Abby (long version)

S E V E N

About a week later, I was sitting in front of the TV with the boys, watching Mickey Mouse, when there was a sudden knock at the door. No one ever knocked on the Curtis door. And we were all in the living room, anyway.

"Come in!" Soda yelled.

Four giggling girls came through the door with large bags hung over their shoulders. I'd met them all at some point or another and remembered their names. Evie was Steve's girl, Sandy was Soda's, Kathy was Two-Bit's, and Sylvia was Dally's.

"Come on!" Kathy giggled, practically pushing me into my room.

"What's all this about?" I couldn't help but laugh.

"We ain't telling ya," Sylvia grinned.

Evie reached into her bag and took out a dress. "Put this on. I grew out of it, so you can keep it."

I went into the other room to change into the Audrey Hepburn style dress, with black polka-dots on the top, the bottom solid black.

"You look gorgeous!" the girls all said, chattering excitedly.

Sandy gave my long, strawberry-blonde locks gentle waves, then pulled my hair into a high ponytail. Sylvia did my makeup, and Kathy pulled it all together with jewelry and shoes.

"I look like I'm straight outta Hollywood!" I said with a broad smile.

"That's the point," the girls giggled.

"Like any boys yet?" Evie asked. We all sat on the edge of my bed.

I smiled sheepishly. "Yeah."

"You should tell us!"

"Okay. It's Johnny," I said, smiling as I thought of him.

"Johnny Cade?" Sandy asked.

I nodded, grinning wide.

"Aw, you two would make a cute couple," Sylvia teased.

We all laughed. "Yeah, I guess we do."

"Abby and Johnny, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Kathy sang.

"Not so loud!" I laughed in a hilarious panic. I paused for a moment. "We all look like we're straight outta Hollywood. What's the occasion?"

Kathy cocked any eyebrow, something she'd picked up from her boyfriend. She pushed open the door. "Happy Sweet Sixteen!" everyone shouted.

My jaw dropped open. Everyone was dressed in Hollywood attire, and there was a red carpet across the hall floor and into the kitchen. Black and white balloons were accompanied by streamers hanging in all the doorways.

"What in the world?" I gaped, admiring the decorations.

"We didn't want you to miss out," Johnny said quietly, taking my hand.

"Today, you're the star of the show," Darry said with a smile.

It was an exceptional party. There was music and fun, and some delicious cheese fondue to snack on. But it wasn't unlike anything I'd ever done before, at least, not until the sun started to set. As the dawn started, we moved to the backyard.

The sky started to change to bright, vivid colors. The clouds turned a fiery shade of orange, illuminating everything. Sodapop hauled the old record player out, making sure it could reach the electrical outlet. It's Now or Never by Elvis Presley started to play.

Johnny took my hand and led me out to the grass. "Ready for your first dance?" he asked.

"Of course I am," I said with a smile.