As soon as they left I grabbed my jacket and headed out. My first stop would be Darry. I loved him, but he was too hard on Ponyboy. The poor kid just needed a break.

As a I walked out of my neighbourhood I put my hands in my pockets and fingered my switch. Tim had gotten me the blade for my fifteenth birthday. Darry had been none too happy, but Tim argued that I should have it on me because the socs wouldn't hesitate to jump a girl. He was right, and Darry decided it was better safe than sorry. Even though Darry knew not many people would try to jump me. O

I wasn't like most greaser girls. The attitude was that greaser girls wore too much makeup, swore, and got into fights with other girls. I never did that stuff. I was always roughhousing with with boys, playing football, tackling each other, and lots of other things. Darry drew the line at letting me participate in rumbles, but when Two-bit made a smart mouth comment about it, I clocked him so good the boys convinced Darry he was crazy for not letting me fight. I was one of the toughest greaser girls in town, and I never got into trouble with the cops.

My reputation of being Darrell Curtis's kid sister helped out too. No greaser in town would mess with me because they knew with one word to Darry, they'd be sitting in a hospital. Practically all the greasers steered clear of anyone in our little family for fear of Darry's fist.

I turned the corner onto the street with the house Darry was roofing. I could hear the hammering from the end of the street and knew my brother was gonna work himself to death. I sauntered up lazily and turned my back to the house.

"Darrel!" I yelled in a low voice. "Your brother is in quite a tight spot."

The hammering stopped and I smiled. The gang always told me my Tim Shepard impression was spot on. I could make my voice low if I wanted, it helped a lot when trying to avoid socs.

"What the hell did you say Tim?" Darry asked, I could hear him coming down off the roof. He grabbed my shoulder. "Say it again."

I turned around and smiled. "I really got you there."

Darry's expression turned annoyed. I knew he hated it when we showed up at his work. "What are you doing here Kit Kat?"

Darry had called me Kit Kat since I was three. Only him or the gang could call me that. If someone else did, they'd end up with broken fingers. "I know about your argument last night."

Darry opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off before he had the chance. "You need to lay off, you're suffocating him. Do you realize you don't let him get away with half the things you do me and Soda?"

Darry looked surprised but then his face hardened. "When I want my kid sister to tell me what to do with my kid brother, i'll ask you. Kid." Darry tunred around and started climbing back up the ladder. I knew he'd just leave me standing here. He stopped and called after me. "Be careful, walking by your lonesome. You got your blade?"

I was about to say "yes mom" but thought better of it so I just nodded. Like I said, it was an unspoken rule to never mention our parents. Darry continued up the ladder and I began walking back home. Thankfully, I had noticed a series of back alleys to walk through. Socs only hung out on the main roads.

I quickly ran through the alley, my switchblade unopened in my hand. Even though I might not have met socs, I still wanted to be ready if I met a bunch of greasers. Two-Bit says the safest thing to be in an alley of social outcasts is another social outcast, but still I wasn't taking any chances.

My next stop was Mrs. Matthews. Whenever I could I would stop by and help her clean up. Why, do you ask? Well, Two-bit sure as hell wouldn't.

I knocked on the door and Two-bit's kid sister answered. I smiled. Janie was always a really good kid. She was only seven, so she never hung out with the gang.

"Hi Katie!" She smiled.

"Hey kiddo!" I laughed. Janie was missing one of her front teeth. "You get into a brawl or something?"

"Nah. I pulled it."

I knew Janie had a wiggly tooth, but I didn't think she'd actually pull it out. Then again, she was one tough kid. I smiled. "Where's your ma?"

"I'm in here Katie!" Mrs. Matthews called.

I walked into their house and smiled at her. I loved Mrs. Matthews, she has always been like my second parent.

"Need any help today?" I asked.

After mum died, Mrs. Matthews asked me over to help her with laundry and to clean up her house. She actually wanted to talk about what I was feeling and how she could help. I went over almost everyday to just be able to talk to her. Now, I only go once a week, but it's still nice to vent to someone thats not one of my brothers.

"Could you help me fold these?" She asked and I nodded. I quickly got to work folding Janies clothes while Mrs. Matthews folded Two-bit's. I swear it made me sort of mad that he was 19 and his mother was still folding his laundry. I worked quickly and quietly until Mrs. Matthews decided it was time to talk. "So.. what's going on?"

I shrugged and she raised an eyebrow. I swear that woman is exactly like her son except she actually has common sense. She gently touched my shoulder and made me stop folding. "Honey, what's going on."

"Ponyboy and Darry have been fighting. I swear to god those two can't see eye to eye on anything! I understand where Ponyboy is coming from, I mean, Darry is really hard on him! And yet, I know Darry is only hard on him because he knows Pony can go places! It's killing me!" I took a deep breath. I had no idea how much them fighting had really bothered me. I wondered if it bothered Soda.

Mrs. Matthews' mouth formed a thin line. "Have you talked to them about this?"

"I talked to Darry about being nice, but he just shrugged me off." I said frustratedly.

"Did you tell them how you feel?" She asked, smiling slightly. "How it's affecting you?"

I shook my head. I hadn't expressly told Darry how it was affecting me and I wasn't going to. I just wasn't.

"Tell then when you're ready." She sighed, sensing my discomfort.

"I will."

We finished folding the laundry and I headed to the park. I sat down on the swings and gently swung back and forth. The swings were always my favourite thing as a kid. Darry used to take me and Soda, and spend hours pushing us.

I laughed at the memory. I had been nine the last time Darry took us to the park. That was the day I learned about Socs and greasers.

Sodapop and Steve had been playing at the opposite side of the park when a group of socs pulled up.

We heard a scream and ran over. One of the socs had hit Soda, hard. By the time we got there Steve and found a busted bottle and was using it to keep them away. They left when they saw Darry. He was intimidating, even at 13.

I cringed. It wasn't fair how they got all the breaks and we got screwed at every turn. I realized my brothers would be home soon and quickly took off towards my house.

They only had a half day because the social worker was coming to check on us. Every month someone from the state came down to make sure Darry was a good guardian. If they deemed he wasn't, Soda, Pony, and I would be thrown into foster homes.

When I walked in the door, Darry was yelling at Ponyboy to do the dishes. I rolled my eyes and went to go help him. It wasn't even his turn, it was Soda's. Unfortunately, Ponyboy seemed to realize that too and refused.

"It ain't my turn Darry!"

"I don't care. It needs to get done."

"Soda can do it."

"Soda is still at work so that leaves you."

"And Katie." Ponyboy added. "She can do them."

Now you might be thinking why I didn't object to any of this. Well, the week before that I had come home late, like way past curfew, and Ponyboy had done the dishes for me. He even covered for me, saying I slept with him and Soda that night.

"It's not her turn." Darry mentioned and I could've punched him.

"It's not mine either!" Pony screamed, storming out of the kitchen and into his bedroom.

Darry and I just stood there watching him until we heard a knock on the door.

"Is this a bad time?"

It was the lady from the state.

Darry opened the door and smiled. "Sorry about that. Just a little argument."

"Hmmmm."

You could tell the atmosphere had changed. We were both nervous, the social worker hearing that argument could be fatal.

"Where's your brother?" She asked.

Darry opened his mouth to talk, but as if on cue, Steve's car pulled in front of the house.

"Howdy greasers!" Soda yelled happily.

Steve came lumbering in behind him. They both paused when they saw the social worker. Steve suddenly had somewhere to be and Sodapop magically got manners.

"Hi Mrs. Richards." He said, extending his hand.

She smiled and reluctantly shook it. I realized that Soda was covered in car grease. Darry must've realized too because he said: "go put on some clean clothes little buddy!"

Soda nodded and went to go into his and Pony's room. Mrs. Richards stopped him.

"I need to talk to Ponyboy first."

"Alright Mrs." Sodapop smiled. "I'll just go grab some of Darry's."

Mrs. Richard nodded and went into Ponyboy's room. I glared at Darry. "Are you crazy?"

"The dishes needed to get done." He whisper yelled back. The last thing we needed as Mrs. Richards hearing another argument.

"It wasn't his turn!"

"Well, someone had to do them."

"Darry, why the hell would you holler at him though." I whisper-yelled, incredulously. "Can you never freaking let him be?"

"Watch your mouth." Darry warned.

"You watch yours." It came out of my mouth before I could stop it. Soda walked out of Darry's room with wide eyes. We never mouthed off to Darry. Ever.

I knew if the social worker wasn't here I'd get a cuff on the head and a stern talking to. Darry just gave me an angry look. "We'll talk about this later."

I rolled my eyes and sat down on the couch. Going through my head was the thought of me and my brothers being sent to a foster home. It'd be Darry's fault if we did.

Mrs. Richards came out of Ponyboy's room a few minutes later. Ponyboy followed her out with a sad expression. I was worried. Had he said something that made her think Darry was unfit?

"Katie, come outside with me?"

I nodded. It's not like I had much of a choice anyway. I followed her out the back door and we sat on the back steps. It was honestly my favourite place.

"Are you going to split us up?" I blurted before I could stop myself.

"Not now, but there is a chance it could happen." She said. "After that argument I heard, it's a bigger chance."

I nodded quickly. The thought of being taken away from Darry always almost brought me to tears. I swallowed hard and smiled a bit. "Please don't."

She laughed and touched my shoulder. "I hope it doesn't come to that. I want you guys to stay together."

I nodded again and we went back in. I was pretty sure I had the same expression as Pony did when he walked out of his room. The rest of the day was quiet. Sodapop went out with Steve, I sat outside and just thought, Pony was doing homework, and Darry was attempting to fix the front steps.

It got dark into the evening and dinner needed to be cooked. It was Darry's turn, thank god, and everyone was in a sour mood.

"Hey Pony are you going to that dance?"

"Yeah. I think." He shrugged. "Why?"

"Do you know how to dance?" Soda questioned.

Ponyboy shook his head. I remember how mom taught Darry, Soda, and I. She died before Pony's first dance, this dance.

"Soda, turn on the radio and Pony c'mere."

They obliged and I smiled as the radio came on. A song had just ended and Elvis was on.

I took my brother's hand and we started dancing. He was surprisingly good. I moved slowly at first, swaying gently to the music.

"So, you will lead." I smiled. "Just step forward and I'll follow you."

Ponyboy looked at me uncertainly so I gave him a reassuring smile. He took the step and I followed. Honestly, he was a natural. Definitely dad's son.

"You're doing great." I said, laying my head down on his shoulder. We danced along to Can't help loving you, one of my favourite Elvis songs. We danced until the song ended, I still had my head on his shoulder.

The song changed and broke my heart. Tennessee waltz had just started, mom's favourite song. I felt Ponyboy pull away and I looked up.

"I'll take this one." Darry said, softly. He took my hands and I reluctantly started to dance with him. I was still mad about this afternoon.

"Do you remember when mom taught me to dance?" He asked.

I nodded. "She said, Darry is going to learn how to waltz or die trying."

Darry chuckled. "That she did."

I don't know why I did it. Maybe I wanted to apologize, but in spite of myself, I laid my head down on his chest. I wasn't quite tall enough to reach his shoulder. Darry looked down at me, surprised. I guess he wasn't expecting me to do that either.

"You took me to my first dance." I mumbled. "You found me crying in the bathroom and ditched your date."

"I remember." He smiled. "You told me you'd be fine and that I should go back to my date."

"I felt real bad about it. But you just took my hand and brought me into the gym, we danced all night."

I smiled. That school dance was probably the best one I've ever been to. Sure, the beginning wasn't so great. I went just to find out my date had stood me up and was dancing with another girl. But Darry found me and we were the last people to leave. "I'm sorry."

"I know."

We danced in silence for a bit. It was nice, Darry never really got to spend tie with us because he was always working so hard. The song ended and we slowly pulled apart. Pony and Soda were both sitting on the couch watching us. Pony had tears running down his face and Sodapop was full on sobbing.

I was so confused. What had happened? Ponyboy must've seen my expression because he smiled slightly. "You guys looked like mom and dad."

We went silent. I forgot how Darry and I were almost carbon copies of our parents. Our eyes were different though.

"I don't want to go to a foster home." Pony said softly.

So, Mrs. Richards told him the same thing she told me. I made a move to go comfort him, but Darry beat me to it. He grabbed Ponyboy by the shoulders. "You won't. I promise you won't."

"Why would you care?" He shot back, still crying. "You want me gone anyways."

"Ponyboy." Darry said, softly. "I do not want you gone. The reason I'm hard on you is because I know you can do what I couldn't."

Ponyboy looked up in confusion.

"You are so smart." Darry smiled. "You keep your grades up and we can put you through college. You could get out of here. Out of this."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really."

Without warning Ponyboy threw himself and Darry and hugged him. If that kid was any stronger I swear he would've strangled him. We let them have a moment, then Soda and I joined their hug. It felt nice to spend some time with my brothers.

"I'm hungry." Soda stated. "Let's eat."

We all laughed and moved to the table. Darry had cooked so much food, but I wasn't complaining. We all ate like horses, if I was hungry enough I could've eaten the whole meal by myself.

Dinner ended and we spent a few hours watching Tv. Monty hall was on, and Soda was screaming at the contestant to change doors. Pony was sitting next to him, agreeing and yelling too. I was next to Darry, sitting on the floor beside the armchair.

"That's just stupid." I sighed. "Stay with the one you've picked."

"Actually, you'd have a better chance of winning if you switched doors." Pony told me. "We did this problem in math."

"I know that." I said, slightly embarrassed. I had done the same problem in grade 10. "I just think this person doesn't deserve the car."

"Sure." Sodapop smirked.

I rolled my eyes and went back to watching it. I dunno what happened. One minute the Tv was on and we were all watching it, and the next the TV was off and Darry was shaking me awake. I wearily sat up and saw the clock. It was around 3 in the morning.

"I didn't think you'd appreciate falling asleep on the floor in the morning." He said, gently helping me to my feet. I nodded. In all honesty I was only half awake. With Darry's help, I stumbled into my room. My head hit the pillow and I was dead to the world.