Author's Note: Sorry! But hey, this is an unusually long chapter for this story, I think, so maybe that makes up for the wait? And thanks to all the reviewers that pushed me to update; that was definitely a good motivation behind this new chapter. Oh by the way, the reason this was pulled together tonight was to take part in this cool little Good Fic Day thing that Mars on Fire has going on.

All comments and constructive criticism is welcome.

The lyrics are from Jon Mclaughlin.


"And she would change everything for happy ever after / caught in the in between of beautiful disaster / but she just needs someone to take her home"

Emma woke up the next morning and knew instantly she felt different. Something was off… something had changed.

It took her a second to realize that her dread for school was missing. She wondered if Ponyboy would stop to talk to her on his way out to lunch, and she wondered if it would be weird if she said hi to him in the halls.

For once, she felt that glimmer of possibility that made school bearable for the rest of the students. Oh yes, she had certainly changed a little, and she wasn't the only one to notice.

"Bye Dad!" She grabbed her bag and left, an easy smile on her face and a little sparkle in her eyes.

George sat at the dining room table with a coffee mug in his hands, watching the door fall shut behind his daughter and musing over her new attitude.

"What's got Emma in such a good mood today?" He asked his wife when she walked back to the dining room with a coffee mug for herself. Diane settled into a chair comfortably and beamed.

"Nothing particular. I think this tutor is really getting her spirits up."

"Huh," George sat back in his seat, surprised. Obviously he had been overreacting. This Ponyboy was making Emma happier, and he needn't worry about her falling in with a bad crowd. She was a sharp kid with a good head on her shoulders, and he was fairly confident that he had no reason for concern. He could stand to respect her judgment. After all, she had never given him any reason to doubt her.

Mr. Mansfield didn't have much time to ponder this, though, because Diane broke into his thoughts, "Can you take Roger to school this morning?"

George took another sip of his coffee. "If he can be ready in five minutes."

Diane nodded and set her cup down, heading to Roger's room to tell him to hustle.

It wasn't more than two minutes later that Roger skidded into the kitchen "I'm ready to go Dad." He always looked forward to spending time with his father, and getting to ride in the police car was always a treat.

"Have you had breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Sweetie, are you sure you don't want anything? I can whip up some eggs or bacon real quick for you…" Mrs. Mansfield cut in, following her son into the kitchen with a worried frown darkening her face.

"No thanks," Roger replied, and his father just shrugged.

"Alright. Let's go Son."

George got up and kissed his wife on the cheek, ignoring the groan from his son, and ruffled Roger's hair on his way past. The boy gave his mom a quick hug and trotted along after his dad to the squad car.

"Can you turn on the lights?" Roger asked hopefully.

"Nope."

"What about the sirens?"

"Nope."

Roger heaved a sigh and scooted into the passenger seat, waving bye at his mom who was watching from the doorway as Mr. Mansfield pulled out onto the street.

The ride was mostly silent, and George glanced over at his son every so often, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. "How's school going, Son?"

Roger answered with a shrug and turned to stare out the passenger side window.

"That good, huh?" George muttered with a chuckle. "All your subjects going okay? You understand everything the teacher says?"

"Yeah Dad," Roger answered, and George nodded.

It seemed to Mr. Mansfield that there was something on the boy's mind, but he didn't seem quite ready to talk about it. So instead of pushing it, George decided to let it slide. After all, he could just be imagining it in the first place.

"Have a good day at school," George told his son as he pulled up to the school. Roger grabbed his bag and hopped out.

"Bye Dad," And then he was trudging off to the front doors of the school building. His little feet seemed to drag.


Over at the high school, Emma was anything but dragging. She was jumpy the entire day through, her eyes bright and her cheeks pink.

At lunch, she craned her head to check the entire cafeteria for Ponyboy, wondering if he would stop by where she was sitting. After ten minutes, she finally gave up and picked at her lunch.

A few minutes later, the doors to the outside of the cafeteria slammed shut and she looked up to see Ponyboy's back as he walked away with Two-Bit and Steve and the black haired boy that sat behind her… the one that kicked her seat. She had missed him, and he hadn't stopped. But she didn't really blame him; he'd been with his friends, after all.

It was only at the end of the school day that Emma worked up the courage to approach Ponyboy herself. She'd passed him in the halls a few times, but somehow she never seemed to catch his eye. Either she would look away, embarrassed, or he would never glance over at her.

She was determined, however, to not give up the chance at a tentative friendship just because she was too nervous to say hi. So when she spotted him at his locker down the hall after her last period, she sucked in a deep breath and began the walk toward him.

Emma was almost at his locker when Two-Bit crept up behind Pony and leaped at him, causing Pony to turn around and sock him out of a natural reaction. Emma put her head down and kept walking, but Ponyboy glanced over and saw her, pausing to smile and wave before he turned to Two-Bit. "C'mon, quit foolin' around…"

Emma was sure her face was on fire, blushing just because he waved at her. She acknowledged how sad it was that she was so easily affected just when someone looked her way now… but she'd gone so long without even being noticed that to be recognized seemed like a great and unusual feat.


When Friday came around, Emma joined Ponyboy at the steps to the front of the school. He was smoking again, and she frowned, "Don't you know that'll kill you?"

Pony looked at her for a minute and then shrugged. "Ever'one dies someday."

"Some sooner than others," Emma shot back, before glancing away and stepping away from the school. "Are we walking to your place again?"

"Sure," Pony mumbled, falling into step beside Emma.

After a few minutes of silence, Emma spoke up, "Any big plans for the weekend?"

Ponyboy shrugged and sneaked a glance at her. "Naw. Just the usual. You?"

Emma cracked a wry smile, "Same."

When they reached Pony's house, he pulled the screen door open and held it for Emma, who ducked under his arm and into the dim house. Pony flicked on a light switch, leading Emma to the kitchen again.

She pulled out the same chair as last time and set her books on the table. "Mind if I use your phone to let my dad know where to pick me up?"

Pony's fingers hovered over the Language book he had been leafing through. He hesitated and then kept flipping pages, not lifting his head. "That's alright. My brother won't mind driving you."

"If you're sure…" Emma responded hesitantly.

"Yea. Don't worry about it. Alright, how'd you do on that quiz yesterday?"

The two launched into discussion of syntax, and by the time they finished with the homework for the weekend and a review of the class work since their last session, it was five in the evening.

Emma stretched her feet out in front of her, yawning, and Ponyboy pushed his chair back and stood. "You want somethin' to drink?" He asked, pouring himself a glass of water.

"Sure. Water's fine."

He nodded and handed her a glass of ice water before hopping up onto the counter. Swinging his legs lightly against the wood, he drank almost half the glass in a few gulps. Emma took her time, sipping daintily with her pinky finger raised away from the glass, an old habit.

"Oh, here's $3, to cover Tuesday, Wednesday and today," Emma spoke up, pulling the bills from the back pocket on her khaki skirt and handing them to Ponyboy, who mumbled a polite thanks and stuffed the bills into his jeans pocket.

Ponyboy hopped down from the counter as he finished his glass and set it in the sink. Emma handed him her empty glass and then sat sideways in the kitchen chair, leaning against the wooden back on her left.

The screen door slammed shut unexpectedly, and she jumped, startled. Pony didn't even turn around from the sink, ignoring the burst of noise as Two-Bit and Steve stumbled in.

Emma watched through the doorway as Steve fell onto the couch, and then his feet hanging off the edge were the only things she could see from her vantage point. Two-Bit took a step into the living room and then glanced off-handedly into the kitchen and stopped in his tracks. "Miss Emma?" He walked into the kitchen.

She blushed as Pony turned around, and Two-Bit glanced between the two of them, a knowing grin covering his face.

Emma glanced back at her tutor, and his neck was redder than hers.

"Sorry to interrupt…" Two-Bit winked exaggeratedly.

"Cut it out, Two-Bit. I'm tutoring her."

He cackled, "Yeah yeah, sure… in Human Anatomy."

Emma dropped her eyes to the floor, her cheeks flaming, and she saw Ponyboy flip Two-Bit the bird from the corner of her eye.

Steve ambled into the doorway then, running an eye over the room. "Well, well, well."

Somehow, when it was Steve saying it, it came out a bit rougher than Two-Bit's teasing, and Ponyboy bristled.

"Why don't y'all two clowns just leave us alone? We were studying. I reckon you guys don't even know what that word means," Pony said, glaring at Steve and Two-Bit.

Emma stayed quiet.

"Kid's getting kinda mouthy, ain't he?" Steve griped, but he lost interest and walked back to the living room, and the TV clicked on a second later.

Two-Bit held up his hands in mock surrender, "Alright. I won't even mention how defensive you are…"

"Two-Bit…"

"Okay okay," Two-Bit said hastily, straddling the back of the chair next to Emma. "Well Miss Emma, how are you? In a better mood than the kid, over there, I hope?"

Emma offered a tentative smile, "I'm well." She crossed one leg over the other and smoothed her skirt down.

He chuckled at her propriety, and Emma blushed, aware that he was laughing at her.

"You're turning mighty red there, Miss Em," he said with amusment.

As if that did anything to help her embarrassment. She glanced back at where Ponyboy had been standing a minute ago, but he had wandered into the living room, leaving her alone with Two-Bit.

There was a minute of silence in which Emma was infinitely uncomfortable but Two-Bit seemed nonplussed. He set his chin on the back of the chair and observed her with amusement, and she shifted awkwardly beneath his steady gaze, her eyes darting anywhere around the room except at him. Finally, she made eye contact, but she couldn't hold it longer than a few seconds before she dropped her eyes again. With a low chuckle, he reached over and tapped the bottom of her chin lightly. She froze and looked up at his face.

"You don't gotta be so nervous. I don't bite."

Emma smiled a little, feeling a bit reassured.

"I mean, unless you're into that…" Two-Bit continued, breaking into a wide grin, and Emma laughed nervously, but sincerely.

Ponboy walked back into the kitchen. "Sorry Emma. Darry should be home soon."

"Whatcha need Superman for?" Two-Bit asked lightly, looking up at Pony. Emma was thankful he didn't pose the question to her because she just blinked stupidly. It took her a moment to comprehend what he had asked.

"The truck. He's gonna drive Emma home."

Two-Bit frowned. "So what you're really sayin' is that you need a fine, upstanding citizen with a car to drive this foxy lady to her house…"

Ponyboy just shook his head, "I think somethin' got a little lost in the translation there…"

Two-Bit continued, acting as if Ponyboy had never spoken. "You know, Sally Sue is parked idly on the curb, just waiting for a task…"

Emma just watched the two, her eyes bouncing back and forth from one to the other. "I'd kinda appreciate it if she actually made it to her house, Two-Bit."

Two-Bit clutched his heart in mock pain. "I'm hurt, Pony. I've never once gotten a speeding ticket."

"Only 'cause you outran the cops last time they tried to pull ya over."

Emma's heart skipped a beat then-who outruns the police?-and Ponyboy's ears reddened as he realized what he'd said in front of her.

Two-Bit was out of the loop and unconcerned, though, and he just shrugged nonchalantly and turned to Emma. "Well ma'am, it looks like the decision is up to you. Do you wanna wait around for a few minutes or hours or days for Darrel to get back and then have a perfectly dull ride to your house, or would you like for me to give you the ride of your life?" He wiggled his eyebrows enticingly.

"Umm…" Emma glanced at Ponyboy who shrugged and then back to Two-Bit. "That's fine, I suppose."

"Alright," he jumped up and grabbed all the books from the table in one quick swoop. Ponyboy hastily reached over and took his from the stack Two-Bit held, and then her driver was striding quickly to the door. Emma took a step after him and then turned back to Pony.

"Thanks, Ponyboy. I'll see you Monday," and then she hurried after Two-Bit, who was already halfway down the walk by then. He opened the passenger door for her with a flourish, handing her the books once she was sitting primly in the seat.

She set them on the dash and reached for her seatbelt, buckling it and then grabbing the books again as Two-Bit slid in.

"Okay Emma, hold tight." Her heart leapt to her throat as the car roared to life. Two-Bit slammed the gas pedal and it lurched forward.

Closing her eyes tightly, she gripped her books with white knuckles as she felt the car speed up. Too fast, she thought. She sneaked a tentative peek at the window to her right, and quickly shut her eyes again the second she saw the flying scenery.

"So where am I goin'?"

"Turn left onto Jamestown," she choked out.

It wasn't near long enough that she heard the tires squeal as Two-Bit turned. She quickly opened her eyes to check their location, and sure enough, he had followed her directions. He glanced over at her and grinned, "havin' fun?"

Emma shot him a death glare, and he laughed, but let up on the gas pedal anyway. Once they were going just ten over, Emma's muscles relaxed a little bit and she managed to look out the window without getting nauseated.

"Okay, take 4th down to Harvard."

Two-Bit obeyed, tapping out a drum rhythm on the steering wheel as he drove.

"Turn onto 6th," she directed him, now completely calm.

"So the kid's tutoring you?" Two-Bit asked, making conversation.

"Yes. Mr. Syme set it up," she answered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Two-Bit turned away from the road to run a critical eye over his passenger, noting the clasped hands laid lightly on her lap. "Do you ever loosen up?" He asked bluntly.

"Look at the road!" She exclaimed as another car barreled down the road toward them, Two-Bit drifting a little over the yellow line.

Two-Bit jerked the car back to the right lane and laid on the horn for a good five seconds, flipping the other driver off. "Asshole," he muttered.

Crisis averted, Emma shrugged. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Turn right on Louisville."

"You're just always so quiet. Never talk much in class, and I never see you hangin' around with anyone at lunch."

Emma shrugged, "I don't know many people here."

"Well, now you know me an' Pony. An' Steve, too."

She smiled a little and glanced over at her driver, studying him for a moment. He noticed her watching, and winked. Emma turned back to the road and cleared her throat, continuing her directions.

"Turn onto 9th, and follow that until you pass New Haven."

Two-Bit wordlessly obeyed, and it was only a few minutes later that she directed him to stop at her house. He pulled into the driveway, peering at the house as he threw the car into park.

Emma struggled with the seatbelt, but it was stuck. Two-Bit leaned over and jiggled it for her, and after a second it came loose. "Thank you for the ride."

"Anytime, doll," he tipped an invisible hat to her, and she smiled and hopped out, heading up the walkway. Her mom stood in the doorway, holding a dishtowel and watching as Two-Bit backed out and drove away — at a reasonable speed as he noticed her mom's gaze.

Just as he turned the corner, her dad turned onto the street from the other side and pulled up to the driveway.

Emma hugged her books to her chest and strolled up the walkway.