As soon as I woke up that morning the first thing I did was have the quickest shower I'm sure I'll ever have. I was so looking forward to getting all that dirt and grime off of my body that when I felt the water on my leg the sensation of being clean pretty much died as I felt like screaming out in pain. God it hurt.

Now I was slowly staggering downstairs yawning and rubbing my eyes sleepily. I'd tied my hair up high,and it was slowly curling on my shoulders to my annoyance. Walking into the lounge room Two-Bit's eyes burned straight through to meand he began shouting.

"Pixie look at the blonde headed monkey!" he roared with laughter pointing to Ponyboy who was trying to ignore me.

I nodded slightly. "Look at the pig," I muttered and Ponyboy and Steve snickered. I don't think Two-Bit heard.

"And where were you yesterday?" said Two-Bit suddenly interrupting my thoughts by grabbing my burnt leg.

I let out a startled scream and he instantly let go and I felt the three pairs ofeyes all on me. "Leg. Burnt." I whispered taking deep breaths. "Don't. Touch. Okay?"

"Okay." Two-Bit said nervously.

Ponyboy coughed nervously. "Didn't anyone know where Pixie was or something?"

"Nope, she good as cleared off and near gave her brothers heart attacks," Steve said looking me in the eye and I smiled apologetically and he just shook his head and gave me a small smile. "But it don't matter now the Princess is back,"

I snorted. "Hell I'm a princess."

"They sure as hell thought you were one the way they were carrying on!" Steve laughed. "Like I asked Ponyboy, how's it feel to be a hero then Miss Elizabeth?"

"Pixie."

"Elizabeth sounds posh."

I pulled a face. "Since when am I a hero anyways?"

"Saving the kids," Two-Bit filled in snatching the newspaper off of Ponyboy who scowled and tossed it to me. "In the paper and everythin'."

"Are you kidding?" I shrieked grabbing it and staring at the front cover as my face paled. "Oh my god I hate reporters!" I wailed flopping onto the couch on my stomach and shoving a cushion over my face. "They want to kill me don't they?" I asked to no one in particular moaning into the couch.

"'Course, who doesn't, sister dearest?" Sodapop said cheerily. "I'll be damned if you don't die from embarrassment once you find out you were on the television."

That was it I just started shrieking and freaking out whilst they all tried to contain their laughter. I don't know if it worked or not asI was too hysterical over the fact they took my hideous school picture then published it in the newspaper and now I'm on the TV? THEY WANT TO SEE ME CURL UP IN THE CORNER AND SOB TO DEATH DON'T THEY? Yes I'm being dramatic. I do realize that.

"Ahh!" I moaned loudly trying to bury myself in the couch and failing.

"It's not that bad," Steve said trying to comfort me but he was grinning too much tobe ofmuch comfort.

I frowned. "It really is that bad. I'm not even a hero,"

"Sure you're not Pixiedust," said Two-Bit.

"I'm not, they did it all!" I said pointing to Johnny and Dally's pictures then to Ponyboy. "I stood there like an idiot then bloody almost suffocated myself! I'm a blooming idiot!"

"Aw hell Pixie you sure aren't an idiot." Two-Bit drawled sitting down on the floor with a big chunk of chocolate cake. "And you're alive aren't ya? And you sure are a hero for bringing the munchkins home at least."

I smiled weakly and Sodapop ruffled my hair.

"Besides you look nice in the picture sis," Sodapop said nicely as Darry strolled into the room and began putting his shoes on. "At least you weren't a blonde," Then he ducked pretty fast as Ponyboy threw something, which I'm pretty sure was a wooden spoon, at Sodapop's head.

"Still," I muttered with a sad frown on my face.

"Aw stop your moaning, Pixie," Darry said. "You're alive and well."

"Have you seen my leg?" I asked him with an evil smile on my face. "It's like all discolored and weird! And it's got pus!"

"Ew!" Two-Bit and Sodapop squealed and Darry, Ponyboy and Steve pulled disturbed looking faces.

I giggled at them. "Don't ya wanna see?"

"No." Darry said bluntly standing up.

"Come on Soda we gotta go to work!" Steve moaned heading for the door.

"Where are my shoes?" Sodapop shouted running up the stairs. "Dar have you seen 'em?"

"Now look here Ponyboy, you take it easy today if you wanna go in the rumble." Darry said sternly looking our little brother over. "You don't look so hot."

"I'm fine," Ponyboy grumbled.

"Two-Bit you take care of him you hear?"

"And me!" I chimed in throwing a look to Darry. "I'm more competent than Two-Bit!"

"What's that mean?" Two-Bit asked loudly his eyes not leaving the TV.

Darry rolled his eyes. "Yeah just make sure he don't do nothing stupid, and say hi to Johnnycakes for us,"

"Sodapop!" Steve shouted.

"I'm coming!" Sodapop yelled running past me and out the door after Steve. "Bye Two-Bit! Bye Ponyboy! Bye Pix!"

"Be careful," Darry warned finally before heading out the door after them.

As soon as they left our house fell into unnatural silence. Well other than the noises coming from the cartoon and perhaps Two-Bit's noisy eating but otherwise it was pretty silent. Ponyboy soon disappeared to change again. Don't know why but I suppose it must be nice to feel clean again after a week.

When he reappeared he announced that he wanted to go see Johnny now so I quickly pulled on my tennis shoes as I'd misplaced my Converse high tops and we dragged Two-Bit out of the door as he was very reluctant to leave his beloved. As we headed down into downtown Tulsa Two-Bit was veering us for the nearest Dairy Queen for a snack. I think his stomach is number one priority rather than Johnny and Dallas who were in hospital. Such a caring boy he is.

"Can't wait for the rumble tonight!" Two-Bit declared enthusiastically.

I frowned slightly. "Do y'all really have to fight?"

"'Course we do Pixie!" And even Ponyboy nodded. "We'll show 'em not to cross our turf and touch any of us Pixie, and then you'll never have to see their ugly mugs ever again!"

I rolled my eyes and sighed. It wouldn't lead anywhere anyway. They'd forget about the deal even if us greasers won and soon the socs would come back anyway. Rumbles were no good anyway. They solved nothing and you only ended up getting hurt for no good reasons. They knew I disapproved and what made it worse was I was always stuck at home having to be their cover if the fuzz comes sniffing around.

"Now that's one tuff car." I heard Ponyboy say as we arrived at the Dairy Queen and some sort of car, don't ask me I don't understand cars other than they're a box on wheels. "Whadda ya think Two-Bit?"

"That's very tuff," he agreed stopping to stare when he stiffened.

"I want to go inside." I said suddenly stepping behind my brother and Two-Bit as I spotted the main soc coming towards us. "Come on," I begged pushing the door open.

"Nah Pixie lets see what they have to say," Two-Bit said. I don't think he made the connection.

"Two-Bit that was him!" I whispered and Two-Bit just stood up taller trying to look tough.

"What was who?" Ponyboy asked as four socs sauntered over to us. It was like they owned the place.

"I want to talk to you." Randy announced pointing to my brother.

I opened my mouth to protest him going near my brother ever again but Ponyboy complied and told us to stay here. My eyes narrowed in frustration as Ponyboy followed Randy back to his car and the three other socs eyed us and Two-Bit started grinning and saying something about their outfits but I wasn't paying much attention. I was staring at a cloud trying to get my mind off the fact that creep was with Pony.