It was a regular night at the Curtis household. The three brothers were eating dinner with two of their friends, Johnny Cade and Two-Bit Mathews. It was a hot night in June and the greasers were getting ready for a humid weekend.

"So how was roofing in today's weather Darry?" Two-Bit asked.

Darry sighed, "Don't ask."

Two-Bit gave a laugh, "What about you Soda?"

"Oh I'm sure Steve had it ten times worse. I went out to the garage once and it was a sauna," Soda said.

Two-Bit turned towards Ponyboy, "See, Pony? This is a very good reason not to have a job."

"Two-Bit, how many daily reasons to not have a job are you going to give Ponyboy? You're the last influence he needs," Darry said.

"Oh Darry, Pony's too smart to listen to Two-Bit. And Dally's the last influence we need, Two-Bit comes in second," Soda commented.

"Okay, okay, I think we all know I'm the best influence compared to plenty of greasers in our neighborhood," Two-Bit said.

"Two-Bit, all I've learned from you is symptoms of brain damage," Pony said.

As the gang laughed, Two-Bit smirked, "You're going to let your smartass little brother talk to me like that?"

Darry nodded, "It doesn't bother me."

Just then the front door was heard being opened and shut. Sodapop's best friend, Steve Randle walked into the kitchen.

"Hey Steve," Soda greeted.

"Hey guys," Steve said looking out of breath

"Hungry?" Darry asked, "Got plenty of food tonight."

"No thanks, I'll pass."

"Why you so out of breath?" Two-Bit asked, "Did you run here?"

Steve nodded, "Actually, yes I did. I have to talk to Soda."

Soda got up from the table, "We'll go walk around the block and come back, Darry."

Darry nodded, "Alright."

Steve hurried out the front door and Soda followed behind. "Gees Steve, you high or did the heat really get to you? I haven't seen you this energetic in forever."

"I got great news, Soda! No, not great, it's awesome! Come on," Steve said already at the street. Soda jumped off his porch and followed Steve down the street. "So as I clocked out of work, Tim Shepard comes by. Says he wants to talk to me."

"Oh Steve, please don't tell me his gang is getting in a rumble with the Brumly Boys again," Soda said. For the past few months the Brumly Boys had been really getting on Tim Shepard's nerves and his gang had been fighting them a lot to teach them a lesson. Tim had constantly asked Dally and the gang to help him, but Dally claimed it was worthless and childish, so they had never helped them out.

"No," Steve answered, "I think Tim's ego would go down to a new low if he started asking me or anyone else in our gang besides Dallas for help in his little fights."

Soda nodded, "True, but I heard it was starting to get rough. His sister, Angela came to the DX today with one of her friends. They bought a few Cokes and Angela said she overheard Tim planning on having a real rumble with them, not a small rumble. Like one we would have with the Socs."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Tim did that. But who cares, I got amazing news!" Steve said getting jumpy again.

Soda laughed, "What is it? What did Tim have to say?"

"Okay, you know that drag race track about thirty miles from here? That real big one, owned by Austin Bruce and his gang?"

"Yeah, what about it?" Soda asked.

"Tim said Austin Bruce was having a drag race competition. And you know as well as I do that if Austin Bruce is having a drag race competition, it's a big deal," Steve said. Soda did know that. Austin Bruce was 24 years old and his entire gang was in their 20's. Everyone on the east side saw them as the 'oldest' gang. Anytime Austin Bruce did something, everyone knew about it. Soda wasn't too fond of the guy. Neither was Darry, Dally didn't really like the guy either.

"Yeah, so let me guess, you're going to race in this competition?" Soda asked.

Steve shook his head, "No way. We are racing in that competition."

"Huh?"

"Come on Soda, we both love drag racing. This is with Austin Bruce and his gang; it's going to be awesome!" Steve said excitedly.

Soda shook his head, "I'm going to have to pass Steve."

"Why?" Steve asked.

"Darry already hates that I drag race. Doing it at Austin Bruce's track is just asking for major trouble. You've heard what goes on at his track."

"Those could be rumors, Soda; we've never been there before."

"Oh come on, Steve. It's Austin Bruce. When is anything about Austin Bruce a rumor?" Soda asked.

Steve sighed, "Alright, buddy, I understand."

"I'm sorry Steve," Soda said feeling a little bad, "I just can't go for this. I don't think you should either."

"Oh, but I am," Steve said.

Soda looked at him in shock, "What? Why, Steve?"

"I don't know, it's going to be fun to actually race on that track," Steve said. Soda looked at Steve doubtfully about his answer. "What?"

"Steve, I know you better than that. You could care less what track it's on as long as you can race. You could care less whether it's a competition or just a night out at the track. And usually whenever one of us doesn't race, the other one doesn't go, like we're a team," Soda said.

Steve wasn't sure how to reply to that, because he knew Soda was right. "Sorry Soda, guess I just got really excited about it." Soda could feel Steve's once full energy drown.

"Talk to me, Steve, why do you really want to do it?" Soda asked.

Steve sighed, "Soda, you know whenever Austin Bruce does something, everyone knows about it. Not just us on the east side either, even the west side knows."

"So it's all about popularity?" Soda asked.

"Well no, not exactly," Steve said.

Soda waited for Steve to say more, "Then what Steve?"

"I'm just sick of being a nobody, Soda. Sure I have friends, but barely anyone knows my true passion with cars and how good I am with them. If I do this race, and get far, or even win, everyone's going to know me," Steve explained.

Soda nodded, "Yeah, they would. But Steve, you'd probably be one of the youngest people there, and it's going to get dangerous."

"Oh Soda, I've been around plenty of dangerous things," Steve said annoyingly, "I'm not asking for your permission to do this. I thought you'd be happy for me."

"I'm just trying to help you out, Steve. I'm just telling you what I think, that's what best friends do," Soda said. They both just stood there in silence for awhile, unsure of what to say or think. Soda didn't want his best friend getting in a dangerous position, but he knew Steve would do it anyway. "Do what you want, Steve. I'll support whatever you do. I'm just saying what I think, okay?"

Steve nodded, "I know. I'm sorry I yelled. I just really want to do this; I have a really good feeling about it."

"Well," Soda began, "If you really believe in it, then go for it. You have my support."

Steve smiled, "Thanks buddy. Hey I'm going to head home and call up Tim about it. I'll come over tomorrow, alright?"

"Alright, sounds good."