September, 1960

I was sitting on the steps of the Curtis' house waiting for my friend Sodapop to get home from working at the stables. His little brother Ponyboy who is 9 was sitting next to me waiting with me the. Soda and I are only 7 months apart and even though I'm a girl we have always hung out. We are best friends, Soda has one other best friend Steve. He's ok but he teases me a lot but it's nothing I can't handle. Oh my names Michelle I'm 12 I'm real small for my age but mama and Mrs. Curtis say I'll grow. I guess they're right they usually are but sometimes I wonder especially when I compare myself to other girls in my class. I'm the shortest I'm not real skinny or nothing' just small oh well mama says to be content with what I have. Darry, Soda and Pony's oldest brother was now walking up the steps he just got back from football practice.

"Hey there Ponyboy!" he says ruffling Ponys hair

"Hey Dar!" Pony stands up excitedly I look up at them smiling "how was practice Darry?"

Pony asked taking Darrys football from his hand. "Hello Michelle I'm sorry I didn't say anything to you yet. How are you Belle?"

He was looking down at me smiling Belle was Mr. Curtis idea of a nickname for me, you know like the song 'Michelle my belle' I like it and everyone else seems too. "I'm fine Darry just waiting on Soda to get home."

He nodded and was about to say something to Pony probably answer his question. But Mr. Curtis came out onto the porch

"Darrel my boy! How was practice?" Pony ran for his dad and jumped on his back. "Great Dad! I can't wait for the game next Friday where gonna stomp the other team!" He said excitedly "Yeah you are Darry! Hey dad can we go to the game Friday?"

Ponyboy asked happily. Mr. Curtis who still had Pony on his back looked back and smiled "Of course Pony it's the first game of the season." He looked at me "You'll come too right Belle?" He sat Pony on the porch and told him to go play some more before it got dark.

Pony ran off to the lot with Darrys football I guess he was going to see of Johnny was there and wanted to play. I looked down the street and saw Soda coming but he didn't look his normal self. I got up and walked down the steps and met him half way,

"hey Sodapop!" I said smiling he half smiled at me "hey belle". We were walking toward his house we reached the steps and sat down. He sat down heavily beside me and sighed looking down at his hands for a moment, then spoke.

"Mickey-mouse is gone." I didn't say anything just listened "Mr. Rick sold him I didn't even get to tell him good-bye"

I knew how much Mickey Mouse ment to Soda. No matter what that was Soda's horse, that horse was mean to everyone but Soda. I put my arm around him and he put his head on my shoulder. I knew he was trying not to cry I could tell he had been trying all day.

"Come on" I said taking his hand we went to my house no one was home yet so he could cry there. He sat down on my couch with my arm around him and just cried he started to calm down. "Thanks I could only cry in front of you and Pony about this."

I got up and got us both a Pepsi. "Don't worry Soda you'll get a new horse someday one all your own." He just smiled it was almost the Soda smile I knew and loved. I turned on the TV to cartoons and we watched TV for a little bit. It was now close to 5

"is your mama working late tonight?" I shook my head yes he got up from the couch taking my hand this time. This was another thing and the only thing Steve teased both of us about. We would sometimes hold hands I mean it's not like we're boyfriend and girlfriend it's just something we've always done kinda second nature. We started walking down the street toward his house we walked up the steps and into his house you could smell dinner.

Soda walked to his room to get cleaned up and Pony was sitting on the floor with all his green army men spread out on the coffee table. Darry and Mr. Curtis where at the kitchen table already. I walked in the kitchen followed by Soda

"um mom Michelle's mom is working late tonight can she stay for dinner and maybe play here until her mom gets home?"

Mrs. Curtis who was now placing baked chicken and potatoes on the table smiled at me "of course dear you know that. I'll call your mother after dinner and let her know." All our moms were best friends all meaning mine, soda and two-bits. Steve and Dally's moms didn't live here and well no one talked to Johnny's mom. She'd rather it be that way she scared me, always yelling and hitting poor Johnny.

After dinner Soda and I went into his room to play checkers while Pony watched. Pony soon got bored and fell asleep on the bed, Soda was cheering up a little but I didn't want to leave him. We got tired of checkers and went into the living room, Mrs. Curtis was doing dishes and Darry and Mr. Curtis were sitting on the couch watching 'He-Haw'.

It was a pretty funny show sometimes, I liked it when they popped up out of the corn and told stupid jokes.

"That'd be a great show for Two-bit to be on" Soda leaned over and whispered to me. I giggled thinking of Two-bit popping out of the corn. "What are you two whispering and giggle about down there?"

Mr. Curtis was looking at us trying to look serious but he couldn't with both up us grinning up at him.

"Nothing dad I was just tellin' Belle that Two-bit would be perfect for this show." Darry let out a laugh and Mr. Curtis just smiled and shook his head. He walked into the kitchen where Mrs. Curtis was he walked up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her cheek.

She smiled "Can I help you?" he just smiled and whispered something in her ear. Whatever it was she kind of blushed and continued cleaning up the kitchen.

"Belle honey would you come here please?" she called to me I got up from my spot on the floor by Soda.

"Yes ma'm?" I was looking up at her she stopped wiping the table with a dish towel.

"I talked to your mother, she said they are real behind at the restaurant and two people quit during the dinner rush. She won't be home until real late, I told her you're more than welcome to stay the night here." I nodded and she continued

"I'm going to take you home to get some of your things." Soda must have over heard I was staying and was now in the kitchen jumping up and down. "This is great Belle!" He said throwing an arm around my shoulders, I looked at him and he was back to his old self.

The simple things like a friend staying over made him so happy "can I go with y'all mom?" She was untying her apron "yes honey but please stop jumping up and down" we all walked back into the living room. Darry must have gone out for the night it was Friday and the season didn't start until next Friday. Mr. Curtis was just coming back in he went out to start the truck so it could warm up. "I'll see y'all when you get back, oh Darlin' Darry went out with some of the team I told him to be back by one."

He was giving her a 'is that okay' kind of look. But she just smiled and said "that's fine we'll be back in a few minutes."

Soda and I were on the porch waiting she stuck her head back in the door and said "check on Pony will you?" Then we all got in the truck and drove to my house, I went to my room and grabbed a bag. Mrs. Curtis was with me Soda was waiting in the truck, I grabbed some night clothes, underwear and clothes to wear tomorrow. Toothbrush, hairbrush socks, anything else I thought to myself.

Oh a jacket "Got everything Belle?" Mrs. Curtis asked looking around my room "oh! Grab your pillow and one of your blankets." I did so and we made our way back out to the truck it was only 6:30 so Soda asked if we could go to the Dairy Queen. She said yes but she wanted to go back home first and see if Pony was still asleep or not. We told her he just got bored and fell asleep but when we got back he and Mr. Curtis were playing hide and go seek. I grabbed my jean jacket and Soda went and got his. We walked to Steve's house first he was sitting on the steps of his house with Two-bit and Johnny.

"Would ya look at the two love birds." Two-bit said then ducked as Soda took a playful swing at him.

"Where's Pony?" Johnny asked "still at the house he's playing with dad" Johnny nodded and got up "where you goin'?" I asked

"I'm going to see if Pony wants a rematch at football" we all nodded "So what are you two up too?" Steve asked eyeing me like I did something

"what's that look for?" I asked. Steve just shook his head and looked at Soda. What the hell, what am I missing I thought. I followed Steve's eyes to Soda who was looking down and beginning to blush but had a huge grin on his face.

"Anyway," I said out loud "Soda and I were going down to the Dairy Queen y'all want to come?"

Two-bit nodded pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. I watched him as he took one out put it in his mouth and lit it. He inhaled then a few seconds later exhaled smoke, he looked real tuff and cool. Steve did the same. Then to my surprise Soda took two from Two-bit and handed me one he must have known I was curious.

I did what they all did and that was my first cigarette not too bad, "aw our little Belle is growing up on us." Two-bit said wiping his eyes like he was crying. I laughed and told him to shut up, we walked to the Dairy Queen. For a Friday they weren't very busy but it was early so we were able to get a booth and order before it got too hectic in there. After we ate our ice cream we sat around outside talking and smoking.

"Well I better get going" Steve said tossing his cigarette "I'll see y'all later"

Two-bit got up also "hey wait up man, me too I told Cathy I meet up with her" Steve was waiting for him

"come on man I gotta get home. My old man hasn't been in the best mood this week." Steve started walking away "alright bye y'all" and Two-bit ran to catch up with him.

We can't walk alone no matter what time of day. Socs are always out looking to jump us, none of us have been jumped yet. Some of Tim's gang has though I think, but they got the guy back. Soda skipped over some details when he told me all he really said was they beat him with a metal pipe. But I got the picture,

"I guess we oughta head back too huh?" I nodded he was acting strange again we didn't talk much on the way home. We were in front of the vacant lot when he stopped and turned to me.

"Michelle….I, can I…" he sighed I looked at him puzzled what's with him.

"What Soda? You thinking about Mickey-Mouse again?" He shook his head no and kind of laughed. "The thing is, I like you." My mouth dropped I've always had a crush on Soda but I kept it to myself.

"I know Soda we are best friends." I said trying to sound funny I never thought Soda would like me.

He just smiled "no Belle I mean I like you, like you" I looked up at him he looked different now more grown up. He leaned in and kissed me softly, I could feel him smile he pulled away after a moment.

"You can open your eyes now Belle" he said with laughter in his voice.

I didn't even realize I still had them closed. I was shocked he knew and messed up my hair "hey" I said glaring up at him.

He just laughed at me. He threw his arm around me "Belle you're my best friend, I can talk to you about things that I can't talk about even with Steve. You understand me no matter what I don't want anything to come between us. I won't let anything come between us, I couldn't explain how I feel about you. That's why I kissed you, I'm so glad I did it though. Was that your first kiss? I hope you're not mad"

I stopped walking "Sodapop we have been friends since we were born, we know what the other is thinking half the time. Everything you just said I feel the same way, and yes that was my first kiss. And I'm glad it was with you."

He just nodded and we walked back to his house in silence but smiling. When we walked in Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were sitting on the couch watching TV. It was now close to 9:00

"hey kids did you have fun?" Mr. Curtis asked we just laughed and nodded. They looked at each other then back at us

"well we're going to bed, Belle honey I sat your things in the corner over there. Soda I don't want you in here all night keeping her awake. You two can stay up a little longer but Soda if she says she's tired you go to your room."

I heard Mr. Curtis call from the hall "come on honey let kids be kids and come to bed"

She gave Soda a warning glance but it was taken over by a smile. I looked at Soda and he was just grinning at her. You can't stay mad at Soda, she shook her head and laughed "Good night you two."

We stayed up talking for a few more hours. Nothing real serious just cartoons, music some movies that Soda could actually sit through. I was lying on the couch wrapped up in my blanket and Soda was sitting on the floor with his head against the couch.

My eyes were getting heavier, Soda was getting tired too. "Soda your tired go to bed". I said sleepily he turned to face me

"Belle no matter what, you'll always be my girl." He leaned over me and kissed my forehead "night belle" I closed my eyes "night Soda".