PONY POV

Lounging in the chair that everyone seemed to fight over I finished my required reading for the quarter, Animal Farm by George Orwell. It wasn't a bad read, but it was so choked full of symbolism it was like reading a strange dream sequence. The hidden theme was comparing Stalin to Trotsky. Clever I guess considering it was away around not being able to speak your mind about the government situations going on without being taken care of. Picking up the worksheet I answered the questions wondering how I was going to spend my weekend when I was done. Things had gotten better over the past year, Darry and Soda had both gotten raises, Two-Bit would actually graduate this year, and Steve was…Still Steve, but much nicer. Most days I still felt like what had happened was a nightmare I would wake up from. I went to school did my homework, helped with chores, and hung out with what was left of the gang, but it still wasn't the same.

Johnny had always been the one person besides Soda who really understood me, ot he was gone, and I was flying solo. I was healing slowly, but I knew people were lucky to find a friendship like that once in a lifetime so I wasn't holding my breath and waiting for it to happen again. I'd done a lot of reading, going back to the classics I'd loved as a child, and a couple of the "New age" Books the teachers assigned. When I had a few extra bucks I'd go down to the art store. I'd been painting a lot, and doing charcoal drawings of Johnny and Dallas. It helped me keep the good memories of them fresh in my mind. I remembered what Johnnycakes had asked me to do in the letter, to stay gold. That was a request I would honor for the rest of my life.

"Hey Pony you'll never guess what's going on out here," Soda said making me laugh as he announced his presence with the slamming of the screen door.

"What?" I asked laughing as he jumped on to the chair placing me in a headlock.

"Someone's moving in to Johnny's old house, looks like two broads."

"The older one looks about my age, she's a blonde from what I could tell, the other girl looks about your age, big green eyes, dark hair a real looker."

"Maybe we should go say hi, and welcome them to the neighborhood," Soda said; always ready to meet new girls.

He'd finally gotten over Sandy and dated around, but he was still hesitant to make a real commitment to anyone.

"We should bring the something," I said shaking my head when Soda headed for the kitchen.

If I left him make something on his own to give the poor girls they'd never talk to us again.

"Let me help Soda," I said laughing for the first time in a while.

Wendy's POV

" I know it doesn't look like much, but we can fix it up together," My sister said making me force a smile.

"Its fine Stella," I said ignoring the dirt coated paint, and grimy windows.

After the fire I was lucky to be in her care and not stuck in some run down girls home. The last thing I wanted my sister to be was ashamed that we couldn't afford anything nicer. It was enough just to be together. We were all each other had in the world

"I guess we should get cleaning then," She said smiling as we opened up the door to what would now be home.

Grimacing at the stale smell, and beer bottled littering the floor; I opened the windows letting in fresh air for the first time in God knew how long.

A few hours later

"Hey Wend I think we have company," My sister said chuckling as I made way out from the back room, trash bag in hand.

"Who we don't know any one here."

"Than I guess we're about to meet the neighbors," she said grinning as the four boys making their way up to the house with wide greens, and what looked like a chocolate cake.

Rolling my eyes I touched the dusty bandana that adorned my head knowing I probably looked like a Chimney Sweep. Shrugging I brushed my hands on my torn jeans and followed Estella out on to the porch. She wasn't loose, but she sure liked to flirt. The boys had always flocked around her like honey, which was fine by me. I had yet to meet a boy I dug enough to like. I'd always been Daddy's little tomboy and my sister his princess. Tearing at the thought of my parents I pushed the memories to the back of my mind. I had to keep busy or I'd break down completely. The pain was still too fresh and raw to examine.

"Well Hi there boys," She said making me want to gag.

Couldn't she just play it cool for a little while? Scolding myself for the nasty thoughts I shook my head, glad to see her smiling once again. I loved Estella with all my heart but we were so different sometimes it was hard to see how we both came from the same parents. Both boys were attractive, but the one with the toothy grin, and movie star looks was more her type. The younger boy who brought up the rear looked like he was around my age, and I couldn't help but smile at him when he rolled his eyes at the flirting my sister and the boy I thought was his brother were doing. They favored each other in the face some, and when they both smiled I could see the resemblance even more.

Pony's POV

Rolling my eyes as Soda flirted with the bleached blonde, I laughed at the girl who shared my same expression. Maybe having new neighbors would be all right.

"Thanks for the cake…"

"Soda, I'm sorry I forgot my manners, this is my little brother Pony Boy."

"Well those are some interesting names," She said smiling as her brown eyes twinkled.

"I'm Estella Darling, and this is my little sister Wendy," She said as the girl quietly said hello.

"Like Great Expectations, and Peter Pan?" I asked smirking when Wendy looked up surprised.

I guess my parents weren't the only ones with a sense of humor.

I Watched her eyes widen after I made the connection to the classic novels.

" My name is actually Wendy Moira Angela Darling," She said laughing when I chuckled. I guess with the last name Darling that made sense. .

"You like books too?" I asked.

"Yeah, what have you read?" She asked ignoring the others who were looking at us like we were speaking another language.

" All the classics, Treasure Island, Black Beauty, Lord of the Flies," I said rattling off a few more as she came down the steps to talk to me.

" What grade are you in?"

"Junior, I'm sixteen, but I got moved up a grade." She said as I grinned.

"Me too."

" So why did you guys move here all by yourselves?" I asked wondering why her parents weren't around.

"Our parents died in a fire a few months ago…I don't like talking about it."

"I understand, we lost our folks in a car accident a few years back," I said weirded by how much we had in common.

"Maybe we were meant to find each other now," She whispered making me smile at her innocent expression.

"Maybe so Wendy Moira Angela Darling," I whispered wishing for once there would be someone who wouldn't leave me.