Chapter 2: Lonely Walks In The Pouring Rain

Love Has No Borders

Disclaimer: Do I look like I own The Outsiders? No. The real owner of The Outsiders is the best author ever, S.E. Hinton. I also do not make a profit from the stories that I write on this site.

A/N: Please tell me what you think! Criticism is welcome, but no flames please. Flames killed Johnny. ;) Suggestions are always welcome, no matter what they might be. Thanks.

Hannah June's POV (February 1st, 1966)

Soda drove me in relative silence. The radio played a steady tune softly, and Soda and I chatted a bit, but it was mostly silent besides that. The pitter-patter of the rain falling made the silence mostly bearable. But just mostly. My foot still tapped loudly a hundred miles per hour.

"Where is he?" Sodapop wondered aloud. Pony, who always waited outside of the school for us, was absolutely nowhere to be found. I quickly checked his the time. Pony's track practice ended at 5:15 and it was now almost six o'clock. If I said that I wasn't worried than I would be lying.

With the rain now pouring harder, Soda put the truck in reverse and canvased around the school area, looking for our brother.

"Let's spilt up and look for him on foot, okay? Man, I hope he didn't get jumped or somethin'," Sodapop said the last part to himself. I nodded and got out of the car, shivering from the ice-cold rain. It couldn't have been even fifty degrees out, and with the rain it was freezing. I hated cold weather. I could not wait until spring time.

About fifteen minutes later I finally laid eyes on my adopted older brother. Ponyboy was shaking also and sopping wet.

"Ponyboy!" I called as a roaring clasp of thunder hit. He didn't even react to me, so I jogged towards where he was standing and yelled again.

"Ponyboy!"

This time, Ponyboy turned around to see me. He looked relieved and I noticed he wasn't wearing a coat. Resisting the urge to lecture him like I was the older sibling, we walked back to the truck a few hundred yards away and met up with Sodapop.

"Finally, Ponyboy! Even if I'm late, I'm still comin', buddy. Don't take off again alright," Soda wrapped his arm around Pony, relieved, and all three of us piled into his truck, turning the heat up as high as it could possibly go.

When we got inside Darry took one look at the three of us and threw towels at us. I scowled at him as it hit me in the face, but wrapped myself in if anyway. I wasn't going to be that stubborn and freeze to death.

"Soda, you let her search around by herself? Do you have any idea what the Socs could do to someone like her?" Darry started to lecture, looking frazzled. Soda took a step back. I felt like I wasn't even there.

"I'm nicht a baby, Darry," I protested hotly.

"Stay out of this, Hannah," Darry protested stubbornly. "You should have known better."

"You need to stop treating me like a little kid! I'm not stupid und I can handle myself. Your not dad, und Ihre nie zu Vater zu sein!" (and you never will be my dad!)

I turned and took off out the screen door, forgetting that it was cold and raining. I heard the door slam for a second time and when I turned around I saw Dallas chasing after me. I took off in a dead run, but after just a few minutes a tree root caught my ankle and I went sprawling. I cussed under my breathe in German as Dallas sat on the tree root.

Great, I thought. Dallas is here to talk.

He helped my up, but the moment I put weight on my foot I had to bite back a yelp. I limped a few steps and sat on the fountain.

I knew that I didn't have an option, so I started to talk. The atmosphere was making me uncomfortable.

"Zey treat me like a kid," I mumbled. "I feel so useless und stewpid."

Dallas sputtered. "Well, I know that ain't true. Who cleans the most in that house? Who is the best artist in your family? Who-"

"I can't nevah vocus on vhat I'm doin' vhen I facuum or do the dishes or somezing. Und Darry's alvays yelling at me to focus, but it's hard. Ponyboy is de gut draver. You aren't gut at pep-talks," I responded, rolling my eyes.

"Who's the best dancer?" Dallas finally asked seriously after pausing. I blushed and then thought of my brothers dancing.

"...me," I mumbled awkwardly. Dallas stood up.

"Ready to go back home, kid?"

I frowned, sucking in a sharp breath as I put weight on my ankle. "Yas. It's cold out."

A/N: Word Count: 857 words.

Aufenthalt Gold,

~Alee XxX