Whoa, I was about to write up next chapter for Mary-Sue, when I saw how much more hits Bad Influence was getting. I suppose either people wanna read this more, or people just click on it more, or whatever. Either way, I decided it was probably best to update this first.

I'm sooo sorry for the incredibly long wait, and I'm sure the people who were depending on me to update, have now given up on me and I'm sorry:( I don't even really remember what has happened in the story so far, so I'm just gonna wing it and try to finish the story up.

Thanks soo much for all the reviews!!! I never update because I've always got something in my life that keeps me totally distracted from writing, but now everything will be alright again. But the reviews keep the stories at the back of my mind, so I never give 'em up. It just takes ages to get back to 'em. Thanks again!! You're all awesome!!:D:D

5
4
3
2
1

The cool air circled around every part of my body, reminding me just how naked I was. I listened to the sound of my older brother pulling up in the driveway. I kept my forehead against the door. This was too embarrassing for words and I couldn't turn to let him see how badly I was blushing. I was going to kill Curly when I got inside. The images of him licking my earlobe just before he told me to run outside to the mailbox, was haunting the back of my mind and made my ears feel like they were on fire. But anger boiled in my blood remembering it was because of him that I could hear Darry's car door slam, and a loud cackle.

"Ponyboy, what are you doing?" He laughed. "What will the neighbours think? They'll think I've gone insane and this is some sort of freaky, new punishment."

I felt my chest heave, I just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. What's he going to say to Sodapop when he gets home? I screwed my eyes shut, when I heard his heavy work boots on the porch. He approached me, making me listen to the sound of him rattling his keys as he searched for the house one. I peeked a glimpse at his key set. I thought he only needed keys for his car and the house, what are the others for?

"Are you coming inside, Pony?"

I snapped out of my daze and for the first time accidentally met Darry's eyes. He wasn't laughing at me anymore -probably to save me the embarrassment- but I could see in his eyes, this was amusing to him.

I pushed past him, and a giggling Curly ran up to me, wrapping a towel around my waist. I was angry and frustrated, so I tried to push Curly out of my way to get my point across I was annoyed. But he kept buzzing around me, trying to secure that he tied the towel around me properly.

Darry kicked off his boots at the door, and threw his t-shirt off. He walked past the laundry and chucked his shirt in. He ignored us, going about his normal routine as if we weren't there. The smell of his sweat from work stretched its way across to us, temporarily making Curly stop and stand straight.

"Ponyboy was in the shower," he called out to Darry, but Darry seemed to be off in his own world as he headed to his bedroom, and closed the door. "He ran outside, but the towel fell off and the door slammed behind him." Curly continued to explain.

I looked at him exasperatingly.

"What's wrong Baby Curtis?" Curly tilted his head, then playfully messed up my hair.

"I told you I hate it when you touch my hair," I said, as I walked to the bathroom to fix it.

"You're like a girl you know that?" Curly leaned against the doorway, smirking at me.

I could see him in the mirror, but pretended not to as I picked up the comb to fix my hair. I started from the front, and slowly combed it back to perfection. My hair was it's natural colour again and I loved it.

"Like you're one to talk Curly! You love your hair more than any other Greaser in Tulsa!" I rolled my eyes.

He stepped into the bathroom, and snatched my comb off me. He looked down at me, smiling. He wasn't that much taller than me anymore, maybe only by an inch or two. I'd grown a lot over the past year, so we could almost see eye to eye.

"I love my hair, don't get me wrong." He turned to face the mirror, but I continued staring at his hair as he stroked it back. "But it keeps getting cut on me whenever I end up in the cooler. Besides, there's no chicks around." He put the comb down; "so who are you trying to impress? Unless you're trying to look nice for me." He grinned.

I laughed. "You're not worth dressing up for."

Curly looked at me sadly, then stepped behind me and tugged on my towel, "wouldn't kill you to put something on though. Even if I do end up taking it off again…"

I wasn't sure what to say, but it made my stomach feel like it had leaped into my throat. A smile tugged and pulled at my lips, and soon ideas and pictures began popping up in my head.

Curly looked down biting his lip. Then I felt the air change around us. Something came in, swooped up the moment and flew back out the window. Cause whatever was there, was gone, and Curly stepped out of the bathroom.

"I gotta go. See ya later, Pony."

I stood there confused, and lost. I was swept up in confusing feelings. Feelings I was denying, that I believed and tried convincing myself weren't there.

Was I gay? I'd certainly done enough to confirm it to my friends and family. But I didn't feel that way inside. I wasn't attracted to other guys and I didn't even feel attracted to Curly. But when he starts acting as if we're the only two people, who exist in this world, then I just get so swept up and all I wanna do is let him just hold me.

I feel sick for thinking that.

Curly slammed the door behind him. What did I do wrong?

I went to my room and got changed into something comfortable. My head was lost in the clouds, yet I had the rest of the whole day to myself. Should I go down to the lot? Should I see Two-Bit today? Should I get a start on my homework? Doing my homework seemed to be all that I was doing lately, so I went outside for a smoke.

What was up with Curly? I thought to myself as I took a long drag. Does he like me or not? Maybe I should just talk to him. Say something like, either tell me what's up, or cut it out! I ashed my smoke and leaned my head against the backdoor. But on the other hand, what if he's just like this with everyone (which he seems to be). He's treated me like an idiot before in the past when I've brought this up, so maybe I should just start ignoring it. Move on with my life. I'm probably so obsessed with him because he's got me so confused. Or what if this whole time he's not gay, and is just setting me up? Then he has a big laugh with all his friends at what he's convinced me to do.

My cheeks burned red. I'd die if anyone had any idea of what Curly and me had done. I was becoming suspicious that Darry suspected something, but Darry probably thinks it's the furthest thing from the truth. Well to an extent it is. Curly is still straight and it's not like we've made out or anything. Why did he leave so early? Unless Curly does feel something so he left before he took things to far. That's out there, Pony, I told myself. Stupid even. Maybe he had something more important to do today. For some reason I felt a little angry, but I just sucked on my ciggie harder.

3
2
1

Curly's Pov

I ran to the mall's carpark, where Tim was beeping his horn repeatedly, then in a long, drawn out one as I neared the car. He stopped once I got in. "Took your damn time, you were supposed to be here half an hour ago." He pulled out of the car park and turned onto the main road.

"What took you so long?" He asked angrily, turning on the radio, when we slowed down to a red light.

"I was with Ponyboy. I forgot."

I didn't have to look at him to know he rolled his eyes. I turned the radio up to melt into the song and drift away, I knew what he was about to say.

"What's so great about him? I've got nothin' against the kid, don't get me wrong. But why do you like being with him so much?"

"Can't I have any close friends?" I sighed frustratingly.

He shrugged. His brow was furrowed and tight, like he was in deep, angry thought. He reminded me of Darry sometimes, did I ever mention that? But only that hard look they both get. I've seen Darry in rumble's, he's not a bad fighter. I'd hate to be the guy up against him, especially if I caught a look at his icy eyes. But if Tim had put as much effort into school as he does with our gang, I reckon he would be just like Darry. Because they were both smart and organized. They both knew how to handle difficult situations, and I respected them for that and their natural leadership. Not that I would ever tell either of them that.

"I know what you're like with your close friends." Tim said breaking into my thoughts.

"Pony's different, he's a guy. We're just friends, honest. That's all it is."

Tim cocked an eyebrow so I tried to quickly change the subject, "so I heard while I was in the cooler, you, the gang, and Darry's mob all got into a big rumble with the socs."

"Didn't I already tell you about that?"

"Tell me again," I said, and then turned to look out the window. I wasn't sure if he was telling me the story or still going on about Ponyboy, but I wasn't listening anymore. I couldn't even hear the radio. I watched cars go by, and counted the amount of trees I saw. I arranged them by size and colour in my mind. Boring I know, but it kept my mind off certain things at least…

3
2
1

"When we get inside, shut up, sit down, and don't make a mess." Tim instructed me as we walked to the front door.

"Jeez, dad, are you gonna take my lollipop off me too?"

He grabbed the back of my head and then smashed it into the door. "Ow!" I yelled.

He gripped my hair tighter and lowered his voice, "that's what will happen if you make me angry today, get it?"

"Let go, asshole!" I struggled and pushed his arm away. Tim backed off, just as the front door opened, revealing an over enthusiastic, grinning girl.

"Hi!" She smiled, flashing her white teeth, and leaped onto Tim, kissing him. I stood back as to not get spit from their colliding mouths on me. I coughed, looking at them awkwardly.

Tim stood back from her, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. She grinned at me now, even though her lipstick was now faded and smudged slightly. It managed to make her look hotter though. "You must be Tim's brother, Curly!" She rushed over and hugged me.

She's weird. I mouthed it to Tim, while the broad was hugging me, and humming a peaceful tune to herself. Tim put his hands in his pockets and glared at me.

She released me, and looked me up and down, as if inspecting me. "She'll like you. My little sister is upstairs on the first room to the left. Thanks so much for agreeing to babysitting her while Tim's over."

I tried smiling through my cringe at the mention of babysitting. As if I would do this by choice, I was obviously beaten till I agreed to it, by Tim. Why can't she tell this? "I'm still gonna get paid for it right…?"

Tim shot another glare at me. His girlfriend nodded, then jumped up down, "of course, silly! Now go inside, we'll follow behind you. I just don't want all my neighbours seeing us out here."

"Would they tell your parents?" Tim asked, and she nodded, taking his hands as they stepped inside.

"What's your name?" I asked her.

"Mandy," she told me, and then her and Tim fluttered away like flirty young teenagers. I suppose Tim was still a kid, but I thought he was more mature than to let some girl make him all bouncy and childish. I thought only I was dumb like that. Oh well, time to go upstairs and face my awaiting punishment for the night.

I forgot where her room was, but it didn't take a genius when I saw the bright pink walls and crib full of stuffed toys. "Hello?" I peered my head in curiously. Wow! She had a lot of pointless shit. Angela wasn't nearly this spoilt as a kid, I thought as I looked around the bedroom. The little girl even had her own TV! But then again, I was in some soc's house. They probably spoil their kids rotten, lucky damn…

"Who are you?"

I turned around. She was young, maybe only about 6 or 7. She was standing in the doorway, tugging on her light brown pigtails, and looking up at me with frightened, big eyes. "Are you going to hurt me?" She asked, scared.

"No, I don't hit girls. Especially little ones." I sat on her floor, and turned the tv on, "I'm your babysitter. Do you know where snacks are?"

She stuck her thumb in her mouth and nodded. I rolled my eyes, "Well go get them then." She nodded again, and scurried away.

I wonder if there's a phone in here too? I stood up to look around, when I heard suspicious bed squeaking. Gross, I thought, and turned the tv up louder.

Wasn't Tim downstairs though? That's odd. It got creepier when I heard moaning, but couldn't hear a female. It also sounded like Tim was putting on two different voices when he moaned sometimes. It got stranger when I heard Tim talking, but then he would reply to his own questions.

The little girl came back with a bag of chips, and one was stuck up her nose. I took it out and then asked her, "who opened the chips for you?"

"Mandy."

"So she's downstairs?"

"Yes…"

"Is anyone else upstairs, besides you and me?"

"Yes," she smiled.

"Who?" I asked.

"My brother Randy. But he has a friend over."

"Who's his friend?"

She smiled, "Sodapop."

I snatched the chip packet from her hand, "I hate this flavour." I tossed 'em on the floor, and turned the tv up further, "get me donuts this time." She nodded, and walked away, leaving the chips on her carpet. I stood up and walked down the hall.

I knocked on the door where the sounds were coming from, and tried opening it, but it was locked. Damn, smart… Eventually Randy (so I presumed) answered the door, with a warning look on his face, "Who are you?"

"Your sister's babysitter. I was wondering-" I tried looking over his shoulders, but he kept blocking my view.

"Wondering what?"

"Wondering if I could borrow… your… socks?" I smiled.

He glared at me, "no."

"Please, I forgot to put on some today, and now I've got blisters."

"No, go away."

"Please! They really hurt, I'll keep bugging you till-"

"No."

"They're bleeding now, I can feel it, Ugh!"

"Alright," just wait here." Randy walked into his room, but it left me enough of a chance to push open the door and peek inside. Sodapop was sitting on the bed, with boxers on, and was pulling his pants up.

"Say hi to Ponyboy for me when you get home," I grinned wickedly at Sodapop.

Sodapop looked up at me, and quickly tugged his pants up. "Curly!" His surprise then turned into a glare, before Randy returned and shoved a pair of socks into my chest. Then he shut the door.

The little girl came back with a loaf of bread. "Close enough," I told her, and led her back into her room. "So," I grinned at her, "where's your phone? I've gotta make a call."

5
4
3
2
1

Sooo sorry for the incredibly long wait, but it's finally up! Yes, Sodapop's gay, I know it's unrealistic. But my stories are always unrealistic, so whatever, it's just a story. I planned to make him gay from beginning, and I hinted towards the fact it was Randy. But yeah… Hopefully no one gets angry over it or something. Hope you all liked the chapter, and a review would be much appreciated:):)
Soda and Randy's relationship does have a point to the story though, and isn't just some saucy plot twist. Case you're wondering.