*okay so there's gonna be ANOTHER new character and I'm runnin outta symbol-y things... So if she's ever alone, the new character will be the ^ btw, sorry for the super long wait :/ I hav no excuse... PM co-writing is a little difficult though... I just figured I'd post this one so you don't have to keep waiting so sorry if you don't like the somewhat choppy ending. IMPORTANT! just so everyone knows, I went back and edited a part of chapter 9 tht I forgot to c&p when Christi and Abbi meet Dylan and he is telling them about his family so yeah basically Luke looked super briefly confused... I'm doing a very bad job of summing that up... Well... Here's chapter 12*

-When she saw the Courchesnes walk out, Christi just about tackled them. Abbi didn't tell her the results, but she knew from her big grin. "That's great!" She squealed. Christi wondered if she should tell Abbi about her new purchase, but decided against it. She also wondered if she should get a new job, after all she was hoping to give Tammy a normal life. She was also gonna have bills, which weren't too high due to the crappy, midget house she got. She decided to confide in Abbi. "Abbi... I'm thinkin' 'bout gettin' a second job." Christi sighed, waiting for her friend's opinion.

"I think it's a pretty good idea, but you gotta have time for Tammy. And it's gotta have good pay." Abbi smiled.

"True, but she's at school for like all day. I can work a bit on the weekend. Depends. Wanna hang at my place for a bit?" Christi wanted to spend time with Tammy, but there'd be no way she could pay bills and afford groceries with one job.

"Yeah, but mind if I go home and change first? This (darn) dress is startin' to get pretty uncomfortable."

A giggle escaped Christi's lips. "I'll bet."

The group walked home in high spirits. They were laughing and talking and joking with each other. When they got to their house, Abbi changed into jeans and a black T-shirt, grabbing her jacket as she ran out the door with Christi.

Chris took off with Abbi. They walked about two blocks, and they finally came upon the small house. She unlocked it to reveal a small living room with more boxes that would fit in her tree house. "Here it is."

Abbi looked around the small room and smiled. "Nice."

"Thanks." Christi looked around as well. "Small, but it'll do. Figured Tammy might as well have a house to live in."

"Yep, that's always helpful. But what about when Jr. comes along?"

She shrugged. "Well, he or she is most likely gonna go up for adoption. So unless I change my mind, then I shouldn't have to worry 'bout that."

Abbi was quiet a minute. "Oh." She didn't want to upset her friend so she sighed and changed the subject. "So, excited for the holidays? Only about a month away. And Thanksgiving is just around the corner."

"Yeah, not so much the cold, though." Christi said, with a signature goofy grin.

Abbi nodded in agreement. "I hear ya loud and clear, sister."

"Tuff, then." Chris tilted her head, "Are we supposed to do anything today? Does the gang have school?"

"Yeah, remember? I think when they get out, we should go recruit everyone, and I mean everyone! Dylan, Luke, Lily, Matt, and of course the rest of our crazy gang!" Abbi cheered.

"Yes! Let's do it!" Christi agreed.

"And we'll celebrate! Wine and beer and chocolate cake! And for the younger members, Cokes! To toast your new house and my new-old father!" Abbi shouted happily.

Christine giggled, with a grin. "'Old-new father'?" She mocked, "And I'm not that young!" She knew what her friend meant, but had to make fun of her for it.

"Hey if I'm calling you young, then I'm calling myself young too!" Abbi laughed.

"Well, yeah. I don't drink and I'm underage... I like Coke anyways." Christi beamed, agreeing with her friend.

Abbi bantered, "Ya don't say? Well, gee, me too!"

Christi nodded, "Mhm."

"Wow, who'd 'a thunked it?" Abbi giggled. "So, what shall we do in the meantime?"

*slight time skip, everybody's out of school now... Well except Tammy, she's in like an all-day kindergarten*

^"Marie, darling! Come here!" Marie heard her mom call.

"Yes, mother?" She responded softly, getting up and walking into the big family room.
Her mother and father looked somewhat like her. Marie inherited her mother's dark brown, almost black hair, and the freckles dusting her nose and cheeks. From her father she recieved her snowy white skin. But her eyes were completely her own. A strange hazel-grayish color, that nobody in her family has. "Hello."

"Hi, pumpkin." Marie's father said, "Take a seat, doll."

Marie sat down, as her mom started to speak.

"Marie, darling, you are a very smart girl. But you lack maturity. You act without thinking. Do you understand?"

Marie nodded, "I think so."

"So, your mother and I decided it'd be best if you went to an all girls Catholic school." Her daddy continued.

Marie nodded. "I didn't know there were Catholic schools around."

"There aren't. That's why you are going to Chicago. You leave in three days."

Marie got up shocked. She couldn't believe her parents were sending her off. "B-but, Daddy! You can't send me off to Chicago! My friends are here!" She really didn't have many friends, since she was only allowed to go to school and back.

"Marie, the discussion is closed. You are dismissed." Her mother stated dryly.

Marie ran upstairs and pulled out her pink suitcase. She threw some clothes in and other essentials. Marie decided to run away. 'Mother and Daddy don't care about me. They wanna send me away!' She thought, as she slid on her white shoes and grabbed her coat. Then she bolted out the door, and towards the East Side. She had no clue where she was going, but found herself later, at the DX station. Marie wandered around the DX browsing through magazines and such.

Marie left the DX soon, and walked around east. She got strange looks from the greasers, and looks of jealousy from the girls, most notably Sylvia's younger sister. Other girls her age east of the tracks wore revealing clothes to look hot. Marie could cover up perfectly, and still look beautiful. She shivered, running away in a light coat and ballet flat type shoes was not a good idea.

+/=Luke and Dylan found each other through the mass of students and walked down the block to the elementary school where Lily stood waiting for them.

They were on their way home when they spotted a girl walking by herself, carrying a suitcase. The boys shared a confused glance before approaching the girl. She looked about their age, though she was clearly a Soc, and walking where she was, she was likely to run into some not-so-good characters.

Marie heard footsteps and whirled around, startled. She jumped slightly, dropping her bag and throwing her hand to her heart. She relaxed slightly, but still tense. "Oh, hi. You scared me."

"We scared you?" Luke asked incredulously. He shook his head. "We are probably the least suspicious people you could run into in this neighborhood."

Marie smiled, trying to hide her embarrassment as she picked up her bag. "Well then I suppose that makes me lucky." She brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "I'm Marie. And you are...?"

"Luke." He motioned to the others and said, "Lily, Dylan. Now if I may ask you, what exactly are you doing wandering around the east side? Do you have a death wish?"

"No. I ran away." Marie admited, looking him straight in the eye. She waved to Lily and Dylan though.

"Oh yeah? Well, that's pretty rough. Would I be pushing it if I asked why?" Luke asked cautiously.

"Parents wanted to send me off to an all girls school... In Chicago." Marie answered, giving him a friendly smile.

Luke looked deep into her strange colored eyes and saw nothing but honesty. "That's a real drag. Where ya plannin' on stayin'?"

"Oh. I didn't think of that." Marie said studying Luke.

Luke sighed. "I'd offer you a couch, but I really don't think that would go over too good with Charlie."

Dylan said quietly, "And my granddad..."

"Hey," Lily piped up, "what about one of your gang friends?"

Marie's eyes went wide. "You're... In a gang?"

Dylan stifled a laugh as Luke reassured her, "Shoot, everybody's in a gang. But we ain't like some of the others."

Marie nodded, she understood that okay. "Oh. All right." She relaxed.

Dylan said eagerly, "Wanna meet 'em? They're real tuff. We're the youngest ones."

"Oh?" Marie returned, "How old are they all?"

Luke answered after thinking for a moment, "The oldest is twenty, then the rest are between, I think, fourteen and eighteen."

Marie hesitated, then nodded sure, "Sure they sound really nice."

They headed off in the direction of the Curtis house, figuring that was their best bet. They walked right in like they were told they could and hollered hey. "Anybody home?"

A few voices came from the kitchen so they went through the living room and found most of the gang joking around.

"Hey, this is Marie. Found her roaming the streets alone." Luke explained.

Everybody said hi. They didn't care that the boys were young, they were accepted nonetheless.

Luke went on to introduce Marie. "That's Darry, Dally, Two-Bit, Josh, Steve, Ponyboy, Sodapop, Johnny, Andy, and Danny."

Marie smiled, "Hi, nice to meet y'all."

*okie dokie, Abbi and Christi have been hanging at Christi's place all day...*

-/~Christi wondered what everyone else is doing. "Where's everyone else?"

"Uh..." Abbi shrugged slightly. "Wanna go find out? I think our safest bet is the Curtis residence." She continued in a snobbish-sounding voice.

Christi thought for a second. "Um, yeah. Let's go."

"Alright then, let's light out!" Abbi grinned goofily.

As the two young girls started off, Christi couldn't help but think.

Abbi studied Christi's face. As if reading her mind, she said, "What's on your mind, kid?"

Rolling her eyes jokingly, Christi was quiet a second before answering. "My parents, life... Socs..." She punched Abbi's shoulder playfully, "And I'm the same age as you, kid."

Abbi stuck out her tongue in mock annoyance. About then, they reached the Curtises'. She swung open the door to find everyone hanging out. Hmm, convenient, she thought. "Hey y'all!"

Christi smiled, before heading over to Pony and squeezing all that was living out of him. "Wazzup, Greaseys?"

Soda smiled and raised an eyebrow. "There is someone we would like you to meet."

Marie gave a shy little wave. "Hi."

"This is Marie," Luke said.

Christi smiled, "Hi there. I'm Christi."

Abbi gave the dark-haired girl a small salute. "Abbi."

Marie smiled, "Nice to meet you, Abbi. Christi."

Christi elbowed her friend playfully. "Why didn't I get a salute when you met me?"

Abbi shrugged. "I don't know, I didn't do it then, now it's cool." She scrunched up her nose in a mocking sort of smile.

Christ grinned, "That what she said."

Abbi laughed and shook her head, making a face. "Oh, Christi. Strange, entertaining Christi."

"What happened to incredibly squirrel-like?" Christi laughed, with outspoken humor in her voice.

"That too!" Abbi giggled. "So," she said to everyone, "what y'all been doin' this fine day?"

Pony shrugged, "Just hanging 'round."

Everyone else shrugged and nodded. Except for Two-Bit, who grinned mischeviously. "Did I tell y'all I almost got suspended today?"

There was a chorus of sarcastic groans.

Christi laughed, "You don't say? Tell me all about it!"

Two-Bit started his story, "Well, ya see, it started out as a normal day, but you know how Socs are. So I decided to play a little prank. I found one of our special Socy friends and planted a knife in his locker. Now, I knew it woulda just sat there till he opened it up, so I found one of my dirty gym socks and picked up an old tuna fish sandwich from a Tiger and left that with the knife, 'cept hid it behind his books. So, like I had planned, a teacher could smell that rotten tuna-sock and demanded that guy open his locker." He paused and looked at everyone, trying not to burst out laughing. "You're probably all wondering how that got me into trouble, so, see, where it all went sour, no pun intended, there was a witness in the hall who snitched to Teacher dearest. So I got chewed out for carryin' the blade. Even if it was just a fishing knife and dull as a spoon." He leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. "And that, children, is how my day went."

Christi started guffawing, unable to stop. "(Dang)! Next time let me in on it!" She said, after laughing for a couple minutes.

That sent everyone into a fit of laughter, everyone rolling on the floor or shaking their heads but smiling despite themselves.

Christi finally stopped laughing. "So Marie, did Elvis write a song about you or did he?"

Marie looked confused, she didn't get Christi's reference. "Sorry, I'm more into the Beatles."

Abbi and Christi shared a joking gasp and burst out singing (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame. Soda and Ponyboy joined in on the second line, and almost everyone joined in on the chorus.

Christi laughed, "That was fun!"

"Why indeed it was!" Andy cheered.

"Hey," Josh cried excitedly, "we tell ya the good news?"

She shook her head, "What news?" Christi never did like being left out of things.

Abbi rolled her eyes. "You know the news!" She turned to everyone and announced, "Our dad got custody! And I got a job at the Tasty Freeze!"

"Oh, yeah. I forgot. I might as well be a blonde." She grinned, laughing.

"Again with the blonde jokes!" Abbi cried jokingly.

Dally gave Christi a sarcastically menacing look and said, "You wanna push your luck, kid?"

"Yesh. Yesh, I do." Christi says, mocking his menacing look.

"Aw shut it, you punk. And you, jailbait, quit making threats you ain't gonna follow through with," Abbi said sardonically.

"And you, Mrs. Clown Curtis, stop being my mom and lighten up." Christi smiled.

Marie looked at the group. "Are you guys always like this?"

"You bet," Two-Bit replied.

"So, fellas, we came with a purpose today. To celebrate!" Abbi announced. She nudged Christi, urging her to tell everyone about her new apartment.

"I got an apartment," She said simply, with a crazy grin.

Soda piped up, "I propose a toast. Drinks all around!"

Christi tilted her head, looking around. She sported a small grin, her cheeks flushed to be a pinkish color, due to her excessive smiling and laughing.

A few of the boys when into the kitchen to get Cokes, but they didn't have enough for everyone (that didn't already have a beer in hand like Two-Bit) so the Curtis boys had chocolate milk.

"To our recent good fortune!" Abbi cheered, raising her drink.

Christi gave a cheerful half smile, nodding.

Two-Bit took a long swig of beer, with every intention of getting drunk sometime that night.

Christi was thinking about life, wondering what she'd done to have such great friends.

After taking a sip of her Coke, Abbi asked, "Anybody have any plans of any kind for the near future? Other than you, Christi, with your flying unicorns or whatever." She laughed.

"FLYING UNICORNS! WOOP!" Christi hollered, bored.

Everyone laughed at Christi's antics.

Steve spoke up, "Me an' Evie were gonna hit up the movie house. Two-Bit, you and Kathy wanna come? Danny, Andy, Soda?"

Christi started humming and rocking back and forth, listening intently.

"Yeah, sure, we'll come." Danny agreed.

Christi looked around absentmindedly.

Abbi tilted her head, noticing her friend was being uncharacteristically quiet. "Yoo-hoo, Earth to Christi, come in, Cadet."

"Huh?" Christi's head snapped back to her friend.

Abbi laughed and shook her head. "Nothin'."

Steve piped up, "Hey, y'all wanna blow this pop stand? Go to the races or somethin'."

Most of the boys nodded their agreement. Soda glanced at Darry, then at Abbi. She smiled encouragingly.

Two-Bit chimed, "Are we gonna act like hobos or drive like the greasers we are? Tell ya what, I'll even take the kiddies," He teased playfully.

Steve had his car and drove with Danny, Andy, Josh, and Dallas. Two-Bit kept his promise and took Luke, Dylan, Lily, and Marie. Darry drove his truck with Ponyboy and Christi in the front seat with him, and Soda, Abbi, Johnny, and Matt in the bed of the truck. They arrived at the track in less than ten minutes.

Upon arriving, Christi got out and looked around, the familiarity haunting her. She shuddered, shaking her head.

Soda didn't look too enthused either. Abbi rubbed his shoulder and whispered, "Hey, it's okay. We just won't drive."

Christi closed her eyes and sighed deeply, in attempt to clear her mind.

As always, Tim Shepard was going to drive with Curly against some unfamiliar Socs.

Soda winked at Abbi. "Watch this." He ran over to some of the Socs friends and offered a bet. Abbi didn't know how much, and she asked when Soda returned.

"Fifteen bucks." Soda grinned.

"Soda! What the heck would ya do that for?"

Sodapop shrugged. "Well, hey, we can't drive, we can bet. 'Sides, Shepard always wins."

It almost seemed like they wouldn't. When they first took off, the Socs were in the lead. But by the time they got back, the Shepards crossed the unofficial "finish line" first.

Christi watched with everybody, but her mind was on something else. It always was.

Soda collected his fifteen dollars from the Socs, and he and Abbi left without telling anyone where they planned to go. And not just because they weren't sure.

-Christi looks around quietly and bored. She tried to avoid looks she was being thrown.

~"Soda," Abbi laughed, allowing herself to be led away from the crowd. "Where are we going?"

"Just trust me."

-Christi went and stood next to Pony, "Hiya."

~Soda stopped suddenly. "(Dang). We need a car."

They ran back to the track and Soda asked Darry for the keys to the truck.

"Yeah, I guess we can walk home. Where are you guys going?"

Soda told Darry too quietly for Abbi to hear.

"That's in the middle of Oklahoma City! Do you have money for gas and things?" Darry asked.

"Yeah, Darry, I got it covered. Thanks for the keys." Soda led Abbi to the car and opened the door for her. "M'lady."

She giggled and climbed in.

Before Soda got in the driver's seat, Darry ran over and asked his brother, "Do you think you might let Pony and Christi go with you guys? Pony's been saying he wants to go for a while now."

Soda shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

Soda went loping over to Ponyboy and Christi. "Hey, guys. I made fifteen bucks off some Soc, so I was thinkin' about going to the Springlake amusement park. You wanna come?"

Christi shrugged, "I don't know. I hafta pick up Tammy from school still."

Soda waved a dismissive hand at the issue. "So ask one of the guys to do it. Just don't tell 'em where we're goin'."

"Okay, I guess." Christi nodded, walking over to Two-Bit. "Can you pick Tammy up from school?"

"Ah, you're gonna stick me with the kid? Well, fine. Hey, I got an idea." Two-Bit sauntered over to Luke, Dylan, Marie, and Lily. "Hey, you guys busy this fine afternoon?"

They shook their heads.

Christi rolled her eyes due to Two-Bit's laziness.

"Alrighty, Chriti, ready to go?" Soda inquired.

"I guess so." She responded, walking back over to Abbi and the Curtis brothers.

"Good deal. Let's hit the road." They piled into the truck and headed southwest on route 44.

Christi was silent for a good five minutes, before she started poking Abbi. "Are we there yet?" She said repeatedly, trying to annoy Soda and Abbi.

Abbi tried to act annoyed, but she couldn't help laughing. "You're such a child!"

Christi smiles, "No, dip."

"Yeah, I know. Just call me Captain Obvious." Abbi jested.

"Kay, Captain Obvious." Christi teased, sticking her tongue out.

Soda added, "We'll be there in about a half hour. There shouldn't be much traffic this time of day."

Abbi ignored Christi. "So, Sodapop, where exactly is there?"

"I guess you'll find out in a half hour." He smiled coyly.

Christi decided to bug Pony. "What's up Ponnyyyyyy?

Pony just gave his girlfriend a weird look, "Nothing.".

"Are you excited?" Christi asked.

"Yeah, I ain't never been there before." Pony responded, a slight look of excitement in his green-gray eyes.

"I haven't either. I'm excited too." She responded, smiling at Ponyboy.

Abbi gave up trying to find out their destination and turned on the radio. The Beatles' Norwegian Wood was playing and she started to sing along since it was one of her favorites.

Christi smiled at Abbi's singing.

When they neared the park, Soda told Abbi to close her eyes.

Abbi laughed, but did what he said.

Christi smiled, watching the scenery.

They pulled into the parking lot as Soda was saying, "Okay, you can open your eyes now."

"Oh my gosh!" Abbi exclaimed. "Man, this is so cool. I don't think I've ever been on a roller coaster. Can we do the Big Dipper first?"

Christi looked around, eyes wide with curiosity. A small smile formed on her face, as she attempted to get a better look. Pony smiled at Christi, "Looks tuff, huh?"

Christi nodded giggling, "Yeah."

Soda nodded in agreement. "Well, come on!" He said, getting out of the car.

Christi and Ponyboy got out of the car, and Christi looked around with caution, yet excitedly.

"What time does the park close?" Abbi asked.

Soda furrowed his brow. "I'm not sure. Ten, maybe."

"Okay well that's a good chunk of time. Let's go!"

Christi started walking, her and Pony holding hands.

"Admission is free, we just gotta pay for the tickets at each ride. But thanks to those Socs, we definitely got enough." Soda told Abbi.

Christi's eyes met the ground, as her and Pony kept walking a little bit ahead of Abbi and Soda.

The group entered the park. The crowds made Abbi feel strangely safe and relaxed, mixed with her excitement.

Pony looked around, eyes wide with happiness.

Christi laughed as people walked around and screamed in delight.

~They made their way to the Big Dipper and got in line.

-Christi looked around with a small grin.

~"Oh my god, Soda, I'm so excited! What if I get scared? Don't let me chicken out." Abbi vented.

Soda chuckled and took Abbi's hand in his. "Don't worry, I'll be sitting next to you. It'll be fun."

Abbi bit her lip and wrinkled her nose, but couldn't help smiling. "But look at how big it is!"

"You'll be fine. Just think of how tuff it'll be."

She grinned. "Tuff enough."

-Pony looked at Christi, "So what'cha wanna do?"

Christi shrugged, looking around nervously.

~The line was moving pretty quickly, and soon they were on the ride. Abbi gripped the lap bar nervously, looking at Soda and still biting her lip.

-Christi dragged Pony over to the Big Dipper, just in time to watch Abbi and Soda get on. She looked over at her boyfriend, a playful grin on her face.

Abbi screamed the whole ride. Soda laughed.

Christi wooped and hollered for her friends.

When the ride stopped, Abbi promptly began cracking up.

Christi clapped excitedly for her friends.

Abbi and Soda waved to their friends as they got off the roller coaster.

Christi smiled at them, "How was it?"

Pony looked at the ride a bit confused to how it could go so high.

"That was so great!" Abbi exclaimed.

Soda cheered, "It was insane!"

Christi looked at them, giggling. "What now?"

Pony shrugged looking at Abbi and Soda.

"Uh... Ferris wheel?" Soda suggested.

"Sounds cool." Pony responded, while Christi hopped around giddily, like that was that best idea ever.

"Hey, sweet, we can sit together in the cart-thingy." Abbi smiled.

Soda pumped his fist in the air. "To the Ferris wheel!"

Pony whooped like everyone else, and followed the group quietly. Then Christi jumped on his back, "Hi." She whispered.

"Hi, yourself." Pony chuckled, at his strange girlfriend.

"Havin' fun?" She questioned, jumping off his back, and walking next to him.

"Yeah." Ponyboy nodded, looking around.

Christi giggled, "Good."

Abbi reached over and slid her hand into Soda's back pocket. Soda did the same to Abbi.

Christi pointed to Soda and Abbi and made a weird face to Pony.

Pony laughed softly.

Abbi noticed Ponyboy and Christi laughing at them and stuck out her tongue at them.

Christi stuck her tongue out right back, and Pony simply rolled his eyes.

The line at the Ferris wheel was fairly short, and they got on the ride in less than five minutes.

Christi looked at Pony, her eyes sparkling with energy and excitement. Pony chuckled at Christi's face.

"Wow," Abbi breathed, taking in the view from the top of the Ferris wheel. She loved being able to see so far.

"It's pretty!" Christi smiled.

Pony nodded in agreement.

Abbi thought for a moment. "I wonder what the park looks like from an airplane."

Soda chuckled. "Random, but a very good point."

Pony nodded in agreement, wrapping an arm around Christi, trying to act tuff.

*okay another time skip now it's almost Christmas like a little less than 2 weeks away*

-Christi sighed, biting her lip. Tammy had recently disappeared, and never returned, so the teen was often upset about that.

~Abbi sighed and topped off one of her usual customer's coffee.

Tim and his friends sat at the counter. "How ya doin', Abbi?"

"Fine. What'll you have?" She responded flatly.

-Christi sat up, sighing once again. She never left her house much anymore, except to go to work. Heaven knows gossip was already spreading.

~"Cherry Coke." He flashed a sly grin with his answer.
She took everyone else's order and slid them their Cokes as quickly as possible, ignoring their comments.

-Christi stood up, humming random songs. She paced back and forth, debating life.

~At the end of her shift, which was closing time, Abbi wiped down the counter, said goodbye to Marge, grabbed her jacket, and left. She had been called in to work last minute and forgot to ask someone for a ride home. It was a cloudy night, the only lights came from storefronts and streetlights. Even so, Abbi was walking away from the stores. And that meant the darkness would grow. Abbi was always a little paranoid to walk alone, especially at night. Especially after what happened to Christi.

When she left the building, Tim and his friends stepped out from behind the side. Tim was still wearing that smirk.

Abbi ducked back into the diner and locked the door behind her. She found Marge in the back and asked if she could use the phone in the office. She called her house and asked Danny to pick her up since their dad was still at work.

-Christi was silent, deep in thought.

~Abbi waited in a booth by the door for Danny to show up. She didn't have to wait long, though. When he arrived, she jumped in as quickly as possible since Tim and his friends were still there, smoking and talking. She was hoping they would leave her alone if Danny was there.

-Christi bit her lip, pacing back and forth, wondering what happened to the little girl she thought of as her sister.

~"Were they bugging you?" Danny asked.

Abbi shook her head. "I wanted to keep it that way."

-Christi wondered around her apartment, glancing around with uncertainty. She knew Abbi was probably still at work, so she didn't bother calling.

~"Hey, Danny, can we swing by Christi's place?"

"Sure."

-Christi thought some more.

~Danny pulled into Christi's driveway.

Abbi knocked on the front door.

Christi went to the door, and answered, smiling at her best friend, "Abbi! Hey!"

"Hi, Christi. How ya been?"

"Good. You?"

"I'm alright. I just wanted to check in. Haven't seen you in a while." Abbi glanced outside. "Danny's waiting for me, I just got off work."

"I'm fine. Bored as (heck), but fine." Christi smiled.

Abbi giggled softly. "Hey, did you hear, Marie went home, but she's not going to Chicago. I don't really know the whole story."

"Oh, that's nice." Christi said softly.

"Yeah." Abbi sighed. "Well I guess I better get going. See ya, Christi. Don't forget to call me."

Christi nodded, "I won't."

Abbi winked at her friend. "Good. Bye." She hopped back in the car and Danny drove off towards their house.

Christi sighed and closed the door.

~When they got home, Abbi thanked Danny for the ride and went straight to her room. She changed into her pajamas before counting her tips from that day.

-Christi lied down on her old, faded sofa. It was kinda old, but comfortable enough.

~Abbi flopped down on her bed, sighing and staring at the ceiling.

-Christi wondered about many things, before calling Abbi.

~Abbi had just closed her eyes when she heard Andy yell, "Abbi! Phone! It's Christi."

She ran and grabbed the phone. "Hey, girlie. What's up?"

"Nothing much. You told me to call you." Christi responded blankly, shrugging.

Abbi giggled. "Oh, yeah. I did."

"Mhm." Christi said, smiling a little.

"Tim Shepard and crew came into the Tasty Freeze today. They were still hangin' around when I left. That's why I had Danny pick me up." Abbi explained.

"Oh. What'd they want?"

"I don't know, they were acting shady, but that's normal. I didn't wanna find out what they had in mind." Abbi bit her lip. "You seen much of our gang lately?"

"No, not lately. I've hung around home for the most part."

"Oh. What about Pony?"

"He comes to see me once in a while..." Christi responded softly.

"Well that's good." Abbi wasn't really sure what to say. "Alrighty, I'm beat so I'll talk to you some time. Bye."

Christi glanced over at the clock on the wall that was slightly fast. "Okay. Bye."

~Abbi hung up and returned to her room. She laid on her bed for a few minutes before realizing sleep would not come. So she painted her nails red. After they dried, she still couldn't sleep, so she did some homework that wasn't due for a couple of days. It was easy stuff, just boring.

-Christi set the phone down, sitting on the couch again, quite bored.

~A soft knock came upon Abbi's door.

"Abbi?" Her dad poked his head in. "I saw your light on. Everythin' okay?"

"Oh, yeah. Just couldn't sleep."

"Again?"

Abbi simply shrugged.

"Well, if you need anything, just let me know." Dave offered.

"Mmkay." Abbi replied.

-Christi soon fell asleep, despite the fact she was sitting up.

~Abbi checked her clock. Quarter-to-midnight. She got up to brush her teeth and get a drink of water.

-A little bit later, Christi woke up. She got up, and walked around a bit, with a half smile.

~When Abbi returned to her room, she turned on a jazz radio station quietly and shut off her light. She lay in bed, thinking about Christi and Soda and work and Christmas. Maybe she'd have enough money to get her brothers and her dad gifts this year. Maybe even Soda and Christi, if all the gifts were small.

-Christi wondered around her small house, thinking about everything. Life, her friends, work, and the cold.

~Eventually, Abbi fell asleep. She hadn't notice the time, but it was a good while later.

-Christi was up for a long while before heading to bed.

~Abbi awoke to the unpleasant ringing of her alarm clock. She sat up, glancing out her window, preparing to face another Monday. She got ready for school in her routine way, first getting breakfast then brushing her teeth and getting dressed and brushing her hair. It was the same every weekday. And she only had to do it about 450 more times.

-Christi woke up a bit late before getting ready for work.

~Abbi's first class was history, a class she did not particularly care for. A great way to start the day, she thought.

-Christi hurried off to work, and continued working on something she started the other day.

~They were talking about the Revolutionary War when Abbi started to doze off. The teacher walked by and slapped Abbi's desk with a ruler, asking her a question about the war. Surprisingly, she knew the answer, but it was just about the only one.

-Christi finally finished what she was doing, and started on something else.

~At lunch, Abbi hung out with Two-Bit and Soda since they were the only people in her lunch she could tolerate.

-Christi thought, looking down at the unfinished dress she was working on. It was light pink, with black polka dots, and smooth, made with a material to sway back and forth with the wearer's movements. And it was a gift.

~"Guys, you wanna go somewhere? I can't stand staying here more than I have to," Abbi suggested.

Two-Bit and Soda agreed and they ended up at the DX. They were inside, looking at the magazines.

Suddenly, Abbi said, "(Dang). Two-Bit..." Abbi held up a magazine. The cover image was Mickey Mouse crying. "Walt Disney died!"

Two-Bit stared at the magazine for a moment. "That's not okay."

-A while later, Christi was dismissed and she placed the dress in a paper bag, heading back home. She kept an eye out for any of the gang as she walked.

~After school, Abbi got a ride home since it was cold and she didn't feel like walking. She had Two-Bit drive her and Soda went too. When they got to her house Abbi got out, and so did Soda. He draped his arm across her shoulder and walked her inside, carrying her books for her.

-Christi continued walking slowly, not minding the gusts of wind meeting her bare skin. She thought absentmindedly, something she often did now. She headed for the Curtis house, as it was closer than her small house. When she got there, she shook her head and opened the door, letting herself in.

~Abbi and Soda sat together on the couch. Abbi's brothers were going out (she had not bothered to ask where they were going), and would not be home until at least five o'clock.

-Christi walked into the Curtis residence, with a smile. "Hi, y'all."

~"Soda..." Abbi started. She wasn't exactly sure where she was going with it. "Have you noticed that the Socs have been acting different lately? I mean like... like they're waiting for something big to happen and don't wanna get in the way. You know what I mean?"

Soda kissed the top of her head. "I guess. Sorta."