Ana stopped by the DX a lot. I didn't mind. Steve was never her biggest fan, but she was growing on him.

One hot summer day, my boss said we had a new employee. He was a tall and skinny guy with black hair. He said his name was Rick Ereth."You're Ana's older brother!" I said."She talks about you sometimes."

Her stories usually consist of him of falling off cliffs or running into things and in general just him being extremely clumsy, but he didn't need to know that."And your Sodapop. She talks about you and Steve a lot, too." I couldn't help it, I grinned like Dopey from Snow White and The Seven Dwarves. I didn't think she would talk about me, she hardly ever talks at all. Me and Steve are an exception, she says. She says it'd be insane to not talk to us.

Rick was a good guy. He stays out of Steve's way, which is something all employees have to learn quickly. The Boss hired him to do all the hard math and such because Steve and I aren't too good at that.

There were only a few days before school started, it wasn't important to me, but Steve, Two-Bit, Ponyboy, and Ana would be going backing. Sandy and Evie too. I'd be a little lonely, I guess, but not really.

Ana didn't have any girl friends. So I asked Evie and Sandy to take her with them on their girls' day, to make the last day before school a good one for all of them. I think they'll have a good time, I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

Sandy's POV

I was actually really excited about spending a day with Soda's friend. From what he said, she doesn't have very many friends, and everyone should have friends. Evie and I decided that we should just hang out at Evie's house and get to know this girl. It would be fun.

Evie is actually really cool with her parents. They don't fight, or yell, or anything else that most greaser's parents do, like mine. Her parents are like the siblings that are older then you by a lot: They're just chill and relaxed about everything.

"So, Ana, Sandy," Evie began. We were all sitting on her bedroom floor."Let's play Truth or Dare minus Dare."

"So... We're just asking each other questions?" Ana clarified.

"Bingo! Only, it's more like one of us asks question and we all have to answer."

"Cool," Ana said.

"I'll go first!" I volunteered."Who was your first kiss? Mine was with someone named Jackson back in the ninth grade."

"Some weirdo in kindergarten," Evie shrugged.

Ana was quiet. She hesitated before answering,"It actually hasn't happened yet. I've never had a boyfriend or anything else lovey dovey. The closest thing to that is the times I've hugged Soda." I don't know what happened, but I felt my cheeks flush and my eyes darken, but only for a second. What was that?"I've always wanted to fall in love. I'm 100% sure it's the most amazing feeling in the world!"

"Aw," I gushed."That's alright. I'm sure the guy for you is somewhere."

"Screw that!" Evie scoffed."You need to hook up soon or all the good guys will be taken!"

"Come on, Evie," I sighed."You'll scare the living day lights out of her! We're only in high school, I don't think people get married during high school."

Ana whispered something not audible."What was that?" I asked.

"Sorry!... Er, uh... You just said something that reminded me of a secret I'm supposed to keep," she rushed to say.

"Ooh," Evie said excitedly."A secret! Spill Sister, we won't tell."

Or I won't, I thought.

"Can't, it involves one of you," she teased. Ana's smile was infectious, like Soda's, but not when she's hanging something over your head.

Evie groaned, knowing Ana wouldn't budge. Ana had that determined look in her eye that said,"Back off!" at that moment.

Later, I met with Soda."How'd it go with Ana?" He asked as soon as he saw me. The same thing that happened earlier when Ana mentioned Soda happened again. What was going on?

"Fine," I grunted."You know she's never had a boyfriend?" I asked, acting happy again.

"I would hope not," he said. I felt heat arise inside me."Whatever boy that wants to tangle with her would have to go through me." I relaxed.

"Gee, are you her friend or her father?" I teased him.

On Friday afternoon, Evie and I hung out with Ana again. We were walking in the park. As we passed some street performers playing and singing while sitting on the edge of the fountain, Ana's face lit up. She danced to the music, clearly not caring if people watched her. Evie and I sat on a bench.

"What do you think of this girl?" I asked."I think she's a little strange, don't you?"

Evie laughed."Strange? She's as normal as you or me!"

"But she... She..."

"Exactly what I'm saying! She's okay and you know it!" Evie said.

"There's something off about her. She's trouble, I can feel it."

Ana's POV

I was having the greatest time dancing. I'm not the best dancer, but it's fun to do. I like this park, it's so peaceful. The fountain's beautiful, as well. I can't imagine a wrong thing happening in this park.

"Hey, Miss. Soc!" I heard someone shout."I'm talking to you!"

I looked at the guy who'd been shouting. He was slim with greasy hair and a leather jacket."Yeah, you! What are you doing in this park?"

"Isn't this a public park?" I asked, confused.

"You're trespassing on greaser territory," he sneered."You should get out."

I paused to think."Yeah..." I said slowly."This is a public park. I didn't see a sign that said it wasn't."

"Beat it, Soc, before I make you." Now I was really scared. Was I doing something wrong? Evie and Sandy came up behind me.

"It's alright, Shepard," Evie said."She's with us." Shepard stalked away in a huff.

"What was he talking about?" I was shaking."What's a soc?"

"Socs are the people who live on the West side of town. The people on the East side are called Greasers. We don't get along with each other too well." Sandy said.

"Why?" I pressed. I was physically shaking. I thought I caught a glimpse of Sandy rolling her eyes, but I must've imagined it.

"Socs drive around in their fancy cars looking for trouble," Evie explained."They catch a glimpse of a greaser and that's it! Game over my friend! They jump out of the car and beat up whatever greaser they got their hands on."

"Why?" I asked again. It was like I lost all other vocabulary.

"There's no reason other then boredom, I guess," Evie shrugged.

I took a deep breath as we walked down the path."How did he know I was a... Soc?"

"Probably by what you're wearing," Sandy said.

"But I don't dress any different then you!" I said. I liked hand me downs and thrift store clothes. They were more comfortable then any other apparel you could find.

"By your watch or your necklace, maybe?" Sandy shrugged.

"This was my grandma's watch," I said."It's nothing special. And this necklace was from Soda." Sandy coughed.

"Well, we're not experts on how the Shepard mind works," Evie said."You should just be more careful, is all. Stick by us and you won't get hurt."

Evie was a rough girl. She curses like a sailor and is not afraid to kick someone's rear. But, when necessary, she can be really sweet and serious. I'm glad to have her as a friend.