I was glad when Wednesday finally came, I was no longer grounded. Darry didn't add anymore days to it; he figured the tanning I got from Soda taught me good and proper. The last couple of days had been pretty uneventful. I mostly read, watched the day time television and played some poker with the guys.

I yawned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glanced over at the beside clock behind Soda - 6:18. I was eager to get the day started, now that I was finally free after been confined to the house for a whole week; well... almost a whole week, with one small exception.

I stretched, climbing out of bed; wanting to catch the sunrise. After slipping on a pair of jeans, I grabbed my half empty pack of smokes from my side table, and snuck quietly out the front door, making sure I caught the fly screen before it slammed.

I took a seat on the porch steps, pulling a cigarette from the pack, then lit it up. I looked out into the early morning sky, and drew a deep suck from my smoke, then let my arm drape over my right knee as the lit cigarette dangled between my fingers.

After a few minutes of watching the still silence, and the disappearing trail of smoke from my cigarette; I wasn't expecting the sudden creak from the door behind me, I jumped slightly turning around.

"Hey kiddo, whatcha doin' out here?" Soda asked, followed by a deep yawn that he brought his hand forth to cover.

"Nothin'," was my simple reply, as I watched him move from the doorway, and advice his few steps towards me. He placed himself down on the wooden step beside me with his shoulder so close it was almost rubbing with mine.

"Remember I finish early this afternoon, you still up for going to the races?" He kept his tone soft as it was still early morning, and neighbors were still sleeping; but with him as close as he was, even if he had of whispered I still would have heard him.

"Yeah, I still wanna' go." I said keeping my voice low like he had; then immediately brought my hand up inhaling my smoke again, then blew it out slowly.

"Ok, make sure your ready then when I get home."

The conversation grew quiet, as the first sights of the sun rising began. It didn't take long before the sky was turning bright shades of pinks and reds with vibrant oranges running through it. The fireball of the sky rose higher, making golden rays of light streak through the vibrant sky, it certainly was a breathtaking moment.

"Gosh, that was pretty." Soda said from beside me, I'd forgot he was even there as I was lost in the moment. It amazes me just how people forget just what this world can offer - all Gods beautiful gifts - that just get forgotten. But somehow they are always there, everyday, but people are just too busy to see it. But maybe - just maybe... if you remind people they are there, they just might remember... like Soda.

The warm colours were now fading, bringing out a bright blue sky for the day.

"C'mon, we better get in. Darry'll be wondering where we've ran off to." Soda said, getting up from his seated position, then leaned by the railing waiting for me. I finished off my smoke throwing the butt over the porch railing, then stood following him inside.

Darry already had a plate of eggs and bacon sitting on the table, he looked over at us as we walked into the kitchen.

"You two were up early."

"Yeah... Darry, you should've seen the sky, it was all really pretty. Even Soda said so, didn't you Soda?"

"Yeah kiddo. It sure was something," he said, throwing me a grin.

"See, Darry!?" Darry hadn't ever sat and watched a sunrise, no matter how many times I had asked him to just once. He always said life was too busy, with not enough hours in the day to be starring at the sky.

"Yeah, maybe someday kiddo. Come on breakfast is getting cold, Soda go get ready for work." Darry said, then turned back to finish making his coffee.

I sat down at the table pulling an empty plate towards me, then grabbed an egg from the pile, eating it slowly. Soda came back in dressed, sitting down at the table across from me, he grabbed a plate for himself, and scooped some bacon and eggs onto it.

"So Pony, what are you gonna do today?" Darry asked me, leaning against the kitchen countertop drinking his black coffee.

"Not sure, might go for a walk while I wait for Soda, or something." I answered, grabbing a piece of bacon.

"Ok, but don't you stray too far." He said, eyeing me. "I'm workin' late tonight, gotta fill in for some of the boys down at the warehouse." He told us both, then looked back to me again. "You be good for Soda... I don't wanna come home hearing you've been causing trouble, you hear?" I nodded.

"Don't worry, Dar. Pony ain't gonna cause no trouble, will you kiddo?" Soda said, from across the table as he eyed me.

The problem was; I usually didn't go lookin' for trouble... it was that trouble always seemed to find me. I seemed to be a walking magnet for anything that could remotely get me into any kind of trouble... whether it'd be the Soc's, or own two feet. Trouble was just around the corner... or, so it seems.

I nodded again. Let's hope I can keep that promise.

"Good. C'mon Soda, we gotta get to work." Darry said, placing the empty mug that now only held the leftover coffee grains in the sink, and walking across the kitchen towards the front door.

Soda reached across the table and grabbed another piece of bacon off the plate, eating it on the way out.

"See ya later on, Pony!" he said through a mouthful of chewed bacon.

"Bye, Soda." I called after him, hearing the fly screen door slap against the frame after him.

I looked at the remaining eggs and bacon on the plate, and grabbed the roll of glad wrap, covering it. Then slid it in the fridge, figuring Two-Bit or someone will come by later on and eat it. No food hardly ever goes to waste in this house, and by the off chance that it does, it's usually cause it was something no one liked in the first place.

I might as well have my shower now, and not using all the hot water this afternoon when Soda needs one. I walked toward the bathroom closing the door behind me and turned on the shower, undressing. Then relaxed as the hot water rolled down my back and waited till my hair was fully wet through, before massaging some shampoo through it.

I bubbled my body with soap and let the hot water wash it away. I soaked up the spray for a few greedy minutes more, before turning the taps off. Then grabbed my towel from the hook, drying myself off.

I wrapped the navy towel around my waist, and headed for my room. I pulled some jeans and a plain green t-shirt from my drawer, pulling them on. Then retraced my steps back to the bathroom, to grease my hair.

Then headed out the front door in search for something to do.

As I walked, my mind was trying to come up with ideas; I would go to the library, but I'd read all the good books they recently stocked in. Maybe I could see a movie... I always wanted to see that new movie showing - How To Kill a Mockingbird. I bought my ticket, then took a seat on the end back row.

I left the movie house as the end credits rolled, and headed in the direction of the DX. I wanted to see Soda, and was in desperate need of a Pepsi.

As I neared the DX, I could see Soda surrounded by a group of 5 - 6 girls that looked to be around seventeen, same as him. The girls were all giggling and hanging off of Soda.

Soda looked up the same time I walked into the gas station, he gave me a warm smile and signalled for me to come over. I was a little hesitant, with all the girls, but found myself walking to Soda anyway.

"Hey kiddo."

"Hey Soda." I said, a little timidly.

Soda sensed my uneasiness, and placed his arm around my shoulders. "Ladies, this is my little brother, Ponyboy." He said proudly, with a movie star smile beaming on his face.

They all said hi, then giggled. I could feel my cheeks growing warm.

"Oh... his as cute as you, Soda." One girl said, she had really long, golden brown hair wrapped up in a ponytail. I noticed her thick long eye lashes and those baby blue eyes as she looked at me. I have to admit she was kind of cute.

"Yeah, he is... his soo sweet!" Her friend crooned, agreeing. Her silky blond hair hung loosely down her back, almost to her waist, and her piercing blue eyes matching perfectly with her short summer dress.

My cheeks grew warmer. I wasn't really into girls yet. Soda says I'll grow outta it, he did.

"Soda?"

"Yeah, kiddo?"

"I might go an' grab a Pepsi."

"Yeah, go on. I'll be there in a minute."

I started toward the shop, leaving Soda with the girls; whom I could hear giggling and saying things along the lines of - he was soo cute... how old is he?... did you see him blush, it was adorable - from behind me, that made me blush more, but luckily they couldn't see me now.

I pulled open the fridge door, reaching for a Pepsi bottle. I unscrewed the cap, then almost downed half in one mouthful, letting out a loud belch.

The little bell above the door jingled, as Soda appeared; guess he'd had enough of talking to the girls. He grabbed a Pepsi for himself, popping the cap.

"I knock off in half an hour, then where good to go," he said, taking a swig.

I had just finished my last mouthful of Pepsi, when we heard a car pull up at the pumps. Soda walked out the door to meet whoever had just pulled up.

I poked my head out the door, to see a black Pontiac GTO sitting by the pumps full of Soc's. The car doors opened with three Soc's climbing out, the driver remained in the car.

"Hey Grease."

"What do you Soc's want?" Soda said, walking towards them, "You know we can't have no trouble here."

I strolled out the shop keeping my empty Pepsi bottle with me, and stood to the side, but behind Soda.

"Who says we want trouble? We don't want no trouble, do we fellas?" a tall boy, with dark hair, whom stood to the right said.

"We just need a word with your brother, don't we boys?" a blond headed one said with a smirk, looking right at me.

Soda turned his head to where the boy was looking, noticing me. I took a step forward so I was standing next to Soda, slouching a bit and narrowing my eyes. The Soc's all took a step towards us.

"What do want with my brother? If you have a problem with him, you need to go through me first." Soda narrowed his eyes, looking tough.

"Your brother... and his other Grease friend, are the ones that ruined my car." The dark haired one snarled. I noticed on his right hand, he was wearing rings - they weren't just any rings, they were fighting rings - ready to slice anyone good and proper whom dare come in contact with them.

They all reached into their back pockets, flicking out their switches. I busted the end off my bottle, and held it in a firm but loose grip, in front of me. Soda pulled his blade from his back pocket, holding it out.

Only mere seconds had the blades been pulled - the sun glinting off the silver metal, that had yet to be used - that the Soc behind the wheel beeped his horn, getting impatient. Without anymore warning, the Soc's stuffed their blades back in their pockets, and climbed back in the car; the dark haired one stuck his head out the window, looking directly at me.

"We're not finished with you yet, we'll get you and your Grease friend." He yelled, as they drove out from the pump.

We watched the car as it left, without even bothering to get their gas.

Steve who no doubt saw the whole thing, jogged over to us. "What did those good for nothin' Soc's want?" he asked, eyeing my busted pop bottle.

"It was their car that Pony and Curly trashed," Soda shot me a glare, grabbing the bottle from my grip and throwing it in the trash bin beside the pumps, then turned back to me.

"Pony listen... I don't want you walking on your own, is that understood? You make sure someone's always with you," his tone held authority.

"Alright." I nodded. He was right, those guys could come back at anytime and I certainly didn't want to be on my own when they did.

...

Bella Lilac