Alright, here's another chapter. I might not be able to put it on for a while, since my power is out. I am on a laptop, but I cant get online…

Disclaim- I don't own the Outsiders.

Chapter 10

Pony's POV

I let Jamie win the race to my house. She was so tired when we got back. It was around 11:30, which was perfect since Darry said to be home by midnight. I opened the door to find Darry sitting alone in the living room on the chair reading the newspaper like he always does.

"Hey, little buddy. Got company?" he nodded at Jamie.

"Yeah, is it alright if she stays for the night? She kinda got upset with her mom and stuff." I was hoping he would say yes, but he might say no, since she was a girl and all.

"Yeah. That's fine, but Pony, she's gotta stay in Soda's old room, ya hear? Anything funny and I'll skin you got it?" I was planning on her staying in Soda's room anyways. I just wanted her to feel a little better, happier.

"Yeah, I understand. But I'm tired. I'm gonna go to bed now." I started to yawn.

"Alright. Good night, kiddo. Good night, Jamie. If you need anything, I'm right down the hall."

"Ok, thanks, uh…Darry"

"Yeah. Anytime." He continued with the paper. I walked down the hall to Soda's old room. I picked up some clothes that were laying on the floor. I don't know why they were there, though.

"Here's Soda's room. Bathroom's right down there, and you know where my room is. If you need anything, just give a holler. Night." I shut the door and went to my own room.

"Night." I heard Jamie say from inside. I went to my room, and surprisingly enough, Soda was laying in the bed, just staring at the ceiling. Odd. I put on some pajamas and crawled under the covers with Soda.

"Soda? You okay?" I looked at him. He had a blank expression on his face.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just had a fight with Sandy." He looked at me. "Girls can be so weird." Then he propped his head on his elbow.

"Yeah, I know." I was kind of not listening. I was mostly thinking about Jamie. I think she just wants to be friends with me. And then I remembered that I forgot to ask her out the other night. I wanted to kick myself for that. Soda was still staring at me.

"You like her, huh?" it's kind of weird how much Soda knows me sometimes.

"Who?" I was trying to avoid the subject. I didn't want Jamie to hear across the hall.

"Jamie. Don't play dumb!" he started to smile, and that made me smile.

"Oh, yeah. She's here now. She's in your room tonight. Hope ya don't mind."

"I know. I heard you guys come in. Yeah, it's fine. It's not my room anymore, remember? This is our room. Jeez, I'm the smart one tonight!" he started laughing and rolled over, and I did the same. I really was tired. The second I turned over I fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning, and Soda wasn't there. Which automatically meant I had to do the dishes. But to my surprise, Soda was up making breakfast, and Darry was sleeping still. It was 10, and usually he was up by then. On a Sunday, too. I totally forgot that Jamie was here, and I went into Soda's room. She was still sleeping on the bed. She looked so peaceful. And I mean it. Not like when people are dead and look peaceful. People always said that about my parents, but I never saw them as peaceful when I saw them. They just lay there, still. Didn't look so peaceful to me. But Jamie did, and her face was so beautiful. But I didn't want to stare, so I went to go see what Soda was making. Or attempting to make. He had some pancakes in a pan, but the ones on the plate were already burnt. Soda wasn't so good at cooking. He noticed my presence and said,

"Oh hey, sleeping beauty. Want some pancakes? Made 'em myself!" he smiled, and I didn't want to criticize his hard work and effort.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." I was really hungry, so I didn't care what I ate as long as it was food. Soda opened the fridge and pulled out a plate of chocolate cake.

"Want some cake, too?" he said, putting it on my plate anyways. I grabbed some chocolate milk out of the fridge. Boy, was I off to a healthy start. Pancakes, cake and chocolate milk. But we always had chocolate milk and cake. I liked it that way. Then I sat down at the table and started eating when Darry came out. He didn't say anything and grabbed a piece of cake, coffee, and some of Soda's burnt pancakes.

"Black, huh? You going through some kind of black phase now?" he said laughing. Soda gave a slight frown that quickly turned to his famous grin.

"Oh, shut it, or I'll whoop you a good one." He said waving his spatula.

"Oh yeah I'd like to see you try, little man." Mornings like this made me happy. When we were all happy and getting along, joking with each other. That's the way it was before Mom and Dad. I didn't like it so much when Soda was sad about Sandy, or when Darry yelled at me. Then, Jamie woke up. She came out of the room, in jeans and a shirt. Her hair was a little messy, though. And she had a little makeup smudged under her eye. I still thought she was the most beautiful girl I ever saw. She came in and sat at the table.

"Hey. Sleep good?" Darry asked her.

"Yeah." She mumbled. I could tell she had a rough night. Poor Jamie.

"Want some pancakes? I made them!" Soda said, handing her a plate full. She gave them a weird look.

"Yeah, Soda's not the worlds greatest chef, actually, he doesn't cook well at all." I said. He came over to me and hit me in the back of the head. Not hard, though.

"Ya'll shouldn't make fun of my cooking. I could've poisoned it!" he made a fake evil laugh, and it made me giggle a little. Soda sure was funny. I picked up the plate of cake and cut Jamie a piece. I set it on her plate and she gave another face.

"Yeah, we usually have cake with breakfast, and chocolate milk, too." I poured her some of that, too. Darry looked at me and said,

"What are you gonna do today?" that was kind of weird, because he never asks me that.

"I don't know. Don't have anything planned, why?"

"Just wondering, that's all." He went back to finishing his black pancakes. I was just about done too. Soda had already eaten, and Jamie was about half done. I put my plate in the sink, and Darry did too. So did Jamie.

"You can finish that, you know." I said looking at her half-full plate.

"Yeah, I know. It's just more than I can eat." She said looking down. I must've given her too much. I didn't realize how much we really did eat. Oh well. Me and Darry had to do the dishes, since Soda cooked. Jamie sat on the couch with Soda and watched Mickey. After I was done I walked into the living room and asked Jamie,

"Hey, want to go to the park?" she stared at the TV screen for a minute, then looked at me.

"Sure. Let's go" we put our shoes and jackets on and left.

It was kind of cold outside, considering it was only morning. We were talking about Soda and his burnt pancakes when I interrupted,

"Hey Jamie, I've been thinking, and, well, do you want to go out with me sometime?" yes, I had finally done it. I had finally asked her. I was just waiting to hear her response. We had walked far enough to where we were already past the park, but were in Jamie's neighborhood. She looked at me, and said,

"Oh, yeah. Sure. How about tonight?" I felt my heart skip a beat, or maybe 5. We turned onto Jamie's street.

"Ok, I'll pick you up here, but I'll have to bring somebody who can drive us. That okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Alright, I'll be here by 6:30 at least." We were up to her door by then,

"Sounds great." She said, kissing my cheek. I thought I might explode. She walked in and shut the door. I have never felt happier.

I ran all the way home and I ripped the door open, and started to dance and sing some Elvis song in the living room. Soda and Darry came out and Soda said,

"I think Pony's got himself his first date!"

So? Good? I might add more tonight if I can. The battery is already going low, and I don't know if I will have power by then. I hope you liked it!! Review!!!