(Nessa's POV)

Nessa was back home. She took some chocolate chips cookie and a glass of milk and sat in front of the TV. when she opened it, she had the choice between a boring cooking show or a kid show. Yet, they could see only two chanel! wow!

'' Hi.'' Says her sister, Christine. siting next to her. Christine was one year younger but you couln't really tell. They both looked fifteen, Nessa's age. they were both almost the same size too but were very different... To be clear, Nessa was dark, too brigts color were anoying her. Christine had long blond hair and green eyes. She liked pastel blue, pink and green clothes.

'' Hi, how are you? Had a good night?'' She says, since it was the first time she saw her that day. though, it was only ten in the morning and she had been up very quick, compare to usualy.

'' Yup...what did ya do so early outside?'' Christine asked.

'' I was just walking... I met Steve Randdle and Sodapop Curtis at the DX... ''

Christine suddently seemed interested. She had always been quite amazed by Steve, what Nessa couldn't understand. Yeah, she was always with him as a kid but that was mostly because he was Sodapop's best friend. She didn't hate him but his voice and attitude sometimes anoyed her.

'' How's Steve? '' She asked almost too fast.

'' He's just fine... But, Soda... He's a doll.

God, You rarely use the word 'Doll', should be real cute. At wich point?

You remember how he was before? ''

'' A stupid guy with dirty hair? ''

Nessa looked at her, angry. '' He ain't stupid, and his hair ain't dirty! ''

'' Aww, it's okay, I didn't meen too... You know I ain't good at remembering people. How is he?

Hum... '' She was suprised not to know what to say. '' ...Gold hair... deep dark eyes... I dunno, you gotta see to know. ''

Christine took one of her cookies and a sip of milk.

'' yuk... this milk taste what rotten eggs smell. '' She took the glass and went to the kitchen with a sick look on her face. A minute after, she was back with two glass of orange juice.

'' thanks... " They both looked at the cooking stuff for a moment but Nessa finaly deceided to close the television.

'' Good thing. '' Christine says with a smile and then stared at the ceiling...

'' I'll met Soda at Frank's Rodeo, want to come with me? ''

Christine suddently seemed angry and sad at the same time.

'' What's wrong?

You says I had to see him... And if I come with you, I have like a big chance to see him... awww...Anyway, when it's about boys, you ain't the same... '' She got up and run to her room, hot tears running down her cheeks.

Nessa stayed there, unsure, for about a minute and followed her sister upstairs.

'' Christine... what the problem, I don't understand... '' she told her, entering her room.

'' I don't want to talk to you...

Please, Christine... I don't like to see you like this.

You don't really want me to come... I know it...

what did I do to let you think...that.

You always tell me: '' okay, i'll get you in an hour and take you there... '' But finaly, you don't and I stay home alone, thinking about you having fun without me!

That happened just once! And it is because I got drunk too fast...

false! Do you really need a reason to make something with me? ''

Nessa slowly start to understand... Christine surely though that she wanted her to come only because of Soda. To show her how he was... But she didn't get it at all.

'' Honestly, Christine..I wouldn't ivinte you if I didn't really want to do something with you. I just though you would like that place, since I like it too...''

Christine chassed her tears with the back of her hand.

'' I..I'll come but you'll have to promise one thing...

Yeah, anything you want...

Please, simply say 'my sister' instead of 'my little sister' I'm not alot younger than you are...

Only that?'' She says with a smile but she had a sorry look in her eyes. '' I promise... ''

Christine gave her a big hug and says: '' I'm sorry... I draw conclusion too fast...''

(Soda's POV)

At five, Soda came back home... He open the door, entered, let his shoes in the entry and sat on the couch.

'' Hi Soda! '' his brother voice yelled back from the other side of the house. Then, Soda eared him running and Ponyboy appered in the Living room.

'' Hey Pony!'' Ponyboy sat beside him. '' Was there anything special today at school?

Nope, I have to say that it was one of the longer days I've been through this year... ''

Then Darry came back from work too. He looked tired and he had sweated alot. It was hot outside, Soda had noticed it too, but who didn't?

'' Hiya... '' Darry says with one of his rare smile. '' I gotta go back to work, I got a special job... Do what you want, I just want to find the house as clean as it is now when I'll be back... bye ''

He goes out real quickly and both of his brothers looked at him with wide eyes during a second and then return to normal.

'' Well Pony, there is a big contest at Frank's rodeo, want to come with me?

Yeah, sure. '' Ponyboy says, visibly happy to go there with his brother, even if he surely would have prefer a movie instead of rodeo.

'' Good, lets eat something now!'' He says, getting up and walking to the kitchen. As usual, he had in mind doing something unusual...

Ponyboy followed him and says: '' We don't have much left... Chocolate cake, noodles... some other stuffs maybe...

That's perfect. '' Soda says with a grin. He had found what to do... So while Ponyboy was watching the TV, he cooked the noodles. Then he cut two big pieces of cake he put in plates... He looked almost everywhere in the kitchen to finaly find food dye his parents has used for Pony's tenth birthday. He took the blue one and put some in the noodles. Why blue? Because no one would really trust blue food... Yeah, it was stupid in a way, Soda knew it, but why not have fun sometimes?

When ponyboy sat at the table, he looked at his plate and then at Soda with a strange face and start laughing.

'' That's unbeleivable... You're crazy Soda!

thanks. '' He says, starting to eat.

'' Cake and noodles in the same plate? Ponyboy asked.

yup, why not? He smiled and eated both, cake and noodles, at a time. Pony looked at him, horrified, but the taste wasn't so bad... it was just blue noodles with chocolate.

They both laugh and finish eating in silence. It seemed that they were really hungry because they both eated three full plates.

'' I know you were only nine then but do you remember Nessa? Soda asked, washing the dishes.

The girl who wished she could be a boy?

Yeah... '' Soda answered, laughing a little. '' Well, I invited her. ''

Ponyboy looked at him like he had just said something fantastic.

''You 'invited' her?

Yes... well, not really invite... I'm not even sure If she will be there... And I asked her as a friend. '' Friends, that's the only thing girls could be to him since Sandy was gone... Even if he though they were nice and cute and everything...

'' You really can't get over Sandy's departure? ''

No, he couln't but he tried hard, and more there was time between that moment and the present moment, the better he felt.

'' When does the contest start? '' Ponyboy asked, certainly realizing that Soda was getting mad at the though of her...

'' In about half an hour... '' He says, looking at the clock and he finish washing the dishes so fast that Ponyboy has alot of dificulty to follow the rytme and wipe everything...