Hi everybody! I'm glad to have another chapter uploaded for everyone. So this one is set in 1962 where Nancy is 12 (just so there's no confusion. If anyone has ever read That Was Then, This Is Now, you'll remember Angela Shepard- sister of Tim and Curly. Anyways, enjoy and SE Hinton owns her novels. And the writer of Peter Pan owns the musical.

Nancy was well into middle school by the time she audition for Wendy in Peter Pan. For weeks, she was practicing her part over and over again in front of the family. Darry was on his last year of high school already. Sodapop had dropped out almost a year ago. He felt he wasn't doing well in school. And if he wasn't doing well in school- why should he be in it anyways? His father and mother didn't know how to take the news. It was their son's choice- but he had to get a job. So Sodapop went down and got a full-time job at a local gas station called the DX. As for Ponyboy- he was doing well ahead from his grade level. The Curtis parents couldn't be prouder of their children.

One night after dinner, while three kids were doing their homework, Sodapop sat on the bed and helped Nancy recite her lines. She did them (not perfectly- but well enough) as she finished her homework. Once done writing, the siblings did the lines together. She practiced the songs and recited almost the whole play with two actors. In the middle of "I'm Flying", Nancy stopped the music and sat down. A lot raced through her mind, making her look solemn. Sodapop sat up to look at his sister.

"Everything alright there?" he asked.

Nancy looked up at her older brother. He was a good brother and loved by the ladies. Frankie Avalon came to mind for some reason. Maybe the reason was because how handsome girls said he was. She knew Soda's girlfriend Sandy was the girl he truly loved. No one could take away his blonde-haired beauty. She had gotten off the topic that was set in her mind. She looked down again and stuck to the topic.

"I'm not gonna make it," she said," I just feel that i'm not as good as the other girls auditioning. I'm not gonna be Wendy."

Nancy was starting to drop in self confidence. None of her family understood why she was. Her singing wasn't as great as the singers of today- but that didn't mean she was bad. Her acting was as good as Audrey Hepburn's (an actress Nancy admired). Even though she didn't see it, Sodapop saw what his sister could do. He stood up and looked her in the eyes.

"Hey," he said," don't doubt your abilities. You're a great actress- I hear you recite Breakfast At Tiffany's all the time. You sound just like Audrey. I get that you're a little nervous. But all of us are. We just want you to be happy. Knowing Mr. Baker (the drama teacher) he'd give you the role within a heartbeat."
Nancy smiled, thanking her brother for his kind words. She turned the music on, finishing her song. Next week was auditions and nobody could wait. When the day came, everyone lined up outside the theatre after school. All the actors and actresses of the school desperately wanted lead roles. They tried out and were told the same thing. To wait the following week for the results. The Curtis girl was the seventh girl to audition for Wendy.

"I'm Nancy Curtis," she said," i'm in seventh grade and i'll be auditioning for the role of Wendy."

She began at the beginning of the lines. She set them aside and acted out the parts. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the unimpressed face of Mr. Baker. Halfway through her audition, he stopped the girl. Her eyes turned to look at the man. He didn't even look up from his paper. Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke.

"Sir," she said," I didn't finish my au-"

"I know that," he said," please go tell the next student to come in."
Nancy couldn't help but be upset. She'd wanted this role ever since she found out the school was performing this. Her dreams of being on stage crushed in her heart. She came out of the theatre. A chuckle could be heard from behind her. A sharp-eyed black haired girl stood before her. This was a sixth grader named Angela Shepard. She was the sister of Tim and Curly- boys that had a history with the eight friends. Some of it wasn't good at all. The girl leaned against the wall as Nancy walked out.

"Let me guess," Angela said," you auditioned for Wendy, didn't you? Sorry- but I'm going to have her part. Perhaps you'll get another part. Not as good as Wendy though."

Angela stepped inside, leaving Nancy alone. The Curtis girl walked home, letting very few tears escape her eyes. She musn't be upset over something like this. Her mind told her she wouldn't get the part. Getting her hopes up was a stupid mistake that she'd never make again. When she got home, she didn't mention the auditions. Darry felt bad for his little sister. She practiced for months and it still didn't seem to work.

"Not everyone gets the lead role in their first play," he told her that night," i'm sure you'll get better parts as you grow older. It doesn't mean you're a horrific actress. It just means something amazing is gonna happen in the future."

Darry knew how to make Nancy smile. She forgot about the auditions until a week later. It was a Friday afternoon when everybody was waiting. For what, you may ask? To see who'd gotten the roles in Peter Pan. Once Mr. Baker posted the list, everyone was in a frenzy to see who made the cut. Nancy passed by, looking away from the list. The self doubt made her look away. If Ponyboy hadn't grabbed his sister's arm, she wouldn't have seen the list.

"You've got to see this," he said, dragging his sister to the front of the crowd.

Nancy's eyes went to the top of the list. Richard Williams as Peter Pan, John Rogers as Captain Hook, Nancy Curtis as Wendy, William Peterson as...wait a moment. She got the part- as Wendy! A smile crept upon her face, hugging her little brother with joy. Angela pushed herself to the front. Her eyes scrolled down the list, gasping with disgust as looked down the list. She not only lost the part for Wendy- she wasn't in the play at all! Anger filled her eyes as she looked over to the siblings. She stormed off as Nancy and Ponyboy made their way out of the crowd.

"Don't say anything when we get home," she said," I want this to be a surprise."

Ponyboy nodded, walking off to class. The girl couldn't help but smile for the rest of the school day. She had gotten the female lead in a musical she loved. She couldn't be more thrilled to start the show. She got home with Ponyboy that day. She didn't greet the family like she usually did. Darry looked at his mother. She could only look up from her cooking and nod. No doubt that Nancy was upset about the musical. Either she didn't get Wendy or didn't get a part at all. Judging by her look, she wasn't even in the play.

At dinner, Nancy wasn't even eating. It was her favorite meal too- turkey and potatoes. The family wanted to talk to the girl about the musical. The room seemed too quiet to bare. Ponyboy looked at his sister. She looked up at him and nodded slightly. He looked down and spoke up again.

"They have the names posted for Peter Pan," Ponyboy said, looking up quickly.

Darry glanced at his brother for a moment. He didn't want to make his sister more upset. She looked down, stating how she knew about that. Her little brother asked her if she saw the names. The oldest sibling lightly kicked Pony's foot, as if to say 'Don't mention it again'. Nancy put her fork down. Now was the time to confess her role.

"The usual people," she sighed,"Richard Williams got the lead, I got Wendy, John Rogers is-"

She was unable to finish her sentence. Because Darry dropped his fork, smiling in shock. Her mother and father clapped, Sodapop cheering for her. Nancy was thrilled by the support of her family. When their friends heard about it, they were supportive as well. She practiced long and hard everyday for a month. And she had earned her role as Wendy in Peter Pan. At every practice, she gave all the effort she had to make it perfect. By the show, she was ready.

She sat on the bed in the first scene. Her eyes wandered, spotting her family. Darry had a bright smile like her mother did. The other three watched happily, the gang sitting near them. Sodapop brought his girlfriend Sandy- but Steve hadn't brought Evie. Instead, he was smiling and watching her perform. She smiled and acted perfectly through the whole play. At the end, the people that came for her stood and applauded. Nancy bowed with a smile attached to her face.

"You did great Little One!" Darry exclaimed, hugging his sister.

Nancy giggled, thanking her family. The gang walked up to the girl, happily commenting her acting skills. Steve walked up to her with his hand behind his back. He smiled, revealing her favorite flowers- roses. She gasped, thanking the boy for the flowers. Deep inside, her heart began to beat fast. She realized the feelings for Steve would have to be put off.

A few months after the musical, Nancy was to soon become thirteen. As a teenager, she would have much more responsibilities. She was ready and excited for it. But in her direction, disaster was speeding in.