest Curtis. Well, actually, the oldest of us all, but I won't mention that." Victoria introduced the guy who apparently ran things around here. I made a metal note to myself to not cross him – he had huge muscles, and from how Victoria had introduced him, you just didn't mess with him, he was Boss.

"H-hi." I stammered shyly and nervously.

"Darry, this is my little sister Emma." Victoria introduced me to Darry.

"Hi, Emma. Nice to finally meet you." Darry gave me a warm smile – well, what he thought passed as a warm smile.

I could see right through it. It was a half-hearted "I need a break – But I'm going to pretend like everything's ok, and I have it all together because I'm tough and I can't show I'm weak – got to impress the new kid" smile. I could see through people like that. I've always been able to; it's kind of my specialty. I could see through almost anybody. Unfortunately I couldn't see through Victoria, and that caused a problem. I didn't know how to act around her. I didn't know how to talk to her. I didn't know her.

"What's for supper Superman?" Soda asked wandering through the kitchen to grab a drink.

"Chili." He answered. So the mystery that Darry was stirring was chili.

"Smells good." I said sniffing the air.

Darry looked over at me and smiled – an honest one – he seemed pleased. "Thank-you. It was my mom's recipe – it's not as good as she used to make it, but it's ok – I mean the guys eat it."

"They'll eat anything. They're boys." Victoria grabbed the spoon full of chili out of Darry's hand –he was tasting it – and blew on it, but before she could get it in her mouth, Two-Bit came up behind, swiped the spoon and shoved it in his mouth.

"Victoria." Darry said in a teasingly annoyed voice.

"Two-Bit!! That was mine!" Victoria wined at Two-Bit.

"Actually, it was mine." Darry laughed. They hadn't heard him though – Victoria had already started chasing Two-Bit around. "You wouldn't have eaten it anyway." Darry called. Victoria stopped for a second and looked at him. "It has beans in it."

"Darry..." Victoria whined.

"Don't worry I've got yours separate." Darry said as Victoria went back to chasing Two-Bit. "She doesn't like beans. You hungry kid?" Darry asked me, turning off the stove.

"Ya." I answered quietly, as usual. I lived by "Keep your mouth shut, you learn more", plus you don't get beat up, and you don't miss anything.

"Supper guys!" Darry announced as he served up the chili. I helped, handing him the bowls, then passing them to the people they belonged to.

Once everyone got theirs and Darry and I got ours, I realized there was someone new in the house that I had never seen before – but he looked eerily familiar. He was really mean and cold looking, scary even. He had an elfish face, with high cheek bones and a pointed chin, small, sharp animal teeth, and ears like a lynx. He had eyes blazing blue eyes like ice, full of hatred for the whole world, and hair so blonde it was white – just like mine – and he obviously didn't like haircuts, because his hair was long. Also I noticed he didn't wear hair grease like all the other guys – so his hair fell in wisps over his forehead, kicked out in the back and curled behind his ears and along the nape of his neck. Then it dawned on me. He had white-blonde hair just like mine and blue eyes just like me (except my eyes weren't cold). He must be my brother; Dallas.

Victoria must have seen me looking at him because she introduced me. "Oh, Emma, this is Dallas – your brother. Dally – this is Emma, our kid sister."

"Stay in your place and out of my way and we'll get along fine." Dally said in a very plain tone. Everyone just looked from me to him to see what would happen; even Victoria seemed to be curious as to what he, or I, would do. But I just nodded, and he went back to his chili.

"This chili is really good, Darry. It's spicy just the way I like it." I smiled politely at him, eating another spoonful of the delightfully warm chili.

Everyone nodded their agreement.

"Why thank-you Emma." Darry laughed, he seemed nice.

After supper, Pony (he said I could call him that for short), Victoria and I did the dishes. After that we joined everyone else in the family room. Everyone seemed to be doing something; Soda, Steve, Johnny, and Pony were playing poker, Two-Bit and Victoria were watching Mickey, Dally was sitting on the couch watching everyone, and Darry was reading the newspaper. But I had nothing to do. So I just sat awkwardly on the opposite end of the couch from Dally, watching everyone – I then realized I was doing the same thing as Dally; except that he seemed content doing it, I felt awkward and out of place.

"I think I'll go unpack now." I announced, standing up.

"Shh! Mickey's on!" Victoria hissed viscously.

No one else seemed to notice. Except Dally. He was checking me over in a very suspicious manner. I felt like a bug under a microscope. So I hurriedly went to my room to unpack.

I really didn't have a lot of stuff; considering that I had a small suitcase, a duffel bag, and a messenger bag purse. I had hardly any belongings at all actually. I just wanted to get away from the awkwardness of the living room.

Now what was it Victoria said about which drawers were mine and which half of the closet was mine? Something like "You can put your stuff in the bottom three drawers of the dresser, use half of the closet, and have half the bed."? Ya, that's what she said, ok. Bottom three drawers. How am I gonna fill that many drawers with the tiny amount of clothes I had? Oh, ya, Angela gave me a bunch of her clothes. I just hope they aren't too slutty; she likes to dress extremely slutty.

I dumped all of her clothes out of the plastic bag I put them in. Let's see: a red mini skirt (surprisingly, it's a decent length), a jean mini skirt (just a bit shorter than the red one, I can actually see myself wearing it), jean short shorts, white short shorts, juicy red high heels (my feet are much, much smaller than hers; these would fit just fine, but I would never be able to walk in them even IF I was crazy enough to wear them), and two pairs of converse; red and rainbow ones. Apparently her step-dad bought them for her birthday years ago, but she doesn't like converse, and now even if she did, they're too small for her – just my size), personally I love converse, I have a pair of black ones, but they are getting really worn out, so it was about time I had some new ones.

Victoria had left me two skirt hangers, and three normal hangers to use if I needed to put anything in the closet; so I the two skirts Angela had given me and hung them on one skirt hanger together, back to back, and hung them in the empty half of the closet which I guessed was my half. Then I put my black converse, the red ones and the rainbows ones that Angela had given me, and the high heels she had given me on the shelf (in the closet) above my half of the closet. Then I dumped out my duffel bag on my bed.

That was when I realized I was in a bit of a jam. I knew I didn't have many clothes – I had left almost all of my clothes in NY so that I had space to take personal belongings – but I had a lot less than I thought. All I had was the rainbow tank of Angel's that she had given to me a few weeks ago, the jean Capri's I was wearing, my jean jacket, a very wrinkled pink tank, a pair of ripped skinny jeans (they didn't come ripped), a blue t-shirt, a red t-shirt, and 3 cameos (white, black, and red). Well, I also had the clothes Angel gave me – but all that stuff was summer stuff. I had no winter clothes, no dresses (not that I would need any) and hardly any money.

From what I saw in the fridge (I helped Soda make the chocolate cake we had for dessert) the Curtis' didn't have much money; and with Darry having to feed Soda, Ponyboy, Victoria, me and himself, he was pushing it. When I was at the Shepard's I had used some of my money to buy some food, so that I wasn't a burden, and I tried not to eat a lot, but with the little money I had, I wouldn't be able to help Darry with food and buy more clothes. I was stuck in a rut – a deep (big?) one. I sat there for a few minutes, thinking, then I decided I was just going to have to do with what I had right now, and when winter came I'd deal with the problem then. As for if it got cold one or two days in the summer, I'd just have to borrow either Victoria's clothes – which seems kind of unlikely with the way she acts towards me – or Angel's clothes.

I finished unpacking my clothes and put a few of the other belongings I needed in the bottom dresser drawer, and then left the rest in my suitcase. Just as I finished putting my diary under my underwear, Two-Bit (or was it Steve?) came in, picked me up, flung me over his shoulder.

"Ahhh! Two-Bit put me down!" I screamed, kicking, punching and squirming to get away. I even kicked him in the unmentionables; but he still held me firmly.

"I found her. Hiding in her room unpacking. BORING!" Two-Bit laughed as he dropped me (literally) on the couch. I screeched in fear, trying desperately to grab onto something to stop me from taking a painful fall to the floor. Just as I was about to fall, Soda ran over and caught me (this all happened in about fifteen seconds total; from the time Two-Bit came in my room till the time Soda caught me).

"Oh my god Two-Bit! What the hell was that!? You trying to kill me or traumatize me or what?" I asked him, frightened.

"Ha ha. She's a drama queen this one." Soda laughed, spinning me around.

"If I had fallen I could have gotten a concussion!" I protested, hurt by being called a drama queen.

"Ya, right! The worst that could have happened if you fell was your pride would be shattered, and maybe you would have a minor case of embarrassment. Your right Soda, I think we do have a drama queen on our hands." Steve said chuckling.

"That's my job." Victoria pouted.

Soda put me down. I crossed my arms over my chest, pouting.

"Looks like she's a bit of a pouter, too." Two-Bit joked. "You two kinda look alike."

"I am n-" I was about to protest when Soda grabbed me and threw me over to Two-Bit, who than threw me back to Soda, and they promptly started a game of catch with me.

Two-Bit, Soda, Two-Bit, Soda, Two-Bit, Steve, Soda, Two-Bit, Soda, Steve, Tim Shepard. Wait – Tim? He caught me (barely), spun me around once, then placed my feet on the floor. By then I was so dizzy from being thrown back and forth and spun around that I felt sick and could barely stand up. Tim noticed and grabbed onto me before I fell.

"Whoa there, girly. A bit dizzy?" Tim chuckled.

"Just a bit." I said in a funny sounding voice. Everyone laughed at that.

"What's this torture session all about? Trying to kill this innocent little brat?"

"We were tired of torturing each other and we needed another victim so we chose her." Two-Bit said in all seriousness.

"Killing her is next week." Soda piped in.

"As for her being innocent – I doubt she is. Growing up in New York you can't be innocent." Steve smart-alecked. "Toria won't let us throw her anymore."

"And besides you can't be a brat and innocent at the same time – it's an oxymoron." Pony said smartly. Almost too smartly.

"Oxy what?" Steve asked confused.

"Oxymoron. It's when two or more words are put together that contradict each other." Pony said proud that he knew something Steve didn't – but that's not too hard from what I've seen of Steve.

"Ok whatever you say Mr. Oxy Stupid Moron." Steve rolled his eyes.

"That doesn't make sense. You can't put stupid before moron – it's like saying it was a huge elephant, or saying it was a tall skyscraper." I blurted without thinking how I would sound. Know-it-all-y. And I hate know-it-alls.

"Ooo – the runaway kid just corrected Steve." Two-Bit said the way that someone in the movies does when something bad is gonna happen.

"Sorry, but grammar mistakes bug me." I mumbled.

"Whatever Mrs. Stupid and Moron Don't Go Together." Steve rolled his eyes, going over to Victoria, picking her up, and setting her on his lap.

"Don't worry babe, I still love you." Victoria answered leaning back against him.

"So kid… How's life at the Curtis'?" Tim asked me sitting down and setting me on his lap.

"It's only been a couple hours since I left your house Tim." I giggled.

"Ya, well Curly and Angel were bugging me about checking on you – it's so weird how they don't give a damn about anything, but you come along and you'd swear you were some dammed princess or something, they care so much about you."

"Well sorry if it bothers you that they care about me – but before you ridicule them – think because I know for fact unless you cared about me, too – no matter how much they bugged you, you wouldn't come to check on me."

"You know too much. You know that kid." Tim growled.

"Ya, I know that."

"Point proven."

"So why did you really come over here?"

"Nothing better to do."

"So you didn't come to see me?" I felt hurt – but I guess I shouldn't have expected more than that from Tim Shepard.

"Why would anyone come to see you? Timmy came to see me didn't you?" Victoria asked.

"Uh...well I came to see you both. Though it just wasn't on the top of my list. And since I had finished everything else I thought I might as well come see you."

"Glad to hear I mean a lot to you."

"Hey at least I care at all. At least I took you in and gave you a roof over your head for three weeks when you had no where else to go. You ungrateful little brat" Tim snapped, his voice raising.

"Hey – watch it bud. She didn't do nothing." Two-Bit warned.

"Ya, whatever. Sorry kiddo, you know I didn't mean the part about you being ungrateful, right?"

"Ya, I do."

"Well, I better be getting home anyways. I have to clean the house before Mom gets back or we're dead." Tim stood up. "Take care – K kid?" He ruffled my hair.

"Ya, see ya Tim." I mumbled, fixing my hair.

"Bye guys and gals." Tim yelled on his way out the door.

"Thanks for shaking my brains and scaring the shit out of me guys." I laughed a bit; I was still feeling a bit dizzy.

"Hey! Watch your mouth!" Dally snapped pointing a warning at me.

"What? Since when is shit a bad word?" It was a word that had been in my vocabulary since I was quite young.

"Since you're my little sister, and living in Darry's house under Darry's rules: no swearing. AT ALL. You're a girl."

"So? You guys are aloud to say whatever comes to mind but I can't because I'm a girl?" I hated when people were sexist like that.

"Yes. That's exactly it. All of the greasy girls in town talk like that but I don't like it. It seems dirty coming from a lady's mouth."

"And it sounds clean coming from a guy?"

"Hey – she's kind of got a point there Dal." Johnny says quietly.

"Ya, whatever. I don't care. My rule is that Toria and Emma don't swear. If you want to live kid; don't swear. Ever."

"Uh Dally...I break that rule all the time. Living with seven guys I pick up your bad habits and if you don't like it then screw you." Victoria said.

"You remember my other rule though right?" Dally says. "The one that states if I ain't in the slammer then you have to listen to me." Victoria just rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Okay." I said quietly. To be honest; I was kind of scared of him.

"So…" Two-Bit tried to break the awkward silence. "What do you want to do?"

Just then I yawned. Everyone laughed.

"Ha. What time is it?" I said fighting down another yawn.

"10:40." Darry said checking the clock.

"Oh my god, really?" Wow, was it really that late?

"What? You're gonna go to bed this early on a Friday night in the summer?" Two-Bit asked dumbfounded that such a thing was possible.

"Well, if you think it's early I'll try to stay up longer, but I'll probably pass out soon." I doubted I would even make it ten minutes longer.

"Wow. Weird kid." Two-Bit snorted.

"Ya and you're normal." I laughed

"What would make you think I wasn't?" He asked mockingly shocked.

"Oh, I don't know maybe she heard you snort when you laughed a minute ago." Soda laughed.

"Aww come on, who doesn't snort when they laugh? Everyone does."

"Either you live in a world full of pigs or you know a lot of abnormal people." Victoria piped up.

"Ya, you freaks." Two-Bit laughed.

"Freaks?" Victoria asked, pretending to be angry.

"Yup. Freak."

"Ahhh!" Victoria screeched a war cry as she lunged at Two-Bit. We all starting laughing; amused at the live show. This went on for a while and after a while I guess they got tired or wrestling each other.

"Well, I better go to bed or I'm going to pass out right here." I announced in a very sleepy voice.

"Pony, you better go to bed, too." Darry turned to Ponyboy; who was already passed out on Soda's shoulder.

"Pony, Pony. Come on bud, let's get too bed." Soda gently shook Pony awake, then they got up to go to bed.

"Night guys!" Soda waved. Pony just groaned.

"Good night everyone." I said getting up and heading to my room.

"Toria you should go to bed, too. It's 11:30." I heard Dally say in that rough voice that he seemed to use all the time.

"11:30? Darry just said it was nearly quarter till...Dally you're...out of your mind." Victoria said but it seemed as though she couldn't stop yawning. Dally gave her a look and she nodded. "Night guys." Then I guess she got up and came into the room, but I didn't really see or hear anything after that because I was passed out as soon as I hit the bed; I didn't even change out of my clothes or get under the covers. But I guess Victoria must have pulled the covers up over me, because I was under them when I woke up.