Ok, thank you for the reviews! I found out that I had gotten Ponyboy's birthday wrong. Which is unfortunate, because I could have worked with either. But I'm going to continue with the birthday I have, only because I have already written up to it. But I really appreciate you guys helping me along with this. I haven't ever done Beta Reader, so I'm kinda hesitant on starting it. But I went ahead and sent a request to an author I wanted, and I'm just waiting for the reply.

Here's the next chapter. Again constructive criticism is welcomed, but please no flames. And forgive me if I have a few grammatical errors. I seem to get a little comma happy sometimes.

Another thing I forgot last chapter! Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders. All rights go to S.E. Hinton.

Finals went by fast, and Anna was right. I had nothing to worry about. I flew through the tests with ease. But I found myself thinking about Anna more times than I cared to admit. That evening, drinking coffee with her was fun. More fun than I had in a long time.

"When are you coming home?" Soda asked the day after finals. "How long do you have to stay there?"

"I should be able to come home soon. Sometimes in the next two weeks."

"Two weeks? Glory Pony, I thought you'd be home way sooner than that. Why do you have to stay so long?"

I fingered the phone cord as I glanced around my dirty dorm room. "I've gotta clean things up, finish packing up, get my test results in. You know… just some stuff."

Soda grunted, but he was obviously not happy. "I want you home well before your birthday Pony. I mean it."

I smirked into the phone. "Come on Soda. You all know you're having a ball without me there." Though as I said it, the truth of the words hit me painfully in the chest.

"That's a lie and you know it. I miss you everyday." Soda said, warming me up a bit.

"How's the shop coming along?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"It's going real good Pony. Can't wait for you to come down here. You might be able to help me sort through some of this math shit that I never got."

I laughed. "I'm sure I'll figure out something. Steve giving you a hard time?"

"Naw, he's been acting all weird ever since he started going out with Wendy."

"There still together?" I asked in shock. Steve hasn't had a steady girlfriend since before Johnny and Dally died.

"Yup. And he's still all tongue tied when he's around her." Soda laughed. "It's actually pretty funny. What about you Pony? Any girls that will be coming to stay over the summer?"

I thought carefully. "Nope, just be me."

"You know Pony, Steve has a cousin that's just about your age, maybe a year or two older, and she's coming down for a week this summer-"

"Soda, I don't need you setting me up with girls. If I wanted to date, I would be dating." And this was true. I was much more comfortable in college, and quite a few girls took a shine to me.

"Then why aren't you dating?"

I groaned. "Soda! I don't want to date right now. There's no one that has caught my attention." But as I said this I thought of Anna. I shook the thought from my head.

"You and Darry! God knows it would be good for both of you to just go out on a couple of dates, relieve some of that stress, and iron out the crinkle on your forehead."

I was able to hang up the phone soon after that. I glanced around the room in disgust.
"Adam!" I shouted, banging on the bathroom door. "This place looks like shit! What the hell did you do last night?"

Adam came out, his eyes bloodshot and white powder on his upper lip. "Can you keep it down? I'm busy."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever man, but when I come back, I want this place clean. It's disgusting."

Adam rolled his eyes, before shuffling back into the bathroom. I sighed, grabbing my wallet and walking out the door. I wasn't even sure where I was going, until I was there. I walked in and sat in the same place I did last time. But I was in a better mood today.

"Back already?" a voice asked. I turned around and saw a tired, but beautiful woman.

"Hey Anna." I said with a grin. "Thought I might stop by. Was getting pretty hungry."

She smiled at me, handing me a menu. "Anything to drink?"

"Pepsi." I said with a large grin. "I want a Pepsi."

"A Pepsi man, huh?" Anna said with a smile, as she walked off to get my drink. When she came back, she said. "You can tell a lot about a person by the drinks they get."

I took a small sip out of the straw. Perfect. "Oh? And how is that?"

She shrugged, leaning against the booth. "I don't know. I think it's a gift. My momma used to say that about clothes."

"Now clothes I get. But how my beverage choice defines my character is beyond me."

"I don't know how to explain it," she said, dramatically rolling her eyes. "It was something I was born into. Do you know what you want to eat?"

I glanced quickly down at the menu and asked for the first thing I saw. "A burger."

"Cheese?"

"None."

"Pickles?"

"Yes please."

"Mayo, mustard?"

"Heavy on the Mayo, no mustard."

She nodded, writing this down on her note pad. "Do my food choices tell my future?" I asked teasingly.

"Now you're just being silly." She said with a laugh, taking my order to the kitchen.

While she was gone, I noticed I was still smiling. Shrugging it off, I tried to control my facial expressions.

When she came back, we talked. Just talked while time seemed limitless. "Another not-busy day?" I asked, secretly thankful.

"There are hundreds of restaurants in Oklahoma City, and this isn't exactly the best place to come for food." Anna said, staring disdainfully at my empty plate.

"I thought it was pretty good." I said. "Though the coffee…" I trailed of teasingly, knowing that she made it.

She huffed, hiding a smile. "Well then, I guess that's your last one." She took my dishes into the kitchen and I checked my watch. I still had plenty of time.

"So how did you do on your finals?" Anna called from the kitchen.

I stood up, walking to the bar. "It wasn't bad. Actually, I think I did pretty good."

"See." She said with a bright smile as she walked out of the kitchen. "What did I tell you? When do you know for sure?"

"Tomorrow." I said, picking up a salt shaker. It was a round ball, completely clear.

Anna crinkled her nose in distaste. "I hate those stupid salt shakers." She said, angrily. "I told Marie that they looked stupid, but she didn't believe me."

I bit my lip, trying to hide my amusement. "There actually pretty cool. I kinda like 'em."

She glared at me exasperated. "Of course you do Ponyboy."

I laughed, loving the way it felt. "Man, I haven't laughed in awhile." I said with a grin.

"That's sad." She said with a small smile. "You don't like collage?"

I shrugged. "I like collage fine. My roommates a crack head, and the classes are tedious, but the actual institution suits me fine. I just miss my brothers."

"Darry and Sodapop." Anna says in a matter-of-fact tone, whipping down the counters.

I nod. "Hell, right now, I even miss Steve."

"You don't like Steve much, do you?" she asks, tilting her head to the side.

"Oh, I like Steve fine. He doesn't like me much though."

"Why's that? I can't imagine anyone not liking you." She says. With her back turned, I feel myself turn red.

"Oh," I rush on, desperate to fend of the flush on my cheeks. "Steve and Soda are best friends. They have been since they were three years old. But Soda and I are just as close. Not to mention that were blood brothers, and Soda's always trying to watch out for me…" I trailed off, not explaining it well.

"Steve's jealous."

I shrug. "I think he's getting better. His dad's an ass, and treats him real bad. Not near as bad as Johnny, but-" I freeze, wincing at the painful memory of my late friend.

"Who's Johnny?" Anna asks, oblivious to my internal struggle.

"A…. An old friend."

"Do you see him a lot like Steve and Two-Bit?"

I trailed off, not liking the subject. "No, not anymore."

Before she can question me, a large group of people come in, ready to be seated. Anna looks apologetically at me, and says, "Sorry Pony, I gotta take this. But I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Tomorrow?" I trail off confused.

"I want to know how you did on your finals!" she calls over her shoulder. "I'll see you then!" and she starts seating the family.

Ok, here it is :) Wasn't tons, but I wanted to put some background. The last chapter was simply a time/place setter. Wanted to get things rolling. Plus I wanted to foreshadow the next couple of chapters. Reviews are so appreciated! I love them and you all are amazing.