PONY'S POV

Driving Arizona's mustang is not easy. One, she's my ex-girlfriend. Two, she's next to me. Three, it's a pretty tuff car. Arizona always had a taste for blue. But when she told me about it, she said she got it in some color called 'frost turquoise' because it was more a girl blue and she hated plain blue '65 mustangs. They always reminded her of Bob and she didn't want to scare Johnny or remind him. So if you called her car blue, she'll insist that it's not. "It's a 1967 mustang convertible in frost turquoise!" she'll say. I glance over at her sleeping form in the passenger seat. Man, she was pretty. Even with the cuts on her face, I still thought she was gorgeous. Her reddish hair with light highlights stood out against her tan skin. I missed her. I mean, I still see her at school and in the neighborhood, but I miss her. The way we would talk for hours . . . how I was a big part of her life. I'm kinda regretting the breakup. But I don't know if she is.

She stirs and her eyes open. "Are we there yet?" she asks.

"Not yet." I reply. "You want to stay at my house? Just for a little."

"Sure." she replies with a yawn. She blinks. "I'm not that tired anyway. Just give me a mocha latte and I'll stay up for forever." she lets out a weak laugh.

"Hey Ari?" I ask.

"Yeah?"

"What did Angela Shephard have to do with that fight?" I ask. She blushes and starts looking at her hair. She clears her throat, but says nothing. "I know you know." I add.

"Well, I don't have to say." She huffs. A long silence passes before she says, "Bryon and Angela used to date, then Angela dumped him, so she could try to get you. And since you were in sheer oblivion" - she lets out a small laugh - "she got mad at you for ignoring her, so you got that guy to pick a fight with you." She crosses her arms. "There. Does that satisfy you?"

"What were you doing fighting him?" I ask with a cocked eyebrow.

She looks down at the dashboard. "Impulsive decision," she mumbles.

"Why did you do it though?" I ask. "You weren't defending me, were you?"

She glares at me. "I wasn't defending you," she says quietly. "I was preventing him from hurting anyone else."

I take a deep breath. I'm still worried about her, even if I don't have to be.

IN ARIZONA'S POV

I get out of the car and take the keys from Pony as we step into his house. I'm surprised to see Two-Bit inside. "Two-Bit?" I ask. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Catching up." Two-Bit replies. He squints and looks at me. "Geez, what happened to you two?"

"There was a fight at the dance." Pony explains. "We kinda got caught."

"Are you sure?" Soda asks. "Seems to me that you got caught in it and Arizona here threw herself into it."

"Thanks for summing it up." I growl,and lean against the wall, longing for a cigarette.

"There was a fight at the dance?" Darry asks. "What happened?"

"Angela Shephard happened." I snap. "She got mad at Pony for ignoring her, so she got some guy to pick a fight with Pony."

"Then he gets some beer bottle and cracks it on the side of Mark's head when he asked him to fight fair." Pony adds.

"So, where did you come in?" Soda asks me.

I open my mouth to speak, but close it again. "I tackled the guy so he attacked me."

"What?" Soda asks in disbelief.

"You're in enough trouble already." Two-Bit says.

"No, I'm not." I snap. "Anyway, I had to put stitches in Mark's head, because Bryon asked me and blah, blah, blah." I end cheerfully. "Anyway, Angela's gonna be dead. I can feel it."

"Is that because you hate her because of-" Two-Bit starts but I cut him off.

"No." I say firmly. "Well, I'd better go. See ya around." I give them a quick wave before stepping out.

Monday morning at school is not normal. I just try to act normal. The fight was swirling around campus, but there are so many different versions. When anyone asks me, I just give them the truth, but I know that they won't listen. Now I'm famous in school for two things; my breakup with Ponyboy and for fighting. Great right? Not exactly. But it's all the same. Everyone's mad at Angela, making Mark a hero, being sympathetic to Pony and praising me. Before I leave, for lunch hour Mr. Syme stops me.

"Arizona. I need you to do me a favor." he says.

"Okay," I shrug. "What?"

"Over the summer, I need you to write a musical." he says. "Well, you can pick a musical and change it to your liking."

"Okay." I say. "What are you looking for?"

"Something unique but cliche." Mr. Syme replies. "Can you do that?"

"Yeah sure." I say. "I'll give it to you when we come back from school."

"Thank you." Mr. Syme says and walks off as I rev the engine of my car.

I must have driven a few miles and decide that I'm not hungry. I just drive around and sing.

"Hello Dr. Pepper!"

I jump and slam on the brakes. "Glory!" Who is that!?" I look behind me in the backseat to find a smiling Two-Bit and Soda. "Seriously, guys?" I ask. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"His idea." Soda says, pointing at Two-Bit. I groan. I turn back to the steering wheel. "Hope you're wearing a seatbelt!" I exclaim and floor it. The car throws itself forward and then I slow it down gently and look in the back. I laugh. Their faces are pale and eyes are wide.

"Never," Two-Bit breathes. "Do that again."

"Okay." I reply. "Just never sneak into my car again."

"Deal." Soda groans.

So I drop Soda off back at the DX and drive Two-Bit back to school. I'm able to slip into Mr. Syme's English class unnoticed, thankfully.

"Now, speaking of social divide and how it affects our lives," Mr. Syme says. "Arizona?"

"Yes sir?" I ask.

Mry. Syme looks at me. "Please name an example of something positive prevailing through a social divide or conflict between two groups."

I gulp and chew my lip. 'Something prevailing . . . social divide . . . two groups . . .' "Um . . . Romeo and Juliet?" I say. "Does it have to be a happy thing? Because I-"

"Name a happy thing then." Mr. Syme says.

"Happy thing?" I repeat dumbly. Happy thing . . . uh . . . "I'm sorry, I can't think of anything."

"Alright. Claire?" Mr. Syme moves on to Claire Dames.

Romeo and Juliet . . . I think. Wait a minute . . . Westside Story . . . two gangs . . . what if you changed those two gangs to Soc and Greaser? And yes . . . Dally and Cherry . . .

"I got it!" I blurt out in excitement.

"You got what?" Mr. Syme asks me.

"I just got inspiration!" I squeal excitedly and grab a paper and pen . . .

AN: Cliffhanger! I think . . . reviews are welcome!