The Outsiders (Harry Styles)

Chapter 1

A night out in this part of town gives me hell of a lot of anxiety. Where there are bars, pubs and allies; there are gangs. Different types of gangs. Poor and rich. The greasers and the Socs (Soa-shes). However, the guys are the only ones who take part in these teams. It gets hard to keep up with the bullshit but since all of Tulsa's social classes are in on it, we've learned to deal with it.

My boyfriend, Jack and his friends, belong to the Socs. He is, for the most part, calm when he's around me. I try to ignore stories of his cruelty because otherwise it would make me crazy.

I've never actually had a normal conversation with a Greaser. They're known to be dangerous and low class. People that you don't want to be around unless you want to smell like cigarettes for a week. Being part of the Soc social class, talking to a Greaser would be considered social suicide. As if you're making friends with the enemy.

Almost tripping over my feet as I exit the pub with my best friend, Amanda, my head turns to the sound of a familiar yell. We both curiously look around until we spot Jack in an alley, holding a blade to a Greaser's neck with two Socs holding him back.

Sweat covers his forehead and the Greaser doesn't look intimidated one bit. He stands there quietly, with his jaw clenched and emerald eyes piercing whatever they look at.

"Cherry? What are you doing here?" he asks when he notice us, his voice echoing through the dark alley.

"Jack, put the blade down." I try to sound as calm and reasonable as possible. Maybe this way, he'll listen to me. I've never seen Jack like this and I'm afraid that this will be our last time speaking. I don't want to be with him if this is really what he's like around his friends. He must be drunk, I can smell the bourbon off of him.

"This little shit was tryna be a wise guy. Needs to be disciplined." Jack slurs his words and his intoxication is noted. Amanda holds onto my arm and I can already feel her nails in my skin. She's afraid of what he might do.

The boy stays quiet as he looks at me with no emotion.

"You're scaring me. Put it down." I ask him slowly out of fear. I try not to yell so that he wouldn't be violent. He could slit this guy's throat and go to jail in a flash. Everything would change.

Jack tilts his head back as he chuckles evilly. At this moment, I know, I don't love him.

When his eyes meet mine, he lifts his hand up high and it connects with my face forcefully. I hold my face as I look at Jack with disgust. Amanda gasps loudly but is too afraid to say anything. I'm utterly shocked.

The Greaser manages to break the tight hold of Jack's friends and jumps Jack onto the hard concrete. "You're fucking kidding me, right?" The boy punches Jack hard in his jaw. I don't even notice that I'm sobbing until I feel the tears on my lips. "Go!" His deep voice instructs us and Amanda pulls me out of the alley to find a cab home.

3 hours go by. Rain, thunder and a depressed me on my living room couch. I'm shocked, upset, and disgusted. How could I ever date someone like that? I thought he was the one and I gave up a lot for him. I should have listened to the countless rumors. The worst thing about this moment is that I'm home alone with my thoughts. The worst thing that could happen to me. Especially now.

The doorbell. My head turns so quickly to face the door. I can already smell Jack from the front. I don't want to answer. I won't.

"Cherry!" Jack yells but I don't respond. I realize that the door is unlocked a second before the door flies open, Jack standing out in the pouring rain. He stands there for a good three seconds and his eyes are bloodshot red. He must have realized what he had done. He steps in slowly and closes the door behind him.

"Get out, " I say without a trace of emotion. I don't make eye contact.

"I don't know what to say." He is now crying like the coward he is.

"Actions speak louder than words." I start crying too.

"I was drunk, I-I didn't mean to," he begs but I am done with bullshit like this. I'm over him and he has to get over me. I won't give in. I sniff at my tears instead of responding. "Fuck," Jack runs his fingers through his wet hair. "I love you, Cher."

"Go." I demand as tears stream down my face. He nods as he cries and leaves my house as I asked him to.

As soon as we're finished, the rain stops completely and I wipe at my tears. I have never been hurt like this. I need to clear my head. Maybe a walk will help, it always does.

I head out quickly into the wet night, with only the street lights helping me see. I move east, to The Greaser part of town. I'll do anything to avoid Jack or his minions. I don't know what I'll do if he tries to talk to me one more time. I know I didn't say officially that we're done, but I hope he gets the clear memo that we

Summers in Tulsa are boiling hot, even nights and I can't stand the heat. I've learned to somewhat deal with it. So I put my red velvet colored hair (hence the nickname Cherry - short for Cheryl) in a high ponytail to stop the sweating and head off deeper into the east side of Tulsa.

Ten minutes later, I'm so spaced out that I don't realize there is a parked car in front of me full of greasers until they beep.