I pulled up in front of my new home in my black 1951 Chevy convertible and pushed overly-large sunglasses on top of my head. I looked in my back seat and sighed. Boxes, one of the reasons I hate moving. I was relieved that the movers had already put the furniture inside the day before. I got out of my car and instantly regretted it. Hot, humid air surrounded me. I know it was summer and everything, but this heat was different than California heat. I was worse. I walked up to my door unlocked it, stepping inside. Not too bad for a sixteen year old girl with no parents living only on a monthly check from the government. I sighed again and went to get the boxes from my car. When I opened the trunk something hit me. I could not carry all of these inside by myself. I needed help, badly.

I walked to the house next door and knocked. A couple seconds later a boy no older than fourteen answered. I can only imagine what he saw. A sixteen year old girl with blonde hair wearing a red tank-top exposing her lower abdomen and short denim shorts with red high-tops. I smiled at him. "Hi, I'm Summer Reynolds. I just moved in next door and was wondering if somebody could help me with some boxes."

He looked at me a bit wide-eyed and stammered. "I-uh-I…" And he ran off back in to the house. I furrowed my brows and started to walk away when someone shouted at me. "Hey!" I didn't even have to turn around to know he had a smile on his face, he seemed… happy.

I turned with a big smile on my face. What I saw was pretty much amazing. He was one of the best looking boys I had ever seen. He looked like a movie star. I stretched my hand out for him to shake. "Hey, I'm Summer Reynolds. I just moved in next door."

He shook my hand sweetly and gave me a cheeky smile. "I'm Sodapop Curtis, and the goof that you just talked to was my little brother, Ponyboy Curtis."

I chuckled a little. "I like those names. Very original."

He chuckled too. "Yeah, we get that a lot. So, Pony said you need some help with boxes?"

As if he knew we were talking about him, Ponyboy came out the door and stood next to his older brother. I grinned at him. "Sorry if I scared you off, hun." He blushed the brightest color of red I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. It made me giggle.

Soda laughed and threw an arm around his kid-brother's shoulders. "Naw, Pony here is just a little shy around pretty girls like yourself."

I smiled, showing my strait, white teeth. "If I only had a dollar for every time I have heard that one." They both laughed and I continued. "So, I guess you boys are my personal pack mules for the time being?"

"That would be us." Pony said.

"Great!" I started walking to my car, the Curtis boys right on my heels.

We each grabbed a box and in no time, the car was empty and the house was full.

We were standing in the living room, drinking the coca-cola I had gotten for them. In the hour that we were unpacking boxes, I had already become best friends with Sodapop Curtis. There was just something about him that drew me to him like moths to a light bulb. I think it was because he was basically a male version of me. He lived in the moment and was completely carefree. I let a smile brighten my face. "So is it just you two? Or are there more brothers I should know about?"

Soda and Pony both smiled, but Pony answered. "There's also Darry, he's the oldest at twenty-four. Soda is the middle brother at sixteen, and I'm the youngest, fourteen."

I smiled and nodded my head while Soda continued. "And then we have the gang. They're pretty much family. You have to meet them, they would really like you, and vice versa." He ended with a big smile.

"I would like that, if they're anything like the two of you." I grinned.

They both flashed me big smiles and Soda responded. "Good. Come over tonight, they're all gonna be there. We can introduce you. Well we better get going, clean up a bit before Darry gets home."

I smiled bigger. "Okay I will. See you guys later."

"Bye Summer." They said at the same time, walking out my front door and inside their house.