AN: I'M REWRITING THIS AS A DALLAS COUSIN FLICK. IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT THE PLOT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE...WELL IT MIGHT A LITTLE. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, GOOD OR BAD.

JULIA'S POV

I've been staring out the window of this train for over three hours and couldn't help but be jealous of the man infront of me sleeping. I could never sleep when I was in a place full of strangers but dear Lord did I wish I could. I've been on my way to Tulsa, Oklahoma from Jackson, Mississippi for five hours now and was bored out of my mind. I've already read the books I brought along and couldn't find anything inspiring enough to draw.

I sighed. Man oh man do I hate riding alone. You see, I've lived in Mississippi for six or seven years of my fifthteen year old life and even though I really didn't care for the country life, it was home to me and would always be. I live or should I say lived with my parents who couldn't stop fighting for one minute to save their lives. My mom worked at a near by grocery store while my dad worked as a local fire fighter. We barely made ends meets and I always found that a little strange since my dad had a pretty good job.

Mom and I soon found out why though last month. Dad had been running around on her and had been saving a lot of his pay check so he could take out some of the local whores to exspensive bars and restaurants. That's when the fighting really began. Mom was screaming at my dad about him being a man whore and dad was screaming at my mom for being a selfish, ugly bitch who wasn't a fit mother.

I just stayed out of it. I learned a long time ago if I got involved that it would only cause more pain. If I chose my mom's side, my dad would beat me till I'm black and blue. If I chose my father's side, my mom wouldn't feed me for two days and everytime I tried to sneak something she would beat me. I learned to get the hell out of the house when they start their fighting.

They ended up deciding to get a devoirs. I was so happy when they finally decided that one. I thought it would make everything better if they weren't together anymore and maybe I'd have a normal life then. Boy was I wrong. They fought constantly over who got stuck with me. I always knew they didn't care much about me but I sure as hell didn't think they couldn't stand me. I never did anything to them but maybe got a little smart mouth with them or maybe took a few dollars out of their tip jar but that's as far as it goes. Finally mom and dad came to the conclusion that I should go live with my uncle and cousin in Oklahoma.

That's how I got here on train 190. I never had the greatest childhood or the best parents but I thought maybe, just maybe they were better than this. OK, maybe not my father 'cause Lord knows he's worse than dirt but I always thought my mother was better than this. She never stopped the beatings that went on between my dad and me but she always helped clean me up and sometimes comforted me with a hug or strong words.

I wouldn't cry though. I learned young that crying got you no where. Infact, crying only made it worse. Crying helped make the pain a reality and I'm one of those girls that tried to ignore the truth for as long as possible.

"We are now reaching our destination point, Tulsa, Oklahoma at one thirty six. Please grab all of your belongings and prepare to depart the train." A female voice said over the speaker box.

I grabbed my old brown booksack and my small purple suit case and took my seat belt off. These were everything I had to my name besides the pocket knife I caried in my back pocket and seventy dollars I took from my father. If they're going to take my home away from me then I'm going to take his paycheck away from him. Seems fair enough to me.

I exited the train and looked around for my Uncle John and cousin Dallas. I hadn't seen Dally since I was seven and from what I remember he had white blonde hair and was really tough, the kind of guy you don't want to mess with. Uncle John was kind of a big man and was a drunk just like my old man. I remember always being afraid of him.

I looked around for a few minutes and didn't see him or my uncle. 'Well this is just great! I bet dad didn't even call and tell them I was coming. He probably planned for me to live on the streets and maybe get killled. I'd never be in his way again after that.' I thought as I sat on a bench with my face baried in my hands.

"Julia?" I looked up at the sound of a male voice. The guy looked about eighteen and above six foot.

"Dallas?" I said as I looked him over. He looked just like my older cousin but I wanted to be sure.

He smirked. "I think that's my name."

I grinned and ran up to hug him. "Gee your a lot taller than me." That wasn't a lie. I didn't even come up to his shoulders!

"That's because you're a midget." He said and I punched him in the shoulder. Ever since we were little, Dal's always made fun of my height. I took after my mom's side of the family and am short just like all the women. I'm only 5'1 right now and I'd be lucky if I got any taller.

"Let's get out of here." I said as I grabbed my stuff. I didn't want to be in this run down train station any longer and Dally didn't protest one bit.

"That all you have?" He asked as we made our way to the parking lot.

"Yep." I say. "Who'd you jack this car from?" I asked him as he grabbed my purple suit case and put it into a bright red T-Bird.

Dally laughed. "You think you know me so well, huh?"

I climbed into the passenger side. "It's really yours?"

Dally smirked. "Nahh kid, it's a friend of mine. He's letting me barrow it."

I gave him a look. I might not have seen him in years but I do remember the way he barrows things. "The guy crazy or does he have a death wish?"

Dal glared at me but soon laughed. "Gee kid, you remember everything about me or did ya research me up at the police department?"

I laughed for the first time in a long time. "Nahh, I just remember what you did with my bike when you came to vist that time. I assume your criminal record has grown since when you were ten?"

Dal smirked with pride. "It's about a mile long now."

I shook my head. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Beats me kid." Dallas says as we pull up to a beat up house. "I rent this place since I can't seem to stand the old man. You can live with him or me but it'd be a whole lot safer to stay with me."

I got out the car along with him. "I'll stay with you. To tell you the truth, Uncle John kind of scares me."

Dally laughed. "He creeps everyone out."

"Yo Dal!" A guy with rusty side burns yelled from next door. I turned and saw five guys sitting outside on the porch. One was really muscular and looked like a guy you definitly want on your side in a rumble, one looked like a movie star, another looked like a younger image of him, then there was a guy with dark skin and hair who had a scar on his face and lots of bruises and the guy next to him had black wavey hair full of hair grease. Now that I look at it, all but the muscular dude had hair grease in their hair. It made them look tuff and tough.

"Hey." Dally called. "Those are some of my buddies. Some of the first people I met out here that I actually thought were tuff enough to hang around." He told me.

The guys came over and I wasn't nervous like most girls would be when a bunch of smoking hot guys come over to meet you. I grew up around guys and am actually the only girl on my dad's side of the family. Everyone had boys and when I was born a girl he was really pissed off.

"Who's this good lookin' broad you got with you?" The movie star guy asked.

I just rolled my eyes. People have told me I was attractive before but I never believed any of them. I didn't see what was so pretty about my straight brown hair or my dark green eyes but what ever.

"This is my cousin Julia. Julia, this is Sodapop, Ponyboy, Steve, Darry, Johnny, and Two-bit." Dally said pointing to each one.

I nodded my head a them in acknowledgement. "Pretty original names."

"Where you from baby?" Two-bit asked me. "Girls would kill for that tan of yours."

I rolled my eyes again. I had a pretty good tan from my job on working on my neighbor's farm. "I'm from Mississippi."

"Why would you want to leave a fun southern state like Mississippi to come live with that rotton hood of a cousin ya got?" Steve asked me and I couldn't help but chuckle at the glare Dally gave him.

"Kind of had to." I told them and tried to change the subject. "So what's their to do in this city?"

"Well get into fights, get pissed face drunk, go dancing down at Buck's or get laid, um.." Two-bit said.

"Hang out at the Dingo or at Jay's." Ponyboy said.

"Well, those things sound like fun. I espeacially like the drinking part." I told them. I loved getting drunk for tons of reasons. One, I could actually relax and forget about everything...mainly my parents. Two, I loved the way it made me feel. It was like I could do what ever the hell I wanted and nothing could stop me.

They laughed. "Well it seems like I've found myself a new drinking buddy." Two-bit said. "Why don't you come down to Buck's later and have a few with us?"

"Um...sure, why not?" I say with a smile. Maybe Tulsa wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Come on kid." Dally said as he put out his cigarette he had been smoking. "Let's get you unpacked."

AN: THE SHEPARDS ARE GONNA BE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. TELL ME IF YA LIKE IT OR NOT.