For reasons that Bridgette didn't care to question, Tim was out of town a lot those first couple weeks of school. Since the first lunch was harmless, Curly and the other guys figured it would be okay to make lunch a regular thing. It was the first time in her entire life that Bridgette had a routine that involved other people. She had people to talk to and joke around with. And after the first week, she got comfortable enough around the other guys to make her own jokes. It was nice having people to hang out with.

Pony was also making more of an effort to talk to her in class. Instead of just smiling and nodding to greet her, he would turn around in his seat and ask her what she did over the weekend or how soccer was going. It was more friendly conversation than a conversation between friends but Bridgette didn't care. He was talking to her without being forced. It was more than she could have asked for.

On top of that, James Midland was serious about keeping an eye on her. He called her in for meetings once every couple of weeks to see how she was coping. She made a casual comment to a girl on the soccer team to see if James was doing the same for everyone but it sounded like he was just doing it for her. She didn't mind. In fact, she liked the attention. The more meetings she had with James, the more she liked him. He was handsome and smart and older and, more than anything, he was nice to her and showed an interest in her life. Unlike her parents, he applauded her academic achievements. And unlike Tim, he encouraged her to try new things. That's how she got roped into being treasurer for the homecoming dance. She was in charge of the budget. The homecoming committee would come to her with decorations and food ideas and she had to figure out what was possible, what could be compromised, and what was never going to happen. She wasn't keen on the idea at first, but then Mr. Schmidt offered to give her extra credit.

It was the most active Bridgette had ever been in school. She was hanging out with people, she was conversing regularly with the boy she had been in love with since grade school, and she was willingly working with Socs for homecoming. She hated the Socs and they hated her, but they learned to work together.

"So you're serious about this homecoming thing?" Tim asked skeptically as she poured over receipts and lists in her room.

"Yeah," she said simply.

"Does this mean you're going to homecoming?"

"Don't be stupid," she scoffed.

"Okay good," he said slowly.

And even though she was putting so much time and effort into the dance, she really didn't have any intention to actually go. Homecoming was a thing for Socs and middle class kids. Greasers didn't go to dances unless they were drunk and bored. She liked the idea of going to dances, but she would hate going to any dances at her school.

"What do you mean you're not going?" James asked, scandalized by the idea. It was their bi-weekly meeting just a week before the dance.

"I mean I'm not going," she shrugged. "It's not a big deal."

"I beg to differ," he said. "You've worked so hard on this."

"On the money side of it," she argued. "It's not exactly a sentimental process."

"But it's homecoming," he said.

"I'm aware."

"Well, if you don't go to homecoming, you at least have to go to prom."

"Nope," she said simply.

"Yes, one or the other."

"You can't make me go to prom," she scowled.

"What if I convince one of your teachers to give you extra credit?"

"I don't want to go," she groaned. "It's not a big deal."

"I really hope you change your mind."

"Doubtful."

He looked genuinely troubled as she grabbed her things and left.

"What did your boyfriend want?" Pony asked the next day in math.

"Not my boyfriend," she said. "And he asked if I was going to homecoming."

"Are you?"

"Of course not," she snorted. "He couldn't get his mind around it. Told me I had to go to prom. I told him he couldn't make me and he offered to make it extra credit."

"What?" he asked blankly.

"I know."

"So are you going to prom?"

"No."

"Laugh all you want, but I really do think he has a thing for you." She rolled her eyes and he said, "No, seriously. Why does he only meet with you? Why does he care so much if you go to these dances? He wants to see you. He digs you."

"Okay," she said sarcastically. "Whatever you say."

He sighed loudly and shook his head.

These were the only real conversations Bridgette ever had with Pony. He teased her about James a lot and she always defended him and the situation. Every other conversation they had, Bridgette was still rather shy and let Pony do most of the talking. Ten years is a long time to love someone from afar.

Bridgette was looking forward to the Monday after homecoming. She couldn't wait to have some free time again and she was more than ready to end the forced civil communications with the Socs.

"I hear the dance was a hit," Pony said in math. "Good job."

"Thanks," she smiled shyly.

Mr. Schmidt assigned the class a project that day. Bridgette didn't know how anyone could make a project from calculus but Mr. Schmidt certainly knew how. He told the class at the beginning of the year that he was a big fan of three things: math, review, and public speaking. So he decided every month, students would pair up, pick a lesson he had covered thus far, and create their own lesson plan. So he basically had the students reteach material to the class. He sent around a sign up sheet to pick pairs but to also pick the lesson.

Pony turned around and looked at Bridgette. He shrugged as if to say, "Partner?" It was foolish he even had to ask. Who else would want to be her partner?

After the initial bitterness of not having any real friends in school to willingly be her partner wore off, Bridgette realized the magnitude of the situation. Pony was going to be her partner. They would have to meet outside of school. They were going to spend time together out of school and no one could force her not to because it was school related. Oh happy day!

They were assigned the Derivative Function. They had until Friday.

"Want to come by after school?" Pony asked.

"I can after soccer."

"That's what I meant."

"Oh. Yeah, that works."

"Do you have to get a permission slip signed first?" he teased.

"Probably," she grinned. "I'll talk to Curly about it at lunch."

The bell rang and they went their separate ways. Frankie had taken to picking Bridgette up from school so she didn't waste any of her lunch.

"Tim is coming back tomorrow," was the first thing Frankie said as she hopped into the car.

"Where has be been?" she asked.

"He's been taking care of stuff," he said evasively. "But anyway, you know what that means."

"Yeah," she sighed. "I can't meet up for lunch."

"Correct."

"You know, he is my brother. I feel like if he knows you guys are cool with me, he'd be cool with it, too."

"No he wouldn't," Frankie laughed. "He doesn't want his perfect sister anywhere near us idiots."

"You're probably right," she joked and he reached over and mussed her hair. "And I am not perfect."

"Okay," he snorted. "Right."

"I'm not. Far from it."

"Says the genius athlete," he mocked.

"Whatever," she mumbled. They parked in front of the house and they went inside.

"Finally," Tony groaned.

"Were you waiting for me?" Bridgette asked slowly.

"Not you," Tony rolled his eyes. "Frankie left in the middle of our game."

He beckoned to the playing cards on the table and Bridgette blushed and muttered a few things.

"Eat up," Curly insisted, shoving a banana into her hand.

"Hey, I wanted to tell you something," she said casually.

"You have my attention," Tony said.

"Not you," she said, raising an eyebrow. Frankie laughed and Tony punched Frankie until he shut up.

"What is it?" Curly prompted.

"I was assigned a math project and Ponyboy is my partner," she began.

"He's a cool kid," Curly stated to the room as a whole. That's what Curly always said when it came to Pony. Something about burning each other with cigarettes when they were kids.

"Well we have to work on it after school because it's due Friday. So I was going to head over to his house after practice."

"Like hell you are," Curly snickered. "Tim would skin me alive."

"For working on a math project?"

"No, for hanging out at a boy's house unsupervised."

"The entire gang will be there," she argued. "They always are."

"Yes, Tim would much rather you be in a house alone with lots of boys instead of just the one. You're right."

"We know these boys," she whined. "We grew up with them. You said yourself Pony is a cool kid."

"Which he is," Curly assured everyone. "It's just…I don't know…"

"What's the project on?" Frankie cut in.

"Derivative Function," she recited.

"The differential what?"

"Derivative Function," she repeated. "The function changes as the input changes."

Frankie looked bewildered and stared at Curly. "Is she pulling my leg?"

"It's calculus," she sighed. "And I have a project that I have to do. I have less than a week. Come on."

"Your mom would kill you if you hurt her grade," Tony reasoned.

"So who do you fear more? Tim or your mom?"

"Mom," everyone said in unison.

"Fine. But I'm staying out of it when Tim finds out and comes after you," Curly said.

"Gee, thanks," she laughed. "Besides it's math. Nothing exciting ever comes out of math."

"Not true," Frankie said importantly. "One time I was with one girl and I added another girl and it equaled a really good time."

"He's talking about checkers," Curly said quickly.

"Checkers is a two player game," Bridgette smirked. Curly responded by punching Frankie.

"It's about that time," Frankie said, looking up at the clock. "I don't know how they expect you kids to eat nutritiously with such a short amount of time."

"Setting us up for failure," she giggled.

"Seriously. Let's go."

So with Curly's permission, Bridgette headed over to Pony's house after practice (and a quick shower). She was really nervous. She wasn't kidding when she said the rest of the boys would probably be there and it scared her. Yeah, she had grown up around these guys, but she still didn't really know them. And she didn't even want to see what they were going to do when they found her on their porch.

Bridgette knocked and looked around nervously. There was a commotion on the other side of the door and Bridgette took an instinctual step back. She was glad she did because Pony and Soda came tumbling out of the house.

"Fancy seeing you here," Soda grinned from the ground. Pony pinned Soda down and smiled up at her.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Golly, it was the strangest thing," Soda said. "There was a knock and I went to answer it but Pony here tackled me on the way. He really wanted to answer the door himself."

"That is not accurate," Pony stated simply. "I told him you were coming over for a project and he said he would going to litter the floor in rose petals wherever you walked. I couldn't let him do that."

"Why would he do that?" she asked uncomfortably, pretty sure she was being made fun of.

"Well, because this is a big deal!" Soda gasped. "From what I understand, you've never been to anyone's house without your brothers with you and I'm just honored you came to our house first."

"Yeah, they keep a pretty close on me," she shrugged, feeling immature and stupid.

"I understand where he's coming from," Soda said.

"You do?"

"Of course. Brothers have to look after their sisters. Especially their kids sisters. They just worry about you and want the best for you. I'm very protective of my little sister."

Soda hugged Pony tightly and Pony punched him in the arm.

"Are you going to invite her in or are you going to make her wait out there?" Darry called from inside the house.

"How rude of my brother," Soda continued, unable to control his giggling as Pony continuously punched him in the arm.

"Come in," Pony said once Soda pushed him away. Pony helped Soda off the ground and all three walked into the house.

Bridgette knew Soda didn't mean any harm and he was just being his usual goofball self, but she felt insecure. She knew her brothers were overprotective and she was the "caged animal" kind of kid in town. It was a sore subject.

"Hi, Bridgette," Darry said politely. Bridgette was foolishly surprised that he knew her name. She had to keep reminding herself that they all knew her the same way she knew them. They saw each other all the time. They went to the same food joints and played ball in the same park. Hell, they went to the same school. But she always felt so detached from anyone outside of her brothers' gang. And up until recently, she didn't even feel close to the guys in her brothers' gang.

"Tell me again that math term," Soda said.

"Derivative Function," Pony recited immediately.

"Sounds like German or something," Soda laughed.

"Are you hungry, Bridgette?" Darry asked.

"Oh, no, I'm okay," she said quickly.

"Didn't you just have practice?" Pony asked.

"Yeah," she said slowly.

"I know you've got to be hungry," he countered. "I can't eat enough after track practice."

"Here, sit down," Darry insisted, already piling food onto a plate for her. When Bridgette hesitated, Soda put his hands on her shoulders and guided her to a chair. "You guys sit, also."

"Yes, sir," Pony grinned.

"How is soccer going?" Darry asked.

"Great," she said. "Tryouts aren't until November so we're working with whoever is left from last year and we're doing pretty good, even without a full team."

"Have you been to any football games yet?" he asked.

"No, uh, Tim doesn't really…" she trailed off. She didn't have to finish her sentence, though. They all just nodded. Even if Tim did approve, though, she wouldn't really have anyone to go with and that didn't sound very appealing.

"Undefeated so far," Pony filled in.

"That's good," Darry said.

"Our running back is Austin Holden," Pony scoffed.

"Is that Victor's brother?"

"Cousin."

As the boys talked football, Bridgette savored the first home cooked meal she had had in a very long time. It was grilled chicken with corn and apples slices. Very nutritious and nice portions. It was delicious.

"That was really good," Bridgette praised.

"Thank you," Darry smiled kindly. He turned to his brothers and said, "That is how you show appreciation."

"He doesn't think we show enough appreciation," Pony rolled his eyes.

"Do you?" Bridgette asked.

"Oh, come on," he whined. "Not you too!"

Bridgette shrugged and looked over at Darry. He nodded his approval and she grinned.

"We should start the project before my brothers decide they like you around better," Pony said.

"Too late," Soda laughed.

"I'm going to grab my stuff. We can work in the living room."

He disappeared into a back room.

"Need any help cleaning up?" Bridgette asked. Darry gave Soda a pointed look and Soda raised his hands in surrender.

"We're okay," Darry said. "But thank you."

"Okay, let's do this," Pony said. Bridgette stood up and joined Pony in the living room. She sat on the ground next to the coffee table and pulled out her folders and notebook.

"Where is everyone else?" Bridgette asked conversationally.

"Home, I guess," Pony shrugged. "There's a good chance they'll come by."

"In all fairness, I should warn you that there is a good chance Curly will stop by at some point."

"I figured," Pony nodded. "Notice how we are working in the open living room, clearly supervised by my older, responsible brothers and not in my room, which is quieter."

"Oh," she said, not sure how to respond.

For some reason unknown to her, she hadn't really let herself appreciate the magnitude of this situation. She was in Pony's house. Talking to him casually in class was a milestone in and of itself. Being in his house was almost too good to be true. She was sitting on his floor, eating his food, talking to his brothers, and she could see pictures of him placed around the living room. The possibility of ever seeing his room, let alone being in his room would send her over the edge.

"It is plenty quiet in here," Soda shouted from the other room. Pony cocked an eyebrow and she giggled.

"Okay, let's get to work," Pony said. Together they figured out the best way to delegate the workload. Curly did, in fact, stop by just long enough to poke his head inside and ensure math was the focus. He greeted the other guys and took off.

They promised to do their own review and meet the next day to start putting things together. Same time and same place.