This is my first attempt at an Outsiders story. This was one of those books that I didn't really like when I was forced to read it in middle school, but when I came back to it years later I really appreciated it a lot more. As for when exactly it takes place, I'm going with a little after the end of the book. Nothing happened to Dally and Johnny when they saved the kids.

Hope you enjoy!

Monday, September 20th, 1965

"Let's go Ponyboy or you'll be late." Darry Curtis told his younger brother. Currently it was early Monday morning and the two oldest brothers after dropping their little brother Ponyboy off at school would head to work like always. Life had been difficult for the Curtis brothers after their parents had passed away in a car accident. Darry after the accident had given up college and took guardianship over his two younger brothers. He didn't care if he had a scholarship or not; his brothers meant the world to him and he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he allowed the state to put his brothers in a foster home. They were all each other had and that was all the brothers needed.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Fourteen year old Ponyboy replied back stuffing the book his was reading into his backpack. Afterwards, he along with Darry and Soda got into Darry's truck.

"Soda I need that money by tomorrow you hear?" Darry said after he started up his truck and started driving to the DX where Soda worked.

"Buck's giving it to me this afternoon. I'll give it to you tonight." Soda said.

"You better. Pony you smoke one pack today; period. Anymore and I'll skin ya."

"Fine. You overwork yourself putting on roofs and me and Soda will skin you." Ponyboy said which always got Darry to show a small smile which was rare for Darry now a days. Soon the trio arrived at the DX gas station. Soda worked there full time as he had dropped out of high school to help out Darry.

"See ya later Darry. Bye Pony." Soda said getting out and went inside to start his shift. A few minutes later they pulled up to Tulsa High School.

"Bye Pony I'll see you tonight." Darry said when Pony got out.

"Bye Darry." Ponyboy said and walked towards the school.

"Hey Pony." A voice called. Beside him was his best buddy Johnny. Johnny was a light dark skinned, sixteen year old with jet black hair.

"Oh hey Johnny. You okay?" Pony asked when he saw a mark on Johnny's cheek.

"Yeah, don't you worry about this Pony. My old man just got drunk last night again. I just happened to be in his way." Johnny's parents were drunks that abused and neglected Johnny day in and day out. He was the greaser gang's pet and anyone that messed with him was in for it; especially by one of their buddies Dallas 'Dally' Winston. It was true that Dally got in trouble with the law all the time and always was either in trouble or found a way to start trouble, but he had a mini soft spot when it came to the two younger greasers.

"You know if your folks get angry you can always hang out at our place. Our door's always open."

"I know. But my old man gets mad if I don't show up for a couple of days."

"Well we're always here if you need us. You don't even have to ask."

"Thanks Pone." Johnny said and the bell rang for homeroom. "See you later." He said and the two went to their homerooms.

Break*Break*Break

A few hours later towards the end of the school day, Ponyboy was in History class. All of a sudden, a teacher came running in with a panicked look on her face. Ponyboy's history teacher Mrs. Chapman stopped writing on the chalkboard and turned her attention to her frantic co-worker. A couple students laughed at the teacher's panic but were quickly shushed by Mrs. Chapman. The teacher then quickly whispered something causing Mrs. Chapman to look shocked and all of a sudden lead her out of the classroom leaving the door almost closed.

"Okay then." A classmate said and everyone got up and talked to their friends.

"Wonder what that was about." Ponyboy asked Cherry Valance who was in his class. Cherry lived on the west side of town with the Socs but hated how they acted towards the greasers. She and Ponyboy often talked to each other whenever no one was looking or just in passing.

"I don't know but she looked awful scared."

"She probably couldn't stand the sight of you greasers being in her class." A soc said making his buddies laugh but Ponyboy just ignored them. Just then Mrs. Chapman opened the door back up.

"…Tulsa's a big city. Don't worry about it. The cops will catch him soon."

"Uh oh Dally must have robbed something again." Two-bit said. Despite him being a junior, he was still in Ponyboy's freshman history class due to being held back; twice. Then Mrs. Chapman came back in completely this time closing the door behind her.

"Right. Now there's no need to panic ladies and gentleman. That was just a friendly conversation between fellow teaches. Now let's get back to the Civil War." She said and went back to the chalkboard.

"That's my cue." Two-bit whispered and rested his head on his desk while closing his eyes.

*Meanwhile at the Tulsa Police Department*

"You're free to go Winston. I'll see you soon; unless this visit has somehow convinced you to change your ways. " A cop told Dally as he was getting out.

"Not really; just another couple of nights behind bars." Dally said getting his brown leather jacket on.

"You watch your attitude Winston or I'll send you to prison next time!"

"I was there on my thirteenth birthday for the third time. It's really nothing special."

Attention all units. Resident called in saying Harrison Lynch spotted on Charles Street. Any officer not working on assignment is to report to that location.

"Lynch? Ain't he that serial killer that kidnaps kids and nearly tortures them to death?" Dally asked.

"None of your business Winston. Now I suggest you be on your way before I arrest you for trespassing." The cop said and went back to work. Dally meanwhile walked out of the station and started thinking about that killer. It was true that Dally hated kids but he would never actually kidnap and torture young kids just because. It didn't seem right, especially when he liked to hang out with Ponyboy and Johnny who fit into the category the killer liked to attack which was ages 13-17.

'Wait, ain't Charles street near the high school?' Dally asked himself. It was almost two-thirty which was when Pony and Johnny got out of school. If one of them tries to walk home by their lonesome and the witness was telling the truth, that killer might be close looking for his next victim. Without thinking, Dally started running as fast as he could towards the high school. He didn't care if he wasn't acting like himself but if that killer somehow got his hands on Johnny or even Ponyboy, Dally had no idea what he'd do. Finally he made it to the high school just as the final bell rang. Kids started making their way to their buses or started walking home. That's when he saw Johnny walk out with Ponyboy. After this, he ran towards them.

"Dal? What are you doing here?" Johnny asked confused.

"I was in the area and thought you'd guys would maybe want to walk around for a bit. Hey what happened to your cheek Johnnycake?" Dally asked with his eyes suddenly full of rage when he saw the large bruise.

"Oh that. It's nothing." Johnny said pulling his injured cheek away from Dally's view.

"Don't look like nothing." Dally said giving Johnny a look. "Was it your old man again?" He asked and Johnny nodded while looking at the ground with a guilty look on his face. "Dammit, I'm sorry about that Johnny. Next time that happens you call me and I'll have a nice talk with your old man."

"You don't need to do that Dal. I can deal with it."

"Whatever you say. So what do you guys think? Wanna head into town? Maybe grab a movie later or something?"

"Thanks Dal but Darry told me I need to come home right away and finish my homework." Ponyboy said.

"Alright kid. How about I walk you home and we can grab a coke at the DX. Then I can pick you guys up later."

"Alright." Pony said. "Johnny?"

"I wouldn't mind that."

"Okay, let's go." Dally said and the three greasers started walking towards the DX.

"I can't believe I have to walk the long way home now because the fuzz aren't letting us go anywhere near Charles street. But to be honest it's kinda scary." Someone said in front of the group as they were walking.

"Did they say why?" Another asked.

"They said there was like a serial killer or murderer close to Tulsa and they got a tip he was nearby." The one said and Johnny's eyes widened.

"A murderer?" Johnny mumbled. Ever since he had been attacked badly by the Socs, Johnny was a lot more jumpy and stared carrying a switchblade everywhere he went.

"Hey, don't worry about that man. Let's keep walking." Dally said patting the two young greasers' shoulders. Ponyboy then remembered the teacher that came in frantic earlier and Mrs. Chapman's somewhat comforting words.

'…Tulsa's a big city. The police will catch him."

While this was true, the police on the other hand didn't have a great record with protecting people; especially when it came to the east side of town. They were just a bunch of lowlife greasers and they never asked for help from the fuzz. The rest of the trip was silent until they finally arrived at the gas station. They walked up to the door and just before Ponyboy who walked in last got into the DX, he was startled by someone grabbing him into a hug. It took a few seconds before Ponyboy realized that it was Soda who was hugging him.

"Damn you scared the hell out of me Pony." He said still hugging his brother like his life depended on it.

"Sorry. I thought you saw Dally and Johnny walk in." Ponyboy said a little confused.

"No not that. You didn't hear?" Soda asked releasing his brother.

"Hear what? What's wrong Soda?" He asked when he saw Soda's eyes. They were filled with horror and terror. Soda was always a happy-go-lucky kid that always got the girls to go crazy over him. Whenever he wasn't happy it was because of something serious like when Ponyboy and Johnny had ran away. It scared him something awful that week.

"Someone thought they saw a serial killer near your school Ponyboy. And the fuzz thinks he kidnapped someone when you got let out of school. I thought it was you!" Soda said hugging his little brother again.

Well what do you guys think so far? Now obviously we have to get the boring developmental part of the story out of the way first, but I promise you things will start picking up; especially when Superman finds out what's going on. Let me know what you guys think.

LaurenHardy13