I was madly searching threw my clothes trying to find the perfect outfit. I had to have gone threw my entire wardrobe at least three times and I still couldn't find anything I wanted to wear. I looked at the time and realized I only had 30 more minutes to get ready. I was panicking a bit and grudgingly I knew I only had one choice left. I grabbed my coat and as I went downstairs I told Mrs. Hannigan I was going to Lee's house. Mrs. H didn't know I liked to go out partying, she was kind of simple that way. But hey, I didn't want to worry her any ways. Lee was the only one of my friends that Mrs. Hannigan actually remembered so I just always told her that's where I was going.

As I walked outside I wished I had grabbed Lee's coat instead of the little one I had on. It was getting kind of cold out. I heard some guys drive by and honk their horn at me but I just kept on walking. Seeing them pull over I walked a bit faster.

"Hey baby! Where ya going? Come on back honey! Don't be like that!" I heard them call at me.

I just kept on walking I was only a few houses away from where I needed to get to and I knew I was close enough that I didn't have to worry about getting raped or anything right now. Feeling one of the guys grab my arm and I turned around and punched him in the face.

"Bitch!" he screamed at me as a few of his buddies got closer to me.

I merely laughed at them and kept on walking. Hearing them follow me I could see Tim Sheppard and a few other guys coming from the other end of the block but obviously the guys behind me didn't. I wasn't real concerned about getting hurt or anything but I figured I'd play up that part just to give these guys what they deserved.

"Get away from me! Help me! Someone help! Tim!" I screamed as one of them tried to cover me mouth.

Tim and the few guys he was with came running down the block towards me. Then Tim just wound up and started pounding the guys who were trying to jump me. I felt one of Tim's friends pull me out of harm's way. He led me over to the street light before running back to get a few swings in. I took a seat and enjoyed watching the little punks get their ass kicked by Sheppard's gang. It wasn't long before Tim had the guys running back to their car sporting some new black eyes and bloody cuts.

"You alright?" Tim asked as he walked over. He was now sporting a fat lip but I knew Tim didn't care, made him look tough.

"Yeah fine," I said with a grin.

"They didn't hurt you though?" Tim asked catching the grin on my face he shook his head, "You could have taken 'em eh."

I laughed, "Yeah but I figured you looked kind of bored and could use something to do."

Tim grinned at me as he helped me up, "Thanks Kate."

"Any time Tim."

"So what brings you over here any ways I thought you were going with Louis and them to David's party." Tim asked, "That's where were headed if you wanna come."

"Thanks but actually I was coming to see if Angela was still home."

"You in need of some girly clothes."

"Afraid so."

Tim smiled and shook his head, "Yeah she's still home. But you better hurry up she's already pretty wasted and she hasn't even gotten to the party yet."

I nodded my head. I didn't much like Angela Sheppard. If you were looking for a slut, she was definitely one. Me and her just didn't get along. We pretty much had opposite opinions about everything. And when I say everything I mean it to. But I was nice to her most of the time. Mostly out of respect for Tim. He was a pretty good guy and always kept an eye out for me. So I didn't beat Angela up half as much as I wanted to. Not to say we didn't get into a fight every once in a while. But we both got over it pretty fast, just so Tim didn't have lecture us. Besides I didn't like bothering Tim, he'd done enough for me. I didn't need him thinking that I didn't appreciate it. And I guess I could kind of respect Angela in an odd sort of way. She didn't take shit from any guys, she wasn't scared of them. I respected that.

"Well I guess I better get going then. Later."

"Later Kate."

I headed towards the Sheppard's house. I personally didn't care that Angela was wasted already. I actually liked her better when she wasn't sober. She was a lot nicer to me and I had the satisfaction of knowing she was going to have a hell of a hang over the next day. I knocked on the door and heard Angela holler 'It's open.' So I walked in and went to her room. There she was sitting with some other girl. I was pretty sure her name was Danielle. They both had a beer in their hands.

"Eh it's Kate!" Angela said as she walked over and gave me a hug. She was definitely drunk.

"Hey Angela. Listen I was wondering if I could borrow a top for David's party?"

"Yeah, yeah. Sure help yourself."

"Thanks."

I didn't like borrowing Angela's clothes that much. She was pretty girly compared to me. But I figured one of her flirty tops was probably more attractive then one of my plaid one. And I was definitely in the mood to impress.

"So Kate? What guy are you plannin' on sleeping with tonight?"

I rolled my eyes at Angela. I could tell her I wasn't going to have sex with anyone tonight. But she'd just think I was lying and continue to press the matter. I found that out a long time ago. So it was best just to reply with a yeah and make something up. Come to think of it that's probably how so many rumors have gotten started about me. But hell Angela was drunk enough she wouldn't remember anything tomorrow morning so I figured I'd just give her a name.

"Curtis," I replied with a grin as I held up one of Angela's tops, "What do you think of this one?'

"Nah too frilly," Angela replied. So I put the top down. Drunk or not Angela knew what looked good, " Curtis eh? Which one?"

"The youngest one Ponyboy," I said with a smile just thinking about him, "What about this?"

I held up another top but Angela shook her head.

"He's pretty fine," Angela said as she chucked her empty beer can in the pile behind her, "Hell I'd do him too."

I laughed. I held up another top but Angela just shook her head again. Angela's friend Danielle finished up her beer and took another for herself and passed the other one to Angela.

"Hell I'd do all those Curtis boys. They are fine indeed," Danielle said slurring a bit. She was nearly as wasted as Angela was.

"Yeah they are pretty fine," I said agreeing with her. I looked threw Angela's next pile of tops and held some up but Angela finally just got up and picked one out.

"Here," she said handing me a white tank that had a fairly deep plunge, "You'll definitely impress Curtis with that."

I couldn't help but grin. Taking the top I went to the bathroom and tried it on. Angela and I were about the same size so the top fit real good. It really showed off my body. But it wasn't that slutty. Just a bit more reveling then something I would wear to work. But it looked good. I walked out and I saw Tim's brother Curly stick his head in and whistle.

"Looking pretty fine their Kate," he said trying to put his arm around me.

"Buzz off Curly," I said pushing him a way.

Curly merely walked over to Danielle and put his arm around her. Obviously Danielle was completely wasted because she let him. Looking at the time I realized I was late.

"Well I gotta run. Thanks again Angela. I guess I'll see you there." I said as I walked out of her room.

I heard her yell something back at me but she was slurring a lot now too and I couldn't understand her. I saw Mrs. Sheppard reading a book at the kitchen table so I waved to her. She was a real nice lady. But I didn't stick around to see if she waved back though, I would have but I was already running late so instead I quickly headed out the door. I was walking down the street when I saw Louis and Dale heading my way.

"Hey!" I called out after them.

They stopped and waited for me to catch up.

"And I thought you had forgot about us," Dale said with a smile.

"Oh I could never do that," I said with a wink, "I needed to find a top though but now here I am. A little late but looking great."

Both Dale and Louis laughed but I caught them looking me up and down.

"Yeah you look great," Dale said zoning out on my chest a bit. I gave him a playful slap and he snapped out of it.

"Are we off then?" I asked.

"I believe so. We're now fashionably late so I think we'll be able to make a grand entrance," Louis said with a fake accent.

I couldn't help but laugh as we started walking. I asked where Jon was but turns out he had ran into his ex girlfriend. And that's why Dale and Louis were walking, Jon had taken the car. We talked for a while before we got to David's place. We walked around back where a whole bunch of people already were. I stuck with Dale and Louis for awhile but we ended up getting separated in the crowd. A lot of people had showed to the party. Which was a little odd. David wasn't a real popular guy. He was in his twenties I think so it was pretty much impossible that he knew everyone here considering most of us were in high school or were suppose to be. He was good friends with Tim though and I guess Tim knew a lot more people then I did because I only recognized about a quarter of the people there. But Tim was wandering about saying hi to everyone. He was pretty wasted, not as bad as Angela was but I figured it wouldn't be that long till he was.

I had already had at least 20 different guys try to hit on me but thankfully Lee wasn't that far away from me. He managed to get rid of the ones that I couldn't seem to. I walked inside where all the beer was. I took a glass but didn't drink it. I'm not big on beer. I managed to find some soda in the fridge though and drank that instead. Walking around I was hoping I might run into Ponyboy or one of the guys at the store today. But it had been almost an hour and no sign of any of them. I was getting a bit bored to be honest with you. All these parties were the same. I was getting real tired of the cheesy one liners guys kept using on me. One guy pushed me too far and I turned around and punched him in the face, not hard. But hard enough so that he got the point to leave me the hell alone. I then made my way over to smart Jen who I saw standing in one of the corners surrounded by some gossiping girls.

"Hey Jen!" I called out at her, "Excuse me ladies. It's an emergency. Ex-boyfriend alert."

All the girls moved out of my way so I could get to Jen. I knew these chicks would only move if had anything to do with dates or ex boyfriends. I grabbed Jen's arm and we headed into a less crowded room.

"Thanks so much," Jen said as we got away from most of the crowd, "Those girls were driving me mad."

"Yes. They tend to do that," I said shaking my head, "Haven't been to many of these eh?"

Jen shook her head, "Not really. Mom and Dad would kill me. But the hell with them."

I smiled, "Feeling pretty rebellious I see. So where's Lee gone off too?'

"Well he was going to the bathroom when some girls cornered him. Then another group of girls cornered me with questions. I never knew Lee was such a lady's man. But any ways I haven't seen him since."

"Oh I wouldn't worry much. Lee's a pretty good-looking guy so the girls tend to swarm to him. But he came here with you so I wouldn't worry you're pretty little head about it."

Jen nodded her head but she didn't look to convinced. But just at that second Lee came up behind us.

"Pretty good-looking? That's an understatement if I ever heard one," Lee said with a laugh, "Come on I'm gorgeous."

I gave him a punch in the arm, "Don't get too cocky now. I don't think that head of yours can hold any more hot air."

Jen and Lee both laughed. I saw the look and Jen's face as Lee put his arm around her and kissed her head. I couldn't help but smile. I was happy for them. They looked like they were having a good time. I on the other hand wasn't.

"Well I'll leave you two alone," I said as I headed out towards the crowd again.

"Alright later Kate," Jen said with a smile.

"Oh wait. Some kid. I think his name was Ponyboy was looking for you," he said with a raised eyebrow, "Is that the Curtis kid?"

I gave him one of my its-none-of-your-business looks. But I was all of a sudden I was real happy. Leaving the room with a smile on my face I managed to run into someone.

Picking myself up off the ground I looked up to see Two-Bit.

"Hey it's the hot chick from the story!" he yelled out.

"Hey Two-Bit," I said shaking my head, "It's Kate."

"Right I knew that. Wow you're looking real good tonight! And I thought you couldn't get any hotter. I was wrong!" he said as he stumbled a bit. Clearly he had had his fair share of beers.

I rolled my eyes with a grin and turned to walk away. But Two-Bit grabbed my arm.

"Hold on good-looking! Hey Ponyboy. Ponyboy!" he yelled out, "It's your lady love!"

I saw Ponyboy make his way over to us. He seemed to be a little red but I thought that was cute. Two-Bit let go of my arm and pushed me into Ponyboy. Though I didn't mind.

"Hey there," I said with a smile that just wouldn't go away.

"Hey Kate. How's it going?" he asked.

"Well honestly I'm alright. I'm much better now though. And you?"

"Same. You look real nice."

"Thanks. You don't look to bad yourself."

He looked real good. As a lot of girls I knew would say he was f-I-n-e. I don't know why but I felt a little nervous. Which was really weird because I was never like that around guys, or at least I thought I was never like that around guys.

"So where is everyone else?" I asked looking around.

Ponyboy pointed towards the bar where Dally and Johnny were chugging back some beers with a few people cheering around them. He then pointed towards Two-Bit who was now flirting with some random girls.

'And over there is my brother Sodapop and his friend Steve," he said pointing towards the two guys making out with some girls over in the kitchen.

I nodded me head. Looking down at his hand I saw he had a soda in his hand too. We had both looked down at the exact same time and both started laughing.

"Soda for you too," I said still giggling slightly.

"Yeah. I don't care much for beer."

"Me neither."

I felt a guy grab my ass and turned around to smoke the guy in the face. But turns out Ponyboy had already taken the liberty of doing it for me.

"Thanks."

"Yeah no problem. Hey do you want to go outside."

"Yeah for sure."

We both smiled.