On The Outside (A The Outsiders FF) #Wattys2015

Chapter 12

Taking in my surroundings, many questions raced through my mind: What's going on? How did this happen? Will we ever be able to get back? I wanted answers. I needed answers.

"Dakota? Oh my gosh, it's really you!" a male's voice said, and before I could see who it was, hu rushed over to me, picked me up, and spun me around. I was careful not to smack the girls with my feet, but he put me down before I got dizzy. I gazed up into his face and realized it was my eighteen-year old brother, Tyler.

"Mom, Brianna, come quick!" Tyler called to the living room.

Brianna is my twelve-year old sister, and usually sisters are competitive, but we get along just fine. It's the same with Tyler. Sure, we disagree and have arguments sometimes, but we're all like best friends.

My mom and Brianna darted into my room, and after just one glimpse of me, tears streamed down my mom's face and Brianna nearly knocked me over from giving me a lively and energetic bear hug, which I gladly returned.

Although I missed my family and I enjoy the unnecessary attention, I still wanted to get back to the gang. I was still able to see the town of Tulsa in my mirror, but I don't think my family can. I need them out of my room so I could figure out a way to get back.

"I know I just got back from where we came from, but do you think you could give us some time to take everything in?" I said, hoping they would reason with me. Tyler, Brianna, and my mom nodded in agreement and left the room, shutting the door behind them.

I hurried over to my mirror and carefully touched the glass of it, deeply wishing something would happen. Nothing. But something gave me hope: a few familiar faces. It was Ponyboy, Johnny, Two-Bit, Steve, and Soda, and they were just about to pass by.

I called their names and banged on the glass, hoping they could hear me so I could get their attention. I sighed in relieve when they turned their heads and made their way over to us, looking shocked.

"Dakota? Tiger? Luna? Kimi?" Johnny questioned.

"Yeah, it's us. What's going on?" I asked, watching the swarms of people hurrying to get to some place behind the boys.

"We got a new mayor. She's supposed to make a speech outside of city hall. We didn't want to go, but Darry forced us to so we could see what our new mayor's like while him and Dally figured things out about you girls. What happened and how we could get you back, you know?" Steve explained after they followed my gaze.

"Yeah, we're all really upset about what happened. We all miss you girls a lot." Soda said.

"We miss you boys, too. We're going to find a way to get back to you guys as soon as we can." I reassured with a small smile.

"We'll come back after the speech and we'll let Darry and Dally where they can talk to you girls at." Two-Bit said, and they walked in the direction everyone else was headed.

We sat in front of the mirror and watched the empty streets and park, listening to the dead silence. I knew everyone was at the city hall, finding out who their new mayor is.

The town seemed eerie, deserted and abandoned looking without a soul in view. The sun was just beginning to set, casting an orange color over the sky, dark gray clouds forming in the sky, giving it more of an ominous feeling. It was creeping me out, but nonetheless, I wanted to be there with the boys. I had a bad feeling about something, I just didn't know what.

An hour later, the boys came back no longer looking shocked, but surprised. I couldn't help but ask what happened out of curiosity.

"You'll never believe who the new mayor is." Ponyboy blurted once they arrived. This better be good.