"Oh, no." I say. "Do Darry and Pony know?"

Soda shakes his head. "Nope. But I still have to tell them."

I hand him back his letter. "That's terrible. You better come back alive."

"I hope so." Soda replies, putting it back in his pocket.

"Man," I take a drag on my cigarette. "now I wish you had a police record." I stared back down at the letter then at Soda. He sighs loudly. Steve, Johnny, Dallas, Cherry and Ponyboy walked over to Soda and I.

"What's wrong Pepsi-Cola?" Steve asks Soda. Soda looks upset.

"Look at the letter, Steve." Soda says. Steve studies the letter and exchanges a glance with me and Soda. Dallas pulls Cherry close to him and grabs the letter out if Steve's hand.

"What the hell!" yells Dally examining the letter and shoving it at Cherry.

Soda says," I can't believe it you guys!"

I think about the draft letter for Soda. He couldn't go, he just couldn't go . . he can't leave. Ponyboy wouldn't survive without his older brother. Soda means so much to Ponyboy as well as Darry. My eyes filled with sadness and rage.

"They can't just take you away . . . can they?" asks Johnny facing Soda worriedly.

"I don't know Johnnycakes, I just don't know." Soda replies.

Everyone in the gang looks worried and I say," This is terrible . . . be happy you can't be a tunnel rat."

Ponyboy looks at me, worriedly. We exchanged glances and he reaches over and squeezes my hand.

"Can't we change the subject, Soda?" Sandy purrs casually and she doesn't seem upset at all.

I'm infuriated. "Sandy shut up!" I exclaim. "Don't you even care about what's happening to Soda?" I tell Sandy, purely annoyed. "Oh, wait, you never have cared."

Soda looks at me surprised and Chevy enters the lawn. "What is going on in here?" exclaims Chevy walking over to all of us.

"Soda got a draft letter." I tell my cousin, annunciating every word. Chevy looks at Soda upset and her hazel eyes widen and her jaw hits the ground. I see tears forming.

"For your information Arizona I do care about Soda. I always have." Sandy declares proudly.

"Well you have a terrible way of showing it!" I yell at Sandy. "Chevy actually loves Soda in a way you never will." I add impulsively.

Chevy looks at me then Soda. Soda looks surprised. "Chevy, you loved me?" Soda asks my cousin.

"I always have, Soda. I hated leaving you . . . without a goodbye and . . . I shouldn't have done that." says Chevy with tears in her eyes.

"Really Chevy?" asked Soda softly. And before anyone could do or say anything, Soda kissed Chevy. Right in front of Sandy. They remain for the longest time ever and I begin to appaud with the rest of the gang joining in. They both pulled away, looking pretty pleased and breathless.

"She doesn't love you, I DO!" shrieks Sandy, her face red with anger.

"Back off Sandy!" I yell at her, stepping in front of the couple.

"Girls, calm down . . ." says Soda trying to calm us down.

"Soda, Chevy, don't listen to her!" I exclaim. I turn back to Sandy. "How do you want to settle this?" I smirk.

"Bring it on." Sandy says, glaring at me. She lunges at me, and pretty soon we're going at it. Sandy's an inexperienced fighter and I have her pinned down in five minutes. She's used to fighting by pulling hair and how they do it in the movies. But that's not the way we do it.

"Holler uncle." I smirk.

"Fine." she huffs and I get off her. Sandy stomps off in a rage and I reapply my lipstick.

"That was easy." I smirk.

"Great job Arizona." Dally applauds.

"Just like Emily." Johnny say with a smile.

"Woah, Dr. Pepper. That was awesome." Steve says with a grin. He turns to Chevy. "And Chevy, I always thought you were better for Soda."

"So, what's going to happen to Sandy?" Cherry asks.

"Find that no-good jerk who fathered her kid." I say with a smirk.

"What now?" Pony asks.

"Well," I say turning to Chevy and Soda. "I say that these two get back together."

"What about Sandy?" Chevy asks.

"Leave her to me." I say slyly, lighting another cancer stick. "If she wants a rumble, I'll rumble her right. It won't be pretty."

"I thought you couldn't smoke." Johnny comments.

"I can." I reply. "So what do you guys say?"

"I think that's a great idea." Soda says happily, kissing Chevy's forehead.

School the next day wasn't easy. Everyone now knows who Nick is. He's pure good ol' Soc through and through. What makes me mad is that he's excelling in my top subjects. English, and History. He'll never beat me at Drama though. There was a food fight in the cafeteria between the Socs and some other people. They tried to pin it on the Greasers though. But everyone knows we're barely there in the cafeteria. During rehearsals, we practice the 'Dance at the Gym' scene. It's basically dance off between the Jets(which I changed to Greasers) and the Sharks(I changed that to Socs) at a gym, and where Dallas and Sherrie meet.

"Greaser girls!" Aunt Alice cries. "Add more sass and attitude to the dance! It's a dance for Pete's sake!" The dance goes from the top and moves on. It goes on to the pre-rumble scene that I'm in. For this the front of the stage is set in four spaces. On the actual stage you have the Greasers and Socs dancing to the "Tonight Quintet" and then you have Anita getting ready on the stage right on the floor, Sherrie on stage left, and Dallas walking to us via the center of the aisle.

Diesel (played by Cole) sings: The Greasers are gonna have their day, tonight.

Paul (Played by Hamilton Kennedy): The Socs are gonna have their way, tonight.

Aria (that's me!): The Socs grumble: "Fair fight." But if they start a rumble, We'll rumble 'em right.

Paul: We're gonna hand 'em a surprise, tonight.

Diesel and Greasers: We're gonna cut 'em down to size, tonight.

Paul and Socs: We said, "O.K., no rumpus, no tricks." But just in case they jump us, We're ready to mix Tonight.

ALL: We're gonna rock it tonight, We're gonna jazz it up and have us a ball! They're gonna get it tonight; The more they turn it on, the harder they'll fall!

Diesel and Greasers: Well, they began it!

Paul and Socs: Well, they began it!

ALL: And we're the ones to stop 'em once and for all. Tonight!

ANITA (Played by Marcia): Anita's gonna get her kicks, tonight. We'll have our private little mix, tonight. He'll walk in hot and tired, poor dear. Don't matter if he's tired, As long as he's here!

Dallas (played by James) Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star. Tonight, tonight, I'll see my love tonight. And for us, stars will stop where they are.

Sherrie (Played by Emmy): Today, the minutes seem like hours, the hours go so slowly,

And still the sky is light . . . Oh moon, grow bright, and make this endless day endless night!

Diesel: I'm counting on you to be there, tonight. When Mickey wins it fair and square

Tonight. That Soc punk'll go down. And when he's hollered "Uncle" We'll tear up the town!

(Then Diesel, Dallas, and Sherrie sing simultaneously)

Diesel: So I can count on you, boy?

Dallas: All right.

Diesel: We're gonna have us a ball.

Dallas: All right.

Diesel: Womb to tomb!

Dallas: Sperm to worm!

Diesel: I'll see you there about eight.

Dallas: Tonight . . .

Sherrie: Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star,

(Greasers, Socs, Sherrie, Dallas, and ANITA sing simultaneously)

Socs: We're gonna rock it tonight! They're gonna get it tonight! They began it, they began it, they began it. We'll stop 'em once and for all. The Socs are gonna have their way, The Socs are gonna have their day, We're gonna rock it tonight. Tonight!

Greasers: We're gonna jazz it tonight! Tonight! They began it! And we're the ones to stop 'em once and for all! The Greasers are gonna have their way, the Greasers are gonna have their day. We're gonna rock it tonight. Tonight!

ANITA: Tonight, tonight, Late tonight, We're gonna mix it tonight. Anita's gonna have her day, Anita's gonna have her day, Paul's gonna have his way. Tonight, tonight, Tonight, this very night, We're gonna rock it tonight!

Sherrie: Tonight, tonight, I'll see my love tonight. And for us, stars will stop where they are.

Sherrie and Dallas: Today the minutes seem like hours. The hours go so slowly. And still the sky is light. Oh moon, grow bright, and make this endless day endless night!

Then we all sing: "Tonight!"

AN: Thanks to Moomimad for helping me with this chapter, especially when I had Writer's Block! I don't own the Outsiders or the song 'Tonight Quintet' from 'West Side Story' Happy 4th of July!

Stay Gold,

Moniqua