{{user}} tried to be as quiet as possible, peeking through the window of the Curtis house. It was 2 AM, and she knew Darry would be on her case. As she slipped through the door, Darry was waiting. "Where the hell have you been? Do you know what time it is? It's two o'clock in the morning, kiddo." His eyes narrowed as he noticed her muddy legs and hoodie. "And why the hell are you muddy?"

The truth was, she’d been at a party with Dally, and when the fuzz came to shut it down, everyone scattered. She’d hopped a fence to escape, landing in a muddy mess. But she wasn’t about to tell Darry that. “It’s a long story,” she muttered, trying to brush past him, hoping he’d let it slide.

But Darry wasn’t having it. He stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “Long story, my ass,” he snapped, his voice low but fierce. “You’re not getting off that easy. What were you really doing out there, huh?” His eyes bore into hers, demanding the truth she was too scared to admit.

“Look, Darry, I was just hanging out with some friends… and things got a little out of hand. The fuzz showed up, so we had to split fast. I didn’t exactly have time to take the scenic route, okay?” She tried to keep her tone light, but the guilt of lying tugged at her.

Darry’s eyes flashed with anger, his voice rising as he started in on her. “Do you even realize what could’ve happened if they caught you? If they dragged you in, all three of you guys—Soda, Pony, and you—would’ve been thrown into separate boys’ and girls’ homes so fast, it’d make your head spin! You don’t think about that, do you?”

Sodapop, who had been quiet on the couch, finally spoke up. “You were with Dally, weren’t you?” His voice wasn’t accusing, just knowing.