(Hearing struggling backstage. Whispers, 'Just go!' before a tall girl is shoved on stage.) Hey you... wonderful readers you! I... don't really get to tell you how much I appreciate you guys, do I? Ok, fine, fine... I am SO SORRY! I haven't updated in forever and I know it. But a couple of you reviewed recently and it reminded me that I was letting my readers down. Here it is! Its pretty long, but I wanted to get it out to you so you wouldn't kill me. I like my face the way it is.

Please review! Tell me you don't like the chapter, or better yet, tell me you do! The reviews really do keep me going. You are all so amazing! HERE IT IS!

"Baby…Ooooooh baby….My sweet baby…you're the one!" Two-Bit singing along to the juke box.

"How you're able to be this stupid when you haven't had a lick of alcohol since yesterday is beyond me." Soda quipped, his hands deep in his pockets.

Two-Bit continued racking the balls, ignoring Soda's jib. "Hey Pony, you want to play me this time?"

"Aw Two-Bit, I hate playing games with you." I groaned over my beer I stole from Soda. "All you do is cheat."

Two-Bit looked at me in play shock. "I do not cheat! I could never do that! It's against what I believe in! What I stand for! It goes against my honor, my dignity, my-"

"Will you shut it Two-Bit?" Darry snapped.

I glanced at Paul, who stood up from the bar stool and walked over to the pool table. "I'll play you."

"Oh, Paul you dog." Two-Bit said with a wolfish grin on his face. "I knew there was something about you I liked. From the very beginning. I told Steve over here, I says to him, Steve I say, I like this guy."

Steve glares up at Two-Bit, causing Paul and me to chuckle. "Play the damn game and shut up, will yah?" Steve snapped. Laughing, I turn back and look at Darry. "So when am I meeting this girl of yours?"

Darry's smiles, and a slight blush touching his cheeks. "Well she's at her parent's house for a couple of days, but she's going to come eat dinner with us."

"Does daddy know about this relationship yet?" I ask quietly, with a sneaky smile on my face.

Darry playfully glares, before shaking his head. "Not yet. Lisa wants to wait a bit. But I really just want to get it over with. I see no reason to keep a relationship in the dark, you dig?" I nodded, my stomach twisting in knots. Damn you, Darry.

"But she's going to come to dinner this Friday, and both you and Soda are gonna meet her." He said over the sound of pool balls and the jukebox.

I blanched. "Darry, that's the day were going back to Paul's house." Darry's pales, as his face twisted into an upset grimace.

"Aw don't worry Darry." Paul called from the pool table behind us. "We can just leave after the dinner. I don't have to be at that damn meeting till the next morning anyways."

Darry slowly nodded, his face relaxing. "Thanks man. I want them both to be there."

Soda comes up from behind Darry at the small table were sitting at, bringing another two beers. "Don't worry Darry. Were gonna be there all nice and pretty. I'll even take a shower."

"You better." Darry mumbled, grabbing one of the beers in Soda's hand.

"Is she a Soc's or something?" I ask Darry. Not that a Greaser girl would want a bunch of smelly guys for a dinner party.

"She aint a Soc. She's middle class."

"Yeah right!" Steve slurs. "She's as much of a Soc as that red head broad that Pony used to be in love with." Darry and I both glared at Steve, and he guffawed.

"Cherry didn't always act like a Soc." I said defensively, still feeling a soft spot for the red head.

"And neither does Lisa. So shut the hell up Steve." Darry said with a glare.

"Action's do nothin." Steve said. I watched as Soda went over to Steve and took the large bottle or rum out of his hands. "They have that shitty little phrase about how your actions define you. But it don't matter. It's all about the money. Their all rollin' in it. We might as well admit to it. A Soc walks into a store, and the people look at them in some kinda reverence. Like their all gonna win us another football game or some other shit. Just by walking in the freaking door. But not a Greaser. When a greaser walks in, people hold their purses tighter or close the cash register."

I shrug, uncomfortable with the bitterness in his voice. "You and Soda are doing real good with that shop of yalls. Become decent members of society and all. People are startin to warm."

Steve laughed, running both hands through his hair and over his face. "Oh hell kid. That aint ever gonna happen. We both know it."

I shifted my weight to my other foot, unsure what to do or say. Glancing at Soda, I realized that this might not be out of the norm. Shrugging it off, I finish off the beer and walk over to him. "So Soda, what about these numbers?"

Soda perked up, before he went over and grabbed his jacket. He scrambled around for a few minutes, trying to find something. He soon pulled out a napkin filled with numbers on it. "I have no idea whether were sinking, or swimming."

"That's a comforting thought." Steve said, his head in his hands.

"Why the hell do you have your numbers in your jacket?" Darry asked. "I don't know much about running a business, but I'm pretty damn sure that you aint supposed to do that.

Soda looked over at him, confusion spilling over his handsome features. "I always keep my numbers on me. That way I don't forget them. I keep copies of stuff at the store, but this way I can do my work when I have to."

We all stared at my brother. I sighed, before snatching the napkin out of his hands. "Give it to me." I said, feeling stupid.

I spent the next half hour pouring over the numbers, searching idly for their organization system. After finally figuring out what all of the random numbers meant, I called my brother over. "Soda, come here real quick." Soda sauntered over, his face still alit in a grin from his laugh.

"So, we dying?"

I shrug, handing the napkin back over. "I need to see some of the original copies of things before I can give you an accurate guess, but it looks like your going to make it." We talked about holes in his business plan, and I looked up at my family, talking and laughing. There was a couple of other that could fit in real nice. "So you just need to place all of these numbers in individual columns, then you can see where most of your spending is."

I saw Soda's confused space clear when I went over the final frame of his numbers. "Geez, that's a lot simpler than when me and Steve tried going over that shit." He said, gesturing to his best friend, was now glaring at group of Soc's who had walked into the bar. "Thanks a lot Pony."

"No problem." I said, gracing my older brother with an identical smile before standing up to go play pool with Paul. But I stopped abruptly when I felt a flash of cold hit my face. Whipping around to see the culprit, I find Steve sitting at a bar stool, throwing pieces of ice. I open my mouth to snap at him, when I realize that he wasn't trying to throw it at me. He's trying to throw it at the group of Soc's that were standing behind me.

Before I can rush over to him, or even yell at him to stop, one of the larger Soc's stood up angrily from his seat, glaring at Steve. "What the hell is your problem Greaser?"

The entire atmosphere of the bar room changed with that single sentence. Darry and Soda got up from their chairs, and Paul and Two-Bit stopped playing pool.

"Sorry man. He's drunk. Don't mind him." I offered up.

Some of the fire in the Soc's eyes dimmed, until Steve called out at the retreating figures. "That's right. Go home to your momma. She can buy you a new car to make you feel better."

"Bet you don't even have a momma greaser." The Soc sneered. "Did she run out on you? Get pregnant by some hood?"

Steve growled, jumping to his feet. "Like you can talk. Just because you rich kids can sweep it under the rug, doesn't mean shit don't happen. But now your out of your house, I guess it don't matter none. Not that your parents bought all of your grades."

The Soc's face reddened, before slamming his fists down on the table. "You want to take this outside?" One of them growled.

"If you are." Steve said, clarity spilling into his voice, as the fire in his eyes burned bright.

Steve was out the door, right behind the Soc's before any of us had a chance to cool things down. "Damn you Steve." Darry hissed as he jogged out to find him.

"Who's gonna pay for all of this?" The bartender griped, glaring over at the group of guys that had run out. Sighing, I pulled out some money and slammed it on the table before running back outside. The group of Soc's were stalking off, many arguing amongst themselves. The gang looked at me for a few more moments, before turning around and yelling at Steve.

"What the hell was that?" Soda asked, helping his best friend off of the ground.

"Steve, don't ever do something that stupid again when I'm obligated to join in." Darry quipped, rubbing his knuckles.

Steve glared up at me in his haze, before closing them. "Aw hell, Steve, don't get all pissy at me." I told the moody greaser whose face was swelling."I wasn't the one who started it with them."

"Pony's turning Soc on us." Steve snapped. Though the insult was short lived, because he slipped on something, making him stumble to the ground.

"That's real rich coming from the guy who was just bitchin about wanting be one himself." I grumbled, helping Soda drag him to the car.

"Didn't say I want to be a Soc. But you don't have to go babying me. I can deal… don't have to go help me." Steve mumbled, the tips of his shoes dragging on the concrete.

"You bring it on yourself buddy." Soda wheezed as we hauled his friend into the back of the truck. After closing the gate, I laughed at Paul's overall demeanor. He had a small frown, but exhilarated look on his face.

"Aw hell," Darry growled. "What a way for the night to end. Sorry Pone."

I shrugged. "No biggie Dar. I had fun anyways."

"Does anyone know who any of those Soc's are?" Two-Bit asked, looking around at us.

"I think the tall one was in my Algebra class." Darry said, jumping into the car. "And quit callin' 'em Soc's."

"Why not?" Two-Bit mumbled. "That's what they are. Not to mention they've been callin' us greaser all night."

"Cause the last thing we need is to start up that crap again. Just leave 'em be. Curly just got slammed back in for jumping one."

"It aint that big of a deal." Two-Bit scoffed.

Darry glared at the dash, while Soda shrugged. "I don't care. I never cared much either way."

"What about you Pony?" Two-Bit asked, wagging his eyebrows playfully at me. "Soc lover you are.

"Oh shut up." I snapped, even as I felt guilty doing so. "I aint no Soc lover, but I'm not some stupid Grease who has to start a fight with everyone who stands still long enough to be in one. I aint got no problems with the Soc's. Last time I had big Soc problems, two of my friends died." I finished, crossing my arms, glaring out of the window. The silence was deafening.

"We ain't sayin it's a bad thing." Two-Bit ventured after a pregnant pause. "You and Darry are both like that. You'd probably both be Soc's if it weren't for us."

I remember him saying that about Darry after I had gotten back from Windrexville. I wondered what had put me into that category. Maybe going to collage, getting away from everything. But the thought made me uncomfortable. I didn't want to change.

The tension grew until it was so thick, I could cut it with a knife. "What day are you going to do that barbeque thing, Darry?" Soda asked, after failing to catch my eye.

"I thought we might do it on the Fourth of July. Just throw it all in there, since Pone's not big on the whole party thing in the first place. Just have a good barbeque thing. Yall can invite anyone you want." Darry said, his eyes still trained on the road.

I took a deep breath, and pressed my face up against the cool glass of the car, bringing me back from my fevered state of memories.

XXX

"Damn it Soda." I whimpered, hobbling over to the couch. I looked down at my foot with queasiness. A toothpick that my brother had left on the floor was now jammed deep into my foot. I knew that it was my own fault for trying to clean everywhere so quickly. My haste to have everything ready for the dinner tonight was more for Darry's benefit that of my own.

But I cleaned, knowing that if it was Anna here, I would have been as frantic as Darry was when he called me during work. So I cleaned. And stabbed myself. I limped into the kitchen to where Soda was cooking, shooting him the death glare. "Who's the one who keeps leaving the toothpicks lying around the house?"

Soda looked over at me guiltily. "Um…. I'm not sure."

"Yeah, right."

Soda paled as he looked down at my foot. "Jesus Pony. Lemme get some pliers."

I sat in my chair, glancing around the kitchen, when a small wave of home-sickness hit me. I'm gonna miss being here, even if I'm only gone for a couple of weeks. I liked having Darry around, looking out for me. I missed Soda playful fights, and Two-Bits idiotic comments. Hell, I even missed Steve's smart ass comments. But as I sat thinking about it, a bigger wave hit me. I missed Anna. And Ellie.

"Here we go, just you hold still for one second." Soda said, trying to smile, as his face paled to a sickly white.

I stared at him in amusement. "Soda, I can do it."

"No, it's fine. I'm not afraid of blood or anything." He said defensively. "I just… are you ok? This is really deep."

"I know." I said, rolling my eyes. "I felt it go into my foot."

Soda nodded seriously, before carefully wrapping pliers around the toothpick. "Ok, I'm gonna do this fast…"

I rolled my eyes. "Soda, chill out. And you gotta do it slow, or I'll get splinters."

This seemed to put Soda more on edge, before he slowly pulled out the toothpick. I winced, but relaxed once it was out. Blood pooled on the bottom of my foot, but I paid little attention to it. "What are you making for dinner?"

"Oh." Soda said, raising his eyes from my foot. "Um, I'm making roast."

I sighed deeply. "Soda…"

"I didn't do anything to it!" Soda said with a defensive tone. "I promised Darry… But I did make the mashed potatoes blue."

"Sodapop!"

Soda grinned at me impishly, before putting the roast back in the oven. "Can you set out the plates and stuff while I jump in the shower?"

I nod, hobbling to the pantry to grab the plates. Thinking about Anna shook me up a bit. Seeing her again so soon came quicker than I expected. Not that I don't want to see her, I mean, I really want to see her. It's just that, how are things between us? Are we a thing? Are we even dating? Or are we still at that awkward friend stage. A groan slipped through my lips as I set down the last of the silverware. Women… they'll make us Curtis boys go crazy.

When Darry and Lisa arrived at the house, it was as clean as Social Service check up days. I even sprayed the room with some nice smelling stuff I found under the counter. I don't know what it was, but it smelled good. Both Soda and I were cleaned up, and the dinner finally came out of the oven. Darry gave me a grateful look as he glanced around the room.

"Lisa, this is my brother Sodapop. You might have seen him before, hanging out around town before." Darry introduced.
Lisa smiled. She had a real good smile, genuine. I think even then I knew I would like her. "Sure, I remember you. You fixed my sisters car last month."

Soda gave an angelic smile, shrugging his shoulders in modesty. Only Darry and I got that he was putting on a show. While I held back a chuckle, Darry sighed.

"And this is my youngest brother, Ponyboy." Darry said, gesturing towards me. "He's leaving tonight after dinner, to go back to Oklahoma City for the week."
Lisa's smile turned to me, making me feel real liked. "Ponyboy. I've heard all about you. I'm so glad to finally meet you." She said, taking my outstretched hand, shaking it.

We chatted for a few minutes, before finally shuffling our way into the kitchen. We sat down around the table, talking and eating. I was really enjoying myself. I liked Lisa. She was funny, really smart, and she didn't deal with any of Darry's bull.

"Lisa, do you need any help there?" Darry asked with a playful smile, gesturing to a coke bottle that Lisa was trying to open. Something uncommon on his serious face.

She huffed, glaring at him. "I can take perfectly good care of myself Darryl."

"I'm just trying to help you."

"Thanks. But like I said, I can take perfectly good care of myself."

Seeing the look of amusement stay on his face, I decided that this might not be an all together uncommon thing. But to my dismay, Lisa changed the subject from her, to me.

"So Ponyboy, how did you like collage?"

I shrugged, uncomfortable with all the attention suddenly on me. "Fine. I like it just fine."

"I liked collage well enough." Lisa said, staring off into space momentarily. "It was a lot of hard work though. But Darry told me that you got honors again this year." I nod, my cheeks heating up. The conversation was pulled off of me for a bit, us talking about Soda and Darry. About their jobs, and what they were planning to do. "What do you want to do Pony?" Lisa asked.

"I'm majoring in English." I said with a small smile. "I plan to get a job as a journalist of some kind after school."

"That sure does sound interesting. I wish I majored in something like that. Or maybe got a minor in something else. I just majored in business." Lisa said distainfully.

"Maybe you can help Soda figure out how to run one." I said teasingly.

"Yeah well, I didn't finish high school." Soda said defensively. "I just don't understand all of those numbers. I always sucked at math."

"You could always go back."

Soda laughed. "They wouldn't let me back in. They things I did at that place, and the things I did with people at that place-"

Darry glared at Soda. "Can it Sodapop."

Soda smiled, before taking a deep scoop of his mash potatoes and slapping them on his plate. "I'm just teasing Darry." Lisa laughed at the two of them. The conversation flowed easily and freely. Soon, I was able to loosen up, and have a good time with the rest of them. Until she hit me with a big one.

"Yes I did meet Two-Bit. And Paul." She laughed. "I saw them at the Piggly Wiggly earlier today. When I went to the store to pick up the cake." She said, gesturing to the crumbs on the plate.

I looked up in interest, curious. "We were talking, a bit about you, a bit about Paul staying here with all of you. Told me about your girlfriend Pony." She said offhandedly, before grabbing another slice of bread. "It was pretty brief, but I like both of them. They seem like nice guys."

"What girlfriend is Paul talking about Pony?" Soda asked, solidifying the ice that had shot through my heart at her words.

"Um… I wouldn't consider her my girlfriend…" I rasped, my mouth suddenly becoming very dry.

"When did you even meet her?" Darry asked, his face a little hurt, and a little angry. Shit.

"I… I don't know… maybe a little over a month."

"A month?" Soda asked. The expression on his face made me feel that much more guilty. "You've been here for days! Why didn't you tell us? What's her name?"

I sighed, looking uncomfortably around at my brothers. Darry and Soda's faces were fixed in an angry, upset, curious look.

"Look guys, it's really not a big deal." I said, running my hand through my hair. "She's not my girlfriend. Not really." I blanched at the shocked look on my brother's faces. "Not that way either! Jesus…"

My poor explanation was thankfully interrupted by someone opening the door. Paul came through the door, an angry look on his face. "Hey Pony, we gotta go."

"Why the hell did you tell everyone about Anna?"

Paul paled, but continued on. "I'll explain in the car, but if you coming with me, we gotta go. My dad's flipping shit back at the house, and hell's gonna break loose if I'm not back home soon."

I sighed deeply, looking around the table. I slowly stood, forcing a smile at the shocked faces of my brothers. "I'll see you guys in a week, ok?"

"Pony," my brothers started, standing up from their chairs. I ignored them both and walked into the back room to grab my bags. Stepping into the dimly lit room, I breathed deeply. Only this kind of crap happens to me. I grabbed my bags and stepped into the hallway just as Sodapop and Darry came down the hall, running into me.

"Hey kiddo." Darry said with a frown on his face. "I don't want you leaving just cause your upset. Especially not now."

"I aint leaving cause of that." I said, adjusting my hands around my bags. "This just seems like a really good opportunity. I'm real sorry about your dinner. I'll be back in a week and we'll all hang out at your barbeque thing."

"It's your barbeque thing." Darry said, before Sodapop interrupted.

"Pony, please don't leave. I want to talk to you about this."

"It's one week Soda." I said forcing a laugh. "Please don't worry about it. I'll call you when I get there."

"Damn it Pony." Darry muttered as I walked to the front door. I dropped my bags and walked over to Lisa, giving her a quick hug. "Lisa, it was great to meet you. I'm afraid I have to go right now, but I'll be seeing you next week at the barbeque, right?"

She nodded, her face troubled "Pony, I'm real sorry." She whispered in my ear, before letting me go.

I shrugged, flashing her another forced smile. "It would have come out eventually. At least I can give them some time to marinate."

She gave me a hesitant smile as I turned around and followed Paul, who was waiting impatiently at the door, to the car. "I'll see you guys in a week!" I called over my shoulder, the screen door slamming behind me. I breathed in a sigh of relief as I followed Paul to the car. Damn it.

Was it too short? To detailed? Not detailed enough? Did you like it? Tell me these things, please! Tell me if you like the direction the stories going! Thank you, all of you guys! Even you mean ones who won't review.