"Look at the stitching on this beauty," Darry marveled as he traced his fingers through the new football that he had just unwrapped.

"Glad you like it son," Mr. Curtis said with a grin.

We were sitting around the small Christmas tree, opening gifts. It seemed that everyone had pitched in to buy things for everyone else. I wondered if I'd ever get used to new things like this.

"My turn!" Soda yelled excitedly. He grabbed a small box that was wrapped in crumbled up red paper that was beginning to tear. Soda tore it open, biting his bottom lip. He slowly lifted the lid of the box, and his brown eyes opened wide in shock.

I leaned over to the side a bit, to get a better view of whatever he had gotten. Peering over his shoulder, I saw two slips of paper.

Soda lifted them up, "they're tickets to the next rodeo!" He looked to the side of the box, and "Steve" was scribbled sloppily.

Steve grinned, "we can go see it together next week."

Soda's smile said it all. He got up, and gave Steve a slap on the back, "thanks buddy. How in the world did you manage to afford these?"

Steve swatted the air, "ah, don't worry about that."

Two Bit grabbed Johnny's shoulder, "why don't ya see what I gotcha Johnnycake," he said and handed him one of the gifts.

I leaned back against the couch, and thought about something that was always in the back of my mind: Where am I gonna go after this?
Obviously I couldn't crash at this place forever, I was already overstaying my welcome. I still had quite a bit of cash on me, so I decided afterwards I would walk around and find a place I could stay for cheap.

Johnny held up a jean jacket, raising his eyebrows so that they disappeared under his shaggy bangs. "Wow Two Bit, thanks man."

Two Bit smiled proudly, puffing up his chest. "Of course Johnny! You know, it's real easy to get the finer things..." He winked and then continued, "so long as you don't have to pay for them!" He laughed, slapping his knee.

I rolled my eyes, but I was intrigued. Two Bit stole, and I remembered when I first met him; how he was tryin' to pick up the waitress. Two Bit, might turn out to be a cool ol' guy, a good buddy to hang out with.

Mrs. Curtis scowled, pulling on his ear. "You better not make a habit of this young man."

"Ow, ow yes ma'am," Two replied with his eyes squeezed shut. The gang howled with laughter, and they continued exchanging gifts.

Pony ended up getting a book and a sketchpad, Steve got new additions of some car magazine, and Two Bit got some hair grease and a used pair of sneakers.

Everyone was looking over their gifts when I felt a slight tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Johnny, chewing his bottom lip.

"Yeah kid?"

"I uh," he reached into his pocket and held something out to me, "here."

I frowned, looking down. It was a lighter.

"When did you get this?" I asked.

"It's mine," he said, looking up at me.

He was giving me his lighter. I don't think anyone has ever given me a gift, well, except for Dean. It didn't feel right.

"Look, you don't need to-"

"Take it. I want you to have it," he said firmly. He shrugged, "I guess it's a welcome gift."

I nodded and stuck it in my pocket, ruffling up his hair. "Thanks kid."

He smiled, "welcome to the gang Dally."

Later, that day I asked Steve and Soda about the rodeo, I had never been to one. Steve explained and told me that it would be at a place called Buck's, apparently he owned some stables and also had a bar. Soda said that the bar rented some rooms upstairs, "I think Buck'll like ya. It gets pretty rowdy over there, but nothin' you can't handle."

So I had a place to stay, and a place where I knew I'd always be welcome. Tulsa allowed me to start over, but it wasn't easy. New York already taught me enough: emotions shouldn't be expressed, don't get attached to people, get smart...the list goes on, and I knew if I didn't stay committed to these, I'd wind up dead.

But you know what? I never bought another lighter.

A/N
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It's finally finished! Sorry for taking so long, I had finals, practice, all that personal crap, but school's out now!! Let me know how you liked this story guys, it would mean a lot.

Stay Gold,
GoldGreaser83