Disclaimer- Hey guys! I think you're smart enough to know I own no outsiders characters or scenes!

          As I stared out the window from inside the moving train, I closed my eyes and tried to hold back the tears that threatened to break from my face. Oklahoma, why did it have to be Oklahoma? I had lived in the beautiful state of california for almost more than fourteen years, and now I had to move to a bare homeland, a place that no one utters a sound about, a land that I hadn't even wondered about till those fateful words were said, "Melodie, you're moving. There's no place for you here. You don't belong." I wouldn't have any adventure here. My life has already ended with a single movement, I thought to myself. But I was wrong.

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          Ponyboy Curtis sat out on the porch, staring hopelessly into the glowing sunset. His eyes held the pain and disaster that had taken control of his once happy life. Maybe the Socs had bothered him and become uncontrollable, but they were far from what had lied ahead of him. He took a deep breath as he thought of his best friend, Johnny Cade, who had died barely six months ago. The memories of the tough, tow-headed boy who couldn't keep his temper down very well. The memories of not only Johnny, but Dally, who had crushed his own world even before he could see the light of it. A sob tried to emerge from his aching throat, but he thrust it back down. Was he the only one that had to live up to such torment or were there others, who he hadn't met, thinking the same thing?

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          "Destination reached! Oklahoma!" screeched the speaker from above my compartment. I sat up and grabbed my belongings. I just had to fall asleep, didn't I? Dashing out of the compartment, I ran to the front of the train and jumped off just as the train started moving again. My stuff splattered. My colored pencils, my paper, and my erasers rolled out of the case I had worked so hard to arrange them in. Ohhh, wonderful. Just peachy. I grabbed all the supplies and stuffed them into a small plush bag I had handy. Just as I reached for the paper, a strong gust of wind blasted against me. The paper flew out of my hand and ripped across the sky like a leaf. Nooo, I thought angrily, that was the finest art paper in California! As if they'll have any thick material here! I turned to pick up what was left of my stuff. Maybe they have an art store around here, I half thought, half wished. I was so distracted that I didn't notice a boy about my age with dark brownish hair with what looked like bleached highlights come up to me. "Hey, I'm Ponyboy. Need some help?" I nodded, struck dumb with his cute figure. I looked up and a bit far back, I saw four guys who looked around seventeen. They all had greasy hair like Pony and looked like they were in the third group of society, unlike popular people. I grinned for the first time in three weeks, thinking, "That's good." I don't really like people who are in the "in" group. They just seem to be more like snobs to me. "Their my buds. Don't worry about them." I jumped as I heard Pony say. I had forgotten he was there. "Who's worryin?" I replied. I gave myself a mental note to work on my staring. I have a bad habit of that. Pony was picking up all the bags I had dropped. I got together the case and my other stuff and once I was through, Pony handed me the bags. "Thanks!" I told him, "It would have taken me awhile to pick everything up without ya." "No problem." He murmured, "What's your name?" As I stood up, and dusted off my black, spaghetti-strapped T-shirt, I slowly answered, "Melodie." I glanced again at his "buds" and then looked at him with my black eyes. I didn't know, but they sparkled with an unknown kindness. He gasped and I quickly asked, "What?!" "Johnny had black eyes…." He trailed off. I had no clue who Johnny was, but nevertheless, I knew I had hurt him. Knowing he probably wanted to be alone or with the guys I had seen, I whispered, "Thanks again!" He nodded, and I stiffened, then murmured, "See ya," and left. As my shoes clicked on the asphalt pavement, I thought of what had happened there. Who was Johnny? Did I just ruin another guy's day? Earlier that day on the train, I had made this old man very uncomfortable. I don't know why though. Maybe it was because I was so different from everybody else. I didn't actually look like the normal fifteen year old. I wore black a lot, but I wasn't gothic. I looked more like a girl in the lower society, but I didn't have a problem with my looks. I wasn't gross or stinky. And I didn't have a problem with old people. I was so deep in thought that when I walked into this guy who looked way too nice, I kept walking. I'm usually pretty polite. But before I got away, he grabbed my shirt and dragged me back. "You say sorry to Andy Renossen. Greaser." I blew up, "Greaser!? What's that supposed to mean, you jerk!?" He tried to slug me, but I ducked and he got one of his pals instead. "Sorry Paul!" I heard him say, but I made my escape when I saw a fight starting between the two. It's not that I'm chicken, I just don't like mixing up with the wrong people. When I turned the corner, I saw the lady who was to pick me up. I ran up to her, apologized for being late, and she gave me a stern look. She placed a hard hand on my shoulder and led me to her car.