Previously on "Losing Grip"……

"No!" an un-familiar voice cut in like a needle dropping on pins. Everyone standing on the rusty porch turned simultaneously to stare at Steve Randle, the Greaser who had stepped on the end of my dress the first day of school last year, making it rip- I can't even bare to recall the nightmare again. Half the student body saw me in my underpants!

Randle came out and staring at Soda intensely, he said to me "No, don't leave".

I scrunched up my nose a bit, getting suspicious of what these Greasers were up to or were they just legally insane?

Soda's POV

I stared strangely back at Steve, he had his hand on my arm and was mouthing something I couldn't make out. I squinted my eyes slightly, cocking my head to the side when it suddenly hit me what he was trying to tell me.

My eyes widened from the realization "OH! Yeah, don't leave!" I blurted out, turning my head back to Jara. I glanced at Steve who was smirking and nodding. For a sometimes-crazy bum, he could really watch out for someone.

Jara was shaking her head "I should go…." She objected, beginning to walk off but I quickly emerged and caught her once more by the arm, but gentler this time. I didn't know what came over me earlier; I guess I was just too surprised to have her here.

She glared at me again, and pulled her arm back "Don't touch me," She warned, looking down at the ground.

I frowned deeply; "Sorry…but don't go" I tried talking her into staying. I had no idea what I would do if she agreed but it's worth a shot!

"I already said no, why do you want me to stay so badly all of a sudden? A minute ago you wouldn't mind throwing me into the Rio Grande, what's changed?" She asked crossing her arms and looking up at me, her eyes were a hazy green now. I couldn't help but gaze genuinely into those big orbs of hers, which stared back at me from her thick dark glasses.

"….Because"

"Well, that explains everything…." She muttered, pushing her lens up higher on her nose. "Look, I have to get back home, my mom's waiting…."

"Fine! I'll talk to you in school tomorrow" I tried compromising and getting the "Talk to you in school" bit unnoticeably in. Am I the master of sneakiness or what?

"You are going to talk to me at school tomorrow, why? What are you going to do?"

Guess not

I let the air out of my lungs dramatically. My back slumping and meeting her height "Look, will ya' keep quiet and meet me…I swear, what I have to say is…. partly out of your benefit"

I glanced over at Ponyboy; he was standing off to the side and already bickering with Steve. I smirked at Jara as I faced her once more; her appealing eyes were already fixated on my little brother. I knew with this creepy love she had for Pony, I could definably get where I wanted her to be.

The next morning, I stood by the lockers waiting expectedly for someone to appear around the corner. Hopefully, alone.

Two girls passed by and gave me shy glimpses of smiles, I leaned back on the cold metal of an anonymous locker and nodded toward them "How's it going, ladies?"  I greeted, with a grin and a cock of my eyebrow that I managed to get to a tee with the secret help of Two-Bit, hey, it can get boring on summer days.

They giggled to each other and scampered off. Leaving me with the one single thought that described them 'Sheep'. I didn't go for girls like that. The one's that travel in packs and have the courage to be spontaneous or talk to the school stud with the help of their friend(s). It made my stomach turn. Girls's who aren't afraid to approach you by themselves really get my attention.

Even though I am single now, I knew that I would never really meet another broad that would make me feel like I did with Sandy. That chick had the power to make you seem like you're on top of the world, happiest as it can get.

Although, she could be secretive and I often wondered if it was because I didn't give her enough attention. Maybe if I had listened her out, she would of told me the problems she had been going trough.

But damnitt Soda! I shouldn't blame myself since it was her fault to go ahead and get pregnant with some low-life she barely knew!

I guess, what I'm trying to understand is that no matter how hard you make an effort to protect yourself from something, either way your going to run into a brick wall. Something sooner or later will cause a bump in your relationship. For Sandy and me that bump ended up being bigger than I thought.

I slipped to the side and bent down to drink from the water fountain, leaving part of a locker to put me out of sight.

When I straightened, I finally saw the flash of her red hair and her cheery bright face walking down the hall. Surprisingly, she was by her lonesome.

"Hey, Cherry!" By-passers acknowledged her as she sauntered by.

I wiped some water off my mouth with my sleeve and when she was close, I took her by the arm and brought the cheerleader to the concealed turn that was connected with the locker and the curve to the next extension of the hallway.

I put my arm up and slanted on it so that it would appear that I was only flirting with some broad and not about to ask Cherry Valence for a favor.

"Sodapop!" She yelped, but I hushed her "Ssh, you knew I was meeting you, remember?" I reminded. Steve and I had seeked her out the night before and asked if she would meet me but what I forgot to tell her was what time I would, it wasn't a surprise she was taken off guard.

"Yeah, I remember…. But are you sure we should be talking out in the open like this? Bob might see us…." She whispered, getting tense. I did too. I forgot that she was dating the guy who was pretty much running this bet.

"Don't worry, it'll be quick. Look, I need you to help me out and I promise this is not a joke" I said, reasoning first before I dump the load of string pulling on her.

"You need my help on Jara Pagan, right?" She asked, rolling her eyes half-heatedly.

"Yeah, how ya' know?"

"I heard Bob and some of his friends talking about it…Boy, do they have something planned out for you if you lose…" She replied, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"Then if you agree to meet me at my house, then that won't happen" I responded slyly but inside I was seeping with worry.

"I-I don't know. I mean, how am I suppose explain to everyone if they see me over in your territory?  No offense but I think my car will stand out from the rest" I knew what she was saying was true and I didn't take that against her.

"Then I'll pick you up over at the Nightly Double, just wait and I'll be there. No one will ever know. I'll even drop you off near your house so, your parents won't see me…Deal?" She was my only hope, if Cherry was in than I would have Tracey Gardner in no time at all. I can already imagine us slow dancing at the Prom….

Cherry looked about and then turned back to face me directly again, "…Deal. Jeez, Soda, if you weren't Ponyboy's brother I don't know if I would be agreeing to this…"

I wanted to hug her but of course we were in public and I could already hear Two-Bit rounding the corner with his loud bellowing of "Greasers coming through here!"

I backed off, giving her space "Don't forget your…. make-up and in lack of better words, Chick stuff. You're going be needing it once you set your eyes on Jara" I warned her, grinning for no reason what so ever.

Cherry frowned "I already saw her and believe me, I'm taking your warning to consideration. Just check "Hair and Make-up" off your list…" She smiled suddenly and began to walk off.

"Thanks again…." I called after her.

She gave me a stern look as a few Socs eyed us just then.

"Oops….I meant, Go to hell you Soc whore!"

"Whatever, filthy Greaser!!" She yelled back, and then when no one was looking she mouthed "Thank you"

I laughed and ran to my next class since the bell had just rung. The things you had to do to talk to one measly Soc around here!

"So, Cherry's in?" Steve asked me as he took a sip from the beer he had sneaked onto school property. We sat up on the hood of his car that was in the student parking lot. The rest of the gang still hadn't arrived yet so, it was just the two of us.

"Yep. I'm picking her up tonight," I said, smirking

"You surprise me, buddy. I didn't think you could do it" He replied, shaking his head with a faint grin.

"I haven't done anything yet. I mean, Jara doesn't even know what's in store for her tonight-.." I was cut off with Steve spitting out the swig of his beer onto the gravel and half spraying me with it while he was at it.

"Aw, yuck, man! You got spew on my shirt tail….What are the Teach's going to think now!" I scolded, annoyingly and wiped at my flannel shirt.

"What are you doing here?"

"Apparently, taking a shower in your beer…" I retorted, knitting my brows together

"No, go! Go get that geek to come to your house tonight. Go!" He hurried, making me absently fall off of the car and quickly run inside the school. I crack under pressure like that, especially when Steve has his 'serious' face on.

"Slow down, Mr. Curtis. Where's the fire?" The principle, Mr. Castro said as I skied passed him, practically knocking the little man down.

"Uh, sorry" I apologized and slowed down my pace but when he turned I began running again. I knocked down the tray of a freshman as I entered the crowded cafeteria.

I scanned the place, standing at the center of the large room. A smile spread on my face when my eyes spotted the one and only. She was reading a book, and taking a drink from her chocolate milk.

I silently strided over and dropped myself down in the seat opposite of hers, she didn't look up at me but what better way to get her attention than by taking her book and snatching that PB & J sandwich she had left untouched on her tray?

"….Give me that" She quickly hissed as she looked up at me, then sighing and sitting back in her seat. "Oh, it's only you"

"Yes, me. Who else would it be?….Uh, don't answer that. I told you I had to talk to you and I keep my promises," I said, turning the book she was reading over to it's front and taking a bite of the sandwich at the same time.

"Oh yes, I was waiting for you all day! Thank you, Lord Curtis. You just made my entire day, no no, my whole life is somehow complete now. I am so grateful to be in your glorious presence!" She smiled overly dramatic and clasped her hands together.

My eyebrow arched and I stared at her, taking a pause I decided to be polite "…Can I have your milk to wash down the peanut butter?"

She exhaled loudly and slammed her hands on the table, "Fine, whatever, take it" Jara shoved the small milk carton to me and I smiled as I grabbed it.

"What was it that you wanted to talk about?" She asked, getting to the core and drumming her fingertips on the tabletop.

"You know how you have this crush on my brother? I mean it can be almost called stalking" I reminded her, as I put her novel, Gidget, to the side.

"Could you say that any louder, I don't think Tucson heard you!…..and one more thing, it's not stalking!"

I rolled my eyes and lowered my voice, leaning over on the edge of the table I said, "I got this idea that could bring you two together. How does that sound?"

She watched me blankly, then dropped her gaze on the empty red tray before her "What do you have in mind?" She asked, softly and I knew she was interested.

I smirked satisfyingly and continued "All you have to do is show up at my house tonight. Say around 7:30pm?"

She contemplated quietly and then raised her eyes to look at me, "Answer me this first, why do you suddenly care if me and your brother get together? Why are you even bothering? I mean, I'm might not have a great social life but I know that Ponyboy wouldn't ever look at me other than just a geek, and he wouldn't think of me in any other way than the loser who doesn't fit in to be neither Greaser nor Soc…"

For the first time, I realized what I was doing and how much damage I could cause. The reason why I was bringing up the subject of Ponyboy to her was because that would be the only way she would agree to what I had planned.

But what she was saying….

I pushed the feeling of guilt that was forming inside my stomach and shook my head "…Everyone deserves chances, just think of this as "your chance". No more questions, ok, Jara?" I talked to her dimly and my expression changed from cocky to seldom.

She nodded "…I'll be there but if you're playing with me, I swear to god…."

"I'm not" I interrupted as I rose from my seat and turned away harshly.

Jara's POV

I take in as much air I can get from standing around in a place like the school corridors of Tulsa High. This was my free period and I usually went to the library to do my homework around this time but I had just spotted a rare opportunity that hadn't come in months. Ponyboy was sitting by the window reading a book and by himself if I made add.

'Come on, Jara. Just walk over, and give a casual hi. It's not rocket science' I tell myself and nod in response. I plaster the best winning smile I can ever concoct and stroll over. I accidentally trip on the last step before making it to him but he didn't seem to notice anyhow.

"….H-Hi, Pony" I manage to say with a slight stutter and I clench my teeth because of that.

His gaze falls upon me, "Hi" He replies, taking his foot off the larger sill he sits on. "This you free period too?" He asked and I'm relieved he did, I dreaded those awkward silences.

I nodded "Yeah. So, what you' reading?" I said, as I sat down next to him.

He glanced at his book "More like forcing myself too, It's the novel for our English class" He handed it to me, and I looked down at it.

"Oh, yeah. 'Caterbies Grate', it's a bore, huh?"

"You can say that again. Whoever wrote this is deeply disturbed, I mean, who would write a book about a witch-doctor that befriends a caterpillar!" Pony shook his head and gestured in the air, he was actually discussing a book with me.

"Ah, but that was no ordinary caterpillar. It's a magic one, remember?" I responded, giving him the novel back.

He laughed "My take on why their making us read this is because they don't have anything better to teach us, they rather make us believe that we can find the meaning of life by talking to an insect" It seemed like he was closer to me than a minute ago, or was I just imagining it?

I swallowed, while I stared at the side of his face as he looked down at the small notebook he had in his lap the whole time.

"Well, you can find meanings anywhere. You can find it in a movie…. reading something out of a newspaper column…. Watching a sunset."  He turned his head toward me then and a small smile appeared on his face, the sunlight bouncing off his reddish-brown hair.

"…. I believe that, I truly do." He replied, leaning on my shoulder slightly and giving me the first grin I ever saw on him.

"You know, Jara, you surprise me sometimes." He said

"And why is that?" I countered, amused and more relaxed than I had been moments before. Although my heart was still pounding like it would rip through my chest any moment. Woah, gruesome thought actually.

He shrugged "I don't know. It's just, from what I heard about you, you're actually cooler than what everyone says. It kind of makes me feel guilty for ever listening to them…"

I frowned but tried to hide it "Oh" I blurted out meekly.

"But I didn't mean that in a bad way. I have this thing where my mouth his connected to my foot and I just blab anything that comes across my head, I'm sorry. I should of thought better of you, especially when you and my brother are becoming friends lately…" He was trying to apologize and faltering on a few of his words, it was adorable. He placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked down at it then once more to him.

Wait…Me and Sodapop Curtis…friends?

Those three things didn't go together. Didn't mix at all. Although what Soda had said to me at lunch, about how everyone deserves chances. Made me think, maybe. Just maybe. Sodapop wasn't so bad after all. Sometimes I shouldn't be so conspicuous with my suspicions.

Oh god, something else hit me as well…

I actually had a conversation with Ponyboy Curtis!!!!!

Do you love me, like I love you?
Or am I standing still, beneath the darkened sky?
Or am I standing still, with the scenery flying by?
Or am I standing still, out of the corner of my eye?
Was that you passing me by?
Are you passing me by? (Passing me by)
Do you want me? (Passing me by)
Do you need me, like I need you too?
And do you want me, like I want you?
Are you passing me by?

                    -Jewel "Standing Still"

A/N: I know some of you great readers might not like Jara since she pretty much acts like a bitch towards our sweet and famous Soda but even though, I admit too, I don't really like it when I put that she reacts harshly to Soda I still have to leave the realism in there. She's not so popular, she doesn't even have real friends and up to a week ago in the story, Sodapop never even talked to her unless he was going to play a prank. So, I guess, wouldn't you act defenses when someone like Soda suddenly wants to talk to you and be apart of your life?

Anyway, the next chapter will really launch the story finally.