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Chapter Two

Once parked at a diner, apparently the Dingo, we pile out. I go to get my stuff when an arm goes around my shoulders. I look up into Sodapop's movie star face as he steers me inside. "It will be fine out here until you eat. Come on and met the rest of the gang."

We get inside and I spot Steve in a booth with three other boys. Sodapop leads me over before I get a good look at any of them and ushers me in the booth between him and Steve. The biggest of the three grins at me, a little drunkenly. "Well who's this fine little lady you've got there Soda?"

"This is Esmeralda. She just came into town." I nod at the guy across from me in greeting. He is obviously either drunk or hung over, stocky, with shining grey eyes, and a slicked back mess of golden brown hair.

"Well howdy! I'm Two-Bit Mathews. This here is Johnny Cade and that one over there is Ponyboy Curtis. Sodapop's kid brother."

Ponyboy is kind of lanky with greased back light brown hair; his eyes resemble the color of summer grass in early morning fog. He seems nice enough if not a little shy. The other boy, Johnny, seemed almost terrified. His head held down and he's hunched over as if trying to hide. His eyes are bid and dark, his face a nice even tan, his dark hair is greased but still a bit shaggy and his jacket looks a little worn out.

I smile softly at Johnny, who gives me a nervous smile back, before turning to Two-Bit "Hi Two-Bit. How much have you had today?"

He laughs. "I've been drinking since Mickey and chocolate cake!"

I must have had a confused or shocked face because Ponyboy is trying not to laugh as he explains for Two-Bit's rambles. "He starts drinking as soon as he wakes up and we eat chocolate cake at my house for breakfast most mornings."

"What about Mickey?"

Johnny's voice is so quiet but I still heard him, but just barely. "He never misses a showing of Mickey Mouse."

A woman brings over a bunch of plates with burgers and fries before walking off to the register. Ponyboy gives me an apologetic look. "If we'd known you were coming we would have ordered you something too."

"I've got it. Burger and fries? All the way?" Sodapop stands up with a grin and shoves his hands in his pockets. I smile up at him. "Sure, but no onions please."

"Coming right up." With that he goes to get my food. When he's not paying attention, Steve shoves his plate my way. I look at him questioning and he just holds a fry out to me, motioning to the large pile on his plate. With a small smile I take it and munch on the one fry while Sodapop gets my plate. It only takes a couple of minutes before he's back. "I hope you like Pepsi."

I scoff. "Who doesn't!"

Ponyboy grins over at me. "I like you already."

He blushed as if he just realized what he said and we all laugh, Ponyboy joining soon after. With the ice broken we all settle into easy conversations while we eat our supper.

Once we finish eating, an older boy walk in and pulls a chair up, sitting with a tired sigh. His dark brown hair is grungy; his face hard and rough, his shirt is stretched taunt over bulging muscles. He looks me over with piercing eye before holding a hand out. "Darrel Curtis."

I take his hand with a firm grasp. "Esmeralda Hayes. You must be Darry. I've heard a lot about you."

"Yeah, she came into the DX looking for a place to eat. She just got into town." Soda says, taking a sip of his drink.

"She's a drifter." Darry sends Ponyboy an odd look. I smile at the eldest brother. I'd learned a lot about this group of 'greasers' and I have to say I like them. Sodapop had told me about their folks dying in a car crash and how Darry gave up college to take care of them. I'd also learned about the bad-boy of the group, Dallas Winston, which they all call Dally. Two-Bit spent his time cracking jokes and telling funny stories of the gang. Steve has stayed mostly quiet, just studying me from the corner of his eye.

I clear my throat, gaining Darry's attention. "What Ponyboy means is that I don't really have a home. I carry everything I own with me and move from one place to the next. The longest I stayed any one place for was three weeks. Only reason I ever stay that long is to work and save up some money so I can move on to the next town. I never have a set destination; just go where my feet take me."

He nods. "How long you planning on staying in Tulsa?"

I shrug. "I dunno. A few days at least. I'm looking for a short term job. I'm low on funds and need to work a bit before moving on."

He studies me carefully. "Got a place to stay?"

Again I shrug. "Nope. Never concerns me. Find a dry place to curl up in for the night and I'll be set."

"You'll stay with us tonight. We've got a spare room and a couch. It's not much but it's warm and dry."