Will Rogers High School was a relatively large school, considering that Tulsa was kind of a small town. The brick walls of the two-story building were adorned with large windows that reflected off the setting sun. Because it was November, the sky was starting to get darker earlier in the day, leaving a perfect opportunity for Steve, Two-Bit and I to sneak into the school.

I leaned back on the cool, brick wall behind me, tapping my black, combat boots on the grass impatiently, when Two-Bit and Steve finally emerged from the door next to me. "Jeez, what took you guys so long?" I walked through the side door and into the high school.

"Sorry, Diana, but breaking and entering is actually really hard," Steve pointed out.

A knowing smile crossed my faced. "Not when you have experience," I mumbled to myself. I turned to face the two boys, who were dressed in all black and had ski masks covering their faces. "What the hell are you two wearing?" I laughed.

"Spy clothes, duh," Two-Bit replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yeah, you said to dress in all black, so we thought you meant this," Steve added, gesturing to their tight clothes.

I shook my head, my high ponytail swaying back and forth as I did so. My eyes rolled at their stupidity. "When I said 'dress in all black,' I didn't mean dress like morons."

"If anyone is the moron here it's you," Two remarked with a shrug. "Just saying."

"Exactly," Steve added. "You're the one who looks out of place."

"Whatever," I huffed "Let's just get this over with, so I can get outta here."

Two-Bit nudged me in the shoulder and chuckled. "Why you gotta hot date after or something?" We began walking down a long hallway that was lined with red lockers on both sides of the wall. The only noise was the sound of o ur shoes against the floor and muffled cheers for the football game playing outside.

"Let's just go with 'or something'," I said, shoving Two-Bit's arm away from me. Him and Steve shared a look, before continuing to pester me more.

"She didn't deny it," Steve sang playfully. Now, he was the one who was nudging my shoulder.

The three of us continued walking down the hall without any interruptions, other than their annoying comments about my 'friendship' with Dallas. We finally made it to a door labeled as:

Boys' Locker room

Because the door was just left unlocked, Two-Bit, Steve, and I simply walked in. "Welcome to the home of the Ropers," Two-Bit said, waving his arms around the room as an introduction.

"More like home of the assholes," I retorted with a roll of my eyes. Steve snorted at that comment and nodded in agreement. "Alright, so what did you guys bring?"

Two-Bit smirked and walked over to the white trash-bag that was sitting in the middle of the tiled locker room floor. "Glad you asked," he said, impressed with himself. Two-Bit opened the bag and began pulling various items out, placing each one on the floor after announcing its presence. "Toilet paper, spray paint, food dye, glitter, and my mom's month old mashed potatoes."

"I brought snacks," Steve added with a sheepish smile. He held up a plastic bag full of candy.

"Impressive," I chuckled.

"What did you bring?" Steve asked, noticing that I was empty handed.

I rolled my eyes. "Myself, duh."

"What?" Steve exclaimed. "You didn't bring anything?"

"Yeah, what good are you?" Two-Bit said waving his hands in the air unbelievably.

"First, screw off, Two," I remarked, rolling my eyes again. "And second, I brought my knowledge because obviously, I'm the mastermind here."

"But this was my idea!" Two-Bit pointed out.

"Yeah, but I'm the only one who's done this before!" I exclaimed.

Two-Bit furrowed his brows in confusion. "Stolen someone else's idea?" He asked.

"No," I sighed.

Steve snapped his fingers and pointed at me, a lightbulb going off in his head. "Vandalized a locker room?

"No!" I huffed. "Breaking and entering, obviously!"

The two boys shared a look of realization. "Ooh!"

"Jeez, you two make Sodapop seem like a genius," I muttered with a roll of my eyes. The two boys laughed with wide smiles on their faces as we all got to work on trashing the football team's locker room.

»»——⍟——««

"Well, boys, I think our job here is done," I stated with a smirk, brushing off my jeans and taking a look around at the disgustingly messy room. It was a complete disaster of our hilarious prank. There were spoiled mashed potatoes thrown onto every wall and smeared on locker, rainbow sparkles poured into shoes and socks, and toilet paper tossed around the room wastefully. The toilets in the bathroom were no longer clear, but colored with red, blue, yellow, and green food dyes. Not to mention, there were various candy wrappers discarded uncaringly on the floor. Steve, Two-Bit, and I finished spray painting various insults onto the tiled walls, and of course, I crossed out 'Home of the Ropers,' and wrote in my sloppy handwriting 'Home of the Assholes.'

"Those meatheads are gonna freak when they see this," Steve commented with a laugh.

"Damn straight," I agreed. I walked over to a bench that stood before one set of lockers, and grabbed my backpack off, slinging it over my shoulders. "Now, lets get the hell out of here."

Steve and Two-Bit nodded after sending the other a sly wink, but I noticed their failed attempt and rolled my eyes.

My hand landed on the doorknob, turning it slowly and about to open it until a loud chorus of chants erupted from down the hall. My eyes widened and I instantly pulled my hand away from the door, taking a few quick steps back. Two-Bit and Steve gave me confused looks. "What time is the game supposed to end?" I asked, a nervous tinge in my voice.

Two-Bit and Steve glanced at one another, before Two shrugged and replied, "I don't know, nine, I think?"

My eyes darted to the clock in the back of the locker room, slapping my hand to my face as I saw the time. "Shit, shit shit!" I groaned in annoyance. "Number one rule: always be aware of time." I recalled a vivid memory of Todd lecturing me after we almost got caught robbing a small drugstore. He told me that time was 'like your best friend' when it came to robberies. It was the most important aspect, and I always seemed to forget that.

"Shoot, it's nine right now!" Steve exclaimed, realization hitting as he glanced back at the clock and then the door again.

"The team will be here any minute, we need an escape plan," I told the two boys. Maybe Darry was right because this isn't looking too good.

Two-Bit and Steve thought for a brief moment before Two snapped his fingers, a lightbulb must've lit up in his head. "There's a window in the back. It'll be tight, but we'll fit."

I nodded curtly, following after Two-Bit and Steve swiftly as they swaggered passed the first set of lockers and into the back of the room. Like Two-Bit had announced, there was a small window. It was just above a tall, blue locker, definitely too high without some assistance.

Two-Bit reached for the top of the locker, pushing his sneakers against the metal and causing an irritating squeaky sound to echo within the nearly room. He pulled himself up and climbed out of the window as quickly and quietly as he could. Steve mimicked his actions and moved just as fast and soundless as Two-Bit. The football team's chants were nearing, and it wasn't until I heard the door swing open that I knew we — or I — was busted.

My eyes widened to the size of golf balls, as I whisper-shouted to the two boys who had escaped, "They're here!"

"Shit!" Two-Bit exclaimed as quietly as possible. "You don't have time to climb up here without being caught!"

"What am I gonna do?" I said panicky.

"Hide in one of the lockers, we'll come back for you after they're gone," Steve proposed with enthusiasm.

I sighed, rubbing my hand on my temple before huffing and nodding my head reluctantly. "I swear to god, if you two idiots leave me here I'll kill you!"

"We won't," Steve countered, waving his hand as if it were no big deal.

"Just get in the locker, someone's coming!" Two-Bit announced hurriedly. With his warning, I quickly pulled the locker in front of me open, and squeezed my body inside with ease. I closed the metal door as soundlessly as possible, peaking out the small horizontal slits to see a few football players stroll into the trashed room with expressions of shock and anger. Two-Bit and Steve were probably running far away; they were long gone now. I had hope that the two would come back, but a small part of me felt like I'd be waiting for a very long time.

"What the fuck happened in here?" One of the football players exclaimed.

"I think we got pranked, Tom," Another boy chimed in. I stifled a laugh at his sarcasm.

"Yeah, no shit, Wagner!"

"Who the hell could've done this?"

"Maybe it was those damn Clark Cowboys."

"Nah, Jerry, when would they have time to sneak in and trash the place?"

"Yeah, they almost got suspended for the season, last time they pranked us."

"Shit, they put mashed potatoes in my sneakers!" I moved my hands to cover my mouth before I could laugh. Courtesy of Two-Bit's mom's spoiled mashed potatoes.

"Shut up, Billy!"

"What? My mom bought these for me!"

"Hey, Bob, didn't you say you pranked that greaser girl last night or something?" I rolled my eyes at that comment, of course he told his friends about that.

"Yeah, what's that chics name? Dee?Dana?"

"Diana," Bob answered curtly.

"Man, I know she's a greaser and all, but that's the hottest broad in this town." I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest.

"I heard she's with Dallas Winston." I raised my eyebrows at that, a small subconscious smile lifting my lips. Why does everyone keep bringing up Dally around me?

"That guy that just got outta the cooler?"

"Yep."

"Well, there's no way that bitch did this," Bob changed the subject.

"She doesn't even go to high school," Randy added. I didn't know he played football as well. I guess 'Home of the Assholes' really did stand for something.

"She hangs out with the Curtis gang a lot, maybe she had some help," another boy suggested. Some of these guys weren't as dumb as I thought.

"Damn, that whore really gets around, huh," Randy said with a cocky laugh. A few other boys chuckled as well. I could feel my blood begin to boil with anger.

"Ya know, I bet Diana and those greasers were behind it."

"Whoever did this shit better watch their backs," Bob threatened.

"Yeah!" The football players chanted in unison.

"Nobody messes with the Ropers!" Bob raged. The boys continued chanting and banging against the lockers. Bob had successfully rallied the whole football team, and I could feel that revenge would be coming soon.

»»——⍟——««

Curtis House
3rd Person POV

Two-Bit and Steve rushed into the Curtis' house, out of breath and a stumbling through the door with untied shoe laces.

Inside of the house, Johnny and Ponyboy sat together on the couch, while Darry was sitting in his usual armchair. Dallas had pulled up a chair from the dining room table, smoking a cigarette and watching a random channel on the tv like the rest of the boys. Sodapop was out on a date with Sandy again that night, so he wouldn't be back for awhile. The couple had spent a significant amount of time together over the past few days.

"What the hell?" Darry spoke, confused by Two-Bit and Steve's sudden disheveled appearance.

"You guys look like shit," Dally commented, clearly uninterested in the backstory.

"We.. just.. ran.. here.. from.. the.. high.. school..," Steve said through quick breaths. He placed his hands on his knees and bent over.

"Why were you at school?" Ponyboy asked curiously. He knew it couldn't have been for extra help because Two-Bit and Steve never even did their homework. Ponyboy also knew that they weren't there to watch the football game. It just was against their reputation to partake in school activities altogether. The only reason the two boys went was to graduate for their family, and hopefully move out of this town for good.

"Well," Steve trailed off with a shrug and a sheepish smile. He made eye contact with Darry, who was glaring at them knowingly. Darry had a feeling that they were up to no good.

Two-Bit sighed, he figured that they were gonna have to come clean about it eventually. "We trashed the football team's locker room," he admitted.

Darry shook his head disapprovingly. "I thought I told you guys and Diana not to do that."

"You did," Two-Bit agreed. "We just didn't listen." Dallas snickered as took a drag of his disintegrating cigarette.

"Of course you didn't," Darry said, a hint of annoyance and anger in his tone. "You never think about the consequences to your actions."

"Okay, that's true, but they deserved," Two-Bit reasoned.

Steve nodded and pointed at Two-Bit. "Yeah, they started this prank war by dumping blood on Diana!"

While Darry, Two-Bit, and Steve continued to bicker over the prank and their actions, Ponyboy and Johnny shared a similar look of confusion as both of them realized something. Johnny was the one to speak up and interrupt them. "Hey, where's Diana?"

The three boys immediately stopped talking, and Dallas' dark eyes snapped to face Two-Bit and Steve's guilty and shocked faces.

Two-Bit's eyes were widened in fear of Dally's reaction. Dallas had never cared about anyone like he did about Diana, so this was basically uncharted territory. "Shee-it.."

"We were gonna go back," Steve defended with his hands up in surrender. "I swear!"

Dally huffed and stood up from the chair, grabbing his leather jacket and putting it on with the pop of its collar. "Where is she?" He asked the two nervous boys.

"In the locker room," Two-Bit answered quickly.

"In a locker," Steve added just as fast.

"What the hell?" Dallas said, a look of utter confusion taking over his features.

"We didn't have time to sneak her out!" Steve exclaimed. He truly felt bad for leaving his friend behind, especially since she's been locked in the small space for nearly two hours now.

"Yeah, man, it was an accident!" Two-Bit explained, nodding his head repeatedly. He was also beginning to regret not going back for her, but in their defense they completely forgot.

Dallas rolled his eyes, judging their carelessness and stupidity as he swaggered out of the house, making his way to the girl, who was locked in the Ropers' locker room.

»»——⍟——««

Locker Room
Diana's POV

" 'Don't worry, Diana, we'll come back for you, promise'," I mocked, resting my head on the back on the locker. The metal was cold against my skin, especially now that the lights were all turned off since the football team left about an hour ago. I had completely lost track of time, I really hoped it wasn't midnight because I am not looking forward to sleeping in a locker.

I sighed loudly, trying to readjust my position, but there wasn't any room to move around. My legs were beyond numb from the lack of use, and claustrophobia was beginning to set in. "Pff, promise my ass," I muttered with an eye roll.

"What about your ass?"

My eyes widened at the familiar voice, and I turned my head to peak out the slit on the locker. "Dally?"

"Hey, doll," he replied with a smirk as he leaned against the locker I was in.

I smiled sheepishly as I asked, "Why are you here?"

Dallas chuckled and shook his head slowly. "To rescue you," he replied obviously.

I sighed in relief, thankful that he was here. "Boy, am I glad to see you," I exclaimed happily.

Dallas sent me a sly wink, before clicking the lock on the locker open and holding a hand out for me to take, which I accepted with a wide grin. I slid out of the small space and stumbled into his arms because of the numbness in my legs from lack of movement, but Dallas caught me with ease and steadied me. Jeez, I could already feel the blush start to creep onto my face. "My hero," I teased as I intertwined my hand with his.

Dallas' smirk was contagious as he pulled my hand, forcing me to move in closer to him. He began walking towards the door, and I followed closely with our hands still held together. Dally's eyes wandered around the trashed room. His chuckled softly as he said, "Let's get out of here."