Parts of this are based off of a review I got from Cotton Blossom, so thanks to her for that.

Disclaimer: The usual.

On with the show!

Steve's POV

"Soda, bring the light closer," I ordered, again.

"Listen, buddy. I can't hold on to this giant firecracker and point the light in every direction," he explained with a pleading voice.

"Well, I need light here!" To say I was frustrated was an understatement.

We'd been fighting with the fire cracker, one of ten, for the last half an hour. We just couldn't get it to stay in the ground or stay steady long enough to light the stupid thing. I was getting frustrated with the whole damn thing and I just wanted to stick them in a pile with some gasoline and see how big a bang we could make. And it didn't help my mood or patience that Dally was laughing at us every so often. He was snickering again and I wanted to hit him, but you just didn't hit Dallas Winston unless you wanted to be hit back.

"All right, Dally," I said over his snickering. "You two think you can do this any faster?"

"Think?" Mike was also making me mad. "We know we can."

"Yep," Dally agreed.

"Ok. Let's see you put your money where your mouth is," I challenged.

"You're on," Dally smiled.

"Wager?" Mike asked.

"You do this faster and I pay you five bucks," I offered.

"Let's make it interesting. We set up all these fireworks in the time it took you to fight with that one and you pay us five bucks each," Mike offered.

"Deal. And if you lose?" I asked. I knew they couldn't do it.

"We pay you fifteen bucks and I do the work on your car in the garage for free," Mike offered.

"Seems fair," I smiled.

"I hope you know you're on your own in this one, buddy," Soda smiled. "I'm outta cash."

"That's ok, buddy. I don't plan on losing," I whispered, thinking about how much work that car needed. I could fix it myself if I lifted the proper tools from the DX or something.

I was smiling as Mike picked up the firework Soda and I had struggled with.

"Okay. We had you dopes timed at half an hour. Ready to time us?" Dally asked.

"Yep," Soda said catching Mike's watch.

Mike held the fire cracker while Dally held the light. My smile drooped slightly when they had the firework standing on it's own in less than two minutes. They moved to the next one, making sure they were spaced, and the next and the next and the next.

My smile was gone and I was livid by the time they finished. It only took the pair of them fifteen minutes. How they did it was beyond me. Dally could barely sit at the table properly, let alone do this!

"Time, Soda?" Mike asked straightening up from the last one.

"Fifteen minutes," Soda said, tossing him back his watch.

"Damn, we've gotten slow," Dally cursed.

"You've done this before?" I asked calmly.

"Yep. We're the reason they have security during firework shows on Stanton Island. Idiots learned not to leave 'em where we could lift 'em." Mike grinned.

"So you played us?" I asked.

"Nope. We made a wager we couldn't lose and you agreed, so cough it up," Dally said.

"I'll get it to ya tomorrow," I grumbled. I was so close to getting that car fixed right.

"Hey, be glad we didn't play ya for more," Dally added.

I shrugged. I wasn't happy about it, but I wasn't going to make a big deal over ten bucks. Sure I needed that cash, but I needed to be able to walk tomorrow and if Mike was anything like Dally you didn't call him a cheat and expect to come out on both feet.

"Well, ten minutes 'til we set these beauties off," Dally said leaning against a tire in the vacant lot.

"I can't wait." Soda was excited. He loved anything that pumped this much energy and excitement.

"Me neither," I still grumbled.

Finn's POV

Dinner was nice. We didn't end up with mashed potatoes on the roof, but it was still nice. I have a feeling Darry told everyone to behave themselves, but still. I looked over at the clock from the dishes. It was nearly midnight and a new year. This was a year I was ready to leave behind and I was in anticipation of the new one. I just hoped Mike and Dally hadn't dragged Soda and Steve to the store to go somewhere else than the store. Mike was notorious for doing things he wasn't supposed to and that's one of the things I loved about him.

"Well, that's the last of them," Darry said, tossing his dish towel to the side.

"No dishes in the New Year." I smiled.

"Like that will last." Darry smiled and put his arms around my waist.

"No, but I can hope. At least there are no dishes to start off the New Year," I reasoned.

"Can't say the same for our place." Darry looked a bit annoyed at that fact.

"Oh well. Maybe in the new year you should resolve to get Pony and Soda doing the dishes," I suggested.

"I should. What about you?" he asked.

"I resolve to do more of what I want and spend more time with the people I love," I told him.

"Am I on that plan?" he asked.

"I think I can squeeze you in." I smiled.

"Well, I'd like that." He had a goofy grin sometimes.

"1966. I'll be writing 1965 on everything for the next week," I sighed. It was true. I'd done it before.

"I think 1966 will be a right fine year," Darry predicted.

"Really?" I asked, skeptical at his optimism.

"Well, look at it this way. How can the year be that bad when I'm starting it off in the arms of a beautiful girl?" he asked.

"Well. The guy holding her back doesn't look too bad either." I laughed.

"What?" He laughed too.

"Just thinking how funny it would be for one of the kids to walk in on us right now. Or even all three," I explained.

"Pony'd take one look and leave, Johnny'd blush something awful and go too, but Two-Bit'd start in with the jokes and we'd never be able to live it down. I think we're safe. They're busy watching TV," Darry reasoned.

"Really?" I asked.

"Really!" he answered and leaned in for a kiss.

Mike's POV

"Okay. I'll go down to the other end and light 'em," Dally said, taking my box of matches.

"Remember to watch the fuse is tied," I reminded and he waved me off.

I waited in anticipation as Dallas struck the match. It flared in the darkness of the lot and I waited for the fuse line to catch. I hadn't done anything like this for so long I wondered if it would be as good as I remembered. Soda and Steve looked like they were on the edge of their nonexistent seats too. The fuse caught after two or three tries and it worked its way to the first of the fireworks.

"That one fell over," Soda pointed to the one at the end of the line with a flashlight.

"Go set it back up," I said as if it was the only logical thing to do.

Soda and Steve went to the end of the line and they struggled with the firework again. I shook my head. That was the only one they had set up too. I'll have to show them how to do it properly when it's light out.

"Stick it in the ground!" Steve snapped.

"It is in the ground!" Soda yelled.

"In line!" Steve yelled back.

"What are you two morons doing! Put it in the ground and beat it the hell out of there!" I yelled.

They were gonna get burned if they stayed there too much longer the first of the fireworks were already up.

"This was your idea!" Soda yelled at Steve.

Finn's POV

"…FIVE…FOUR…THREE….TWO… ONE!" Two-Bit yelled. "Happy- What the hell?"

The screams of fireworks cut him off. It didn't register at first they were fireworks. When it did, I broke away from Darry who had heard them too. I looked out the back window and saw they were going off in what was called the vacant lot. It was too close and on the wrong side of town for it to be a show. Well, a legal show.

"Mike!" I snapped, knowing it was him.

"Soda!" Darry said in the same tone. "Dally and Steve too."

He started towards the door and I put a hand on his arm. He gave me a weird look and I smiled.

"They'll be home soon. Mike and Dally know better than to stick around the scene of a crime," I reasoned and he nodded looking as livid as I felt.

"Hey! Did you two see how close those fireworks were?"

Pony came into the kitchen and paused. Seeing the looks on our faces, he looked a bit puzzled. He was a bright kid and put two and two together pretty fast. I can't say the same for Two-Bit who was hyped up over the fireworks.

"Damn, that was close! What a rush! Boy the guys down town sure know how to kick off the New Year!" He came into the kitchen followed by Johnny.

"Two-Bit," Darry said very calm. "Why don't you, Ponyboy, and Johnny hang out in the kitchen for a while?"

"Okay, but there ain't no TV in the kitchen," he pointed out.

"There's a deck of cards on the counter," I suggested and followed Darry into the living room.

He sat down in the chair I shut off the TV before sitting down on the arm of the chair and we waited. While we waited, we could clearly hear the sirens of police cars not too far off. Right about when Two-Bit started yelling about cops in the lot, Mike and Dally walked in followed by two guys I wouldn't have been able to recognize if I didn't already know who they were. Darry, who was about to yell, was taken back by the sight of them.

Mike was relatively clean, but looked a little out of breath. Dally about the same, but he had black powder on his white T-shirt. Soda and Steve looked singed. They looked like they had been right beside them when they went off. Their faces were dark with the powder and their hair was all over the place. They were also covered with dirt, which suggested they had been close enough to be flung back when the fireworks went off.

Steve looked guilty and Soda looked a little out of it, but happy. Mike was avoiding our gaze and Dally was searching his pockets for a cigarette.

"How about them fireworks?" Dally ventured, not being able to find a cigarette.

"Yeah, sure took us by surprise," Steve added.

I don't know why but I started laughing and Darry joined me. They stood there looking at us like we were crazy and Mike was glaring at Steve and Dally. I don't think he expected to get away with it, but he didn't think they were stupid enough to still try. Well maybe he thought Steve was, but not Dally. They were busted and they knew it, but just the looks on their faces were enough to send us into fits of laughter. Soda joined in and then Mike started grinning. Pretty soon all of us were laughing.

"What the hell happened to you two?" Two-Bit asked, joining into our laughter.

Pony and Johnny came out holding their cards. Johnny started to giggle quietly while Pony was trying to make up his mind if this was funny or sad. He finally settled on funny and started to laugh with the rest of us. Dally and Mike were the first to come back to earth. Mike winked at Dally, as if to say we're off the hook, but Dally shook his head. Darry wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes and pinned his cool gaze on Soda, Steve, and Dally. We all stopped laughing about then and waited for what was going to happen next.

I got the impression Darry was the unofficial leader of this gang and it was his job to do the lecturing. I was going to do some lecturing tonight too, but I didn't like it. Two-Bit sensed this and went back into the kitchen, motioning to Pony and Johnny.

"Sodapop Patrick Curtis, what the hell where you thinking?" Darry asked calmly.

"Well..." Soda just gazed off into space.

"You should have more sense. Heck, all four of you should!" He was building up to yelling.

"Damn, Darry," Dally looked a little out of place. He probably wasn't on the receiving end of these from Darry at least.

"I don't want to hear excuses! I want to know what possessed you to do something so stupid," Darry requested, calmer.

"Mike?" I asked, knowing he was never one to be shy.

"Start off the New Year with a bang, a few cop cars," he said easily.

"Why would you go and do something like that in the first place?" Darry snapped. "Do you have any idea how close those cop cars are?"

"Yep," Mike answered.

Mike was calm and I think he was enjoying this. It probably reminded him of home. His old man used to chew him out like this. I also knew he was pushing Darry's patience. I think he wanted a fight, why was beyond me, but there was something in his eyes saying 'get mad and hit me. I dare you'.

"Mike," I warned, "don't."

It would be a close fight, but one I didn't want to ever happen. If they fought now, I had the feeling there would be bad blood between them for a long time. Mike threw me a glare and I returned it. After he saw I wasn't going to back down, he threw up his hands resignedly and stood quietly.

"I just can't believe…Soda, you're smarter than this. All of you are," Darry still lectured.

"Darry?" I cut in and he gave me a funny look. "I think they've learned their lesson."

Dally and Mike probably hadn't learned squat except not to bring Soda and Steve along on these expositions. Soda and Steve had at least learned not to be so close to lit fireworks. They both looked ashamed and sore. Mike looked like he wanted to get on with his life and Dally still looked out of place.

"Ok. I want you all to give me your words you won't ever do anything like this again," Darry was giving them a way to end this.

Soda and Steve nodded, Dally glared and then followed suit.

"Yeah, no more fireworks to kick off the New Year," Mike said.

"Mike." I gave him a knowing look.

"Okay, no more fireworks period. Happy?" he snapped.

"Yes," I answered.

"Now that that's out of the way, are you two alright?" Darry asked.

"Yeah. It was great." Soda was smiling like Darry had in the kitchen.

I laughed and Darry gave Soda a funny look.

"You gonna tell Mom and Dad?" he asked considering this for the first time.

"I don't know, little buddy. I'm mighty tempted." He was thinking hard on it.

"Darry? Remember that resolution I suggested you make in the kitchen?" I asked.

He grinned and looked at Soda evilly. I was glad I wasn't the one who set off the fireworks.

"Yeah. I can't do anything to the rest of you, but Soda could get really good at doing the dishes."

Mike's POV

Last night Finn said I learned a lesson. I think I did and more than one. Lesson one: Never bring along rookie tagalongs. Lesson two: Don't come home if you know you're gonna get caught. Lesson three: You don't have to out-drink everyone.

God, I felt like a kid last night. A kid caught red-handed, one hand still in the cookie jar. The way Darry glared at us made me mad. He wasn't my boss, who the hell did he think he was lecturing me? Hell, even if he were my boss, I wouldn't take that crap. He's just lucky Finn had his ass covered or I would have beat the pulp out of him. Sure he had me out-sized, but I'd taken down bigger.

I was itching for a fight. I don't know why. Maybe Dally was right. I need to be my old bad ass self again. Beating up a few Soc's -I think that's what they call 'em- would keep me from taking it out on Darry and the rest. I still didn't want to mess up what I had. I mean a good job, a warm house, and people who care is rare nowadays. I liked it. Damn! Dally was right, I've gone soft. A night on the street would probably kill me I'd gotten so accustomed to this life. Hell, a few drinks last night and I was drunk. I was getting too damn soft. All this thinking was making my head hurt.

"Good Morning," Finn said coming down stairs.

"Thamattopin," I mumbled.

"Did you get to sleep at all last night?" she asked.

"Uuuuugggghhhh," I groaned, putting my head back down on the table.

I knew she was smiling at me and I wanted her, well all four of her, dead. Being happy should be against the law, especially at this time in the morning.

"Well. Your hangover will have company in a couple minutes," she said, looking into the living room

"Wha?" I was barely able to raise my head.

"Dally's out cold in the living room. You both hit the booze hard. I was considering going home with Darry last night to escape the fumes. Do you have any idea how much you drank last night?"

I just looked at her. All I heard was "blah, blah, blah. How much did you drink?" I raised my hand up and tried to tally them on my fingers I lost count several times and had to start again. Boy, five was a hard number to get to. She was shaking her heads at me and I felt dizzy watching them. I put my head back down on the cool table. It helped. Don't ask.

I think I passed out for a while just enjoying the cold table. At least it wasn't spinning like the rest of the room. It shook when the Finn's put a cup of coffee in front of me. It was hot and I wasn't up to drinking it so I kept touching the liquid to see how long I could keep my finger in it before it hurt. My finger was red before I finally tried it. I was right. It was hot and I wasn't up to drinking it right then. I just stared at the cup for a while before the table shook again and I saw Dally put his head on the table too. We both did it when we're drunk. Don't ask. It just helped.

Finn, now only three of her, put a cup of coffee in front of Dal. He groaned and took a sip. He looked like the motion had hurt and closed his eyes tightly. I wanted to say something about him trying to out-drink me and how this served him right but I merely mumbled into the table. Boy was I glad we didn't own a table cloth. I loved the fact it was smooth and cold and that the drool hanging from Dally's mouth would be easy to clean up. That was sickening.

"'Morning, Finn!" Soda yelled coming into the room.

Dally and I shared twin groans and I knew all five of Soda were grinning. Happy should be illegal.

"Good morning, Soda." She was probably smiling too.

"That'samatterofopinion," I slurred.

"Well, it is a matter of opinion and yours might be different if you didn't drink yourself under the table last night," she lectured.

"I won," I said simply and moved my head to a new cool spot on the table.

"Well, he lost and I can't see a difference between the two. You both look like hell," Soda laughed.

Dally managed to flip him off, but not much more. I was impressed he could even raise his arm that high. I was glued to the table. Maybe Dally had cheated and won. Damn him and being able to move his limbs. I'll beat him and Soda up later, when they quit spinning.

"So, what's on the plan for today?" Finn asked. She didn't have to yell.

"Well, I'm going to make every dish spotless so Darry won't rat me out then me and Steve are going downtown. Pony, Johnny, and Two-Bit are going to hang out and Darry has arranged to have the house to himself for the day," Soda tallied with a knowing look even I could comprehend.

"I'll have to visit him later on so these two can be miserable with their hangovers alone. Mike, so help me, if you put your finger in your coffee again, I'm gonna hurt you," she snapped.

"Don't yell," Dally groaned.

"I haven't, yet." She grinned. God, she was evil.

"Well, I best be moseying before Darry comes looking for me. I just couldn't resist looking in on these two." Soda grinned.

"I'll bet," I muttered. Yep I'd kill him as soon as I regained control of my arms and he quit spinning.

"Bye, Soda," Finn called.

It was quiet for a minute before Finn decided to throw all the beer bottles in a bag. They were loud and my head thumped with each time a new one was added. I looked over at Dal who looked to be in pain. I couldn't help but grin until Finn dropped the bag of bottles on the kitchen floor and went back for more.

I remember thinking last night was going to be long, but I knew today was going to be even longer. Kill me now.


I love it when Mike drinks. He always seems to reflect upon it in a humorous way.

As always any comments at all are welcome and Flames are accepted

See ya in the funny papers!!!

Tens & Zickachik