The Outsiders II

Chapter One

Everyone was buzzing about it. Every greaser in town was talking about Cookie Jones' return to Tulsa. I've met Cookie before, I was about eleven or twelve, she was too, and I don't know, something about her, just fascinated me. I still remembered what Cookie looked like. She was a heavy girl, with shoulder length and wavy auburn hair, and a wisp of freckles across her nose and upper cheeks. Her eyes were so green you'd think they were blue.

She was a typical redhead, which it's a wonder nobody made fun of her for it, but they did hassle her on her weight. She wasn't like the other girls. She was a lot bigger than every other girl, but she seemed to make it work. She loved to eat cookies and pastries, hence why they called her Cookie. Her real name is Magnolia, another trait about her I loved. Anyone who really knew her called her Maggie, including Dally. That's how any of us knew her. She was good friends with Dally.

She never was his girl or anything like that, but she meant a lot to him. Nobody, not even Dally himself knew how he became friends with her, it just happened. She was like his little sister. Which is why when she moved to Albuquerque, it hit Dally pretty hard.

Darry also knew her well. He loved her as much as Dally did. I guess all of us greasers loved her. Soda, Steve, Johnny, Two-Bit, all of us. I'll admit I didn't know her as well as the others did but I definitely should have.

I should also say Johnny really liked her. He'd had a huge crush on her and always was there for her. Cookie loved Johnny. Maybe as much as she loved Dally.

Cookie lived with her older brother, who's eighteen, ever since her folks split. Her brother's name is Mickey but his real name is Michael. Mickey is tough. He slaps Cookie around whenever she doesn't want to act and dress the way he wants her to. She's like that. She don't put up with being ordered around like some peasant. She's sweet and proper but she ain't afraid to get her hands dirty. She ain't afraid to cuss or drink or speak her mind. She's not a smoker but she does smoke joints, rather than cigarettes, and she loves booze. But she is responsible with it. She doesn't get loaded a whole lot, nor does she drink everyday, but she isn't afraid to get herself pickled.

She's a real charmer too. She's kind to others and humble as you can be. Darry admires that about her. I do too.

But like any greaser, she can be trouble. She's slugged a few socy girls in her time, and she doesn't play nice either. Dally told us he once seen her beat the teeth out of a tough talking soc, threatening to beat Cookie senseless. Another time, he seen her scalp a stuck up girl, talking smack on greaser territory. She also shoplifts and she's pickpocketed people before. But that's a greaser for ya.

Oh, I almost forgot, Mickey, her older brother, is a soc. He tried to force her to join the socs, but she spat in his face and ran off to Albuquerque. After hearing of the deaths of Johnny and Dally, she got in contact with Darry and decided to come home. For good, it was rumoured.

A lot of people don't know that Cookie is actually from Canada. Where in Canada, none of us know, because her parents ditched her and her brother, and he's been lookin' out for her ever since.

The whole town was practically head over heels about it. Every greaser I talked to was practically jumping for joy. Soda had asked me to meet them at the park, so I picked up some cokes for all of us, including Cookie, because it was said she was in town already, and when I'd gotten to the park, they weren't lying. Surrounded by the guys, and wrapped up in Soda's famous bear hug, Cookie Jones was in Tulsa all right. It made me a tad jealous, seeing how happy everyone was, but I'm one to talk, because inside I was leaping with excitement.

I handed everyone a coke, and took a seat next to Soda.

"It feels too different without Dally and Johnny." Cookie said, trying to choke back tears. She looked like she'd been bawling.
"I know, darlin'. Dally would've been ecstatic to see you. Johnnycake too." Two-Bit said as he took a swig of coke.
"I miss them terribly..." Cookie said.
"Oh, Maggie, you remember my brother Ponyboy?" Soda said gripping me by the shoulders and trying to change the subject.
"Yes I do." Cookie's eyes shimmered. My ears went hot as she smiled at me.
"How've you been, Pony?"
"Alright. It's good to see you." My chest felt tight.
"I hope these goons haven't hassled you to death." Cookie chuckled, making the guys laugh. I swear, that girl could put a smile on the most glum guy's face.
"I'm good for now." I smiled.
"Say, you got a place to crash?" Soda asked.
"No. I'm planning to get some cash to get a hotel until I can get on my feet." Cookie looked down.
"No worries. Stay with us." Darry intervened.
"Oh no Darry, I couldn't. I don't wanna be the trouble." Cookie insisted.
"No it's fine. I'll sleep in my old room and you can sleep with Pony." Soda added.
I was horrified, yet happy. I'd realized I'd really liked this girl, but the other side of the coin says I'd be sleeping next to a girl.
Two-Bit and Steve burst into laughter.
"See? Soda don't mind giving up his bed." Darry smiled warmly.
"What do you say, Maggie?" Soda put his hands behind his head.
"Alright. I suppose it wouldn't kill me. But it's fine, I can sleep on the couch!" Cookie agreed.
"Nonsense. You can take my bed. I'm sure Pony won't mind." Soda smugly said as he smirked at me. I flipped him off.
"Hey. Watch it, kiddo." Darry nudged me.

That night, Soda set up his old room with Darry's help, and Cookie put her stuff away. She didn't have much, she had a large suitcase full of her clothes, consisting of skinny jeans, capris, kangaroos, tee shirts, you know, things like that. She had three pairs of shoes, black boots, white tennis shoes, and a pair of black converse. To my surprise, she didn't have makeup or much feminine products, obviously she had things for menstruation, but she didn't have makeup or hair tools. She had some hair ties and toiletries, a little bit of lotion and whatnot, but she wasn't the type to wear makeup like a lot of the other greasy girls do.

Like Soda, Cookie was one of a kind. She wasn't one to flaunt her body like the greaser broads do. She always wore a bare face, and she wasn't loose. If you know what I mean.

She came into my room with a book, a cheap novel, and looked at the posters on my walls, and my literature on my desk.

"I see you like writing." She said looking over to smile at me.
"Yeah." I said as a sigh, putting my hands behind my head.
"I love writing. I love all things literature." She sat on the foot of my bed.
"Oh yeah?" I said, unsuccessfully trying to be cool.
Cookie chuckled.
"I plan to be an author one day. Maybe an actress too. Perhaps like Marilyn Monroe." She said as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
"I've always wanted to be an author, too. I haven't written anything yet though." I looked into her eyes.
"I've written a whole whack of short stories. Romance, and adventure, and mythical." Cookie said.
"I'd love to read 'em sometime." I beamed.

Darry knocked on the door frame, with Soda standing on his left.
"Hey kids, how's everything goin'?" Darry came into the room.
"Just fine." I responded happily.
"It's real cozy in here." Cookie said, looking around the room.
"Yeah?" Soda popped his head into the room.
I covered my face with my hands.
"Why is this so weird?"
"What? Ain't nobody making this weird but you, Pony. You chicken to share a bed with a girl?" Soda walked over and nudged me.
"I...uhm...no..." I stammered.
Cookie's face went red.
Darry and Soda laughed.
"Alrighty then. I reckon it's time for y'all to hit the hay." Darry said, grunting as he got up.
"G'Night Ponyboy. G'Night Maggie." Darry said as he turned out the light.
"Don't be too much trouble, Pony." Soda cocked an eyebrow at me.
Darry smacked him upside the head and muttered cuss words at him, but all Soda could do was laugh as they went out to the living room.
"Ugh." I said laying back.
"What?" Cookie said, laying next to me.
"Nothing." I said rolling over.
It felt weird without Soda. With me and my night terrors, Soda left his old room and started sleeping with me, but it was different. I actually missed Soda. But I loved being next to this girl. Something about her was comforting. She was just like Soda.

It must've been at least one in the morning, when I woke up to Cookie, sitting upright and clutching the book she had with her. I'd noticed she was softly crying, and so I sprung up and crawled beside her.
"Cookie?" I said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She sniffled and wiped her tears before taking a sigh.
"Are you okay?" I said scooting closer.
"Yeah." She said in a quiver.
"You don't look okay." I said.
She looked at me in the darkness, and I could see the hurt look on her face. Tears were streaming.

I reached across her and turned my small wall light on. It wasn't very bright, but I could see her face perfectly. Her eyes were red and puffy, as well as her nose was runny and red.
I hated seeing girls cry. I pulled her in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around her, as she cried into my shoulder.
"What's going on? Are you homesick?" I comforted her.
Cookie scoffed.
"Homesick. What home could I be sick for?" There was sarcasm in her voice.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to offend you..." I panicked.
"No..no you don't offend me." She replied.
"It's Dally." His name hit me like a brick.
"D-Dally?" I stuttered.
"I can't believe he's really gone. He was my best friend. My brother, even. Johnny too. He was such a good boy." Her voice broke. "I miss them, Ponyboy." She tugged on my shirt.
"We miss him too." I could feel the lump form in my throat. "He was a good kid. Despite bein' trouble an' all. He had a mighty good heart." I could hear myself choke up.

Dally's death hit us hard. I still remember hearing those gunshots ring out. I remember the look on his face. It took us a while to bounce back. Especially since we lost Johnny in the same night. I wish I could rewind time and do something to bring Dally and Johnny back. We need them. But little did we know, we'd need them more then ever.

We'd been silent for a while, I was still hugging her and all.
"It's going to be okay, Cookie. We're all here for you. Me, Darry, Soda, Two-Bit, Steve, all of us." I finally said.
"Thank you." She broke the hug. "It's Maggie by the way." She said. A little smile creeped through her tears.
"Huh?"
"Call me Maggie."