When I woke up I was still on the couch with a blanket I could hear someone cooking in the kitchen. Slowly sitting up What time is it? " About time you got up" Pony said heading into the kitchen " Glorrrriaaaa!" Soda shouted jumping on the couch beside me I was still half asleep " you look a mess" He said " thanks for that tin-can man" I said going into the kitchen soda followed as well.
We were sat at the table Darry did an excellent job on breakfast " pony you need work on your grades they're now at C and I want A's " Darry said taking a bite out of toast Pony sighed " it ain't easy Darry I cant help it if I don't know some stuff" pony snapped back " Well if you study harder instead of daydreaming you'd know wouldn't you?" Darry shouted they began arguing I looked at soda he was looking down at his food his grin gone replaced with a frown he looked like he about cry or burst " SHUT IT THE BOTH OF YOU!" I shouted standing up knocking my chair down they both went quiet and looked at me " don't say that to my bro-" I cut darry off " brother?! Look at the both you arguing over grades! You're supposed be supportive and do you two think how this affects soda when you fight? NO now shut up " I screamed I grabbed soda dragging him into the room he shared with pony and locked the door " thanks..." he said looking down he covered his face with his hands as he started crying and sobbing his heart out " I hate it when they fight ... they always make me pick sides and I love both of them and I can't pick... " I rubbed his back rocking him " Go on let it all out its good for you " I whispered he continued crying and talking about how much he hated the arguing , fighting and how darry changed after their parents died saying how darry couldn't go to college cause they didn't have enough money and how stress darry is . Then went on talking about a girl " Sandy, I loved her so much I thought she did too I mean I wanted marry her ... but-but she moved no letters or anything she just moved with her parents " he said his voice now husky from all the crying " Well she's lost the best thing that ever happened to her " I said trying cheer him up he just smiled " Heh thanks" he let out a chuckle we sat for at least an hour talking about out ex's " Lucas was perfect to me I mean yea he was a lot of trouble and all but I loved him ya know?" I said inhaling the smoke from my cancer stick Soda nodded " we were gonna get married just like you and sandy... but I wasn't 16 yet and Lucas died " soda wrapped an arm around my shoulder " yea the nurse at the hospital told the gang when we took you in" he said taking my cancer stick off me taking a few puffs from it " oh. What else did she say" I said leaning my head on his soda " just about Lucas " he said handing me back a nearly done Cancer stick " heeyy look how much you smoked!" I whined holding it up to him " oops.. oh look at the time hey I've gotta go work now" he smiled getting up from the bed " thanks Gloria" he said opening the door and leaving.
I sat there for a couple more minutes taking in everything soda said I headed into the living room no one was in guess darry already left for woke and pony at school I decided now be good time go get ready.
After spending an hour getting ready I decided just wear something plain I left my hair down I was wearing a red crop top with some black cuffed jeans with my leather jacket and black combat boots . I looked in the mirror one last time my cuts were already healed I had a scar just missing my right eye my lips looked fine a little swollen though.
I left the house heading to the DX I roughly knew where it was it was a few blocks away, As I walked down the street there were a few greasers standing about some looked suspicious other completely friendly the greasers girls were caked in make-up and wore tight clothing some didn't wear as much makeup I rarely wore makeup.
I had to stop and ask where the Dx was so I walked up to a small group of greasers one smiled " what can I get you doll?" I smiled " do you know where the Dx is?" One of the girls rolled their eyes " why? You don't have a car? You gonna go see that cutie sodapop?" She said sounding annoyed " yea ... he's a friend gotta a problem?" I said looking at her she squinted her eyes " of course I do every girl gotta a crush on him and he's your 'friend'" she said air quoting friend " The Dx keep going straight then turn on first left" the first greaser said I thanked him and started heading to the Dx.
I entered the Dx music was being blasted on the radio, Chubby checker - Let's twist again was playing Steve and soda were both working on the cars I snuck behind steve grabbing one of the towels he was bent over working on the engine I looked at soda he was just getting up from being under the other car he saw me and smiled I put my finger up to my lips to signal for him be quiet he stood confused. I looked back at Steve and twisted the towel up and smacked him with it he shot up smacking his head off the hood of the car " Soda I told y-" he was stopped when he turned around " oh it's you " he said looking unamused You could hear soda laughing from the other side of the garage "what you doing here anyway?" Steve said wiping his hands on the towel " I just wanted come see my friends " I said jumping up onto the counter sitting on it " more like stare at soda and flirt" steve muttered soda strutted over he had a big smile " awee steve I could've came to see you " I winked only to be ignored " Steve being mean " Soda handed me a Pepsi " Steve actually really nice just not when he doesn't know the person " soda said " more like mean steve or meanie stevie" Taking a sip of the Pepsi " hey... you holding up okay?" I said softly looking at him " yea Im fine Thanks to you." He smiled I grinned and grabbed his shoulders pulling him into a hug , he instantly hugged back tucking his head into the crook of my neck " that's good tin-can man" I let out a small chuckle I went let go when he said " No please just a little longer I need this" he mumbled into my neck squeezing me I rested my chin on his shoulder. We were like this for a minute longer before he let go " thanks" he smiled before going back to work on the cars, steve walked over standing between my legs " heyy meanie stevie" he looked at me " what was that about?" He asked looking concerned I let out a sigh " Just stress.... he'll be fine though don't need you stressing as well" I smiled he smiled back and nodded before going back to work I was at the Dx for a while helping with customers hoards of girls would come just talk to soda while he tried work I just stood behind the cash register laughing I noticed Stevie looked annoyed he was working in peace "stevie!" I called out he looked up I motioned him over he walked over tensed up " What's wrong?" I asked leaning on the counter, He ran a greasy oily hand through That greasy hair " it's just soda always getting the attention and them girls being loud giving me a headache " he sighed rubbing his temples I took out a Pepsi from under the counter handing him it " so are you jealous or annoyed or both?" I asked watching as the girls cling to soda " both really... I mean yea soda good looking but it's always him so ya know I feel kinda of ... I don't know man" he took a gulp from the Pepsi " they're only going for his looks though and you ain't too bad yourself I mean you're just as good as soda they're just going by looks" I smiled Steve seemed cheer up a little " Thanks I needed that" he said walking back to the car " I'll get ya cake as well" I shouted I saw steve grin.
Once it was time for their shifts end I helped clean the place for the next guys
" You've been great help " Soda said we all got in Steve's car I was sat at the back it was a busy day and we were exhausted we got out the car once we got to the Curtis's house . Pony,Johnny and two-bit were already in " Hey" the all said in sync I flopped down on the couch so did steve shoving pony off to get on it " Im going for a shower " soda said seconds after you could hear the shower two was sitting playing with a ball " hey two-bitch , can you gimme the ball when soda gets out the shower" " wow still being mean to little innocent me?.... yea whatever WHORIA " two shot back I laughed so did everyone " don't worry tin-can man and meanie stevie got one too" I said nudging Steve who just hit my arm away " heh. Really?" Two grinned the shower stopped as Soda opened the bathroom door walking into the living-room holding his towel around his waist. Darry and dally came in just as well I quickly grabbed the ball and shouted " Quick catch!" As I threw it at him he mistakenly dropped the towel to catch the ball " Oh My God" two said everyone burst out laughing doubling over as soda stood naked he grabbed his towel and ran into the bedroom " Gloria That wasn't nice to poor little soda " Dally said trying not laugh " little is an understatement " I smirked " Ohh Gloria... that's urgh , go apologise to soda" Darry gagged "okay DAD" I said mockingly " Don't call me dad ever again!" I heard darry shout I knocked on the door " soda hun... you okay, I'm sorry for doing that " I said quietly I didn't get an answer so I walked in , He was sitting on the bed with everything but a shirt on, he was looking out the window the sun was setting the different colours of oranges, pinks and yellows shown on his face " sodapop? " I sat beside him but moved away " Soda I'm sorry, You get me back whenever " "It's fine" he said with a small smile " it was kinda funny actually " I relaxed when he said that " God you had me worried " he looked at me with a big goofy smile I couldn't help but smile back " Ill accept your apology if... you give a hug ANNNd cook dinner " Cooking? I hate it though I was caught off when soda brought me into a bone crushing hug " okay okay , I can't cook if you break me" I said trying get out of the hug but was unsuccessful he just laughed bringing me closer to him " Thanks Gloria " there was a knock at the door and two-bit entered " awe made up have we?" He said leaning on the wall " Two help me he won't let go" I cried out two just shook his head " why you've been bullying me whoria" they both laughed " HELP" I shouted " what's going on?" Darry voice could be heard in living-room " Soda won't let me go" I shouted back trying get free " Soda stop trying flirt with Gloria " Pony shouted. Soda cheeks went red as he let me go. We headed back into the living room , Steve was wrestling with Pony , Dally was talking to Johnny having an arm on his shoulder darry was sitting watching tv " Darry, Dally , Pony you haven't gave them nicknames " Two said true I mean I haven't " what about... Dally the Dick , Muscle man , ponyboy hmmm... poneboy?" I said thinking I couldn't come up with good nicknames " who you calling a dick broad?" Dally spat I ignored him and sat beside steve who was watching tv Mickey was on. We all sat watching mickey till it was time for everyone go, " Hey darry can I stay the night my pa kicked me out " two said taking a sip from his beer " Gloria sleeping on the couch recently " darry replied Two smirked and winked at me " even better" he chuckled I decided play along as well " Yea that'd be great wouldn't it two? " I said in a sultry voice winking back at him " NOOOOPE not on my couch " darry said looking at us " we just kidding I ain't interested in Two-inch" I said cooly trying not laugh as two's face turned red he looked away chugging his beer down " Right fine then." Darry said going to bed , Soda and Ponyboy got up as well soon everyone left and it was just me and two " how come I get the mean nicknames " two said opening his second beer I just shrugged " you can get the couch " I said laying down on the floor using my arm as a pillow " You dig , you really do" two said moving into the couch looking at the ceiling " you dig as well Two" I smiled " What you wanna do tomorrow?" I said closing my eyes feeling more tired by the minute " I don't know... hey Gloria, you know your parents what were they like?" He said stretching out I laid thinking what should I say, " Both greasers , They had me when They were still young ya know? They did everything a hoodlum did stole start fights real tough they were ... Dad was one of the scariest greasers you'd ever meet but he was a real loving father same with ma' but after Dad died guess the loving side of her died as well all that was left was a broken young women she didn't love me anymore she blamed me for anything that happened " I sighed talking about them didn't bother me no more " They sound alright apart from the whole death part and all " two slurred I didn't say anything I just let sleep take over me.