Annabelle's Daisys.

Chapter four

I layed in the tall grass in a field 4 blocks from the Curtis house, not wanting anyone to find me, not wanting to move.

I was there for what had to be hours, but somehow the sun was still over-head, and I threw my arm over my eyes. I lie there for a long stretch of time, yearning for someone to talk to, someone to hug.

"You okay?" I heard a voice call.

I sat up, and I looked for the source. I saw a very handsome boy making his way up to my. He stood in front of me, and recognition crossed both our faces.

"You must be Sodapop." I propped myself up by the heels of my hands.

"You have to be Annabelle. You're even prettier than everyone led on." He smiled, and held out a hand to help me up.

I took it, and used him to pull myself upright, and smiled before letting go.

"So how's your leg?"

"Hurts a 'lil, but it ain't real bad, thanks for asking." "No problem." he smiled a dazzling smile that normally would've made my knees all wobbley, if i wasn't wishing it was his baby brothers...

"Can I ask you somethin' ?"

"Sure!"

"Your close to Pony, right?"

"The closest I know of."

"And, he tells ya everythin' ?"

"I'd like ta think so."

"Well, D- has he ever, you know," I looked at my shoes, and tapped the dirt with my bad leg. "Said anything? About- well, about me?"

"Yeah." he nodded, smiling.

"What did he say?" I asked, acting calm and collected, as if I didn't care.

"I'm... Not sure I can tell you..." he said edgily.

"Oh, c'mon, Soda! Please?" I jutted my bottom lip out.

"That ain't fair. I don't got a baby sister to use that on me!"

"Please?"

"He said he thought you were real interesting. You know, the way you chose to hang out with us Greasers, the way you size him up - not like a hood. He really is a good kid."

"I know." I smiled to myself.

"Said your the only girl he knows who reads poetry, and don't laugh 'cause he does, too. Why do you wanna know?" asked Soda, cocking an eyebrow.

"Wonderin'. I guess,"

"Oh," he nodded. "Wanna come to the house?"

"Yeah, I ain't in a hurry to get home." we started walking.

"So, why are you out here?"

"Noah, and I got in a fight." I frowned.

"How come?" his eyebrows knitted together.

I began to wring my hands, and looking at the Ground as we walked. "He tried to make it like it was Pony's fault... My leg, I mean. Knowin' that Ponyboy feels so bad about it, after seein' it on his face in the hospital... He told me I wasn't allowed to 'hang around Ponyboy Curtis'." Soda could feel the quotation marks in the air, and frowned also.

"And, I was so mad! Who was he to tell me who couldn't be around? And, He made it seem like I couldn't hang with ANY Greasers. And, if it wasn't for Steve or Pony I would've-" My breathe caught in my throat, thinking about what could've happened... What would've happened. Then, it occurred to me, I never thanked Steve. "Where is Steve?"