I'm in Love with a Ghost: The Outsiders [COMPLETED]

1. Riley Fields

I have lived in Tulsa my whole life. The whole 15, almost 16 years. I'm pretty invisible though. I'm like a ghost, people don't see me, and if they do, they ignore me.

I don't talk much, people ask me why, and I don't know why. I'm just shy, I guess. I do my best not to call any attention to myself, and it's worked. I don't mind it too much actually. I have a few friends, but I would never be their first choice for anything. Whatever, that's just the way it is.

I have olive skin, and dark hair. I'm a bit shorter than the average person, and I'm not sure why. Both of my parents are average height, or maybe taller. So is my brother. I have dark eyes, that were pretty large. It's the main thing I get complimented on.

I just moved to Will Rogers High School, from East Central High School. We moved houses, so I had to move schools.

I thought that this one boy was a real cutie. It was Johnny Cade. He never left Ponyboy Curtis's side, and Ponyboy seemed to look after him. I had English class with both of them. I didn't know either of them too much, but we did become friends, we ate together nearly every lunch. But, I could never tell Johnny how I felt. I simply admired from afar.

One day, Johnny and Ponyboy just stopped showing up for class. Rumors spread around that they ran away together, that they murdered some guys and skipped town, and a few other messed up ones. Then, a blonde Ponyboy came back, I'm not sure how long after. About a week I'm guessing, or longer.

Johnny never did.

During lunch, I tried to bring it up but Ponyboy refused to talk about it. I didn't want to push him into talking about something that he wasn't comfortable with, so we kept the discussions light hearted, like before he left. He seemed to appreciate that.

Ponyboy read his essay during class, as everyone had to. It's was a free write, so we could write it on anything we wanted, as long as it wasn't less than five pages. I wrote mine about something silly, my theme was, "A Day in My Life". Just, about what a day looks like for me. I did my best not to include the abuse, I didn't want the attention, or my teacher calling my folks about it.

Some Socs went first, with themes such as what their practices look like, school, work, stuff they dreamed about, and so on. The greasers writing was a little sadder, more deep and meaningful tone to it. I've been a greaser my whole life, I know how tough it is out there for folks like us.

Then, Ponyboy went. It took three whole English periods to get through his essay, but boy, was it worth it. There wasn't a dry eye in the room when he was done. Even my teacher gave him a hug.

That was why he was gone so much, and why Johnny wasn't here no more.

Ponyboy became quite popular for a few weeks, but it died down. During that time, he answered all my questions, which I appreciated. But, Ponyboy was never quite the same. He was jumpy, missed school a lot, and was timid all the time. Just a nervous wreck.

My parents are too involved in their own lives to even know that I still live at home. My older brother, Robbie, left as soon as he turned 18. He tried to take me with him, but I'm not sure what happened, but, he couldn't. My mom is an alcoholic, and my dad is a workaholic and quite neglectful. I'm glad he doesn't drink, he used to. When he did, all he did was beat me and Robbie. Robbie used to lock me in a trunk in the attic to save me from our father. After my father passed out or fulfill his desire of beating us, Robbie would let me out. I nearly cried every time, because his face and body would be bloody, and black and blue.

One time, my father found out that I was in the trunk and tried to break it open with me inside. Luckily, Robbie distracted him. Now that he is gone, I am afraid of getting hurt like before.

I do my best to crash at other people's houses, but I'd hate to overstay my welcome to people's houses that I don't know too well. I could ask Ponyboy, but I know his home situation. It isn't that good, and his big brother doesn't need another mouth to feed. Ponyboy already feels that way.