"Rachel? Rachel? Rachel, wake up." I felt Ponyboy nudge me, carefully take a book off my face (I must have fell asleep reading), and examine it. I sat up, still groggy from my nap.
"Hey, give that back." I pleaded.
"Sherlock Holmes, eh? Is this a good read?" Pony asked.
"A fantastic one actually. I think you should read it sometime," I replied. "It has daring adventures, and mysterious detectives and-" I said, about to continue on about it, but I figured it would bore Pony. He lit a cancer stick and smiled at me.
"How about I read Sherlock Holmes if you read Gone with the Wind?" Pony asked, hoping to make a deal. I'd be meaning to read Gone with the Wind, it's just I wasn't completely excited to so I hadn't gotten around to it.
"Hm. Okay, you've got yourself a deal Ponyboy." I agreed, holding out my hand for a shake. We shook hands and laughed at each other.
"In all seriousness though, you know you're not supposed to be out in the lot alone! You're not supposed to go anywhere alone, ever, remember?" Pony said, with a sudden look of concern in his eyes.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. It was just such a nice night out and besides this is our territory isn't it?"
"You know that won't stop the Socs from coming here. You gotta be safe. Promise me you'll stay safe?"
"Ugh, I promise." I groaned. The gang always looked out for each other, but they were super protective of me because I'm a girl and all. I don't understand why they couldn't just treat me the same but I learned to live with it.