Word Count: 1032

(So, I was gone for awhile. And I'm really sorry about that. My personal stuff is getting sorted out, and I'm just thankful for everyone who stuck by me, and waited patiently. Idk how you did it,because I am the most impatient, rowdy person ever😂😂😂)
(Also, if you get the FIOS reference, I'll love you forever😍😂)

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Dinner was over and everyone was saying bye. Well, some of us. Johnny was staying the night, and Two-Bit had left early. He had promised his sister he would come home for dinner. He may seem like a tuff goofball, but he's a real sweetheart.

The good news was everyone liked Leah. Especially me. And my opinion matters most, considering he's my brother.

Leah and Soda were doing dishes and Steve was sitting next to the kitchen sink, eating chocolate cake. Darry had disappeared into his room and fell asleep. I don't blame him. He's only 20 and has 3 jobs. Johnny and Pony went to the Nightly Double. I wasn't sure where Dallas was, so I was all alone.

I plopped down on a kitchen chair and watched as Soda lightly splashed soapy water at Leah, and she did the same back, grinning.

"Sodapop, stop!" She said, laughing.

I looked at Steve. He dropped his dirty plate and the sink and sighed. "I didn't know someone could have so much fun washing dishes," he grumbled.

I laughed at my brother. "Jealous much, Stevie?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not jealous. And my name is not Stevie."

I smiled. "Oh, sorry. You jealous, Steven?"

He glared at me. "Steve is just fine."

"I don't like Steve," I said, shrugging.

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Go home."

Soda turned around and smiled. "No, she can stay. She's cool."

Steve grinned. "Not as cool as me."

Leah shook her head, wiping off her hands on a towel. "No, she's cooler."

I got in his face and laughed. "Ha! Suck it, big bro!"

He gave a crooked grin and picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder.

I squealed. "No, no, Steven Lucas Randle, put me down!"

He shook his head and laughed. "Uh, no." He carried me to the living room, and stopped by the window. "Soda!" He yelled. "Open the window for me!"

At this point, I started kicking. "Don't you dare, Steve! I know where you sleep."

He shrugged just as Soda opened the window. I heard Leah rush in too.

"Oh, Steve!" She cried, but she was laughing. "You're gonna hurt her!"

He smiled. "Oh well." He tossed me out the window and closed it behind him. "Suck it, little sis!"

I laughed, but was still angry. "Steve!"

"Go home!" He said.

I rolled my eyes. I walked off to the direction of my house. I could have tried the front door, but undecided to let Steve win this time. I'd get him back later, plus, I could tell he was trying to impress his girl.

As I got closer to the house, the sky started getting dark. Steve had told me stories about soc's coming to this side of town, so I hurried home. On my way, I wondered why money made such an impact on our lives. Just because I'm poor means I can't hang out with people who aren't? It smelled like a lot of bullshit to me.

I walked inside the house, and Dad was passed out on the couch. I opened the door, and he jolted up.

His face softened when he saw me. "Oh. Nugget. Where's Steve?"

I shrugged. "At Soda's. Go back to sleep, Dad."

He shook his head. "No, I have to getup and go to work. They're makin' me work nights now. Its stupid."

I nodded. "I bet." I went upstairs and straight to the bathroom. If Dad was gone tonight, the only person I had to worry about catching me and Dal was Steve. For some reason, that seemed a lot worse.

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When I opened my eyes, I saw total darkness. I started freaking out, because I thought I went blind, but then I remembered I fell asleep reading. I pushed the book off my face. Imperial Affliction, the cover read. That book had me fucked up.

Suddenly, I heard a door swing open, and giggling. That scared me, so I quickly checked myself in the mirror before I went downstairs. If I die from an intruder, I wanna die pretty. My outfit was okay, so I slipped on my soft boots and threw my wavy black hair into a ponytail.

I slipped out of my room and down the steps. I heard the giggling get louder, and Steve was shushing the giggler. I suddenly realized he had snuck Leah in the house. I glanced at the clock. 11:37. Didn't she have school to go to?

I hid behind the banister at the bottom of the stairs and watched as he led her to the couch, and they started making out. Disgusted, in went back upstairs. You'd think a pretty girl like her would have standards...

When I got back in my room, I sat on the bed and picked up the book again. I got maybe a paragraph in about the hamster, when there was a knock on my window. I grinned and hurried over to it. I opened it, and saw Dallas grinning wolfishly at me. "Hey, baby doll."

I stepped back as he climbed in. "Hey, Winston. I thought you forgot."

He shook his head. "Forget 'bout you? Nah."

I grinned and he sighed. "So you comin' or not?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Where are we going?"

"My place," he said. He stepped out the window again and held out his hand.

I didn't take it. "Is this a kidnapping?"

He smiled, barely. "More like an involuntary visit."

I laughed. "But I'm in pajamas..."

He shrugged. "I noticed. Nice shorts, by the way. C'mon, it won't matter."

I smiled. "Fine." I took his hand as he helped me out.

He smiled at me. "You ready?"

"Let's go."