"Hey Steve, I knew this guy, he shuffled himself to death…" Two bit said shaking with laughter. I couldn't help cracking up myself, not so muchbecause ofthe joke as with seeing Two bit dubbeling over, his face all wrinkled.

"Fuck you, wiseass!" Steve snarled, dealing us the cards.

We were all sitting in the lot playing poker in the sunshine, the weather was great and I felt better then I had felt in a long time. I didn't even have a hangover, I just felt a bit tired, but yet relaxed. Like nothing in the world could get to me.

Soda had informed us about the girl he had been dancing with the night before, her name was Bonnie, she was in town visiting a friend and was returning home today. Soda didn't seem to upset about that though, he just shrugged, smiling, saying she was a great dancer.

"Nora, you in or what?" Steve asked an annoyed edge to his voice. I tossed my cards down on the grass.

"No"

Steve was in a lousy mood, he had a really bad hangover, I could tell. His eyes were red and puffy and he kept rubbing them. Besides the way he was acting was a dead giveaway.

I looked over at Pony, who sat a few feet away his nose in a book.

"Angela Shepard asked about you last night, I called over to him, he didn't respond, probably didn't hear me. The others did tough.

"Is my whole family in love with the Shepards? Darry have you met Curly, I think you would like him, he might be the guy for you" Soda said grinning at Darry who whacked him on the back of his head. Two bit and Steve laughed their heads off.

"I would watch it I were you little brother" Darry said trying to sound serious.

"How's it going with you and Tim anyway? Soda asked me teasingly. All eyes were on me now and the only one who were smiling was Soda. Steve looked angry, his eyes boring holes in my head, Two bit had that worried look on his face again, but this time I could see he also had a smile hidden away underneath it, Darry looked tired and old and then he just sighed and looked at me questioningly. Even Pony looked up from his reading waiting for my answer.

"Haha" was all I said, in my head all I could see was that bloody t-shirt and Shepard's red hand and smirking face. I did´nt feel that good anymore, thinking of him gave me this wierd feeling in the pit of my stomach, like I had something in there trying to get out. I did´nt want to think about Shepard anymorebut suddenly I remembered an event that took place a summer night when we were all kids. I hadn't thought about it in a long time, probably not for years,

We were all playing hide and seek. Me, Soda, Two bit, Darry, Steve, Johnny and Tim and Curly Shepard. Pony and Angela weren't playing, they were too young. It was right after sunset, when the sky is still all red and purple. I was hiding behind a car that was parked in the street. All off a sudden another car came driving atit full speed, it would have crushed me if I hadn't reacted and thrown myself on the sidewalk. The car crashed in to the other, then backed up and speeded away. I was sitting on the sidewalk shivering with fear when Tim found me. He didn't ask me what happened; he just looked at me, sat down next to me and put his arm around my shoulders, calling out to my brothers. When the gang came running he took Curly with him and left.

I was six years old then, Tim eight.

That was the last time I remember seeing Tim Shepard playing. After that we didn't hang around him that much anymore, he began drinking and stealing not long after. Long before any of our gang did. Long before he was ready to, or perhaps I was wrong, maybe kids like him were ready from the day they were born.

"Hey greasers!" I heard a guy calling as he walked up to us, when he got closer I saw his light hair like a lions mane around his beautiful face.

"Hi Mark" Pony said tossing his book away onto the grass.

"So what are you guys up to?" Mark asked flashing us a wide grin as he sat down. He had a black eye but he still looked amazing, full of life. He had a glimpse to his yellowish eyes that made you wonder about him.

"Not much kid, you?" Two bit asked lighting a cigarette.

"Been hanging around the Dingo for awhile, but there was no action so…" he answered "deal me in"

Pony sat down with us and Two bit dealed the cards. I didn't feel like playing anymore so I just sat there watching and listening to the guys fooling around.

When the sun was about to set I saw Pony casting looks up at the sky, that kid was special, he would always be alright, I realized as I watched him. Just like Soda would, as long as he could look at the sunset every night he would be just fine.

A figure was walking up to us from the street, as it came closer I saw it was a girl and when I could make out her black hair I saw it was Angela Shepard. What's she doing here?

When she reached us she greeted us with a graceful nod before she fixed her eyes on Pony. Poor girl, there was no way Pony was interested in her, I thought as I watched her pretty face smile at my little brother.

"Hi Pony" she said sitting down next to him, her eyes gazing over us, when she saw Mark her dark dancing eyes became hard. Pony looked at her with an uninterested look in his eyes as he simply nodded at her. I was quite impressed by him; he was acting real cool towards her.

"So Angel where's Bryon?" Mark asked her with a smirk, that strange glimpse in his eyes gleaming coldly. Angela's face changed from relaxed to superpissed in an instant, her lips pressed together tightly, eyes flashing.

"If you don't remember Mark" she said emphasizing his name, "I dumped him last month" She looked like she wanted to kill him. I felt kind of sorry for her somehow, she just happened to like Pony that's all, I could see where she was coming from, he's a great kid. But I also knew Mark was just trying to help Pony, Bryon was his foster brother so he knew Angela better then us. He probably just wanted to protect Pony from her, maybe that was necessary, I don't know.

"That's not what he told me..." He said that annoying smirk appearing on his face again.

Angela had had enough, she got up standing over Mark with her arms crossed yelling; "You're a fucking asshole!" she left the lot holding her head high as she walked. Mark looked at her back as she left, his eyes glowing dangerously.

Thanks for all the reviews! This was´nt very good but it will get better, I promise! I am from Sweden so english is my second language. Hope you like it!