Note: I'm sorry, in chapter 2, I said Ponyboy had brown eyes. They're greenish grey. Sorry.

Chapter 3: I feel Pretty!

Tanner awoke the next morning, lifelessly gazing at the ceiling and dreading the thought of having to be someone other than who she was the day before. Kayla rudely barged into Tanner's room and looked into her closet. "I'm choosing out your clothes today, and I'm doing your hair." She said matter of factly.

Tanner sat up in her bed, nonchalantly watching Kayla scavenge through clothes. "How about this!" Kayla squealed with excitement.

Tanner snapped out of her trance immediately at the sight of the outfit. It was a lavender argyle sweater and a khaki skirt that went down to Tanner's knees. Tanner remembered wearing that same outfit to an occasional get-together her family had with other army families. It was the time for Mrs. Kistener to flaunt her perfection and give off the illusion that her family was a happy well rounded family. Whether her mom believed that or not, Tanner didn't know, she just knew that all the other wives detested her.

"Oh no!" Tanner gasped. "You are not putting me in that!"

"Oh c'mon Tanny, it's really cute! Kayla insisted.

"Mom!" Tanner screamed, "Kayla's trying to make me look like a prep!"

"What?" Their mother said as she burst into the room with confusion.

"Look mom, I'm gonna look like a pansy in that!"

"Nonsense Tanner! It's darling. Oh, you should defiantly wear that."

"Mom no! That's gross!" Tanner wined.

Mrs. Kistner and Kayla pain no attention to the complaint, they were too busy ooh-ing and ahh-ing over what shoes and such would match. Tanner was frustrated because she had no say in this horrible situation.

After the fuss over the outfit, Tanner went into the bathroom to get ready. She squeamishly slipped on the argyle sweater and unhappily pulled up the skirt. Kayla walked into the bathroom ready to go in her orange long-sleeved shirt and a pair of light jeans that flattered her body and showed of her flawless hour glass figure. "Tanner you look so cute!" Kayla smiled and shrieked with excitement.

She turned Tanner away from the mirror with force. "Your hair will be a surprise." She explained.

Kayla made it so that Tanner's hair was half up and half down and placed a purple head band on top. Tanner turned around and looked in the mirror as Kayla admired her work. "Perfect." She whispered into Tanner's ear and left the bathroom slowly, watching for Tanner's reaction.

Tanner blankly stared at the unrecognizable girl staring right back at her. Tanner's bangs swept elegantly into her face and the untied hair brushed her shoulders which was a beautiful contrast against the lavender. Her lips felt slimy from the pounds of gloss Kayla applied to them as she rubbed them together. She wanted to cry. She didn't know if she was happy or sad, or angry or what. She held her tears back and breezed out of the room.

Tanner walked down the stairs and roamed into the kitchen. Kayla was eating breakfast and her mom was washing the dishes. "Look at Tanner mom." Kayla sang.

Mrs. Kistner looked up from the soap filled sink and smiled. "Tanny, you look beautiful."

Tanner smiled back to her mother and took a seat at the kitchen table next to Kayla and ate. Was she dreaming or had her mom really called her beautiful? Tanner's heart melted and a warm fuzzy feeling enveloped her body. Her mom did indeed say she was beautiful. Tanner was so happy that it didn't even matter that her mom called her Tanny. It didn't matter that she despised the outfit. She was beautiful.

Before the girls left for school, Mrs. Kistner reminded them as they walked out the door that their father would be coming home that night. Tanner's spirits soared even higher. Her father was coming home.

Tanner and Kayla stepped into the school through the ugly grey doors. Kayla glided down the hall; Tanner shuffled trying to walk in her white high-heeled shoes. She watched Kayla in her high heel boots and couldn't help but wonder how someone could walk as elegantly as Kayla did. "Kayla!" waved a girl with long sandy blond hair and big sapphire blue eyes. She looked Tanner up and down and smirked. Tanner this is Bethany. Bethany, this is my sister Tanner. Kayla introduced.

"I see you've changed for the better." Bethany sneered.

Fire burned in Tanner. "Oh yeah? Well you can take your attitude and –"

"Tanner!" Kayla nervously interrupted knowing that Tanner was about to say something low and dirty. "Why don't you go to your locker and get ready for class."

Tanner scrunched up her eyes and hatefully into the flaming blue eyes glaring back as if they were saying, "Watch yourself."

Tanner limped down the hall. Girls were laughing and pointing at her. She knew why. She couldn't walk in heels, in fact she look like a crippled duck. This time she felt confident, oddly enough, because yesterday she had been so intimidated by the murmurs of the girls. Was it because this morning was going so well for her? She didn't know, nor did she care. But Tanner knew that this great feeling of confidence wouldn't last long the minute she saw June punching and cussing out her locker. Tanner approached slowly but not quietly; the clacking of her shoes brought June's attention to Tanner.

June was now laughing. "What happened to you?" she asked, "looks like someone beat you with a ditzy stick."

Tanner rolled her eyes in annoyance and opened her locker to take out the books she needed. "Please don't bug me about it." Tanner moaned.

"Okay okay. I won't" June said assuringly but still laughing.

June and Tanner walked to their class. In the hallway Tanner got all sorts of looks from greasers and Socs, especially the boys. "Oooh, looks like someone's a babe magnet." June teased obviously noticing the flirtatious glances aiming towards Tanner.

Tanner and June sat in the same seat as yester day except when the Greaser boys came in that time, and awkward vibe was sensed by Tanner. June turned to Tanner and read her face. "We broke up." She explained.

A Greaser leaned in forward so that his head was in the middle of Tanner's and June's. "Well, we wouldn't have if you weren't sucking face with some jack a—"

"Shut-up Two-Bit. How many times do I have to tell you? He kissed me, I didn't kiss him back." June whispered with great emphasis.

"Yeah, what-ever June bug." He sighed as he leaned back into his chair.

June rolled her eyes and focused her attention on Mr. Winslow as he came into the classroom. The bell rang and Tanner noticed that Ponyboy wasn't there.

Ten minutes later, as Mr. Winslow lectured about atoms and such, Ponyboy entered the classroom and gave Mr. Winslow a late slip. "Take a seat Mr. Curtis and turn your text book to page 45." Mr. Winslow commanded.

Ponyboy took a seat at the table next Tanner's and June's and a small folded piece of paper landed on his desk. He looked to Tanner and mouthed 'For me?' She grinned and nodded.

Why were you late?

- Tanner

In no time, Tanner looked down and opened up the note on her desk:

I know it's no excuse, but I slept in late. Why do you ask?"

- Ponyboy

Tanner answered with a bashful shrug and he replied with a smile.

The bell rang and the students sprang from their seats. Tanner and June were walking out of the class when Two-Bit came up behind them. "June baby, I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't do me like that. Forgive me?"

"Yeah." June smiled batting her long thick eyelashes. "Oh before I forget; Tanner this is my boyfriend, Two-Bit, Two-Bit, this is Tanner."

"Hey Tan. Mind if I call you Tan? OK. You wouldn't mind if I stole June from you for a while, would you? We need to make up. Okay, great bye!" Two-Bit and June walked the opposite way and left Tanner chuckling to herself.

The last bell of the day came before Tanner knew it. "Hey Tanner." Said a familiar voice.

Tanner turned from her and stared at Ponyboy. "Hi." She smiled.

Ponyboy turned himself around to lean on the locker next to hers. Tanner could feel that he wanted to know why she was dressed the way she was—like a Soc. "My mom made me." Tanner explained breaking the silence.

"Made you do what?" he asked innocently.

"She made me dress this way."

"What way?" Ponyboy beamed.

Tanner rolled her eyes and he got the message. "I'm sorry, I was just messn' with you." He laughed, "But, I don't see the problem…"

Tanner raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"The way you look…" he continued. "I think you look pretty." He walked away in a hurry leaving Tanner floating on cloud nine.

Tanner glided out the door to her sister. "Meet a boy?" Kayla asked.

"No." Tanner snapped.

"Okay, sure." Kayla teased.

When Kayla and Tanner returned home they were delighted to see a tall figure greet them at the door.