I was standing in the overgrown grass of the backyard, looking up at the shed I had come down from only a few hours before. I decided that it was a miracle I hadn't broken my neck jumping off, and also that there was no way in hell I was going to be able to climb back up it to get in the house.

For a few minutes I tried to force my own window open again, but gave up after my feet shot out from under me on the slick grass and I ruined my nylons.

From the front yard, I had seen Darry flat on his back on the couch. He might have been out cold, but I didn't dare to stick even one toe on the porch for fear of him waking up and all hell breaking loose.

I rubbed my eyes as the effects of the whiskey I'd slugged in the car, and again on the way home, hit me in another mixed wave of nausea and vertigo. I glanced up at the only window in the house that I could easily climb into, knowing that both Soda and Pony were sleeping soundly on the other side. Defeated, I realized that there was no way for me to sneak back into the house without waking someone up.

I peeked through Soda and Pony's window, surprised to see only one snoring lump in their bed. Usually the two of them were huddled up together like a couple of puppies.

"Lucy," I heard someone whisper, and whipped around in search of the voice. "Luce, up here!"

I looked up to the top of the shed where Ponyboy was crouched down in his boxers.

"What're you doing up there in your underwear?" I stifled a laugh and Pony scowled.

"Trying to help you get back in this house before you wake up Darry with all the noise you're making," he growled and stuck his hand out.

I grabbed for him, trying not to make any more noise as he helped me get back on the roof, and kicked over a trash can. We both froze as we heard Darry groan from the living room. For a second, I thought Pony was going to drop me back into the back yard and hit the deck.

Instead, he shot me a dirty look and hoisted me up on the shed beside him. As quietly as I could manage, I climbed back through the bathroom window. Pony followed nimbly behind me, moving faster and more agile than I could have ever hoped to be, at that point.

His hand stayed firmly on the small of my back as he led me to my room, as if he thought I'd either fall or run away from him. He shut the door behind us as I flopped onto my bed, suddenly drained from the excitement, anxiety and hooch I'd experienced in the previous hours.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Pony hissed, sounding more like Darry that I cared to hear just then.

"Whaddaya mean?" I slurred, trying to pull my blanket over my legs.

Pony shoved my blanket out of the way easily and pulled of a shoe, waving as he continued. "It's practically one in the morning!" he growled as he pulled my other shoe off, tossing the pair into my closet. "I thought you were just going down to the strip."

I tried to force my eyes open, confused as to why I felt like I was on a roller coaster every time I closed them. "We never made it to the strip," I told him as he tugged at my nylons until I kicked at him and wriggled out of them myself.

"Golly, you smell like Two-Bit. Where on earth did you go for four hours?" he demanded, rummaging through my drawers, looking for something I could sleep in. I grinned to myself, amused that he was so worked up. Usually, no one noticed what I did.

I sat up, popping onto my knees at the end of the bed, eager to tell him where I'd been. "Buck Merrill's," I announced and Pony whipped around, shocked.

"But Darry and Soda said we're not allowed to go there," he faltered.

"Darry and Soda said you aren't allowed to go there," I reminded him. "Neither one of them said anything about me going there."

Pony blinked. Then, a smile spread slowly across his face and he tossed an oversized t-shirt at me. "You're bad," he laughed, as if he almost didn't believe it.

I sighed happily and flopped onto my back. I liked the way that sounded. Maybe things were finally changing. Maybe I would no longer be the invisible Curtis.

"Well I'm glad you got this out of your system, anyways," Pony whispered, heading for the door. "I don't like keeping things from Soda… or Darry, even."

For a minute, I debated telling him that I was a changed woman; that I wasn't just going to follow the rules anymore. Then, for some reason, I thought better of it. Two-Bit had once told me that the fastest way to lose a secret was to tell people about it. At the time, I'd thought he was just a drunk idiot. Now, though, I was seeing the sense in his words.

The less people that knew about the new me, the better.

"Goodnight Lucy," Pony murmured from the door, as if he knew what I was thinking. I rolled over, not about to let him figure me out so easily.

"Night Pone," I yawned, kicking the t-shirt to the floor, too tired to change. "And thanks, you know? For not ratting me out."

Pony didn't say anything, but hesitated a minute before shutting my door.

For a brief moment, I wondered if he was having second thoughts about not telling Darry. I hastily pushed those thoughts out of my mind though, more interested in falling asleep to replaying the events of the night.

Things were changing, alright.