A/n: Sorry I haven't had the time to write in awhile. I have been extremely busy and Tensleep, my Beta, has been busy too. I am happy to be writing so I shall get on with the story!
"That game so rocked! Did you see when McNeil handed off that pass to number 75!" I said as I walked with Soda, Sandy, Evie, and Steve.
"Yeah and when Brown made that field goal at the last second!" Soda Whooped.
Soda had his arm around Sandy's waist on his left side while I was on his right. Steve and Evie were on my right talking about something. I am not sure, but I thought I overheard her telling him about some Lips stick she had recently bought. How lame is that?
I didn't know where we were heading I think we were just walking around. I started to look at my surroundings and noticed that we were heading towards the side of town I drag raced on.
"Hey Soda? Where are we going?" I asked
"Steve and I want to see if this new hot shot racer is all he's cracked up to be." Soda shrugged "Plus we parked the car over here and you know everyone that saw the game will be out here celebrating."
I smiled. Soda never could resist anything that pumped energy. This was just another one of those things.
"I think I'm going to head home." I shrugged
"Yeah, alright. You better take my jacket. It is starting to get cool." Soda shrugged of his brown leather jacket and handed it to me.
I smiled at him and pulled the jacket over my shoulders. I gave Soda a hug and said later to Steve. Then Sandy and Evie hugged me. Talk about being trapped in a place you don't want to be. I walked away and started towards home, which ok with me since I like to walk and it wasn't that far from home.
I was walking on thirty-third street, which was about a block away from home when it started to rain. I looked up at the sky and felt the cold, wet rain drops land on my face. I smiled. I always liked it when it rained. I took off Soda's jacket and started to play in the rain like a five year old. I ran out to the road and started to dance. I kicked at the puddles and laughed. I stopped when I started to feel cold and noticed my clothes were soaked. I went over to were I'd put Soda's jacket grabbed it off the white picket fence and started my way home. I didn't bother to put on the jacket since I was already soaked and I did feel like it. I liked the feel of the rain on my skin, even though I was cold.
I turned the corner and started to walk on my street. I could here the TV on before I even saw the house and I could also hear music and a lot of yelling. I just smiled. That was usual of our guys. From where I was standing I could see the lights on and the reflection of the TV on the wall.
I noticed that Steve's car was there. They must have decided to cancel the racing due to all this rain. Believe me, it is had enough racing when the roads are dry. Nights like this could kill. I opened the gate and let myself into the yard. Id' always liked that fence even if Soda complains about it slowing down his time when he has someone on his tail. I went into the house and immediately noticed everyone was there.
"Hey M.K." Pony said not looking up when I came in, but he never did. He was always so lost in his thoughts I wondered how he even remembered to breathe.
Steve, Soda, and Dally were playing poker in the middle of the floor while Two-bit and Johnny were watching Mickey Mouse. Darry was sitting in his chair once again reading Roots. He glanced up at me and went back to his book for half a second. His head shot up and by the look in his eyes I didn't need anyone telling me that I was in trouble.
"Mary Katherine Curtis! Why the hell are you sopping wet?!" Darry asked as he set his book down and got up out of his chair.
"Hey Darry. It started raining while I was walking home on thirty-third street." I said as the guys turned their heads to look at me. I set soda's jacket on the back of the couch and waited for the usual lecture that followed times like this.
"Last time I checked thirty-third street was only a block away and it started to rain 45minutes ago." Darry was really clever
"Ok, you caught me. I started playing in the rain." I smiled embarrassed I had done something little kiddish like that and gave him the look that said 'you know you don't want to yell at me'. It didn't work often but I could always try.
"You always had to play in the rain when you were little. I figured you had grown out of it." Darry said smirking at me
"No way!" I grinned "Now if you will excuse me, I am cold and wet and I want to change. Night."
I gave Darry a nice wet hug and went up to my room. I really wasn't lying. I was cold and wet but I doubted if I would be able to sleep for hours. I got up stairs and changed into a big shirt that was once dad's and some flannel pants. I got into bed looked at the clock and saw that it was only nine o'clock. This was going to be a boring wait.
It was later on that night that I woke up to the thunder. I shivered slightly. I was plenty warm now but thunder had always scared the heck out of me. I tried to stay in my room and go back to sleep but every time a new crash started I got scared all over again after claming myself down. I finally swallowed my pride, grabbed my pillow and ran to Darry's room.
"Darry?" I whispered and he didn't move. "Darry?" I whispered again he still didn't move.
I started to shake him. He woke up and looked at me.
"What is it M.K.?" He asked tiredly
"Darry, can I stay in here with you?" I asked with pleading eyes.
Darry looked at me like I was crazy until he heard the thunder too. I shook and he sighed, moving over to make space for me. Another crack of Thunder followed that shook the house and I squeaked, jumping right in. Darry chuckled at me and I put on my best indignant look.
"It's not funny." I said sternly
"I know it isn't." Darry put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him. I snuggled into his chest and fell asleep.
I woke the next morning with Soda shaking me and having some of the water from his hair splash into my face. It was cold and I jumped.
"Wake up time, M.K. It is time for work" Soda said a little too cheery for my liking.
I rolled towards the wall and grunted at Soda. Soda tried to wake me up a couple more times but he finally gave up after a bit and left. I smiled at the fact that I won and went back to sleep. I was in a good part of my dream when I felt Darry pick me up from my bed.
"What the hell?" I asked as he carried me down the hall
I started to squirm trying to get out of Darry's arms. I didn't like what was going on and I was letting him know it. I told him to put me down but he wouldn't. It was when we got to the front door I really started squirming. Darry stopped and grinned broadly. I looked down and saw the kiddie pool was full of water.
"You wouldn't dare." I hissed
"Oh wouldn't I?" He asked
I looked at him pleadingly then I saw Soda, Pony, and the rest of the gang on the front porch looking at me with evil grins. I was going to kill them.
"Darry please don't." I said putting on the sweet act "Darry you know you don't want to do this I mean I am your favorite sister right?"
He grinned and threw me into the water. I squeaked as I hit the water. I landed in the pool with my butt hitting the ground. It hurt but I wasn't worried about that. I was really mad now. I was cold and wet and my friends and brothers were laughing at me. This was well beyond what I was going to take today.
"You all are going to DIE!" I yelled at them as I started to get out of the pool.
They looked at each other and then took off running, even Darry. I walked calmly over to the front door as Two-bit took off over the porch railing. I smiled evilly. They weren't half as smart as they thought they were. Like I was going to chase them all over the yard when I could have the whole house to myself. I smirked at them and locked the door behind me. I knew they all left something in here and need it. I threw pony his books out the window and kept the rest of the things captive. The fact that I had Steve AND Soda's clothes in here was the best part. You see, they were into much of a rush to see me suffer that they forgot to grab some clothes. Steve had on his pants so he was fine, but poor Soda only had a towel on and his hair was still wet.
I turned on the Radio and went upstairs to put on some clothes. I had to wear my DX shirt for work so I put that on with some jeans and a white muscle t-shirt Pony had out grown. During all of this I heard Soda banging on the door yelling for me to open up so he could get some clothes. I kept laughing at the thought of him going to work in only that towel.
When I was finally all dressed, I sighed heavily before opening the door. Soda glared as he walked passed me. I smiled at him and went out on to the porch. There were some girls on the front walk and I figured out why Soda was so irked. I started my walk to work since Steve was obviously gone and Soda wasn't going to walk with me.
I was sitting in the service station at the front counter reading the paper a couple hours after the pool incident when an advertisement for the state fair caught my eye. I smiled. If I could get the whole gang to go we could have some fun.
The bell on the door rang and Soda and Sandy walked in laughing. I rolled my eyes. Soda turned to me and smiled.
"I'll go get Steve." I said and slid of the counter top.
"That's ok M.K. I'll get him. He said there was something he wanted to show me. Why don't you and Sandy talk about boys or whatever girls talk about?" Soda suggested and he made his way to the garage. I glared at him when his back was turned.
I looked over at Sandy and rolled my eyes before I made my way back to the counter. I picked up one the new issues of the car magazines that came in earlier to day and settled down to read it and ignore Sandy.
"So what are you reading?" Sandy asked sweetly.
I looked up from my magazine and stared at her. Dumb blonde was all I could think. What the hell did it look like I was doing? Dismantling a bomb? I smirked wondering if she would buy it.
"A car magazine." I said slowly so she wouldn't miss any of what I was saying. She made an 'o' shape with her mouth and I went back to reading.
"So what do you do in your spare time?" Sandy asked a minute or two later
I looked at her over the top of my magazine. Didn't she ever shut up for more than five minutes? I sighed and set my magazine down.
"Oh I talk to my girl friends about boys and do my nails and all that stuff" I said with as much sarcasms I could muster up.
She smiled and was about to say something when I went on.
"I hang out with my gang and brothers and play football sometimes. I also hand out with some guys that are my friends" I said and went back to my magazine.
Then once again Sandy asked me another question. I should just duct taper her mouth shut.
"Oh. So do you have any girl friends? 'Cause if you don't I would be happy to be one of your friends." Sandy said happily.
"That would so cool!" I said with a fake happy voice. She looked at me hopefully. "NOT. Listen, I don't like you and I don't want to be your friend. Soda may think you're wonderful but I don't. And I don't want to talk to you so leave me alone." I snapped.
Sandy looked at me like she was hurt but I didn't care. I put the magazine on the counter top and walked into the garage.
"Hey, I think Sandy wants you." I said to Soda hitting him on the back playfully.
Soda looked at me questioningly, but did as he thought was best and that was to go cater to Sandy's every whim. He said bye to me and Steve going back to the service station. I smiled at Steve and followed Soda.
It was 7:00 finally which meant Steve and I got to leave and the graveyard guys took over. The grave yards guys were Tex and Mark. I didn't know Tex very well but Ponyboy hangs out with Mark sometimes, so I knew who he was even if I didn't like him.
"Later Mark. Have fun." I said as I walked out.
I went over to where Steve parked his car and got in.
"Hey, do you think that we, I mean, the gang could go to the fair tonight? I mean since Darry doesn't have to work tonight?" I said. Steve looked over at me and smiled.
"You know that sounds like it would be fun." Steve said as we drove into the driveway and I jumped out of the car.
"Race you to the living room." Steve smiled
"You're on" I looked over at Steve and pushed him taking of towards the house.
Steve yelled after me for being a cheater and ran to catch up to me. I ran up the stairs and swung the door open.
"Hahaha! I beat Steve! Bow down to me!" I said standing in the middle of the living room with everyone staring at me.
I blushed something awful while Soda and Two-bit laughed at me. Pony was lost in a book and didn't even look up and I think I appreciated that.
"I was thinking that maybe we could go to the fair tonight." I said to get some of the attention my show had brought off of ...well, my show. Steve walked into the living room and told the guys it was a good idea. I smiled.
"Ok then, let's go and no girlfriends!" I said as I saw Soda and Steve walk over to the phone. They shrugged and stood were they were.
"Hey, what about boyfriends?" Two-bit asked.
"Well since I am the only girl here and I know I don't have a boyfriend why bother saying it? Unless of course you have something you want to tell us, Two-bit?" I said with a smile. There was silence. "That's what I thought"
"Ok well let's go" Soda said.
We took the truck so we only had to take one car. Darry was against it, but drove so it would be as safe as possible. Johnny and I rode in the front with him.
"Soda what are you doing?" Darry asked when Soda stuck his head in the cab the third time.
"Hey Darry? Do you think you can turn up the radio?" Soda asked and I smiled at how bored he can get so fast
"Yeah I guess" Darry said as he reached over to turn op the radio.
Soda said thank you and took his head out of the window. I talk with Darry and Johnny but stopped when I heard one of my favorite songs to come on. I couldn't even remember the name of it, but it was a nice song none the less.
I smiled shyly when the song was done. I hadn't even realized I had been singing along until Dally started to complain I sang like a wounded animal. I really thought that was supportive. Darry parked outside the lights of the fair and I hopped out, excited.
"Come on lets go to the fair!" I said as I ran toward the ticket booth.
It was a blast! Soda had charmed the ticket lady into giving us more than we paid for, Steve had won a lot of those midway games so I had more than enough stuffed animals to last me a life time, Dally proved he was the best at the wack-a-mole game, Two-bit showed up one of the clowns that was making balloon animals, Pony won some riddle, Johnny ate his weight in cotton candy, Darry hit the bell at the strength tester and I went on so many rides it wasn't even funny. Darry kept saying I was going to make myself sick, but I didn't care. It was the fair and everyone was having a good time.
It was around the time Darry said he wanted to go when I saw the Ferris wheel. I had never seen one that big before and I had to go on it. Soda gallantly offered to come up with me. I was hoping that I would get stuck up at the top. That would be a hell of a view! We started up and Soda grinned broadly. We went around a couple times and just as I predicted we ended up stopped at the very top.
"What a view!" I smiled
"It sure is something." Soda agreed. But there was a tone in his voice I didn't like, a tone that said he wanted to talk about something I wouldn't like
"What's up?" I asked knowing it was going to come some how and I might as well set the terms.
"I think we should talk." He said evenly
"About what?" I said dreading the subject
"Why don't you like Sandy?" He asked looking as serious as I ever saw him
"I just don't. I don't know why, but she rubs me the wrong way. You love her so much and one day it'll hurt you. I don't want that Soda.' I explained
"That won't happen M.K. I'm going to marry her." Soda said and I could almost see the stars in his eyes
I didn't believe him and I think he knew it. He looked over at me and kept eye contact with me while he repeated that he was going to marry Sandy and everything would be alright. I nodded finally and the Ferris wheel started to move. I didn't believe Soda, but I was wondering why I didn't like Sandy now. Was it just because she took up too much of my brother's attention or was it something else?