1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

gonechapter 1i don't own the outsidersthis story would not have been possibile if it were not for my sista, staying-forever-gold. thanks for the idea sis!

i was only a block from the school when i heard the explosion.

i had just dropped of my boyfriend, johnny cade, and our friend, ponyboy curtis at edison high school.

at first i ignored it, thinking it was just something falling from a train on the nearby tracks. then i heard the sirens.

i quickly made a u-turn in the middle of the street and raced back to the school.

the front of the school had been obliterated. there were already five police cars out front. i looked around quickly as i got out of my car, lookin for johnny, or pony, or even cherry whats-her-name.

"dally!" i heard a voice call from a nearby cop car.

"pony, what happened? where's johnny?" i asked, running over to the boy.

"i don't know! he went inside early to turn something into a teacher. i stayed out side talking to someone," pony said, starting to shake. "he's still inside."

i was up and running as soon as pony's words regestured. i ran as fast as i could, ignoring the calls of the officers, telling me i couldn't go in.

"johnny? johnny? where are you?" i called, looking everywhere i could think of. "johnnycake, where are you?"

"dally?" i heard johnny respond faintly.

"johnny where are you?" i called, heading in the direction of the voice.

"i'm over here," johnny called back, his voice sounding stronger.

"keep talking johnny," i said, moving closer to johnny as fast as i could.

"what happened dally? i was leaving mr. james' room and suddenly there was a flash of light and heat."