A chain-link fence surrounded the property. The house itself was nothing special. Just a regular tan colored, one story building. What made it inviting was the laughter coming out of the house. Male laughter. It has heartfelt and light.

"Here?" I asked Dallas as he opened the fence gate for me.

"The Curtis brothers'. From the sound of it the entire gang is probably here. Thank god you ain't a blonde!" Dallas chuckled.

"Hey!" I protested but he ran up the four steps and through the front door without knocking. I sighed quietly and followed.

"Dally!"

"Hey, man! Where ya been?"

"You guys been doin' much besides this?"

More laughter.

I decided it was safe to enter. Dallas turned and smiled crookedly at me. The first thing I noticed were the two guys arm-wrestling on the surface of a coffee table and a third drinking beer, watching a cartoon. The second thing? What cartoon was walking across the screen.

"Mickey Mouse?" I asked, my eyebrows rising in shock.

"You got a problem with that?" the one who answered, was guy #3. He was tall and stocky with rust-colored side burns and gray eyes. I almost laughed at the shirt he was wearing: gray, sleeveless with Mickey on the front.

"No, none at all. I love Mickey. Have you ever been to Disneyland?" I grinned. Back home, Disneyland was my home-away-from-home. Mickey Mouse guy starred open mouthed. "I used to live in California."

"Oh, well any fan of the mouse is a friend of mine." He patted the seat next to him. "I'm Two-Bit Matthews."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Carmen Rose."

"That's like a model's name, huh Soda?" the one who had asked that was the one winning the arm-wrestling contest. He was slightly shorter than Two-Bit, with greasy brown hair that was combed into little swirls. His head looked like a package of streamers, ready for a two-year-olds' birthday party. His eyes turned to meet mine and I almost had a heart attack. Striking. Green. Eyes.

"I'm no model," I managed to say shakily.

"You're from California though," Dallas added.

"An actress then!" This one that spoke was gorgeous. And he smiled like he knew that. He had golden brown hair and laughing brown eyes. His DX shirt was left unbuttoned, revealing an athlete's body. Breathe Carmen. You forgot to breathe.

"I wish. But I'm not." I grinned at him.

"Sodapop Curtis, it's a pleasure to meet you Carmen," he took my hand and kissed it. I reluctantly pulled my hand back.

"It's nice to meet you too."

"So, since you two are done flirting…" Two-Bit said as he turned up the volume on the T.V. I sat next to Two-Bit while Steve and Dallas play-fought. At least I hope they were just playing. Sodapop sat on the floor and looked at me when he thought I wasn't watching him.

"Favorite color?"

"Orange."

"Favorite singer?"

"Elvis."

"Good choice. Favorite flavor of ice cream?"

"Vanilla."

The game of twenty questions. What better way to get to know someone?

"Siblings?" It was Sodapop's turn.

"An older brother named Austin." I replied as fast as I could.

"No sisters?" Two-Bit asked.

Someone had to ask that… A memory of long ago tugged at my mind. A little thing wrapped in pink. My mother holding it gently, sobbing. My father yelling at a man in a white coat. My brother pulling me out of the small room.

"No. Just a brother." The clock over the television set ticked in the silence. 9:45. Mom would be home in an hour. "Do any of you guys know where Mellonvine Street is?

I have some luck. Not much, but some. My luck? Both Sodapop and Dallas knew where I lived. Both offered to walk me home. Um, great?

"Let's go." My simple statement said I was not choosing.

With one boy on either side of me, I headed home. Odd how much four guys, a run in with a mental patient, and an act of kindness can change one's opinion of Tulsa.