Tex (Dallas Winston)

Chapter One

"Well, go ahead, introduce yourself to the class."

The Oklahoman heat simmered inside of the old classroom at Tulsa High School. Beads of sweat lined everyone's skin, but the young girl who stood up slowly and made her way to the front of the class was convinced her beads of sweat weren't from the sweltering temperatures; they were from nervousness.

"Well... My name is Talia. I just moved here from Texas."

She glanced over at her homeroom teacher, who nodded for her to continue. Unfortunately, she had finished her script. Talia hadn't anticipated any further questions than what her name was or where she was from.

"How old are you Talia? What do you like to do? Give us some facts about yourself!" The teacher pressed on.

Talia inhaled sharply. "Well, I-I'm 16. I like to ride my motorcycle and... I don't know, draw, I guess..."

Half of the class began to snicker at her and whisper amongst themselves. Talia looked upon them with a confused expression.

"Is there something funny about Talia's age or her hobbies?" The teacher asked, excusing Talia to go sit back in her seat.

"It's just what this town needs, huh?" A preppy boy from the front row said, turning around to glare at her.

"Another dirty greaser."

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The word hung around Talia's head for the remainder of the day.

Greaser.

She didn't know what it meant or why she was automatically labeled as one.

Her small, wedge heels clicked against the concrete sidewalk as she sauntered home, head in the clouds as usual. Today, her thoughts were occupied with thoughts of all of her friends and life back in Texas.

She should have been used to moving by now, she thought to herself. It happened every few years or so, or whenever her mentally distraught parents decided they had had enough of whatever town they had lived in.

Texas, though, Texas is where she had truly found herself and enjoyed life. It was also where the family had spent the most time, but Talia only had herself to blame for getting so attached to the state.

Pop. The popping of her gum echoed around the empty field she was now walking through. A small shortcut away from the streets.

The girl had considered riding her motorcycle to school that morning, but decided to walk the mile to clear her head and prepare her for the day. Looking back on it, she was surely glad she didn't, lest she be made fun of even more.

Talia was so caught up in her thoughts and worries from the day that she hadn't even heard the voice behind her, or the body sprinting to catch up with her. She jumped when a small, gentle hand placed itself on her shoulder.

"Oh my God! You scared me half to death!" She spoke out after catching her breath.

The boy that had placed his hand on her shoulder couldn't have been older than 14, with shaggy brown hair and a healing cut underneath his chin.

The more that Talia observed him, the more familiar he looked...

"You were in my homeroom today, weren't you?" She asked.

The boy nodded. "And English, and Biology."

Talia rolled her eyes. "Here to laugh at me about riding a motorcycle and drawing again?" She sped ahead of him, not wanting to make her day even worse than it already had been.

He scoffed. "Me? Why, I must've been the only one in there not laughing at ya."

The two had reached the end of the field, and Talia leaned against the fence post situated right before the start of the sidewalk.

"Don't you see, boy? I'm 'just another dirty Greaser'. I don't want to be a bad influence."

The words hurt to come out of her mouth. She still didn't know what a 'Greaser' was, but even the mere thought of being called 'dirty' was enough to get her blood boiling.

However, Talia was alarmed to see the boy holding back a grin for a few seconds, before bursting out laughing.

"I'll just chalk this up to you being new and all. Look at me, look at what I'm wearing," the boy pointed to his jean jacket, and spun around in front of her in a model-like fashion, "This is the kind of stuff us greasers wear. The people who laughed at you, the people who dress nice? They're the Socs."

The information settled in Talia's brain for a moment. Still, she was confused, but was slightly relieved to be in the company of another 'greaser'.

The girl sighed, running a few slim fingers through her sweaty hair.

"This town is so confusing..."

The boy chuckled again. "You'll get used to it. Talia, right?"

Talia nodded, and smiled softly. "Talia Fieldman, yeah."

The boy exchanged her smile, and the two started down the sidewalk together.

"My name is Ponyboy. Ponyboy Curtis."

{Short and slow start, sorry! I promise it'll get longer and better! love y'all thanks so much ;D 

P.s., Dally is in the next chapter ;) }