Stronger with You

A New Day

Peyton*
May 21, 1965

"It's summer time!" I cheered, standing on the front steps of Will Rodgers High. I easily grabbed the bottom of my unzipped backpack and dumped out all of the items inside. Trash, crumpled papers, empty cigarette packs and countless other items scattering along the ground.

Two-Bit, my older brother, slung his arm around my shoulder, "I'm a little sad. I love school. That's why I'll be a junior again next year, not only do I love it, but they love me."

Maya, Ponyboy, and Johnny step up beside my brother and I, rolling their eyes. I grinned even wider as my converse clad feet skipped around my friends, "Y'all want to party tonight? There's a bonfire later."

"It's summer, so—" Maya grins evilly—" Darry won't be as hard on going to parties as he always is,"

"Well, let's hit the DX and tell Sodapop and Steve!" I turned, starting my way in the direction of two more of our friends place of work.

"Sodapop, Sodapop, Sodapop, it's always Soda with you," Maya said, rolling her eyes. I rolled my eyes right back at my best friend, flicking her off.

I then took my middle finger and crossed it with my pointer, "Sodapop and I are best friends, like this. Besides, he's with Sandy." I held back all the might in me not to give a disgusted look at her name. Sandy and Soda had been dating for a little over four months and he was smitten.

That made all four of them roll their eyes, "You two need to get together already, we're tired of it," Two-Bit commented.

My cheeks got red, shoving my older brother away from me, he stumbled from the force laughing.

My gang comprised nine people counting myself.

The Curtis's, Darry, Sodapop, Maya, and Ponyboy.

The four were all so different, but all alike too. Darry, twenty and the oldest, could be a Soc if it weren't for us. He had brown hair, ice cold blue eyes; Darry was tuff, tall and strong. If I hadn't known him all my life, then he would terrify me. Darry took on the role of a dad when they lost their parents a few months ago. He worked harder than anyone I knew.

Maya was next, a year older than Soda and three younger than Darry, making her 17. Maya differed greatly from her brothers. Reckless, boy crazy, adventuress.

She was my best friend, my person. our friendship started years ago. Maya was taller than me and skinny, she had long light brown hair and blue-green eyes.

Sodapop, the third oldest, would turn seventeen in October. Soda and I were best friends, because we were a lot alike, he had blonde hair and dark brown eyes. His loyalty was one of the strongest factors. He was drunk on life constantly. He didn't need booze or cigarettes, he just enjoyed living. It was something I had always been envious off.

The youngest Curtis was Ponyboy, he was thirteen and so quiet that there were times I forgot he was there. Pony was a genius, he was supposed to be an eighth grader, but was moved up a year. He had brown, but almost red longish hair and green eyes, although he'll say they are grey. He may have been quiet and the youngest and smallest of us all, but he was still tough. He was an observer. He watched everyone and everything carefully. I had never met anyone so smart.

Next in the gang was Johnny Cade. Johnny was sixteen with jet black hair and tanned skin. Johnny didn't have a good home life, his dad beat him while his mom ignored him. I loved Johnny like he was my own brother, maybe even more than Two-Bit some days.

Then we had Dallas Winston. Dallas was seventeen and from the tough part of New York City. He had white-blonde hair with blazing blue eyes, I'd never known someone to have so much hate for the world. Dally's police record was longer than most and he was proud of it. Dal and I got along alright, but we weren't all that close.