"Rain, wait up!" I heard someone call. I was wlaking to school with Ponyboy and Two-Bit. I turned and saw Sodapop and Candy running toward us. "What're you doing here? Should't you be at the DX?" Two-Bit asked, obviously confused by his presence. Soda shook his head, "Not yet. And besides, I'm walking Candy to school."

We got to the school and Soda left. Ponyboy waved goodbye to us and his brother then left for his first class. Two-Bit kissed me then went off to wherever and whatever he does in the school. "SO, where's Evie and Suzie?" I asked Candy as we started toward hoemroom. "Well, Suzie's mom drives her to school, and Evie always goes to see Steve in the morning before school starts then she catches a bus here," she explained and I nodded. "Rain, can I ask you something?" She bit her lip.

I nodded, "Sure. What's going on?"

"How did you know when you and Two-Bit were an official couple?"

"Well after a few dates, he asked me to be his girl. He ven gave me a leather bracelet with his name and he got one with my name. But when he asked me to be his girl , that 's when I knew. Why?"

She looked down and shrugged a bit, chewing on her lip.

"It's about Sodapop isn't it?"

She nodded.

"Well… what about him?"

"We've gone out three times now but I'm not sure if we're actually a couple, yet. And I see him flirting with girls sometimes at the DX during hours so I don't know." I chuckled at bit and she frowned at me, "Rain, I'm serious!"

I put my hand on her shoulder. "Candy, I've known that boy since we were kids, he's like a big brother to me. I can tell when he likes someone, ad that someone is you."

She gave a small smile but it quickly faded. "Then what about when he flirts with girls when he's at the DX?"

I chuckled again. "You're dating -Boy, ya gotta get used to that. Do you know how many girls in this town would kill to be in your position? His boss has him do that to attract customers. Always has, but he never means it unless he really likes someone, and like I said, that someone is you."

She smiled. "You really think so?"

I smiled and nodded. "I'm one-hundred percent sure of it."4

…the next day…

I was at my locker waiting for Candy to go to homeroom. I looked at the clock on the wall… 8:43am… class started at nine. I leaned my head against the locker impatiently and crossed my arms over my chest. "Rain!" I looked up and saw Candy running toward me. She reached me and she had the biggest smile I'd ever seen. "Guess what?!" Before I got the chance to answer, she told me, "Soda asked me to be his girl this morning when I went to meet him at the DX!" I smiled, "Told ya he would, now let's get to class!"

…that Friday night…

We all went to the Dingo, and by we, I mean: Steve and Evie, Soda and Candy, Two-Bit and me, and Ponyboy and Suzie. Apparently, Ponyboy liked Suzie too. They were in the same homeroom but she was a year older since he was bumped up into ninth grade since the kid was like freaking Einstein.

We decided that after the Dingo we would go to the drive-in. I always got a little nervous going there. IT was one of the few places that was ot exclusively Soc-territory or Greaser-territory, so there was that. Almost every kid in town went to that place, whether they had a car or not. Plus, it didn't open till the sun started going down. So when it got dark, everybody had to watch out. It was crazy.

"Rain, you alright?" Two-Bit asking me, taking me out of my thoughts.

I nodded and smiled. "Yeah, just thinking."

We all paid for our snacks then met back at the seats. There were eight of us and we fit into two rows. The first row was where me and Two-Bit were sitting, the Suzie next to me in the middle and Ponyboy on the end. In the second row, Sodapop behind Two-Bit, Candy behind me, Evie behind Suzie and Steve behind Ponyboy. We had them in the corner cause the rest of us suspected they were gonna start making out during the movie, considering how long they had been together, and nobody wanted to see that.

The movie was Muscle Beach Party. I wasn't for beach movies. For some reason, people liked them. I liked movies with Elvis Presley, Cary Grant, or Humphrey Bogart. Sure, Humphrey Bogart was dead, but I still liked his acting. Especially Casablanca and The African Queen, which are my two favorite movies.

Ponyboy isn't the only one who liked movies.

The pre-movie cartoons ended and the movie began. "Ya know I'll probably fall asleep like I did on our first date," I whispered to Two-Bit and he laughed. "I expected as much."

…one hour later…

"…up… wake up, Rain," someone said then I realized it was Two-Bit, "The movie's nearly over. I figured you'd wanna walk around till it's over." I smiled, "You know me too well." Before we got up, I looked around at the group of friends surrounding us. Steve and Evie were kissing, just like we all suspected. Sodapop had his arm around Candy and her head leaned on his shoulder. Suzie and Ponyboy were sitting close together and were holding hands. I smiled and turned to Soda. "Look at your brother," I whispered. He looked over at the two and smiled at his little brother and the scene in front of him.

Two-Bit and I got up and went toward the back near the concessions. There weren't many people back there, just a few other couples and I could see Socs in their cars. He wrapped his arm tight around my shoulders in case anyone tried to pull anything. "Did you see the poster for next week's movie?" he asked. I shook my head.

He led me over to the entrance of the drive-in. "Can't you just tell me?" I asked. He smirked and shook his head. I rolled my eyes. He put his hands over my eyes. "What're you-" "Just go till I say stop," he cut me off. I sighed in annoyance and I heard him laugh as he led me forward, at least I think forward. Remember, I couldn't see. He stopped and took his hands off my eyes, "Now look."

I opened my eyes and saw a scene with a picture of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. The sign said: Next Friday! 8pm and 10pm! Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart as Rick and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa! I felt a huge smile form on my lips and I turned and faced him. "I knew you'd like that," he chuckled and kissed my forehead, "I was planning on takin' ya back here next week to see it."

Before I could answer, someone tapped my shoulder from behind and I jumped. I turned around to see a laughing Candy. "We finally found you two," she laughed.

Everybody turned to the sign. Steve gave a weird look, "Casablanca… what's that?"

"It's that movie with the actor with that lisp thing and died in '57," Soda answered, but I could tell he was unsure.

"It has that actress… Ingrid something," Evie added.

"Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman," Ponyboy finally said.

Soda snapped his fingers and nodded. "Yeah, them! I knew that." Candy bit back a laugh.

"It's my favorite movie of all time and the two of us coming to see it," I smiled.

Two-Bit nodded and smiled. "Well, there's my answer."

Ponyboy gave a weird look, "You sure, Two-Bit? I haven't seen it yet, but I know it's a real serious movie."

Two-Bit shrugged. "What's your point?" Everybody exchanged weird looks and I held back a laugh. He threw his hands up," I can be serious when I want to?" He looked at me. "Can't I?"

I chuckled and nodded. "Believe it or not, he can. I've witnessed it first-hand."

Everybody looked at me like I had two heads. Two-Bit smiled in victory. "Told ya so."

We all left the drive-in, agreeing that Ponyboy and Suzie would come with us to see the movie next week. Soda, Candy, Steve and Evie still weren't sure though. I honestly think they would all love it, but that could just be me defending my favorite movie… which is probably it.

We all went back to the East Side. Soda wen to walk Candy, Steve with Evie, Pony with Suzie. Two-Bit and I walked back to the house and sat at the front steps. "I have to tell you something important," he said.

I panicked and figured the worst. "I knew this would happen." I buried my face in my hands.

"Rain, what are you-"

"You're breaking up with me… I knew this would happen. Every time something good happens in my life, it gets ripped out from under me… I knew it, I should've expected th-"

His lips were against mine and I stopped. I kissed him back. He pulled away and smiled, "I'm not breaking up with you."

I gave a nervous chuckle. "Oh… sorry, I panicked."

He now looked nervous. "You don't wanna break up, right?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, that's why I got so nervous." He obviously calmed down. "So what's important?"

"My mom wants you to come over our place sometime… she wants "to meet the girl who I've had my first real meaningful relationship with" or whatever her exact words were," he chuckled a bit.

My heart started to pound in my chest. I'd never met his mom, or his sister. I know his old man left when he was a kid, but I'd still never met him either. I kinda remember seeing his mom in the halls at school once when we were all little cause he was in trouble once and he was walking with her down the halls, and she may have looked at me and gave a smile, but I never actually met her. Honestly, the only parents I had ever met of any of my friends, were Mr and Mrs Curtis.

"Candy, can I sleep over your place tonight?" I said into the speaker of the phone. "Yeah, sure. You alright?" she asked. I nodded thought she couldn't see me, "Yeah, I just need to talk about something and need help with it." "Yeah, of course." With that, I hung up.

Darry said it was ok to spend the night at Candy's. While I was on the phone with her, I secretly hoped she would call Suzie and Evie and invite them as well. Judging by the seriousness in my voice, maybe she took the hint. Usually I would talk to the gang about my problems, but this was something I needed girl's opinions for.

I walked over to Candy's, which took about five minutes since houses weren't too far apart. I got to her house and she was sitting on the front step waiting. She smiled and stood up, "I hope you don't mind, I invited Evie and Suzie too." I smiled and nodded, thankful that she did. We went inside and up to her room. She took my overnight bag and pillow and she put them against her wall. Right after, the doorbell rang and Candy came back upstairs with Evie and Suzie following behind her. "Ok, so what did you wanna talk about that was important?" Candy asked.

I sighed. "Have any of you ever been invited to meet your boyfriends family?"

"Do past boyfriends count?"

I nodded and they did the same. "Why?" Suzie asked.

"Cause I was talking with Two-Bit after the movie and his mom and sister wanna meet me."

"I would've thought you met them already, considering you've known him your whole life, practically." Evie gave a confused look and sounded kinda shocked.

I shrugged. "I really only knew Darry, Soda, and Pony's parents. Johnny's were like mine, so I avoided them at all costs. I met Steve's dad once, and never wanted to again. Dallas', never. Two-Bit's mom, I think once when we were little but it was only like, a smile or something. And his dad left them when we were all just kids. We all really hung out at the Curtis' cause they had the best parents, who were like parents to the rest of us.

"Wait, you met Steve's dad before, but not Two-Bit's mom?" Evie said.

"I still don't understand the problem," Suzie said, obviously confused by my scenario.

"I've never had to meet any of my past boyfriend's parents and I don't know what to do." I buried my face in my hands.

"Has Two-Bit ever met your parents?" Candy asked.

I couldn't help but laugh a little at her question. "I forgot. I didn't know you guys before I started living with the Curtis'. And yes he has, he wanted to strangle the last time he saw them."

"Why?" Suzie gave a shocked expression.

"My parents were arrested about a month ago, maybe a little more for child abuse and neglect. They got a death penalty. They came to 'apologize' and Two-Bit said he wanted to hurt 'em when they came."

They all looked at me with said faces. "I'm sorry," Candy mumbled.

I blew it off. "It's fine really… but what am I supposed to do about his mom and sister?"

Their expressions quickly changed. "You're overthinking this. If they're anything like him, it should be a fun night." Candy shrugged.

"Or you'll go nuts," Evie teased and we all laughed.

"You know, he really can be serious when he wants to be," I said when we all calmed down.

"Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it."

I have no idea why this chapter was so long, compared to the previous ones but whatever… reading is good for you and makes you smarter, though I doubt fan fiction makes people smarter, well maybe in this case since it takes place in the past? I don't know…. By the way! When I mentioned that her favorite movie was Casablanca was her favorite movie and that she loved Elvis Presley, remember that- you'll see it in future chapters