The next morning Pony woke up to a strange noise. He opened his eyes and saw two-bit trying to make coffee with one hand. He was already fully dressed. Pony glanced at the clock it was 7 a.m. everyone else was still asleep. "Two-bit what are you doing up, it's so early?" Pony stifled a yawn.

"We are going to the alligator show today, so I thought we'd wake up early. I'm making coffee for everyone."

"Sure you are, with one hand," Pony chuckled. He dragged himself up, quickly pulled his jeans and t-shirt on and went to the area in the room where a small fridge and coffee maker was.

He took the pot from two-bit's one good hand. "I'll make it."

"Ok, if you insist," two-bit shrugged. "We should wake them up," he said next, walking straight to Dally's bed prepared to wake him up. Pony gave him a warning look – "I don't think that's a good idea."

"But we will be late." Two-bit looked genuinely concerned.

"We won't be late. I don't think they are even open at this hour." Pony chuckled pouring the water into the coffee pot.

"Fine be like that," two-bit pouted, and went into the corner of the room and plopped into a chair. He looked antsy.

"Here," Pony shoved the newspaper at him, - "Something for you to do so you don't die of boredom."

At around 9 a.m. everyone was finally up. They had some coffee and a few croissants they got downstairs, and headed out. When they arrived it was around 10:30 a.m., and there was a small crowd to get in, but it wasn't too bad.

Once in, they proceeded to the area where in a large basin there were about 5 alligators. One large alligator seemed to have its paw around a little alligator and seemed to be washing it. Pony looked over at Johnny, and noticed he was looking down, defeated look on his face. "What's the matter?" Pony looked at his friend with concern.

"Oh, it's nothing," Johnny replied hanging his head.

"Don't it's nothing me, what's wrong?" Pony said, meeting his gaze.

Johnny sighed, "It's nothing," he repeated, then added with a sad smile, "even an alligator mom cares for her babies why not mine?" Pony was startled by this statement, he didn't know what to say, how to make his friend feel better. Before he got a chance to say anything, there was an announcement on the radio for everyone to take their seats. So they went to the sitting area and took their seats.

The show started – the alligators formed a circle and swam continuously in a circle, then the host picked up one of the alligators – the biggest one by its tail and waved him in the air, then let him go back into the water. The assistants were throwing fish in the water and the alligators were catching it with their huge mouths. The host performed a few more tricks, then finally opened the mouth of one of the biggest alligators and put his head inside. Silence fell onto the place. It seemed that people stopped breathing. After about a minute the host took his head out.

The host turned to face the audience and said, "Anyone wants to try to hold one?"

"I am in," Dallas shouted, getting up from his seat. A few other people raised their hands. They formed a small line by the basin and one by one under the supervision of the host held the alligator. When it was Dally's turn he didn't even bat an eye. He held the alligator as a fisherman would hold a big fish that he caught. As Dallas was holding the alligator, two-bit snapped a picture using his good hand. Seeing Dally, Steve and Soda joined the line too. Two-bit took a picture of each of them holding the alligator.

After the show the guys grabbed a quick bite at the local café, and then decided to take one of the trails available in the park. There would be more basins with alligators along the trail. So they followed the signs. They got further and further and after a while they realized the signs were not there, neither were the basins with alligators anymore. "Shit," Soda said looking around, "I don't know where we are."

"Relax," Dally replied coolly, "we'll find our way back." It started getting dark.

"Alright," Steve frowned, "we should go back."

They started walking in the opposite direction, but after half an hour they realized they were not on the right path, the park was nowhere in view – they were lost. "Great," Steve plopped onto the ground.

"We are going to spend the night," Dallas announced, "then in the morning we'll figure out the way." They all took a seat on the ground. "I can't believe it we are fuckin' lost," Steve mumbled. Dally ignored his words just giving him a stern look. He got a few tree branches, and used his lighter to make fire. He took his jean jacket off and lay it down on the ground. "You can lie down," he said to Sophia. "Thanks," she replied taking a seat on the jacket.

As uncomfortable as they were, all the guys gradually drifted off to sleep. It was only Dallas and Sophia by the fire. "So," Dallas threw a few more tree branches into the fire, "are you glad you stuck with us?" She smiled, "sure beats being a nun." Dallas laughed, "I bet." He scooted closer to her, then put his arm around her waist, leaned in and started kissing her on the lips. She froze for a brief moment, but then started kissing him back. Then she pulled away. "How's that for a nun?" Dally smirked and winked at her. She blushed as the fire illuminated her face. She was beautiful, Dallas thought. He took her hand and for a moment his eyes got serious. He never said what he was about to say before to anyone, certainly not to a girl he dated. "I am not just fooling around, I really like you Sophia. You are," he paused, "beautiful and kind and fun to be around." She moved closer to him and whispered, "I like you too Dallas Winston. I sure am happy I'm not a nun." He chuckled, and put his arm around her shoulder. They just sat this way till the morning. Talking, telling each other about themselves. Something Dallas was not used to.

In the morning they started walking in what seemed the right direction. Suddenly Soda made a small sound – "shit".

"What' wrong?" Steve looked up at him.

"I think I stepped on a sharp rock or something." He bent over to see what it was and froze. "What is it?" Steve walked up to him and bent over too. "Shit," he cursed.

"What?" Dally snapped.

"It's a snake. I've been bitten by a rattlesnake, that's just great." Soda looked really upset. Not because of the pain or danger of the venomous snake bite, but because he realized he will be trouble for the guys. Steve looked lost for a minute then said to Soda "sit down."

"Why?"

"I am going to suck the venom out."

"Is that what you are supposed to do?" Soda asked confused, trying to take a seat in the grass.

"Yes," Steve nodded.

"Actually," Pony started, stepping forward, "you are not supposed to do that."

"And what do you know smarty?" Steve scowled.

"Wait Steve," Pony's eyes were wide, "that's the old way but it's not right. You are just supposed to clean the wound and put a bandage on it. Not walk if possible and get to the hospital ASAP. They have special treatments depending on what type of snake it is."

"Are you telling me I'm supposed to do nothing?" Steve's eyes blazed with anger. Pony nodded. Steve looked mad – "bullshit."

Soda paled, "It's ok," he said softly, turning to Steve, "maybe he is right." Steve gritted his teeth – he was really mad. "Can you walk?" Dallas walked up closer to Soda and stretched his arm for Soda to grab, helping him get up.

"I'll try my best." Steve turned his back to him "hop on."

"Are you sure?" Soda hesitated a little.

"Yeah," Steve said barely audibly as he gave Soda a piggyback. The thing that they weren't sure which way to go and when they would be able to get to the hospital didn't make matters better.

After they've walked for about 2 hours, Dallas stopped. "We must be going the wrong way, it didn't seem two whole hours when we were getting here." They turned yet another direction. After walking for about half an hour, "I see a sign," two-bit yelled, pointing his finger. They realized they were back on the trail. Soon enough they saw a basin with the alligators, and in about 15 more minutes they were back at the start of the trail. From there they got to the exit. "Whew," two-bit sighed in relief, "I was starting to panic there a little."

"We got to get to the hospital," Steve interrupted. They hurried to the car, where Steve carefully set Soda in the back seat, and climbed in the passenger seat upfront.

When they got to the hospital they explained what had happened, and the nurse comforted them, saying that they saw snake bites quite often, and Soda was going to be ok. She led Soda into a room, and said the doctor would be in shortly.

The doctor asked Soda to describe what the snake looked like, the color, shape, whatever Soda could remember. That way they'll know what type of snake it was and what type of antivenom Soda needed. The doctor cleaned the wound and put gauze over it. "We are going to administer antivenom through your vein to prevent paralysis and the spread of the poison into the rest of the body. It will take about five hours, please lie down." Soda stretched out on the bed, and the doctor hooked him up to a bag with liquid in it. "That's it," he said. "Your friends can see you if you wish." Soda nodded.

The door opened a crack and the guys walked in. Soda smiled at them. "I dunno if we went sightseeing on our trip or hospital hopping. This is the third time in the hospital," he chuckled, "and that time that Dally got wounded he needed the hospital too."

"Did not," Dally scowled.

"Sure did," Soda laughed a little, turning to his side so he could see the guys better.

"Anyway the doc said," Soda pointed at the hooked up tubes, "after this runs out in about five hours, I should be all fine."

"Are you allowed to eat?" Johnny asked affectionately.

"Sure, but I am not hungry." Soda said hesitantly, propping his head on his hand.

"You didn't get anything to eat since we got lost at the park yesterday." Steve said reluctantly.

"Neither did you," Soda replied with a small smile.

"We'll go get some food from the cafeteria," Steve said, and then pointed his thumbs at Pony, "by 'we' I mean you." Pony just rolled his eyes. "What are you in the mood for?" he turned to Soda.

"Fine," Soda replied, "I'll have a burger and some fries," then added, "and some chocolate milk," he paused, "if they have it."

"Sure," Pony smiled.

That evening they started the drive back home to Tulsa. "I can't believe we've been away for whole three months," Johnny said, looking up at Pony.

"Sure doesn't feel that way," Pony agreed.

"So," Soda said thoughtfully, "how much money do we have left?" He looked over at Dallas.

Dally smirked, "we just got about five hundred bucks."

"No way," Steve said in disbelief.

"I can't believe we blew five grand," Soda gave it a whistle.

"Yeah," Dally took a drag on his cigarette, "those hotels are expensive."

"I guess they are more expensive than I thought," Soda chuckled.

"I don't want it to end," Johnny said quietly, and Dally gave him a look in the rear view mirror.

"Shoot kid," two-bit turned around to look at Johnny, "we can go on another road trip next Summer." Everyone nodded, and just like that their road trip was officially over.