Please be gentle. I do not own the song in this story Evanescence The Only One, nor do I own the outsiders. This is set before the events in the book.

Chapter 1

Walking down the cracked and dirty sidewalk in the middle of the night isn’t the smartest idea I’ve ever had but then again neither was going home when I knew my old man would be there. Tonight just seems to be filled with bad ideas and decisions. Walking down a deserted alleyway and two more blocks before I came to where I would once again be spending my night. I’ve been coming to sleep under this bridge for six weeks now, an to say the least it’s not the most comfortable place to sleep but then again it could always be worse.

The bridge itself is nothing special. Graffiti covers every inch of it, most of it vulgar and gang related. It stands about 20feet above a barley flowing and polluted river. No idea what the rivers real name is but its one of the things that separates Brumly territories and Shepard territory. The Brumly boys are a bunch of rough hoods, one of the suburbs. The Brumly boys are a bunch of rough hoods there always cheating and stealing and jumping somebody. Well that’s what everybody on the north side dose to survive. But I think they do it cause they actually enjoy it. Maybe more then the Sheppard gang. Sheppard’s gang is ran by a tough hood by the name of Tim Sheppard. Tim is a lean, catlike eighteen-year-old. He has black curly hair, smoldering black eyes and a scar from temple to chin. I’ve hung around him and his outfit a few times, crashed on ‘ol Tim’s couch when it’s below freezing out more then a few times too. Tim’s a pretty okay guy as long as you stay out of his way, and on his good side. Him and his younger siblings Curly and Angela are alright. Never meet either of them personally but I’ve heard a lot about them. Rumors- Usually untrue or a stretched and altered true story. And stories from there big brother.

Then you got the Curtis’s there three brothers living together after there parents died in a car crash. Really sad if you ask me. There oldest brother Darrel takes care of the younger two Ponyboy and Sodapop. Now I personally always like the Curtis I go to school with Ponyboy and he’s a great kid. He has light brown, almost reddish, hair and greenish grey eyes. A little spacey at times but a good kid. Never meet Sodapop but I’ve seen him working at the DX with another guy from there gang Steve Randal, and let me tell you Sodapop sure is a doll, looks like a movie star. Steve aint nothing to scuff at either. He has greased back curly brown hair. He was tall and lean, but he kind of scares me with that look on his face all the times I see him. Looks like he’s got to take on the world and he’s ready. Sorry if I had to take on anymore of the world then I already have to I’d be scared shitless. Then there’s Dallas Winston, he used to run with gangs in New York. He has an elfin face and icy blue eyes, those eyes could make the devil run. Unlike his friends, he don’t put grease in his white-blond hair. Dallas’s violent tendencies make him more dangerous than the other greasers, and he takes pride in his criminal record. When something goes wrong on the North side Winston is the first to be taken in a questioned about it. I’ve heard more about Dallas Winston then any other greaser or hood on the North side. Then there’s Two-Bit Matthews he’s a riot I’ve talked to him once or twice in school, he’s eighteen and still a Jr. He’s always making a crack about something or somebody. But I cant really blame him. I mean what is there to look forward to on the North side. He’s someone who can put a smile on the toughest greasers face. Last but not least is Johnny Cade. My best friend. Johnny is sixteen-years old greaser with black hair and large, soulful brown eyes. His eyes I’m sure make angles cry. Now your probably wonderin how can I be best friends with Johnny and not know anyone else in the gang on a personal level. Well that’s easy none of them know about me. Johnny and me met at the bridge about two months ago, and became fast friends. I just came out here to sleep cause I got kicked out again and as I later found out that’s why he was waking around at one in the morning too.

Sitting on the top of the bridge, my jean clad legs hanging over the side. I’ve been sitting here for a hour and a half not being able to sleep after the nights events. Of course it was nothing new, dad comes home. dad complains. dad hits me. dad screams at me. dad hits me again. dad troughs me out for the night. Same old same ‘ol. Different day same shit. It never changes. It’s been this way since as far back as I can remember. Granted that may be not be very long with all the hits to the head I’ve gotten over the years. But you get the idea.

Not being able to sleep is nothing new to me, over the years it’s always been hard for me to sleep to fall asleep and to stay asleep. But a couple of years ago I found the solution to my problem. That solution came to me in the form of a two foot piece of wood with a few strings attached. I was lucky one day after getting jumped by a bunch of socy jerks I found a gaiter in the trash in one of the back alleyways. And thus came my release. My anti-drug. My addiction. I’ve always had a nice singing voice I mean I don’t sound like nails across a chalk board but I also didn’t sound like no angel singing either. Like I said I’m just…good. After finding Pablo…yes I named my gaiter….I taught myself to play and yes I mean play…I don’t know any notes and I can’t read music but I can make up my own riffs to go with my songs. So after finding Pablo I started to write songs and so came my answer to those long sleepless nights.

Sitting on the bridge with Pablo in my baggy black hoody, covering my face and making sure anyone walking by would have no idea of my gender. I started to strum Pablo wanting to get to sleep as soon as possible. I had school in the morning and I didn’t feel like drawing attention to myself by walking into class late.

As I sat on the ledge twenty feet above the cool water I started to strum Pablo and singing the first song that came to mind.

When they all come crashing down- midflight
you know you're not the only one
when they're so alone they find a back door out of life
you know you're not the only one

We're all grieving
lost and bleeding

What I failed to notice was a boy about 5’10 walking up behind me on the bridge sitting down on the ground on the other side of the cement wall I was sitting on.

All our lives
we've been waiting
for someone to call our leader
all your lies
I'm not believing
heaven shine a light down on me

I failed to notices the bruised and teary eyed boy that was listing to one of my personal songs that no one was to ever hear.

So afraid to open your eyes- hypnotized
you know you're not the only one
never understood this life
and you're right I don't deserve but you know I'm not the only one

We're all grieving
lost and bleeding

All our lives
we've been waiting
for someone to call our leader
all your lies
I'm not believing
heaven shine a light down on me

I failed to notice him catching the meaning behind my words. The slight catch in my voice as the memories once again started to find me.

Don't look down
don't look into the eyes of the world beneath you
don't look down, you'll fall down,
you'll become their sacrifice
right or wrong
can't hold onto the fear that I'm lost without you
if I can't feel, I'm not mine,
I'm not real

I failed to notice the puppy eyed boy coming up on my left side to sit by me as my song came to an end.

All our lives
we've been waiting
for someone to call our leader
all your lies
I'm not believing
heaven shine a light down on me

I took a deep breath, jeez I have to quit smoking it’s making it harder to hold out some of the notes. As I sat Pablo down on the other side of the bridges wall I noticed movement on my other side. I turned so quickly I lost started to loose my balance and would have fallen to a very painful and more than likely toxic death if it hadn’t of been for the dark shadow sitting beside me, grabbing me and pulling on my arm causing us to topple over onto the road.

Hurrying to my feet and backing away from the dark figure still lying on the road.

“W-who ar-are y-you? Wh-what do-do y-you wa-want?” Okay note to self when talking do not stutter.

“Ow” I heard a quiet mutter from the dark figure getting up. Once it was standing at it’s full height which was quite tall compared to my even 5’0 feet. I could clearly see the person who scared the crap out of me, then saved me. It was a boy about 5’10 with black greased back hair (not surprising this is the north side) and big dark brown eyes, so dark they looked black. He was wearing a plain of old tattered jeans and a jean jacket. Both I’ sure have seen better days.

“I’m Johnny Cade. I was just walkin by when I heard you singing. I didn’t mean ta scare ya.”

“Th-thas’t ok ya di-didn’t s-sc-sca-scare m-me. I’m Ja-Jack-Jacqueline .”

Gees have I came a long way from that girl who stuttered more then shy little or big in my case Johnny Cade. We talk about everything. In the last two months we’ve learned everything about each other. Our home lives. Our likes, and dislikes. I’ve learned all about Johnny’s friends and his idol Dallas. It’s amazing to here Johnny talking about Dallas the way he dose, after hearing all the rumors around Tulsa.

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