A few more weeks pass by and I'm sitting in my living room when the whole gang except Johnny and Pony barge in.
"What's up?" I ask.
"Is that the first thing you ask?" Steve complains. "Hand over some chocolate cake."
I walk into the kitchen and pick up the plate and hold it like I'll throw it. "How do you want it?" I ask with a smirk. "Painted," - I pretend to hold an imaginary paintbrush - "or do you want it face-planted?"
The gang jeers. "You're in trouble now, Steve!" Two-But calls.
I set the cake down. "Help yourself," I step aside as Steve grabs some cake and Two-Bit goes rummaging around my fridge for beer. Soda watches a slight smile on his face. Meanwhile, Darry is still serious, but he looks like the happy kind of serious.
"Anyway," I say, plopping on my couch. "What's the big news?"
"It's Pony's birthday," Two-Bit says, turning on the TV.
"Turn that off," I command, getting up and shutting it off. "What are you planning to do?"
"Not like we can throw some fancy party for him," Soda says.
"Actually, we can," I say, thinking of all the diys we could do.
"How?" Darry asks.
"Leave it to me!" I say. I had forgotten how much I love to plan things. Now this was my chance. "We can all do something!" I say excitedly. "Soda you can whip up a cake, I can do decor, and Two-Bit and Darry, can I trust you with the drinks?"
"Okay, cool," Two-Bit says. "But wait. I'm with Superman?"
"Yes," I say, placing my hands on my hips. "So you don't get drunk or something."
"What about me?" Steve asks.
"Steve, you and Evie come up with a birthday present idea," I reply. "If you need help, just ask me."
"Where are we going to get the money for this?" Darry asks.
I facepalmed myself. "Did you save anything?" I ask.
"Me and Soda saved up some," Steve says suggestively.
"Okay, we need to budget this," I say. "So Steve if you don't mind, hand over the dough,"
"What?" Steve exclaims, staring at my open palm.
"You heard me," I reply. "Hand it over,"
"What?" Steve repeats. "Are you kidding me?"
"No, I'm not," I say, looking at my nails. "You came to me looking for help, and I'm giving it to you. Now hand it over."
"Why?" Steve asks.
"Because, like I said we need to budget this." I reply.
"Just give it to her," Soda tells Steve. "It won't do any harm." he leans over to Steve and whispers, "I think she knows what she's doing."
"That's right," I add as a grumbling Steve reaches into his pocket and hands me the money. I take it and count how much it is. "I think we've got enough. But if we don't, we can just use my savings."
"Okay," Two-Bit says with a nod.
"We have a week to do this," I say. "So, Darry and Two-Bit, with the drinks, we'll just keep them in my fridge. Same with the cake." I give some bills to Darry. "That should do," Then I hand some to Soda. "So should that."
"You sure this is gonna work?" Two-Bit asks.
"Well, you did want a surprise party right?" I ask.
"Yeah," Darry says. "But I don't think we told you . . ."
"I deduced," I reply. "Okay, now go!" And I shoo them out my door. I turn to Steve. "We need to get Evie."
We found Evie at the DX and dragged her to my house.
"So," I say, sitting down. "Throw me good birthday present ideas,"
"I have no idea," Evie says. "What about you Steve?"
Steve shakes his head. "Me neither,"
"Well, then what about these ideas?" I ask. "A photo collage of the gang, and a copy of Gone with the Wind?"
"That works," Steve nods. "Where are we going to get the camera?"
I get up from the couch. "Be right back. And nothing better happen." I walk into my bedroom and rummage through my drawers to find my polaroid camera that I had found sitting in my room. I was kinda happy when I found it because I had always wanted one like it.
"Say 'cheese'!" I whisper as I walk in holding the camera up. I press the button, capturing the moment between Evie and Steve. "Aww. You two are so cute!" I exclaim walking up to them, waving the picture I took. It was cute. In it Steve has his arm around her and Evie is leaning up kissing his cheek.
"You took a photo?" Steve asks, slightly turning red.
I nod. "And there is no way you are going to get this," I say, holding the photo in front of them. Evie blushes and kisses Steve full on. "Okay, lovebirds," I say, rolling my eyes. "Unless you want another lovey-dovey photo, then get a room," But I can't help grinning. Evie and Steve are just so cute sometimes when they want to. Too bad some people just don't see it. I kinda envy them sometimes, you know out of curiosity. But my time will come soon, I just have to wait. . . .