The Outsiders: The Observer.

Chapter 1.

I tossed and turned in my bed, attempting to get some rest. My alarm blared through the room, and I reached over and turned it off, running a hand down my face, feeling exhausted. I remained in bed, clinging desperately to the last few moments I had in bed. The reminder that I was going back to school haunted me. I was never fond of school because I was always the 'dumb' twin compared to Ponyboy, and also because... well, it was school.

It wasn't long before Darry barged into my room. "C'mon Dove, get up. You have school." I stared at him through tired eyes. "I am..." I stretched out, yawning and forcing myself to my feet as he walked out to check that Pony was awake. I sat in front of my mirror, rubbing my eyes, and caught a glimpse of myself. I would say I looked my age (fourteen), but Soda always insisted I had a baby face and could pass for twelve, which didn't always make me feel so hot. My long, golden-brown hair was frizzy, sticking out wildly in every direction, and my big brown eyes were weighed down with dark, brooding eyebags. I never saw myself as a pretty girl, but my brothers would argue I was the prettiest girl they knew. It was because I looked like Mom.

I sighed, grabbing a brush and trying to work through the bird nest that was my hair. I could hear Sodapop scrambling to find his DX shirt, as he did every morning, and chuckled to myself, always finding it amusing. After I had my hair brushed out I got changed, brushed my teeth and headed downstairs, where I saw Ponyboy, who was already eating breakfast at the table. Ponyboy was my twin brother. He had green eyes, which he would protest that they were grey. He had red hair that he had slicked back perfectly at all times. It was his pride. I believed Ponyboy was something special, though I would never voice my opinion. He was thoughtful but forgot simple things, which drove Darry up the walls. He watched sunsets and liked reading, and did well in school. (Remember I told you I was the dumb twin?) I was always strangely endeared by Ponyboy and the way he thought. Or maybe I was just insane.

"Hey, sis." He smiled. We usually got along, and if we argued it didn't mean anything. I think it's somethin' about twin telepathy, or whatever you call it. "Hey." I sat at the table, hugging my knees as I usually did. "Where's Dar?" I asked. He was usually downstairs by now, bugging Pony and me about having everything and eating enough breakfast. Ponyboy thought Darry hated him, but I could see Darry just cared. Deeply cared, might I add.

That was my job in the family, you could say. I was the observer. I wasn't talented like Darry and Ponyboy or handsome and charming like Soda. I kept my mouth shut too frequently to be funny. I was just kind of a floater. I didn't despise the idea altogether, but it doesn't make you feel great when you acknowledge it. Sometimes, it felt like I wasn't a part of the family.

Sodapop skipped downstairs. "Hey, you two knuckleheads seen my shirt?" He asked, his brown eyes skimming between the two of us. Sodapop was the type of person who could make you smile even if you just got a limb amputated. There was something about his brown eyes that beamed with happiness and the charming smile he flashed when he made a snarky remark or when he wanted to make you smile, too. He had wheat-coloured hair that, just like Pony's, was kept neatly slicked back. I glanced over at him. "Oh yeah, I ironed it and put it on the armchair." I gestured toward the living room. He grinned, "Thanks." I watched him skip into the living room, swiping the shirt off the armchair and running back upstairs.

"Ain't you gonna eat some breakfast?" Darry's voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I looked up at him. He was standing in the doorway, his icy blue eyes scanning me.

Darry, or Darrel, was the eldest of all of us. He had brown hair that he didn't grease up like the others and pale blue eyes that always managed to hide what he was feeling. Darry had a tired look, ageing ten more years. He looked exactly like Dad.

"No, I'm not that hungry." I had lost my appetite ever since Mom and Dad passed away. Darry scoffed, shaking his head. "You gotta snap outta that, Dove." He muttered, walking over to the sink. Nobody in the family got angry at me. Why, I wasn't sure. I wasn't exactly some weak, shy girl who couldn't take it. "Lay off, Darry," Ponyboy spoke up, frowning. I sighed, knowing it would cause another argument. Darry glared over at him. Before he could retort, I spoke up. "Please, try not to argue for one morning, okay?" They both inhaled sharply but put their heads down. The tension was palpable, only broken when Dallas strolled in, Johnny trailing him as usual.

"Hey, y'all," Dallas spoke in his usual confident tone. Dallas Winston was the boy who got arrested in New York at the age of ten and jumped kids for kicks. He had hair so blonde it was practically white and blue eyes that held a menacing undertone. He had sharp features and always reminded me of a lynx. Darry and Ponyboy grumbled a greeting while I smiled.

Johnny Cade stood behind him, smoking a cigarette. Johnny had big, fearful black eyes and long black hair that hung over his eyebrows, desperate for a haircut. We were similar in that we were both so quiet that the gang thought it was a miracle if we spoke. He had a long scar on his cheekbone that he had obtained from the Socs. Ever since that day, he carried a six-inch switchblade in his back pocket. He would never let anyone jump him again.

Sodapop came back downstairs in his uniform. It never really bugged me the same way it did Ponyboy that Sodapop dropped out to work in a gas station. I guessed Ponyboy didn't understand how bad off we were. Hell, I would drop out right now if I could. I was like Soda, not the brightest.

He grinned as he saw Dallas and Johnny. "Hey, you two, come to bum around and steal our food again?" He flashed his grin, which made the two smile too.

Ponyboy brought his plate to the sink, Darry taking it from him as he washed the dishes and walked over to Johnny, joining the ongoing conversation. From what I had seen, Ponyboy and Johnny seemed to enjoy each other's company, which was strange to me because they were quiet. What type of conversations could they have?

Darry picked up his car keys. "Pony, Dove, we gotta go, or y'all will be late." I stood up and tossed my bag over my shoulder. Sodapop smiled over at me. "Have a good day. And hey, no looking at boys, alright?" I rolled my eyes, smiling a bit. I never showed an interest in boys. Soda said I'll grow out of it. He sure did. "Yeah, yeah. I will."

I walked out to the car, tossing my bag at my feet. I took the front today because it was a Monday. Pony and I swapped every day. The car ride was quiet as usual, the sound of Elvis on the radio filling the silence. We pulled up to the school. "Alright, have a good day, don't get into trouble." Darry offered a smile, which I returned. I picked up my bag and opened the car door. "Bye." I shut the door, Pony following after me as we walked in.

Pony bid me farewell as he walked over to his locker which was in a different building than mine. I walked silently to my own, opening it and taking books out for my next lesson. My eyes flickered over curiously as I saw a group of Socs.

They were the rich kids, the popular bunch. I suppressed an eye roll, trying to mind my own business. "Grease!" One of them yelled at me, laughing with his friends. I ignored them until I felt something cold being poured onto me. I gasped, an ice cube rolling down my back. They had dumped a coke on me.

They all laughed as I rushed to the bathroom, dripping wet, my cheeks flustered with embarrassment and shame. I grabbed what seemed to be a million paper towels and dried whatever I could. My hair was sticky, and my clothes were stained.

It made me feel worse that I didn't have any friends, no one to pick me up and help me in times like this. I blinked away tears that pricked my eyes, the feeling of loneliness creeping up on me. I heard someone come out of a stall. I quickly recomposed myself and went back to wiping myself down. "Dove, right?" A sweet voice spoke. I looked over curiously to see a young girl with red hair in complicated yet perfect curls, and small dark blue eyes with a freckled face.

I stared before remembering to reply. "Oh... yeah. Why?" I shamed myself internally for sounding so rude. She offered a smile. "My name is Astrid. I'm a greaser, too." I stared at her like she had two heads. How could a girl so soft-spoken and pretty be a greaser? (Greaser girls are claimed to be foul-mouthed and rude, but I'm not sure how true that is.)

I mustered a smile. "Oh..." She looked at me curiously. "Do you need some help there?" My cheeks flushed again. "Um... yes, please." She helped me the best she could to get the coke off of me before the bell rang. She picked her books off of the sink and gave me another smile. "I'll see ya around." I watched her leave, confused but happy. Maybe I would finally make a friend.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING
AUHJJAHDH
this was so fun to write i hope you enjoyed it as much as i did
have the best day ever i love u all so much ♥️♥️♥️