Happy Birthday

A/N: Excerpt from the Outsiders is in this chapter.

Love

"What the hell!" I screamed stumbling from the bed quickly to see what the commotion was about at six in the morning.

" Happy birthday!" The boys hollered making me laugh. With everything that had been going on I had forgotten my own damn birthday.

"Eighteen!" I hollered hopping in to Soda's waiting arms.

" Glory! Its about damn time!" I said laughing as he spun me until we both collapsed on to the couch dizzy.

"We're having the party tonight," Darry said making me smile.

He must have been saving up for a while to put this on. Now all the double shifts made more sense.

"Yea, everyone's talking about it," Two-Bit said grinning at the Mickey Mouse Pajamas I was wearing.

"What you bought them," I said grinning as I bounced around on the couch excited. I had too much energy to simply sit still.

"Here's some money, you and Pony get everything you need," Darry said making me smile.

" I love you Dar!" I said honestly throwing myself in to his arms.

As much as we disagreed sometimes, I never took the sacrifices he'd made for this family or me lightly.

"You're the best big brother a girl could have," I said rolling my eyes as Soda pouted.

" You don't count Pepsi Cola, technically we're the same age," I said running from person to person.

This was the first thing I'd had to be really happy about in a long time, and I was taking advantage of the high it brought.

"Coke a Cola is a back guys!" Steve yelled making me squeal as he picked me up slung me over his shoulder and ran out the front door.

"Don't drop my sister!" Darry yelled laughing at our crazy antics.

This had been every day life a year ago, and I had to admit I missed it.

"What are we!" Pony screamed as I let out a yowl in response when Soda did a back flip off the steps and answered.

"Greasers!" The boys cried laughing at the spectacle we presented this early in the morning.

"I am a JD and hood I blacken the name of our fair city!" I said

"Yea, and you're sure as hell disturbing the peace!" Ang said laughing as I waved from my current position on Steve's shoulder.

"What do we do!" Ang asked jumping in quickly as she hopped on to Soda's back.

" Beat up people, rob gas stations, I am a menace to society, man do I have fun!" Soda finished whirling in circles till he was dizzy.

Finding myself dumped to the ground I laughed until Pony threw himself on top of me.

"Pig pile on the birthday girl!" He yelled making me struggle to get away.

"Ugh!" I said feeling the other boys join in.

"Get your heavy asses off," I said throwing a pleading look towards Darry who was grinning like a fool a few feet away.

He looked so much like dad when he smiled, he should do it more often.

" Two-Bit I swear if you don't get off me right now I'll rip up every damn Mickey Mouse shirt you own," I said sighing in relief as I felt him untangle himself from the pile.

"All right guys lay off," Darry said picking Soda, and Steve up by their shirts.

"Way to have my back Ang," I said sticking my tongue out at the girl who stood next to Darry doubled over with laughter.

"Anytime," She said shaking her head.

"All right guys, its time for some of us to get to work, Sissy happy birthday, Two-Bit take her where she needs to go," He said giving him "the look" before heading out.

"You heard him, you gotta listen to what I say," I said grabbing Ang and Pony as I skipped back in to the house.

Pony POV

Watching my sister bound from place to place like a jack Rabbit I couldn't help but grin. That was the Coca Cola, twin of Soda pop I had missed. I wish we could always be like this, excited with no worries. Truth was birthdays were special, and we always went all out, cause around the parts there wasn't really much to be happy about. I saw the fifty bucks Darry had slipped Love, so I knew this was going to be one wild shindig.

Fifteen minutes later we were piled in to Two-Bit's car and headed to the market.

"Booze 1st," Love said laughing at Two-Bit's cheer.

He lived to drink, but truth be told he didn't' really need it, he acted the same wither he was plastered or not. Sitting next to Angela in the back I slipped my arm around her waist pulling her closer. Tonight at the party I was going to ask her to be my girl. Soda had given me our Dad's old high school ring, and Lovey was going to lend me some money to buy flowers. Smiling down in to the dark eyes of the one I had come to think of as my girl, I sighed content. Finally things were beginning to look up for the Curtis family.

Love POV

Smiling at the sight of Pony cuddling with Ang I forced myself not to think about my own loneliness. Life had been going well lately. My job was ok, I had my diploma, and Darry and I hardly ever argued. The only thing missing was my love life. The thought of making myself that vulnerable again didn't sit too well. If I did get into another relationship the guy was going to have to be tuff. I couldn't go through what I had gone through every day with Johnny. Worried sick every minute he wasn't with the gang, or me, bandaging bruises, and rasing lowered spirits. He was the kindest guy I had ever known, but trouble had seemed to fall at his feet. To make things worse, he had been small and unable to defend himself against what came his way.

Next time around I was going to have someone who could protect me. Touching my almost healed ribs gingerly I nodded my head. I'd had enough of being the protector. Leaning back in my seat as Pony and Two-Bit got out to pick up the booze I wondered what kind of gifts I'd get. Money was always tight, but the gang and Ang always came through somehow.

"So how are you and Pony doing?" I asked turning to look at her beaming face.

" Real good, he's starting to come out of his shell more, ya know?"

Nodding my head I returned to daydreaming. One of the things I had always loves about Ang, was that she knew how to just be quiet. You could be together with her and not feel like you had to be talking all the time. She'd been spending a lot of time with Pony so I'd taken to bumming around with Two-Bit, and Tim and Curly. Thinking of the Shepard boys I couldn't help but smile. They both had records longer than my arm, and though they were dangerous as all get out they never minded me tagging along after them.

After stocking up I spent the rest of the day cleaning the house, and putting away breakables.

"Well I guess I'll give you your present before the party starts," Ang said flashing me a grin before heading to the trunk of Two-Bit's car.

"Oooh," I whispered taking in the large box wrapped in pale pink paper, and topped with a white bow.

"Got mom to wrap it," She said grinning as we headed to the couch.

" Go on, open it."

Carefully peeling back the paper I froze at the white box I uncovered. We had been bumming around the stores in town when I had spotted an outfit I could never afford.

"Angela," I whispered lifting the lid with shaky hands.

"Tim and Curly pitched in too, it's from all of us."

"Thank you!" I said squealing as I threw my arms around her in the hug.

They had gotten me a white halter dress that showed the barest hint of skin before tapering in to an empire waist, and belling out just below the knees.

"You'll look like a movie star Gloria," She whispered grinning.

"Just like Soda," Pony said kissing me on my forehead.

"We have to get you ready birthday girl," Ang said leading me in to the bedroom.

"Don't put too much make up on our Doll, she's pretty enough as it is, and we don't' want to give Darry a heart attack!" Two- Bit yelled making us giggle.

Tim's POV

By the time Curly and I got to Curtis' the party was raging, and the cake was being brought out to the birthday boy and girl. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of Love in the dress we had all bought.

"Looks like Soda aint the only one with movie star looks," Curly said smiling at the shock in my eyes.

"Yea, I think ole Love is going to have a fan club after this too," I said smiling at the dancing look her eyes now held.

She was eighteen now, old enough for me to make a move on her if I wanted. Looking at her shining eyes, and delicate face I couldn't help but smile.

When the hell had she grown up? Her frame was still slender, yet now slightly curvy and her breasts were nice and round. Not too big, but not too small. Shaking my head I leaned against the wall watching her as she blew out the candles, and thinking of how quickly the years had gone by.

I had always thought of her as another little sister when she was younger. Watching her when she came over to play Barbies with Angela and meeting them after school, to make sure they got home safely. The Shepard's had been close to the Curtis's once before we moved even deeper in to the run down neighborhood.

When she was ten she had gone through an, I can't stand boys phase, and rolled her eyes every time I opened my mouth.

When she turned thirteen just before she started dating Johnny she had developed a small crush on me. Not wanting to hurt her feelings I had accepted her home made Valentine card telling her she was too young now, but I'd remember her when I was older.

Now I was thinking I just might take her up on that offer.

Love

Laughing as we blew out the candles I looked up surprised to see Tim starring at me with a look I had never quite seen before. Tilting to my head to the side slightly I raised an eyebrow curiously giggling when he grinned.

Pony POV

Slipping in to my room after the candles were blown out, I grabbed the daisies I had picked out. Taking a deep breath I gathered my courage, it was now or never.

"Hey Ang, come outside with me for a minute," I said hiding the flowers behind my back as I took her hand, and headed to the porch