Questions

Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders. I only own Leah, Jane, and the plot.

A/N. Thank you, thank you for the reviews. They really motivate me. This chapter takes place one month after chapter 18. On another note I'm going to clear a few things up that might be confusing. Leah is still living with the Curtises and will most likely do so until the baby is born. Also, up until this point she has been going to school.

*Leah's POV*

I adjusted my baggy sweater as i walked up the stairs to my high school. Today was the day when I was going to ask to start my home schooling. I was now five months pregnant and you could definitely tell if you saw me with a regular shirt on. Which was why I was wearing the sweater. I had been wearing baggy clothes for a couple of weeks, and luckily no one had said anything at all. I cautiously walked toward the main office. I stepped in and started chewing on my bottom lip. A bad habit of mine when I'm nervous.
The secretary behind the desk said " Can I help you dear?"
" Yes, umm I was wondering if I could speak to Mr. Walkan for a minute." I said with a tiny smile.
"Well of course dear, go right ahead." she said.
I thanked her and walked towards his office. Mr. Walkan was a very kind man, who was in his late fifties. I knew he wouldn't have a problem with my home schooling. I tapped lightly on the door.
"Mr. Walkan?" I called softly.
"Yes? Who is it?"
" It's Leah Normans sir"
"Ms. Normans, yes come in."
I walked in and sat down at the chair in front of his desk.
"One of my favorite students", he said smiling.
" In fact, you just might be able to graduate early if you have enough credits."
I swallowed. " Well sir, that was what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Yes?"
" I was wondering if it would be possible for me to home school by correspondence from now on?"
He looked thoughtful and said, " Well usually this is only allowed by top students, which you definitely are."
" Then will it be all right?" I asked hopefully.
He sat there for a few minutes and wrote a few things down on a piece of paper.
" Well you are a very responsible young woman," he said.
As soon as he said "responsible" the baby kicked, reminding me that I wasn't so responsible after all.
" We would simply mail your schoolwork back and forth, I trust you enough to send it in on the due dates."
I sighed with relief.
" Thank you sir, you don't know how much I needed this."
" May I ask why you wish to do this?"
I fidgeted around and tugged at my sweater.
" Personal reasons."
He looked at me carefully.
" This wouldn't have anything to do with your pregnancy now would it?"
I gasped. " How.. how did you know that?"
I was scared he was going to start yelling at me or something of that sort.
" Well you have gotten yourself into a fine mess haven't you?"
I nodded weakly.
" Well, my niece was in your same situation a few years ago."
"She was only fourteen and ended up giving up her child."
"I plan to keep my baby." I said.
"You do?" he sounded a little surprised.
" Yes, the baby's father is supportive, we have support from friends, a place to live,
money, jobs, and you said I had a good chance of graduating early."
He looked at me a little softer this time
" Well you are a very special young woman" , he said.
" Most girls in your situation wouldn't act like such an adult as you are."
" Thank you very much, that means a lot to me."
He looked slightly stern. "Even though you are a pregnant teenager Ms. Normans, I do have faith in you."
"Sir, could you please not tell any of the faculty about this?"
"Well, I guess it would be all right to tell them you had family issues."
Another sigh of relief.
" We'll send you the first packet tomorrow."
"Thank you again sir."
"Yes, but remember what I told you about responsibility," he said.
" I will sir," I said and left the room, and then the school.

* Dally's POV*

I walked around outside for a while and then I heard someone behind me. " Looking for something?"
I turned around. "Hey Leah, how are you."
"Good, I just arranged my schoolwork situation."
" That's great."
" Tell me about it," she said with a laugh.
I went over to her and looked at her stomach. " What does it look like now?"
She pulled up her sweater and I could clearly see her round stomach. "It's getting bigger ," I said.
"Well I hope it gets bigger," Leah said.
I put my hand on her stomach and felt the tiny flutters under my hand.
" Man, than never gets old.," I said.
Leah smiled. " Well it's a little different when you're being kicked from the inside," she said.
" I'd imagine."
"Do you want to go for a walk with me?", she said.
" Sure kid, that'd be tuff."
We started walking for a while, just sort of looking around. Then we ran into Tony Brewer, a member of the Shepard gang. "
Well, if it isn't Winston and the girl," he drawled.
" Hello Tony," I said.
Leah mumbled something.
" What are you two doing here?" he asked.
" Just walking, is that a problem for you?"
He laughed. " Well, well, well, Dallas Winston's getting an attitude", he said with a smirk.
" I always had an attitude you ass," I said.
Leah just stood there and said nothing. She wasn't a timid girl, but I could tell Tony was making her nervous. He walked over to her.
"Hello there," he said and reached up a hand to her hair.
She slapped it away.
"Don't" , she said.
"Leave her alone Tony." I told him.
" Why?"
"Is she taken?"
" I am not property," she said coldly.
"Well no one has a complete claim on you anyway."
"Like I said Tony, leave her alone. She's Johnny Cade's girl."
I figured it was all right to say that. The look on Leah's face told me it was.
" That little guy?" He laughed.
" He still doesn't have a claim on her."
Leah was getting really angry now.
" Don't say anything like that about Johnny," she said.
" No one has a claim on me nor ever will, but Johnny is my boyfriend, he loves me, and it's going to stay that way!"
He looked at her.
" Besides, if you want to think of a "so called claim", whatever the hell that is, I think Johnny has a pretty good one," I said.
I looked over at Leah and she nodded, telling me what I was doing was ok.
" And that would be?"
"This," Leah said pulling up her sweater, revealing her pregnant stomach.
Tony gasped. " You.... Cade.... that?"
" Yup," she said pulling her sweater back down.
We then left him standing there with his mouth hanging open.

* That night*
* Johnny's POV*

" Ok Johnny be brave, you can do this," I told myself. I walked down the street towards the Curtis house and saw Leahsitting on the porch reading. I sat down beside her.
"Hey," I said softly.
She looked up from her book.
"Johnny!"
" Yeah, it's me."
She just shook her head and kissed me. I kissed back and we broke it after a while. I put my hand on her stomach, and she ran her fingers through my hair.
After a while I said, " Leah, I'm really sorry but I lied."
She looked confused.
"Lied? Johnny what are you talking about."
I took her hand.
" Your ring," I said meaning the promise ring I gave her for her birthday.
"Well you see it's umm, well maybe this will explain it."
I moved down a couple of steps below us and took her hand again.
Taking a deep breath I said, " Leah Augusta Normans, will you marry me?"
She started to cry a little, and then whispered, "Yes."
"Yes," I repeated and held her hand tighter.

Wow, chapter 19. I can't believe I've gotten this far. Please review and tell me what you think. Also, could you please review
some of my other stuff. This author would really appreciate it. Thanks! Firechild.