Sodapop finished eating his hamburger when Steve ''felt'' in the lake. Soda knew he was joking but Evie didn't. She runned and looked down, horrified. Steve laugh and says:

'' C'mon, my lady, come her. '' Evie didn't seemed much happy at that though but she took off her shoes and jumped, screaming.

'' Last one in the water is a chicken! '' Steve yelled.

Christine and Ponyboy got up and joined them... But Nessa and Soda stayed there.

'' You're not going? '' Nessa asked.

'' No... but you're not neither... ''

He got up and walked slowly... looked at the three, swimming. Nessa joined him.

'' Chickens! '' Steve told them. '' I though you were better than this mate! '' He add for Soda.

'' I'll be surprise if you find a way to climb back here! '' Soda says, and he really couldn't find a way to come back.

'' Good point... '' Steve says in a low voice but just enough for every one to ear.

Soda laughed and walked to a tree that he starts climbing and sat in. Nessa prop up herself on the tree and Soda says:

'' You were in Boston right? '' She shook her head up and down. '' How was it? ''

'' Totally boring... A lot harder than here. There's not much more to say...

Nothing happened? School? Friends?

School... boring. I had some friends but not real friends... I had a boyfriend once but he was too '' me, myself and I ''... What about you? ''

Sandy's face came back in Soda's mind like a bullet. He looked at the sky...

'' Nothing... I've been working a lot.

Is something wrong? '' Nessa asked.

He jumped from the tree and look at the ground.

'' It's because... '' He started in a low voice ''... it's not important. '' He answered.

'' You sure? Cause you look like your mo...dog was dead.

Yeah, it's okay. Don't worry. '' He smiled and sat on the ground. Nessa sat beside him.

'' You really think what you told Steve at the rodeo? '' He asked with a grin. She turned to him and studied his face... Soda blushed a little and though: thanks god, it's too dark for her to notice.

'' Yeah... '' She smiled. '' Why does that seem to be a surprise to you?

because... look, I don't want to look like too sure of myself... It's because, most of the time, I see how girls act with me and you just ain't the same.

Is it good or bad for me?

Good. I surely like girls but sometimes, it's nice to talk with someone who act normally.'' He gave her a big brother hug and grinned so crazily that he almost surprised himself and Nessa start laughing. She had beautiful eyes... deep blue, calming warm water.

'' What time is it? '' Nessa asked.

'' About midnight... '' He answered as Steve, Ponyboy, Evie and Christine where coming back, totally wet.

'' Oh god... We gotta go, Christine! '' As she got up, she gave him a little kiss on the cheek and whispered. '' bye'' She walked to the others. '' See ya ''

Soda looked at her, surprised and at Steve:

'' How did ya climb back? ''

Christine followed Nessa into the forest, the field and to the parking where they took their truck and Nessa drive them back home...