XXXXXX

After getting done in the bathroom, Ponyboy walked out into the hallway and hear two voices talking. He took a few steps forward to Darry's room, well Sodapop's room now, looking inside to see Soda standing by the mirror combing his hair back, and Steve sitting on the bed.

"Hey, guys." He greeted.

Steve nodded at him and Soda turned to look over when he heard his voice.

"Hey Pony. What are you up to tonight?"

Pony shrugged. He really didn't have any plans.

"I'll probably meet up with Two-Bit and Johnny. What are you guys doing?"

"We're going to shoot a game of pool. Wanna come?"

Ponyboy flinched. He hated it when Soda asked him to tag along with them, especially right now with Steve in the room. He took a quick glance at Steve before looking down at the floor.

"Uh...no, that's okay Soda."

Steve however shook his head and waved his hand.

"Its okay Pony, come with us."

"Really?" Ponyboy asked, a shocked look on his face. Steve actually wanted him to come along?

"Yeah, come on."

After Soda got done with his hair, the three of them headed down the stairs, exiting the house and got into Steve's car. The drive was about ten minutes long before Steve parked the car outside of 'Classen Grill' and they headed in the place.

"I remember this place," Pony grinned while opening the door. "This was where Steve left me when he got mad and drove off."

Steve looked back at him with a smirk.

"I thought we were past that."

"We are."

They walked back to the pool tables and Soda handed each one a pool stick before he got ready to take the first shot. Settling for the five, he took aim and the ball went straight into one of the pockets. He went on to hit the seven into the side pocket but with the next shot, he failed to get any of the balls in, so it was now Ponyboy's turn.

Pony took the pool stick and aimed it at the twelve ball, since it was the closest one to a pocket. After it went in smoothly in the corner pocket, he missed the next shot so it was Steve's turn now. Nobody had said a word since they began to play and Pony decided to bring something up.

"Did you guys get assigned a World War II project in your history class?"

"Oh yeah," Steve responded while walking around the table. "That's bullshit we get something like that so early. It's only the first week of school."

"At least its not due to the end of the month." Soda shrugged. "Who's your partner?"

"Some geek with really thick glasses," Steve said while knocking the two ball into the pocket. "But apparently he gets straight A's, so I think I'll let him do all the work."

"I have to work with some kid that gets straight D's." Soda replied. "Considering my grades, I think we're in trouble here."

"My partner's a girl." Pony spoke up while sharpening the end of his stick. "Her name's Sherri. Sherri...Valance."

After Pony said that, Steve's head snapped up causing him to completley miss the shot.

"Sherri Valance is your partner?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You lucky little bastard, you've got a cheerleader as your partner."

"A cheerleader huh?" Soda asked while raising an eyebrow. "How hot is she? From one to ten?"

"A twelve." Steve answered.

"So, should I tell Karen that Sherri is my partner?" Pony asked. "I mean, since we're gonna have to work on this for the next three weeks. I don't want her to get the wrong idea about things, if she saw us together."

Sodapop nodded.

"Yeah, you should."

"No way, big mistake." Steve responded.

"What are you talking about? If he doesn't tell her and she finds out, she'll wonder why he was keeping it a secret in the first place."

"So what do you want him to do? Tell Karen his partner has an ass like a nectarine?"

"No, but he's gotta tell her something."

Pony just sighed while shaking his head as he prepared to take the next shot, knocking three balls into the same pocket. After that, he hit the eight ball into the middle left pocket and looked up to smirk at the other two boys.

"I win," he said with satisfaction.

"Luck, pure luck." Steve said while racking the balls up, getting ready for another game. "This time we play for money."

"Okay," Soda smiled while pulling a five dollar bill from the jeans.

"I don't have any money with me," Pony responded.

"Then I guess you don't play."

"Hey, be nice to my little brother." Soda warned.

Steve glared at him but shrugged.

"Fine, he can play. But if I win, you have to pay double, Soda."

XXXXXXXX

It was that time of the year. Autumn, wonderful autumn, and it made Linda sick with longing. It brought up memories of running through the leaves, eating huge bowlfuls of her mother's spaghetti after crisp, clear afternoons spent laying on the grass, watching the clouds and playing with her golden retriever her dad had gotten her.

Linda wasn't tired that night, in fact she was wide awake. After a day of being on her feet, hard at work at her job at the hospital she thought she would have been asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, but she was still tossing and turning.

Sighing, Linda pulled the blanket off her and got to her feet, pulling her black robe on, deciding to go downstairs to get something to drink.

Downstairs, Darryl was sitting on the recliner in the living room, reading a book in the peace and quiet as the fire crackled in the fireplace.

"Hey," a voice softly spoke.

Darryl looked a bit startled as he looked up from the book.

"Linda," he said as his wife walked into the living room.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"Its okay, you didn't." He said as he sat the book down on his chest. "What are you still doing up? I thought you have an early shift tomorrow."

"I can't sleep." She shrugged. "What about you? You looked exhausted when you came home today."

"I'm okay, plus the boys are still out."

"Darryl, I don't think you have to wait up for them anymore. They're older now and they know when their curfew is."

"I don't mind, really."

Ever since the boys had been in junior high and went out on the weekends, Darryl would wait up for them and wouldn't go to sleep until everyone was back at home, safe and sound, no matter how tired he was.

Sometimes Linda worried that her husband worked too hard, but knew deep down that he would never change anything he did, he took the job of being the provider for the family seriously.

"Alright."

After getting a glass of water from the kitchen, Linda walked back out towards the staircase.

"Good night, Darryl."

"Sweet dreams," Darryl smiled as he watched her pause for a second before she disappeared up the stairs.

For the next half hour, Mr. Curtis continued reading and was able to finish the book. He closed it and carefully put it down on the coffee table and then went over to put out the fire.

Just then, the front door opened and Ponyboy came bouncing in with Sodapop right behind him.

"Hey, Dad." Soda greeted when he saw him.

"Hey boys." Darryl then looked up at the clock. "You're actually on time tonight."

"Well, there's always a first for everything."

Darryl smiled.

"I'm going to sleep now. You both can stay up for as long as you want to, just don't go back out."

"Alright." Pony said. "Good night."