I left Ponyboy to go do his homework and found myself walking back into the lounge room. Steve and Soda were arm wrestling, I'll never understand the joy in doing that but hey they were guys and who ever understands guys? I don't despite the fact I'm friends with so many.

On coming in I wasn't so lucky at avoiding Two-Bit as he immediately grabbed my ankle and pulled me down, and I just so happened to have landed on top of him and it just so happened that Dally walked in then and saw it.

"God, you're so perverted," Dally said shaking his head as he sat down.

"I am not perverted!" Two-Bit said indignantly and I fell off of him rubbing my ankle.

"You call grabbing Pixie's ankle everytime she walks past you in the hope you'll pull her onto the floor not perverted?" Dally asked him sarcastically and Steve and Soda looked over and smirked. "'Cause I have to question what you see as perverted or not now."

"I always did question that," I said loudly sitting up. "So there was a reason why Mom and Dad bought a lock for the bathroom all those years ago."

They all laughed but Two-Bit threw me a grin. "Why of course I was perverted when I was thirteen and you were, what?"

"Twelve," I said dryly. "Honestly wouldn't surprise me there,"

Soda smiled. "So that's why Two-Bit's friends with us!" he exclaimed loudly. "To perve on Pixie!"

"Well I always did have a bit of a thing for brunettes," Two-Bit said slinging an arm around me.

I laughed, "Oh I'm so flattered for all your attention, Two-Bit, I've been just waiting for this day since, well, forever!"

We all laughed and Darry came in and looked at us all suspiciously. Not that that was too unusual or anything, he often looked at us as if we should be carted off to the crazy bin.

"Did I hear you correctly, Soda, he's here to perve on Pixie?" Darry asked, and his eyes were narrowed even more dangerously than well I've ever seen them.

I giggled and Soda grinned. "Why yes you did hear me correctly,"

"But we were only joking," I spoke up smiling at Darry. "Well I was at least,"

"Oh I am hurt, Pixie," Two-Bit said loudly pulling a sad face.

I giggled and slowly stood up, "So you should be, since well, who wouldn't want me?"

"I don't!" Dallas, Steve and Soda, yes Soda, said loudly at once.

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Steve, you have a girlfriend, I'm bloody glad you don't want me, Dally, whatever," I shrugged and he smirked. "And Soda, I'm your twin, if you wanted me I would be very scared."

"True, true," Soda grinned up at me.

Darry stared at us all weirdly and finally said. "Okay well dinners ready,"

"I'll get, Pony," I offered and before Darry could refuse me or someone else could offer I headed up the stairs.

Because I knew Pony still wasn't in the mood to talk to Darry. Dally and Steve never would have offered. Two-Bit and Soda likely would have just screamed it was ready or jumped on his bed ruining him doing his homework and well Johnny wasn't even here. So it was up to me. Besides he still had my math homework.

"Hey, Ponyboy," I said and he glanced up, "Dinners ready,"

"Okay," he said putting away his homework.

Very smart. Seeing as he shared this room with Soda and most likely he would, not on purpose of course, lose it, destroy it totally or spill something on it. Seriously, wouldn't be the first time either.

"So ya doing anything tonight ,Pony?" I asked him as he followed me downstairs.

"Going to the movies with Johnny and Dal,"

"Don't you ever get sick of movies?" I asked him curiously. "They're only stupid beach films,"

"Nah I don't, you go to them often enough," Ponyboy pointed out as we walked into the dining room.

I'm gonna guess Soda and Steve guessed what we were saying since well Pony's pretty quiet and I am when I'm talking to him cos they both shared a look with me and I smiled slightly my face a shade or two pinker than I would have liked to.

"Yeah well, Pony, that's a whole lot different," I said simply not wanting to go further into me going to the movies topic, one I didn't wish to discuss with the gang, my older and younger brother, Soda's another story I didn't mind him knowing but that's different. "So, are you all going out too?"

"I'm going to get drunk," Two-Bit said sounding almost proud.

I stared at him a brow raised. "Uh huh, and you're happy about that why?"

"Because -" Two-bit began.

"He's a drunk," Dally finished smirking.

"I am not!" Two-Bit protested.

I nodded slightly. "Whatever. You two?" I asked Steve and Soda knowing perfectly well what the two of them were planning on doing.

"Got us a couple of dates!" Soda said proudly.

I grinned. "Hmm, and would these dates just happen to go by the names of Sandy and Evie, I wonder?"

"Yeah perhaps they do," Soda replied with a grin.

"Wow, am I just a total psychic or are you two and these ladies getting awfully serious?" I asked then smiling coyly.

"Perhaps we are getting serious," Soda said thoughtfully and Steve elbowed him in the ribs. "Not that I would be like that though,"

"Sure," Steve coughed. "Sorry, choked there a bit,"

Darry was glaring at us all whilst Dally and Two-Bit were quite happy to watch our conversation and the look on Darry's face.

"Mmm, and you know what comes with being serious," I started.

"Pixie!" Darry hissed.

I flashed him a smile, "I was only gonna say what comes with being serious is marriage, Dar, jeez what did you think I was gonna say?" He never replied but instead glowered at me. He knew perfectly well that I wasn't gonna say it but was merely doing this to tease him as the three of us often did, "Besides its just wouldn't it be great if you all got married, had to get married."

I bit my lip to keep from laughing and Steve was staring at the wall concentrating awfully hard on chewing. Soda kept looking at me and I had to avoid looking at him cos I knew I'd be in fits of laughter. Dallas was smirking and Two-Bit was grinning happily. Pony was staring at his food and Darry was scowling at me like you'd never believe.

We did this joke on him all the time you'd think he'd learn to relax. We'd never actually touch this topic at the dinner table, he knew we wouldn't yet he always freaked out, besides ew, I did not want to discuss that with any of them, no thanks. Steve and Soda I have one or twice but that's different. They ain't the others especially Dar who's freaking out at the thought of it.

"So, Darry, are you going to do anything tonight?" I asked him finally once I had fully composed myself.

He was still glowering at me but shook his head. "No I'm not. Are you?"

"Nope," I said rolling my eyes. "I have decided that Jason is officially the biggest loser on this planet and if he dares to ask me out again I will hit him." I said smiling sweetly. "And I am not going into details as I imagine he probably wants to live his life and fulfill his life dream of being the biggest sleaze."

Ponyboy excused himself at that point. I felt a little guilty for making him feel uncomfortable, he was kinda used to this talk from the three of us and we only ever did it teasingly, I'll apologize to him once I left, I told myself. Dallas was staring at me with a slightly pissed expression and Two-Bit looked so sad but Darry looked half angry and half sad. I'm not sure why though. Oh wait. I just remembered what I told them. Smart one Pixie, you're so smart.

"He didn't…did he?" Darry asked softly.

"You think I'm like that?" I replied.

"No, but guys are." Darry said.

I smirked and looked down shaking my head. "Funnily enough they are." I glanced up. "I have values, Darry, I don't plan on screwing up my life. I want out of this dump, Darry, I don't want to stay here and live this life again."

No one said anything. Steve and Soda both knew this, I told them this ages ago. Back when we all started to date. They didn't understand it but seeing as they're both like best friends they respected it. I had to love them for that. I didn't expect Dally or Two-Bit to understand, but I hoped Darry would.

"Look," I said standing up. "Don't worry about me; I can take care of myself. That's something I can do by myself and no guy is gonna mess it up for me."

I gave him a small smile and walked out of the room. I let out a sigh and held onto the doorframe into the lounge room. Taking a deep breath I began to walk upstairs to talk to Ponyboy, I bit my lip, boy did I feel bad. He wouldn't understand like those guys did then, like Johnny those two didn't understand the dating game. Boy would this be hard to do.

"Hey, Pon," I said standing by his door.

He glanced up, "Oh hey, Pixie," he said looking a bit pink.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you nervous," I said softly.

"Nah you didn't," Ponyboy lied to me. "Just didn't feel like seeing Darry's reaction that's all,"

"Your lying, Pony, but seriously I'll try not to do that again," I told him giving him a small smile. "You're getting so tall you know."

I bit my lip and I felt like crying desperately. Who would have known that one day I'd be apologizing to my kid brother about nearly talking about my non existent sex life to him and standing watching him getting ready to go out on a Friday night. I wanted to cry that he was still my baby and he had to stay young like back when our parents were around. He was such a kid then. I used to be taller than him then but he was so tall and he looked so older…he'd seen too much too early. So had I, but I felt so guilty that I hadn't protected him.

"Uh thanks, Pixie," he stammered looking under his bed for something.

I felt Soda brush past me. This was his room after all. He began changing into some clothes for tonight. He didn't even bother to shove me out of the room. I was his sister, so what if I saw him in his underwear? No big deal. But as I watched Ponyboy desperately tidying up I began to cry and I grabbed him in a hug.

"Pixie, are you alright?" I heard him say.

"Oh, Ponyboy," I said softly. "I'm so sorry, I should have protected you from all of this, you're still a little baby after all, my little baby aren't ya?"

I have a feeling if I had of seen his face then it would have either been full of hatred for being all motherly, or totally scared or even totally confused and full of worry. I'm opting for a combination of three cos as I hugged him he slowly patted my back.

"Pixie, what's wrong with you?"

"Oh, Pony, you'll always be my baby right?" I asked him letting go and staring at him.

I have a feeling he was gonna respond no but Soda grabbed him and me and hugged us both together.

"Pixie, stop freaking out, Ponyboy's just growing up okay he's not leaving us yet, he's only a bit taller but he's the same Pony," Soda told me, and I think he was also telling this to Pony. "Just like when you became a teenager, Pix, with me and Steve, you were the same Pixie just looking more womanly," he grinned.

I was crying but laughing as I hit him. "Bully,"

"You love me," he smiled letting the two of us go. "So please for all our sakes don't go being all soppy now, Pixie, cos you'll scare everyone, truly you will."

I grinned and hit him again. "Oh stop being mean, I'll tell Sandy," I threatened.

"Sure you will."

"I will too!" I cried out. "'Cause I'm your twin she'll believe me, I know all your secrets,"

"I know all yours," he replied. "So don't try it."

"But I ain't got no one no more," I said, I couldn't resist but grin, he knew I was teasing but hey maybe not…

"Pixie!" Soda cried throwing me on the bed. "You will not!"

I giggled as Soda started to tickle me. "Soda stop it!" I shrieked. "Pony, help!"

"You're on your own," I saw him smile. "See ya two later,"

"Pony!" I wailed but it was too late he'd already disappeared. "Soda!" I laughed. "Okay seriously stop it, Soda!"

"Not 'til you say you won't!" Soda grinned at me.

"I won't! I won't!" I yelled loudly laughing hard. "Ow, Soda, please stop!"

"Nah," Soda grinned.

I pulled a face and suddenly Soda was pulled off me and I saw Steve standing next to him and grinning down at me on the bed and I saw Two-Bit standing by the door.

"Never thought I'd see the day where I saw Pixie Curtis lying in bed with someone on top of her," Steve grinned.

Soda punched him in the arm and I sat up and glared.

"Steve, stop being a creep! You and the perve really creep me out," I declared.

Soda laughed. "Yeah, stay away from my sister or you'll face me!"

Steve simply pushed him on the bed. "I'd like to see you try. Now are ya coming or what?"

"I'm coming," Soda said kissing my cheek randomly, "Catch ya later, sis,"

I stared at him weirdly and watched the two of them disappear. I rolled my eyes at the thought of Soda actually trying to do something to Steve. It'd be more funny than dangerous I should think. I sighed loudly for some reason and stood up only to realize Two-Bit was still there.