When the Music Started

I first wrote this story when I was in the 8th grade after reading The Outsiders and falling completely in love with its world, characters, and heart. Like a lot of readers, I wasn't ready to leave Tulsa behind, so I created a story of my own.

Years later, I found those old pages again and realized the feelings that inspired them were still there. So I decided to finally put it out into the world.

I've grown up a lot since then, and so has this story. I rewrote scenes, deepened the emotions, and changed a few things along the way,including her name. But at its core, it's still the same story I dreamed up as a kid: about music, first love, heartbreak, friendship, and trying to find where you belong when the world has already decided who you are.

This is a fan-created work inspired by The Outsiders. I do not own the original characters or source material, aside from my own original character and story additions.

When the Music Started is for anyone who ever finished a book and wished they could stay a little longer.