The sun shone down on my face awakening me from my slumber. The only warmth I felt was from the sun...it was a slight warmth as the air was cold and the gentle wind felt even colder. I sat up from my lying down position and outstretched my arms yawning. I saw a squirrel eyeing me only a few feet away; he was moving his head in a way that made me think he was curious about my presence. "Don't worry squirrel I ain't here to hurt you. Just reesting that's all." And as if it understood me he scurried off with the acorn it had just found.

My stomach grumbled and hunger pain followed soon after. I stood up and did one last final stretch before I started walking in the direction of the city...I hope it is anyway.

My feet began to ache, if the rattiness and the fact that they had holes in the seems wasn't enough of a sign that I needed new shoes then sore feet was definitely was. I would have to steal some from somewhere or someone.

I saw a diner that looked good, it was crowded, just what i need. I straightened out my plain blue top and dusted it off before heading into the diner. I would be needing a jacket pretty soon...winter was on the horizon.

But first breakfast!

I walked in and grabbed a booth closest to the door. A waitress was quick to tend to me "Hi miss what would you like today?" "Um...I'll have 2 servings of pancakes and a chocolate thickshake." "Coming right up." She replied with a smile and an emphasized dotting of her pen. I forced a smile in return trying to not seem as if i wasn't going to pay.

I sat there twiddling my thumbs as I waited and thought out a plan of how I was going to get some new gear.

I stared out the window scanning the nearby shops and any police that seemed to be around but luckily for me there was no sign of the fuzz.

Two boys blocked my view of the area as they walked by but what really caught my eye was the jean jacket that one was wearing...it was tuff.

It had the sleeves cut off and screamed rebellion and all things tuff. I HAD TO HAVE IT!

I couldn't stop staring as they walked in both of them were good looking one more so than the other but he was movie star handsome the other was just everyday which made him more appealing.

"Can I help you doll?" the guy wearing the jean jacket one asked eyeing me up and down greedily. It repulsed me but I wanted his vest so much!

"Maybe." I bit my lip trying to be seductive he raised his eyebrows in response. "Why don't you and your friend come and join me?" I nodded to the other side of the booth and both boys nodded smiling.

The denim vest guy had two crooked front teeth but his green eyes not too dissimilar of colour to mine and his luscious black hair that was styled with grease made up for it. He was really quite good looking.

Most girls find boys that style their hair with grease disgusting but I find it real tuff.

"I'm Steve Randle and my best bud here is Sodapop Curtis." Sodapop smiled and said hi. He sure was handsome to and I bet every girl in this city fell for him because of nothing more than his looks.

"Sodapop? What a tuff name...I love it." He seemed genuinely surprised by my reaction to his name. "Thanks. What's yours?"

"Emma Sanston."

My name isn't really Emma Sanston it's just my alias...nobody except the foster system and myself know my real name. It's better if people don't know my real name anyway because then they can never track me and when you go by a false name you can never really get close to anyone resulting in me not getting hurt. When you live a life on the run you can't afford to get emotionally attached to anyone or anything.

The one time I did get emotionally attached I grew fond of this cat. I named him Stinky...because well he stunk. He was this mangy, ginger cat that had only one ear and limped. I felt bad for the poor thing and I think I cared for him so much because we were both rejects. I used to feed Stinky whenever I could and he used to cuddle up to me at night and keep me warm. We were friends until it was time for me to go again. I was running trying to catch the train and I knew I couldn't bring Stinky with me so i left him there in Brooklyn but he had followed me. So as I jumped up into the train he tried to as well but he missed and went somewhere under the train I let out a strangled yell of some kind when he disappeared. He was the only being I had been close to in years and now he too was gone for good.

Stinky was the exception to knowing my real name as well. Only he knew my actually name was Alexa Demetri.

The two boys smiled in response of my name. "So how can we help you?" I nod at Steve's jacket "Oh nothing in particular...I'm new in town and it was just refreshing to see some friendly faces. Unlike all these stuck up turds that seem to be staring me down." They both snicker "Yeah...the socs will do that to ya."

Socs? What the hell are socs? I tried to figure it out on my own but I couldn't and decided to ask what they are. "What are Socs? They sound stupid." They nod as if in agreement of what I just said. The waitress brought over my meal before they began to explain "Thanks." As they began to explain what they are I began to eat.

"Socs are flaming dipshits...that only care about money and class. They attack us greasers for no other reason than to get a laugh and because we are poorer than them. We hate their guts but we can't seem to do nothing about it cus we're poor and they're rich so the cops tend to believe them more than they believe us."

"That's messed up!" I frowned after swallowing my food. "You sure can eat a lot." Steve chuckled "You have no idea...I like your jacket."

I was trying to get him to give it to me...I really wanted it. "Yeah I know...it used to have sleeves but they covered my tattoo. So I ripped them off." He showed me his tattoo obviously flexing his muscles in the process trying to impress me. Sure they were huge but I wasn't really interested in anything else then the clothing item right now.

"Wow...that's real tuff...not bad muscles either." I gave him a wink and out of the corner of my eye I saw Sodapop roll his eyes. Steve smirked at me "Can I ahh...try it on?" he shook his head "nah I don't think so doll." I made the best puppy eyes I could muster "Oh please...I'll give it back." He was hesitant and looked at Soda who just shrugged. "Sure why not?" he took it off and then gave it to me I almost giggled with excitement....man guys were so gullible when they thought they were gonna get some.

I pulled it on and looked for an escape goat "Oh my god...I will be right back I just see a friend over there." "But what about my jacket?" he reached out and I stepped back. "Yeah yeah I'll bring it back just give me a sec, she's gonna flip when she sees this."

I walked out the front door and skipped us to some random chick I pretended to act all happy whilst the guys were looking. The girl was real confused but as soon as the boys looked away I made a break for it. I ran as fast as I could away from the diner and away from Steve.

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