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In hindsight, there wasn't a cheesier way in which Sodapop Curtis and I could have met.

That evening, after getting permission from my parents to go to the carnival (mentioning that I had been invited by some girls I met at school certainly helped persuade them, my mom looked downright cheerful), I changed into my favourite red dress for the occasion and eagerly awaited the moment Cherry would honk her car horn outside my house.

When this moment finally arrived, I practically skipped down the stairs, pausing at the bottom when my dad said my name firmly. I turned to face him slowly, smiling sweetly. "Yes, daddy?" I only called him this when I was trying not to get into trouble, or if I wanted something. He was far too familiar with this.

He narrowed his eyes, studying me carefully for a moment before speaking, "Make sure you're back by ten, and be careful."

"When have you ever known me to be otherwise?" I answered, stepping onto my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Then I spun on my heel and hurried to the door, throwing a "bye!" over my shoulder.

I jumped down the steps leading to my front door, almost stumbling at the bottom once I saw Cherry's car; a red Stingray convertible. Okay, I had to get myself a cool car. I was a fan of the Shelby Cobra, personally. Not that my dad would ever let me anywhere near one. Anyway, Cherry's car may have looked nice, but it was definitely a tight fit for six teenage girls. Plus, I was the last one to be picked up as I lived furthest away from Cherry, Nancy had been picked up just before me. I still wonder how we made it to that carnival alive.

The first time I ever went to a carnival I was six years old and I never thought I would see something so beautiful again in my life. That was, of course, before I met Sodapop Curtis, and believe me when I say he was a close second. At six years old I had been captivated by the flashing lights, the invasion of the smells of food and machinery and the deafening sounds of fun. The Ferris wheel had by far been my favourite ride; it made me feel as though I was flying and I wanted to stay at the top forever, looking out over the city, feeling as though I could see the whole world. I had cried for days after the carnival had left.

This carnival was the first one I had been to since then, but as I climbed out of Cherry's car I was suddenly six years old again. It wasn't as big as the one in Boston had been, yet, somehow, it was even more spectacular. Everything else was the same: the flashing lights, the smells and sounds. Except now I noticed new things, too: the loud music that was playing everywhere, different songs at different parts of the carnival, the scent of food stands that made my mouth water, and the games surrounded by children desperate to win giant stuffed animals. In fact, I spotted many couples also approaching these games, the boy handing the pretty, smiling girl the stuffed animal he had won for her.

And right in the middle of it all was a Ferris wheel, still as big and bright as I remembered.

I didn't want to appear too overexcited in front of the girls, who were very cool as we walked through the entrance, but my child-like hyperactivity was getting the better of me. Realising I was walking ahead of them quite a bit, I stopped in my tracks to wait for them to catch up, grinning sheepishly.

"Look at you!" Nancy cried, giggling. "You're like a kid at Christmas."

"You ever been to a carnival before?" Cynthia asked curiously.

"Not since I was six," I replied without looking at her. I couldn't look at anyone, I was so enthralled in my surroundings.

"What shall we do first?" Marcia asked the group. "Food?"

"No food before rides," Peggy answered forcefully. "We don't want Nancy vomiting again."

I glanced at Nancy, seeing the blush she was trying, and failing, to hide. "That was one time!" She argued. I realised then that this must have been something these girls did a lot, and I felt fairly honoured to have been invited along.

"Rides first," Cherry spoke up. "Then food."

"Then games!" Nancy yelled, linking her arm with mine.

It didn't take long for me to take charge. Everybody humoured me because my excitement was so apparent. Nobody could decide which ride to go on first, so I just began marching towards the ghost train, pretty soon the others simply followed. While we waited in the queue, there was a buzz of anxious exhilaration; none of us really expected the ride to be scary, but there was something about it that put us on edge. Nancy and I were the first to go in, coming out the other end giggling and clinging onto each other.

I continued to lead us around the rides after this, from the Rotor (which I didn't really enjoy), to the Scrambler (which I did). Peggy insisted we went on the Flying Coaster – I was quickly learning that when Peggy Richardson insisted on something, you did it. As it wasn't a considerably large carnival, we managed to get on every single ride. When we passed by the bumper cars on the way to the Ferris wheel, there was a strange gathering of girls that hadn't been there when we'd had a go on them. It confused me so greatly that I stopped walking. Nancy was the first to notice I wasn't with the group, stopping a little ahead of me and turning back.

"What's going on?" I asked, finally getting my feet moving and catching up with them.

"Sodapop must be workin' the bumper cars again," Cynthia said with a sigh.

I raised my eyebrows. "Sodapop?" I echoed. "Don't hear that one every day." How I didn't guess that he and Ponyboy were related then, I don't know. They both had funky names, after all. "But why are there so many girls around him?" I then asked.

"No reason, really," Cherry replied. "Just that he's probably the most gorgeous guy any of them have ever seen."

And then, somehow, I lost all interest. With a shrug I continued walking, wanting nothing more than to get on the Ferris wheel. I ended up sitting with Cherry on this, though we didn't speak much until we stopped at the top. I stared out at the sun setting over the Tulsa skyline and unintentionally heaved a deep sigh, the Boston skyline appearing in my mind and weighing heavily on my heart.

Cherry caught this, sending me her calculating look for the second time since I'd met her. "You havin' fun?" She asked, now following my gaze out towards the horizon.

"Yeah," I answered honestly after a short silence. "I love carnivals, and I feel like I'm getting to know you girls better." I tore my eyes from the sky to smile at Cherry. "Thanks for inviting me."

"No problem," she said, grinning in response. "I like you, Rox. I'd like us to be friends." I had never felt so accepted so soon after meeting someone, especially not enough to receive a nickname. This was the first of two nicknames I would receive from two different people.

"Do you miss Boston?" Cherry then asked, taking advantage of the fact it was just the two of us.

"Yes," I admitted immediately. "But there's nothing I can do about it now. Just gotta get used to this place."

After departing the Ferris wheel, we were all starving. We headed to the food stands discussing the different things we all wanted, even this made my stomach growl. I decided to get a hot dog with onions, mustard and ketchup, but I ate this so fast that I ended up getting cotton candy as well.

The six of us ate our food while we wandered around the game stands, trying to see anything we found interesting. Cynthia proved to be a deft hand at the target shooting game, quickly moving on when she upset a couple of nearby kids who couldn't get the hang of it. Marcia and Cherry enjoyed the balloon and dart game, while Peggy was, unsurprisingly, a natural at the high striker. Nancy's favourite was the Ping-Pong and fishbowl game, the only one that I managed to win at. I ended up giving my goldfish to a sad-looking little girl.

A while later we were all completely exhausted and ready to go home. We strolled towards the exit carrying our various prizes, except me, but I had bought a candy apple to make up for it. "I don't even want this thing," Peggy told us distastefully, glaring down at the porcelain sailor in her hand. "I just like to win."

"Give it to your little brother," Marcia suggested, just about dodging a hit from the giant stuffed dog that Cynthia was struggling to carry.

"I'm gonna name this little guy Paul," Nancy said, pointing to the goldfish she had won and not given away.

"McCartney?" I asked and she smiled knowingly.

The carnival was as loud as ever, the whooping and enthusiastic yells that came from behind us completely blended in with the screams from rides. I didn't even realise how close the people doing the yelling were to us, until a sudden weight slammed into my back and the ground slipped from beneath my feet. I tumbled, landing on my side with a hard thud, losing my candy apple along the way. I just about managed to keep my dress from riding up.

"Ah, sorry 'bout that!" A male voice said, sounding out of breath with excitement and not particularly concerned. Irritated and embarrassed, I sat up, lifting my head to glare at whatever ditz had knocked me over, faltering ever so slightly when my eyes first landed on him.

He was gorgeous, there was no denying that. Nice dark brown eyes that seemed to dance as he looked down at me, combed back dark gold hair, and a goofy grin that irritated me that little bit more. Finally I saw that he was holding a hand out to me expectantly. I quickly took it, scowling slightly as I allowed him to help me to my feet. "Looks like you just fell for me," he joked as I brushed off my dress. I paused, quirking an eyebrow. He didn't seem to notice, continuing to speak, "Anyway, I'm real sorry, miss. Guess I got a little too jazzed."

He seemed nice enough, and at least he helped me up and apologised. "Don't worry about it," I said, now smiling as well. "I get the same at carnivals."

His grin widened and this time, I had to admit, I went a little weak at the knees. He nodded, glancing over his shoulder at his friends. It was funny, I hadn't even realised they were there, nor that my new friends were watching the two of us with great interest. "Alright, I'm gonna beat it, but I owe you a candy apple," he told me, already walking away. I was surprised he even saw that I'd had one. I watched as he and his friends walked away, hitting each other good-naturedly before breaking into a run. It was then I saw their clothes.

"That's Sodapop," Nancy informed me, stepping up beside me.

"Guess you see why all those girls were round him now, huh?" Cynthia asked.

I nodded mutely, smoothing my hair. I definitely saw the appeal. "She sure does, she's blushing," Cherry pointed out, earning giggles from the others.

"I am not," I argued, though couldn't help laughing myself.

"Okay, but I can't believe he said that," Peggy began, before putting on a deep voice as she imitated him, "Looks like you just fell for me."

"So he's good-looking," I said as we piled into Cherry's car again a few minutes later. "So what?"

"Shut up, Rox, you are so in love," Cherry shot back with another giggle.

Although they were joking about it, if they had their way I wouldn't have anything to do with Sodapop Curtis ever again. Of course I thought he was handsome, but I just knew a boy that good-looking could only cause trouble.

And, boy, was I right.

I really enjoyed writing this chapter because I love funfairs myself. Anyway, apologies if there are any typos and I will try to update ASAP. In the meantime, reviews would be much appreciated :-)