The cold January wind howled around the lone woman as she walked slowly down the snow-covered street. It tore at her ripped dress and whipped her long golden brown hair in her face. She staggered as a particularly strong gust caught her. She couldn't feel the cold anymore. She wasn't sure when she had quit shivering. In the deepest recesses of her mind, she knew that was wrong but her mind was too blank to be worried. Somewhere along the course of the night, her mind had shut down and only basic survival instinct kept her moving down the dark street.

She couldn't tell where she was. She didn't notice the blood freezing in her eye. She didn't even notice the small red print she left behind as she dragged her bare feet through the snow. All she saw was a light shining bright in the darkness. A beacon of hope, she headed for it. It was very slow going but she pushed herself forward. No sound escaped her lips. No tears coursed down her face. She was a blank slate.

Suddenly, a gate was in front of her and she could hear loud laughter and shouting. She braced a hand against the gate and tried to push it open but found all strength had left her. She was so tired. She was so numb and blank inside. She just wanted to sleep, right here, to sink into the soft falling snow and follow find sweet release in the welcoming dark. She sank to her knees with a soft keening noise that could barely be heard above the sound of the wind.

"Holy shit, Jasmine!" As if from underwater, she heard shouting growing louder. Her eyes struggled to make out the figures racing towards her. She knew them, with a knowledge from deep in her heart but she couldn't place them. One fell to his knees in front of her and she looked at him. I know that face, she thought as she felt herself being lifted from the snow. She lifted a hand to his face.

"-inside."

"-get warmed up."

"I've got a blanket!"

The voices of others flowed around her, though she couldn't understand what was being said. She merely stared up into the face of her savior. Her mind refused to give up what it knew. It was as if a switch had been turned off and no spark could reignite it.

"Darry…?" She whispered through bruised vocal cords. Green eyes full of emotions met hers.

"I got ya babe. You'll be ok, baby. I promise." Tears pooled in his eyes as she said nothing, merely looking at him with a blank stare. Her hazel eyes that usually sparkled with warmth and mischief were now empty. His heart broke at the sight.

*Six Months Earlier*

Ponyboy huddled in his desk chair, a tattered copy of Hamlet open in front of him. Lost in Hamlet's descent into madness, he didn't notice someone sit beside him until they spoke.

"'This above all, to thine own self be true and it must follow as the day the night…'"

"'Thou canst not then be false to any man.' My favorite line." He finished as he looked over and felt his breath clog in his throat. A girl with long golden hair and warm hazel eyes smiled shyly at him. He didn't recognize her and figured she must be new. He took in her classy purple dress and black leather jacket. A classy broad, he thought.

"That's one of my favorite plays of Shakespeare. The tragic ending of a whole family because of greed is striking." She said. Pony nodded, amazed at finding someone to converse intelligently with.

"I'm Ponyboy." He said as he stuck out a hand.

"I'm Jasmine." She said quietly, eyeing his outstretched hand warily. He cocked his head.

"Something wrong." She shook her head quickly, making her hair ripple down her back.

"No, it's just… um… I don't like to be touched."

"Oh…" He said, hoping she would elaborate. When she didn't, he struck up a conversation about Hamlet and watched as she relaxed. Their conversation was interrupted by the start of their English class which was the last class of the day. Their conversation resumed as they walked down the halls. They stood on the sidewalk, in the midst of a heated debate about whether Hamlet was truly mad when a horn caught their attention.

"Pony! Let's go, kid!"

"Sorry, that's my brother, Soda. I'll see you tomorrow?" She agreed and they said their goodbyes.

"Who's the broad, Pone? She's fine." Pony ignored Soda and instead looked out the window at the passing scenery. Soda continued to ride him about his new girlfriend as the evening wore on. When Two-Bit and Steve showed up later, they jumped on the band wagon. By the time Darry got home from work, Pony had locked himself in his room, claiming he needed to do homework.

"I'm sure your girlfriend could give you a hand!" Two-Bit yelled after him, laughing hysterically. Darry raised a single brow as the door slammed behind him.

"Did I miss something?" Darry asked. Two-Bit was only too happy to fill him in on the joke. Darry smiled, thinking it was good that Pony had finally found someone.

A month later found Pony and Jasmine paired for a project. Their English class was studying folklore. The project was to pick a certain aspect of folklore and create a presentation about it. As they were packing up, Pony asked if she wanted to go back to his house to work on it. She agreed. On the walk home, they talked of everything that came to mind. Pony shocked himself by telling her about Johnny's and Dally's deaths two years ago.

"I'm sorry that happened, Pony. I lost my mom a year ago. I moved in with my aunt over on Fisher Street over the summer."

"I didn't know you live on Fisher. That's only two streets over from me." It wasn't long before the Curtis house was in sight. Pony groaned when he saw the truck parked in the yard.

"What's wrong?"

"My brothers are home. And if their home, you can just bet Steve and Two-Bit are there too!" He groaned again when he heard loud shouting, missing how quiet Jasmine had become. She stayed a step behind him as she entered the house. The room was messy and she heard the sound of Mickey Mouse playing. Two men were on the floor wrestling. One had the other caught in a headlock.

"Say uncle! Say it!"

"Never!" He tightened his hold until finally he heard a choked uncle. Releasing the loser, he bounded to his feet and whooped when he saw Ponyboy and Jasmine.

"Pony! Kiddo! You've brought your girlfriend." Jasmine flinched when Soda flung out his arms to pull her into a hug. Pony quickly stepped in front of her to block him.

"Sorry, Soda, she doesn't like to be touched. Jasmine, this is my brother Sodapop. My eldest brother, Darry. On the couch is Soda's buddy Steve and the loser on the floor is Two-Bit. Guys, this is Jasmine. We're partners for an English project." She smiled shyly at each of them in turn but felt her gaze pulled back to Darry. He stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

"We can study in the kitchen." Pony led her out of the room, trying to ignore the stares from four sets of eyes.

"Damn, Soda, you were right. She is one classy looking broad." Steve said as he let out a low whistle. Darry found himself agreeing. He adjusted in his chair, trying to relieve the pressure that he felt in his suddenly too-tight pants.