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Well, the whole mess between the greasers and the socs was FINALLY over! Darry and Soda had gone home after they had visited Johnny in the hospital, but since Johnny had just gotten out, Ponyboy went for a walk through the park with him, Twobit, Dally and Steve.

It was a beautiful night and suddenly a familiar looking red mustang convertible pulled into the park.

Ponyboy, Johnny, Dally, Steve and Twobit stopped in their tracks. The car belonged to Rachel Williams. She got out of the drivers seat, then Marcia, Bob, Randy, Mike, Paul and David exited the car as well.

Rachel looked so cute. She was wearing a little black blouse with a small pair of denim shorts.

Bob - Well thank god this whole mess is finally over.

The greasers calmed when they realized the socs just actually wanted to talk. Of course they only wanted to talk, this whole mess was over, like Bob said, they just weren't used to thinking of it all this way.

Bob's voice was calm for once.

Twobit - Yeah finally, it's about time.

Ponyboy - You guys were great in the courtroom today....thanks.

There was a moment of silence, then something happened that Ponyboy thought he might faint dead of shock....Bob Sheldon actually smiled at him. It was a real smile too, not one of the smiles from the old days that usually meant 'I'm gonna get you!' It was a real smile. Bob kept his voice calm.

Bob - You're all right, grease.

Rachel had pulled Dally aside from the others so they could talk privately. Meanwhile, underneath one of the park trees, Rachel was actually calm around Dally for the first time since Dally had met her. Her voice was very calm, steady and soft.

Rachel - Look, I just wanted to make peace between the two of us.

Dally couldn't have been more surprised. Was this actually happening or was this a dream? Because he really couldn't believe it.

Dally - Are you serious?

Rachel - Yeah....I'm serious. Let's just put all this crap behind us, okay? The past year, everything that's happened. Consider it all forgotten, I'd like that.

Dally's eyes blinked. Oh my god, she was really serious about this. This was really happening, it wasn't just a beautiful dream.

Dally smiled at her.

Dally - Yeah, I'd like that too red.

There was a moment of silence. Dally had never been this comfortable around Rachel without her yelling at him. For once, they were actually like two normal people around each other.

Dally - So we're good now?

Rachel smiled very slightly, but Dally thought it was beautiful.

Rachel - Yeah, Winston. We're good. Friends?

Dally - Yeah, sure red, friends.

Dally smiled at her again. He loved looking at her, it was such a treat. She was so beautiful.

After another moment of silence, Rachel slightly smiled at him before walking away to join the others.

Rachel - See ya' around Winston.

Dally watched her walk away. It was so different being friends with the socs. But Dally guessed it was a whole lot better than fighting.

Tim Shepard had called the greasers up at the Curtis house and told them to meet him in the park. He was with three of the socs, Paul Holden, Mike West and the captain of the west side high football team Billy Lawrence.

Paul, Mike and Billy had been there first with a keg drinking their beer when Tim showed up. Now that the greasers were there, he felt more secure in case the soc guys tried anything.

Not that Tim thought they would. The socs had been pretty good lately. Ponyboy and Johnny had met a couple of them at the drive in not too long ago and told the gang they seemed pretty fine.

Mike - Relax, would ya'? Here, have a beer.

Mike passed beers to the greasers and even Tim, who usually didn't drink.

Darry smiled. He had to admit, he was surprised. Maybe the socs had really kept to their word and changed. Maybe things would be different now. Maybe they all could actually be....friends.

Suddenly a red mustang convertible came zooming into the park. It was Rachel Williams's car. Randy, Bob and Marcia were holding on to the roof for dear life as Rachel drove like a speed maniac.

Randy - Holy fuck Rachel! Are you trying to kill us?!

Rachel - You wanna get here in time to start drinking?

Randy - Oh sure, isn't that why we took a ride in the death car?!

Their friends in the park all couldn't help but almost giggle. Marcia got out of the car, so did Bob, taking a deep breath. Rachel was the one who still kept her guard up around greasers, they didn't know why, she didn't have to do that. They were all used to each other by now. But perhaps maybe Rachel would be the one who never got used to them.

They got the gist of Rachel and Randy's conversation.

Randy - Oh give me a break, if the fate of this town depended on you being a lazy drunk, I wouldn't have to worry!

Twobit and Ponyboy laughed at Rachel and Randy's conversation. Bob and Marcia started towards the gang. Randy was helping Rachel with something that was in the trunk of her car. When Randy dug it out, it looked like another keg of beer, it was. Rachel managed to lift a smaller one than the one Randy had out of the trunk of her car and then she closed the trunk.

Marcia was standing with Paul over by the monkey bars, the both of them having a smoke. Rachel put her keg down besides them.

Sodapop Curtis couldn't help but glare at Rachel. God, she was so beautiful. She was wearing what looked like a pair of designer jeans, but she looked great in them, and a pink hoodie jacket. Soda felt his heart skip a beat like it did every time he looked at Rachel. She looked adorable in pink.

Steve Randle, Soda's best friend since the first grade, smirked when he noticed his buddy looking at Rachel. Steve slowly walked up to Soda, carrying a beer, and whispered into his ear as the gang chattered.

Steve - You're wondering if Rachel thinks you're cute, aren't you?

Soda jumped a little at the sound of Steve's voice over his shoulder. He relaxed and sighed. Steve just loved to tease Soda about his crush on Rachel, yet then again, Steve loved to tease Soda about pretty much everything.

Soda - What? Uh, no.

Steve - Sure you were.

Steve smirked as he took a drink. He sighed when he saw the expression on Soda's face. His buddy was looking disappointed.

Steve - Ah man, if you like her that much why not just tell her?

Soda - I'm scared.

Steve - Of what?

Soda - Rejection.

Steve - Yeah, but you don't know if you don't try.

Soda eyed Rachel. Maybe Steve had a point.

Rachel took a smoke from Paul as she, Paul and Marcia hung out by the monkey bars, away from everyone else.

Marcia - You invite them here tonight?

Paul could tell Marcia was referring to the greasers being here, at what was usually a soc-only party.

Paul - Yeah, figured we ought to cool things down between our social groups, you know? Stop all this foolish fighting.

Rachel - Well it's about fuckin' time that happened.

Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade were the two greasers that weren't there though. Johnny was badly burnt in the church fire, but that was weeks ago. The doctors had said he'd be better by now, but everyone figured maybe he was still in the hospital. Dally wasn't that badly marked up when he ran in after Johnny, but everyone was sure he'd still be in the hospital too.

Suddenly Billy walked over to join Rachel, Paul and Marcia in a smoke. Billy took one from Paul's hand.

Billy - Thanks man.

Things between Rachel and Billy had cooled down by now. He had been part of her nasty break up with Bob shortly after the story came out about the fire at the church. Rachel hadn't known what she and Billy had been, just a meaningless fling or what, but she was glad things were over between her and Bob. And she was glad that her, Bob and Billy were all still friends after all this mess over the last year or so.

Over at the other group, Mike noticed that Bob was looking at Billy standing next to Rachel.

Mike - Hey man, I thought they broke up.

The greasers couldn't help but hear was Mike said. They hadn't really known much about the socs private lives, after all why would they? Twobit, who was already close to being drunk if he wasn't already, looked over at Rachel, Billy, Paul and Marcia to see what Mike was referring too.

Bob - They did.

Bob then took his eyes off them and took a drink of his beer.

Randy stood there with the gang, but he couldn't help but get the goosebumps when being in this park this late at night. It brought back so many memories.

One night when he, Bob, Marcia and Rachel were ten years old, they had been sleeping over at Randy house that night....it was the night Randy's father had committed suicide.

Randy had gone down to the basement that night his friends were sleeping over. He didn't really remember, or tried not to, but he thought he had gone down to the basement to get a board game. He walked down into the basement, through the doors that were outside, it led to the bottom of the house where they used to store old things they weren't using any more, and Randy had found his father....he had committed suicide by hanging himself.

Randy remembered standing there in shock, seeing his father hanging from the basement ceiling. He started screaming, running back up the stairs and bursting back into the house, yelling for his mother to come. His mother had come running, so had Rachel, Bob and Marcia from upstairs.

Randy, through tears and screaming, told his mother and she, Randy, Rachel, Bob and Marcia had run outside to the doors that led down into the basement. Randy remembered his mother telling him and his friends to stay outside. When she went down and saw it for herself, they had heard her scream and they had heard her start crying.

When she came back up the stairs and outside, she screamed for Randy to run for help. They still lived in that house to this day, but nobody in Randy's household ever went down into that basement. It brought back too many painful memories for Randy and his mother.

Randy remembered, after his mother told him to go get help, he remembered him and Rachel running through this very same park that night. Randy had been running the fastest he had ever run in his life, tears streaming down his face, and Rachel running behind him, chasing after him.

Looking back on that night now, it seemed so scary, so frighting. Suddenly Randy looked over at the nearby store he and Rachel had run into that night to call the cops.

The gang noticed him staring directly at that store. Everyone began looking. When Rachel, Marcia, Billy and Paul made their way over to the others, Rachel knew immediately what Randy was thinking of. She leaned over Randy's shoulder, her voice was faint but everyone still heard her.

Rachel - You can't hang on to the past forever, Randy.

Randy nearly jumped at the sound of Rachel's voice.

Now, the socs knew what Rachel had been talking about. But the greasers didn't. They looked confused.

Marcia - Anybody got a fuckin' cell phone? I'm gonna see if they'll deliver some pizzas to this goddamn park.

Rachel handed Marcia her iPhone.

Rachel and Marcia stood by the swings as Marcia searched through Rachel's phone. Marcia went to the Google pages and searched up the nearest pizza stores food menu.

Rachel - You still going to Stride tomorrow night?

Marcia - Yeah, probably. If I can get my father to give me back my goddamn car.

Rachel - Please don't tell me you're still going there to take part in the ballerina competitions? Because it said in the ad you have to be able to bend over a lot and be able to bend over really well.

Marcia - Yeah, but first prize is a million dollars.

Rachel - I know, but they want people who can stand to bend over a lot and people who can bend over really well. And Marcia believe me, I know you. You won't be able to bend over like they want you too.

Marcia - The first prize is a million dollars.

Marcia smirked.

Rachel - You can't bend over like that Marcia, don't be so stubborn.

Marcia looked at Rachel and spoke dead seriously.

Marcia - For a million dollars I'd bend over and kiss my own ass if they asked me too!

Just then when Marcia said that, everyone burst out into laughter. The ones who were drinking beer, like Twobit, spit it out with laughter.

Twobit and the others couldn't stop laughing. Rachel tried not to laugh, she rolled her eyes, but she laughed. Twobit couldn't believe this, neither could the others, but they thought they were actually starting to like the socs.

Rachel - You find anything good on the pizza shops menu yet?

Marcia - Ooohh yeah, look at this! Ninety-nine cent steak and lobster dinner. I'm going to order that for myself.

Rachel - Marcia, you don't eat meat.

Marcia looked at her best friend and spoke in a tone that was serious.

Marcia - For ninety-nine cents I'd eat you.

Again, everyone laughed. Marcia dialled the number. Rachel followed her over behind the swings. They were now away from the guys.

After Marcia ordered her food and handed Rachel back her phone, she smirked.

Marcia - So what'd you think of the guys from the east side? They sure are cute, huh?

Rachel - I guess.

Marcia - I think Sodapop Curtis likes you.

Rachel - What?

Marcia - You're telling me you didn't know he has a crush on you?

Rachel - No, I never knew that.

Marcia - He's cute, you should talk to him.

Rachel - No.

Marcia - What? Hot, is not your type? Oh wait, yeah, what am I thinking? You can't go for him, he hasn't been in prison!

Marcia laughed at the way she teased her friend. Rachel playfully hit Marcia and she laughed.

Marcia - He really likes you a lot.

Rachel - I don't really care. And how do you know all this anyhow?

Marcia - He told me. He confided in me because he knows I'm your best friend.

Rachel - And since when do you go over to the east side of town?

Marcia - Since I noticed there are some very hot lookin' objects over there.

Marcia grinned.

Rachel - You know I'm going with Clark.

Marcia - Yeah, Clark. And Billy, possibly, and Jimmy and Jack and Cody.

Rachel - Yeah, what's your point?

Marcia - Don't you think it's time you settled down with just one guy?

Rachel jumped and her eyes widened. She couldn't believe Marcia would suggest such a thing. She knew her better than that.

Rachel - What?! And ruin my reputation?

Marcia rolled her eyes.

Marcia - If you ever in your life cared about a guy, I'd die of shock.

Suddenly Twobit came over to the girls, hooting and howling. He was drunk....surprise, surprise.

Twobit - What're you girls talking about?!

Rachel - Nothing, go back to your own side of town.

Rachel said that teasingly. Twobit looked like he was offended, but you could tell he was only joking around.

Twobit - Oh, we're getting nasty now, are we?

Twobit laughed, so did Marcia.

Twobit - Rachel, Soda wants to know if you think he's cute, I was just talking to him.

Rachel - Huh?

Twobit - Yeah, he also said that your smile makes his heart flutter.

Marcia oohed and ahhed over that, teasing Rachel.

Marcia - Oh, isn't that sweet!

Marcia laughed.

Twobit - What should I tell him?!

Marcia - Why are you yelling?

Twobit had a beer in each hand and he was drinking both of them.

Twobit - I'm not completely sober.

Marcia laughed.

Twobit - So? What should I tell him?

Rachel - Tell him to stop being so second grade about it and if he wants to talk to me he can do it himself...and yes, he's adorable.

Twobit - All right. Marcia, we're going out tomorrow night, right?

Marcia - You bet.

Rachel - You two are going out on a date? Marcia, think of the reputation of this side of town.

Marcia - Why?

Rachel - Him? A greaser, really?

Marcia - Bob? Really?

Marcia had Rachel there. Even Twobit laughed when Marcia did. Rachel rolled her eyes.

Rachel - Okay, never mind.

                    *********************************************************

Twobit goes back over to tell Soda what Rachel said.

Soda - Well? What'd she say, man?

Twobit - She called you adorable.

Soda tried to hide it, not wanting to seem like a sissy in from of his friends, but he widely smiled.

Soda - Really? She said that?

Twobit - Yeah. And if you wanna talk to her, do it yourself.

Soda couldn't stop thinking about the fact that Rachel, he girl he had a crush on, had called him adorable. Soda noticed that Marcia had walked away from Rachel and that Rachel was now standing by herself. He walked over to her, slowly, with his beer in one hand.

Soda - Hi.

Rachel looked at him, her gorgeous green eyes set on him. Soda felt his heart skip a beat.

Rachel - Hey there.

Soda grinned.

Soda - So I'm adorable, huh?

Rachel smiled suddenly.

Rachel - Don't flatter yourself.