I walked out to the living room after I heard the front door slam. Everyone turned to look at me so fast that I swore I heard a few necks crack.

"Hey, guys. Uh, what's up?" I asked innocently.

"I think you know, sis. What happened back there?" Soda questioned me.

"We had a misunderstanding. It's nothing. Forget about it. Oh yeah, Soda, Steve told me to tell you that he would be over at the DX."

"Okay. Anyone want to come with. Pony, I know you want to," Soda told Pony, practically forcing him.

"I guess I'll come," Pony agreed. "But Mandy has to come to."

"Excuse me? I doubt Steve'll want to see me."

"But we do. Right, Pony? Besides, if Pony here gets bored, you can entertain him," Soda said, pushing me out the door. I really no had no choice in the matter, so I obliged.

Soda wanted to drive there, but I suggested walking. And that's exactly what we did: walk. It was nice. It's been a while since it was just us three. Lately I was with the girls and Pony wanted to be by himself. Soda hasn't really changed. We were horsing around like we used to. I would jump on Soda's back, and he would spin around until I fell off. Then my two brothers would laugh while I sat on the ground rubbing my butt from where I fell. We used to do this almost everyday, up until a few years ago when Pony got into that trouble with soc's.

We walked through the doors of the DX. I didn't see Steve anywhere, so Soda searched for him in the backroom while Pony and I sat on chairs sipping some Root Beer and Diet Coke. I heard a loud bang and some swearing, and I jumped out of my seat, ready to go to the backroom, but Pony pulled me back.

"Don't worry, Soda's got it all under control," Pony soothed me. We just sat in silence for a while, before Pony asked me how I was doing.

"With what?" I asked, confused.

"With everything. It's not easy being harassed by a soc then losing your best

friend." I forgot about that. He was attacked by socials, and I sorta was too. Johnny

died and I got into the biggest fight with my best friend, who I will never forgive. It's no

wonder why Pony and I get along so well. We really do go through the same things, or

things that is very similar to each other.

"Pony, you usually have good advice, do you think you can help me?"

"Yeah, of course. What's up?"

So I told him everything. Every detail that happened since my first kiss with Chad I told him. "Do you think Steve hates me now?"

"Naw. I don't think Steve could hate you if tried. You've always been close to him and Soda. Steve's just frustrated, you know. Because of his dad and with Evie."

"What happened with Evie?"

"You don't know? He found her with Tim Shepard."

"Oh, poor Steve. I never really liked Evie anyways. I didn't think Steve cared for her too much either."

"I don't think he really did. That's what Sodapop said at least. He said that it helped him to get his mid off other things."

"Oh."

Ponyboy got up to get another root beer while I just stayed in my seat thinking. I wondered what will happen with my party and if Chad would make an appearance. In a way, I wanted him to. Don't ask why, I don't even know, but I did. A little piece inside of me said I liked Chad, but my head is saying that it's not even possible.

"Pony, can I ask you another question?" I asked when Pony returned with another drink.

"Sure, ask away," he replied.

"Do you think it's possible that Chad really likes me?"

"I don't know, maybe."

"Do you think it would be weird if I liked him?"

"You actually like him? We are talking about Chad Babana, right?"

"Of course we're talking about him. So you think it would be crazy if I did?"

"I don't think it would be crazy, but I do know that you should be careful around him. Even if he genuinely likes you, his friends probably don't, and they would make your life hell."

"So you wouldn't think I'm crazy if I liked him?"

"I probably would think that something messed up happened in your head, but you can't really help it if you truly like someone."

"Thanks." I looked down at my hands for a while, thinking. "So you don't think I'm really crazy if I liked Chad. What if I liked someone in the gang, like Steve?"

"You like Steve?"

"I might. I don't really know. Everything's too confusing."

"Well just think about it for awhile. And by the way, if you liked Steve, I would have no problem with it. Soda might, but I wouldn't."

"Thanks, Pony." I got out of my seat and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Tell Soda I had to go home. Julie's mom is picking me up in a hour to practice a dance and I have to get ready."

"You have to get ready to dance?" he asked, looking at me like I was crazy.

"Yeah. I need to put on makeup and my hair is a little on the frizzy side today, so I have to go fix it. I'll be home for dinner. Bye." I waved and started walking home.