I forgot to say why these chapters are comin' up quicker. For one, it is winter break! Yay! Second, I'm staying up all week, drinking soda and trying not to go to sleep :D I just love writing X)

Chapter Ten: Never Apart

"Ponyboy, what's wrong?" Darry asked me when me and Johnny walked in.

"Did she dump you?" Dally asked.

I glared at Dally. "No," I muttered. "Taylor's aunt. She...she says Taylor isn't allowed to see us anymore."

The guys all frowned and exchanged looks. "What do mean she isn't allowed to see us anymore?" Steve asked.

"Ms. Samsom thinks Taylor's gonna end up getting into trouble the more she hangs out with us," I said. "She saw me and Taylor kissing, and it wasn't going to end up like that at all."

"I would know, I was there," Johnny added.

Soda scoffed. "That's stupid! Her aunt can't do that!"

"Yeah," Two-Bit said. "This is how I can see Taylor if you guys were seperated." He got on his knees and said in a girl voice, "Ponyboy, Ponyboy, where fore artthou, Ponyboy?"

"Two-Bit, that's not funny," Darry muttered. "Man, I'm sorry to hear that, Pone."

"Maybe you should try to call her," Soda suggested.

I nodded, then took out Taylor's phone number. I dialed the number and waited until I heard Taylor's voice on the other line say, "Hello?"

"Taylor, it's me," I said.

"Ponyboy, I had a feeling you'd call," she said, sniffling.

I turned the phone over so the other guys could hear her. "You okay, Taylor?" Soda asked.

"No," she answered. "For one, my aunt slapped me."

The guys looked at me and Johnny, and we nodded. "Where's your aunt right now?" Darry asked.

"She came back early from work to take care of me," Taylor said. "By the way, Darry, don't get mad. It was innocent; it was just one kiss. Nothing like that at all, I swear."

"We believe you, Taylor."

"Man, that really sucks that she'd do that, Tay," Dally said.

Taylor sniffled. "I agree. I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

Now I was really wanting Taylor here with us, to be by our side. "Taylor, meet me by your bedroom window. I'll be out there in five minutes."

Taylor was silent for a moment until she finally said, "Um, okay."

Then we hung up. "Darry, I'm gonna go over there and talk to her," I said, pulling my navy blue jacket on. "I'll be back later."

He nodded. I rushed out the door and ran to Taylor's house. The sun was starting to set over the horizon. Taylor was standing by her bedroom window, waiting for me. She opened the window. "I'm so glad you're here," Taylor said. She climbed out the window and jumped down, accidentally landing on me. We both fell in the grass. "Sorry," she laughed.

"That's okay," I said, laughing. I helped her up.

"We're gonna have to make sure my aunt isn't gonna come out any time soon," Taylor was saying. "Luckily my bedroom door is locked and she thinks I'm asleep." She sighed. "Ponyboy, I have to tell you something. That ain't the first time she's slapped me."

I looked at Taylor. "What?"

"In Atlanta, I always got yelled at whenever I hung out with boys I liked, like with Chase."

"Oh, man. Taylor, I'm so sorry to hear that."

"It's okay, Pony. I'm just glad you're here with me. My aunt can't keep us apart."

"No, she can't," I murmured. "We'll never be apart."

A tear trickled down her cheek as Taylor smiled. She wrapped her arms around my neck.

We watched as Ms. Samson's station wagon pulled out of the driveway. Ms. Samson didn't notice us. Taylor told me she probably won't be trying to get into her room, so we were good. I took Taylor over to the lot. We laid in the grass, looking over at the sunset over the horizon. My jacket was wrapped around Taylor, and she was laying in my arms, then she fell asleep. A half hour later, Johnny and Soda found us in the lot. Darry was wondering where we were, of course.

"Awww, you guys look so cute together!" Soda said. "Crap, I shoulda brought the camera!"

Darry and I were gonna have to put that camera in a hiding place. Soda picked Taylor up and carried her over to the house. We were gonna let her spend the night at the house, and she was gonna sleep in Soda's old bed. I was just glad that we were never gonna be apart. Sometimes it's a little tough being a teenager in love.