AN: okay, warning before you read this. And I KNOW this is the ninth chapter and this should be up earlier, maybe when I'm not so lazy I'll change this to the first chapter. I've changed about a million things about the setting and time. The story in California because that's all I know, (how the guys got there, please don't ask), and it is set in modern time, hence the cell phones, imported cars, Hot Topic, and my fave bands among other things. So, here goes.

I parked my Lamborghini in front of Johnny's house and turned it off. I turned to face him and lifted an eyebrow. "Hey Johnny, you don't look so good. You all right?"

He was looking out the window with a far off look.

"Look, if you don't want to go in there…"

"It's… it's not exactly that." He whispered.

I sighed and straightened in my seat. "Johnny, I don't want to be mean or anything, but I really got to go. Ted'll be pissed at me if I'm out too late. And it's all ready… holy guacamole! It's all ready eleven! I got to go, Johnny; I'll be murdered if I don't get back soon. You either stay in the car, or get out. Giving you five seconds." I wished I hadn't said it like I had. With all my heart I thought he was going to jump out of the car and slam the door behind him. But he didn't. Twenty seconds later, he was still staring out the window. "Well, next stop… Ted's." I turned the car back on and slammed the gas down. The Lamb squealed as its wheels spun quickly and finally the treads caught the gravel and sped down the street.

I parked the car inside Ted's garage and turned it off. I turned to look at Johnny and lifted an eyebrow at him. "Johnnycake, you've been quiet the whole ride since we left the hamburger joint. What's up? Something I did?"

His eyes had never left the window, even when I turned the car off in the garage. He was staring at the wall, as if waiting for it to attack him.

"Johnny, snap out of it! What's up?" I grabbed his shoulder and was about to shake him when he reached over and grabbed my hand. My eyes jumped. "Johnny…?"

His cold hand tightened on mine until I thought my hand was going to turn purple.

"Johnny, come on, that's not funny. Let go," I took hold of his hand and tried to pry it off, but it wouldn't come off.

"I need to ask you something," he whispered.

"Then ask it! But stop trying to pop all the veins in my hand!" with a final yank his hand came off. I pulled my sore hand back and whimpered as it turned different colors.

"It's about Pony."

I laughed callously. "Really? I don't think you…"

"Cherry and him split."

"They were ever together?" I put my hand up into the light and scowled.

"After the dance last night."

"Never would have guessed."

"Only because…"

I pulled my hand back down and unbuckled without thinking twice.

"Only because Cherry's old boyfriend slashed him."

My whole body went cold and I didn't move. My left hand was on the door handle and my right on the steering wheel, both now frozen there. I swallowed hard and looked up in the mirror. My eyes were unblinking and no emotion seemed to be in them. "Johnny…"

"Do you care?"

"Of…" I didn't want to answer that, because my answer would go two different ways. One: he got what he deserved, and two: I wanted to know where this guy lived so I could go after him. "Why should I." I finally opened the car door and got out.

Johnny slowly did the same. "If I had been the one…"

"You weren't, all right? You're too smart for that garbage." I crossed my arms over my chest. It had suddenly gotten very cold out.

Johnny turned to look at me. "Pony doesn't feel good about what he did. I told him what he sounded like that day he came home cheering like a cheerleader."

I turned away and leaned on the shut car door. My eyes closed and my fists shook. I needed to find someone – anyone – to fight. I needed something to punch. "Why should I care about this. It's none of my business. Do you want a ride to the lot?"

"No." he whispered, and left.

I opened my eyes to watch him leave. I sucked in my lips and turned to go into the house. Maybe Pony didn't deserve to get physically hurt, but he needed to learn that he couldn't mess around with girls like Cal and get away with it. She wouldn't go crawling back to him, nor would she go up to him and say 'told you so'. Neither were the ways Cal worked. Her temper would remain dormant, and her relationships would stick on Natalie and no guys.

"Speaking of Natalie," I whispered as I entered the house. "I should call her and see what's up." I went into the dark kitchen and flipped on the light. Nothing out of place. I grabbed the phone and dialed Natalie's cell number. I tapped her foot on the ground as it rung. "Hey," I muttered when Natalie answered. "Where are you?"

"Movies with Sodapop and Two-Bit." Natalie responded.

"Oh…" I looked around and rubbed her eyes. "Listen, I need to talk to you."

"About Pony?"

"… Something. Ted's not home."

"He isn't? But it's… eleven thirty. The club closes at ten tonight."

"I know. But he isn't here." I turned in a circle and yelled, "TED! YOU HOME?"

After five minutes, still no one responded.

"See?" I muttered into the phone.

"I see. Should I come down there?"

"I don't… if you want to. Please don't bring any of the guys. I don't need to see them right now."

"Got cha. I'll be right over. Later,"

"Later." I hung up the phone and turned around to look around the kitchen. I huddled into a circle and curled into a ball. The darkness suddenly scared me, and knowing I was alone didn't help much. Ted could be laying around dead somewhere in the house. I'll wait for Natalie to get here. Then… then we'll see what we can do together.

Fifteen minutes later, I heard the rumbling of a car approaching. The car door shut and Natalie's voice yelled out for me.

"In the kitchen," I called back.

Natalie stepped into the room and rolled her eyes when she saw me sitting in the corner. "What's up with you?"

"I dunno," I whispered as I stood up.

"Freaked out about Ponyboy?" she asked as she flipped on the light.

I brushed out my hair and yawned. "Freaked out? No way. Who was the jerk that sliced him, though? I know Cherry's boyfriend did it, but what's his name?"

Natalie thought for a second as she handed me a cigarette. "Jack something."

"Like the last name," I smirked as I lit the cigarette and popped it in my mouth. "I'd like to have something like that."

Natalie twisted her lips and lifted an eyebrow. "Can we go now? This place is freaking me out."

"Yeah, me too. Let's get outta here," I turned the light off as we left, grabbed my jacket off the couch, and left the house behind Natalie.

Natalie got into her own car and I climbed in beside her. She backed out of Ted's driveway and started down the streets. "You don't mind that...?"

"Soda's? Na," I shurgged as I rolled down the window and let the smoke trail out.

Natalie shrugged and continued down the street. "Can I ask you something, Cal?"

"Sure." I said as I took the cigarette out of my mouth and blew out the smoke.

"Why are you still mad at Pony? It's not his fault that..."

"That he got himself sliced? That he was going out with a Soc? I swore that was his choice..." I grumbled under my breath and looked out the window.

She scowled as she turned down Soda's street. "Not exactly what I was thinking. He didn't do anythink to you."

"But make me think he liked me, then ditch me for a Soc,"

"You're a Soc, Callisto NTG Shizuko!" Natalie snapped at me, pulling over in front of Soda's house. She turned off the car and whirled to face me.

I ducked under a punch. "Hey! Now what was that for?! I didn't do anything!"

"Pony could say the same thing! Or are you in love with someone else?!"

"I never loved Ponyboy, for crying out loud! Why is everyone jumping on my back because we liked each other for a little while?!"

"Because you're both making a big deal out of it!"

"How?"

"Him going out with Cherry to make a point, and you..."

"Make a point of what?" I asked, my eyes jumping at what she said.

She looked away, rubbing her chin and avoiding any eye contact with me at all.

"Make what point?" I asked again, sharply this time.

"Nice view," she murmured.

"Of the back of my hand!" I yelled.

She got out of the car and shut the door behind her.

I jumped out from my side and slammed the door. "NATALIE!"

She froze as she got close to the house.

My eyes glowed as I glared at her back. "Tell me what point Pony was trying to make by going out with Cherry – now."

Her head turned to the right slightly, her eyes lingering on the ground. "Ask him. I don't want to be some kind of messenger between you two," she grabbed the door handle and walked inside.

My anger burned within, but I couldn't leave. She had the keys, and I didn't want to walk down these streets alone. So I walked up to the house and stepped inside.

It was relatively quiet, except the TV was going in the front room and some clanking in the kitchen – not to mention a bit of music from upstairs.

I stepped forward a few steps and looked into the living room. Two-Bit was watching TV upside down, Johnny was sitting next to him – Natalie was speaking with Soda near the far wall, and Dally was sitting on a chair looking at me. My lips twitched. "Dallas."

"Don't call me that," he said sharply.

My eyes narrowed. "Don't you tell me what to do, Dallas." I emphaszied his name too much.

"Watch your tongue there, NTG."

Coming from Dally, and with the current situations, I didn't take offense to my middle name being used as a threat as it was normally.

"Well, well, well. Look who's here – hello Callisto."

I slowly turned, my arms crossed, and glared at Darry. "Hello Darry," I said quietly.

"Come to apologize to Pony?"

"For what, I wonder?" I asked calmly, tilting my head to the right.

He licked his lips. "Lots of things."

"Oh? If I said sorry for everything I've said or done that's offended or hurt someone, do you know how many times I would have said that stupid word?"

Darry thought for a moment, looking at the ceiling and back at me. "About a million?"

"Try a billion," I grumbled under my breath. "I did nothing wrong – I will apologize to Pony for nothing more than worrying him about thinking I was leaving. Nothing more."

"That would be fine with me." Darry snorted, and went back into the kitchen, where Steve was waiting for him.

I shrugged and turned back around to the living room.

They were all looking at me – Soda, Natalie, Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally.

I sighed heavily. "What?" no one responded. "Oh, come on! Don't make me regret staying here! I thought you guys were better than this."

Maybe they weren't, though. Maybe no one was. Maybe I had made a mistake by staying in Cali – and maybe, just maybe I was thinking too much with 'maybe' lately.

My shoulders drooped and I turned away from them – just in time to run into Ponyboy. I froze and my whole body became tense. "Er... Pony."

He eyed me and took in a small breath, like the air I breathed back out was a poison to him. "Um, Callisto," he nodded his head at me. "So – how have you been?"

I lifted an eyebrow. He was acting too chummy to make me happy. "I'm fine. Like I always have been. You?"

"Normal." He shrugged.

"So," my eyes were hovering on the scar on his right cheek. "I see you have a slash to add to your collection. Who's the talented person that got past your defenses?"

"Oh, you know. Cherry's boyfriend."

I half snorted half laughed. "You cut yourself?"

He glared at me sharply. "No!"

Inside I was taken back by him sudden burst, but outside I showed no change in emotion. "Jack Something, right? I love the last name, don't you?"

Pony began to shake.

"Ponyboy, calm down," Soda called to him from somewhere inside the living room.

I lifted an eyebrow at him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" he suddenly screamed.

I blinked wide. "Excuse me?"

"You march into town, act like you want nothing to do with boys... play around with my heart, snap it, hand it back to me like it's in perfect condition, and then tell me you're leaving – and then you don't?! The least you could have done was go through with your word and go back to New York!" by the time he was finished, small beads of sweat ran down the sides of his face, three tears ran down his cheeks, and his chest was heaving.

I was hardly fazed – on the outside.

Natalie licked her lips. "Now Pony, it didn't happen like that."

I started to laugh. "I never said anything about not liking boys. As a matter of fact, if you'd like to know, you're only the sixth boy I've had a crush on. Never played with your heart, either. And if you mean kissing – that never really means anything. Right Natalie?" I said over my shoulder.

She blushed. "I care about Soda. Kissing has nothing to do with it."

"There? You see?" I said, putting my hands on my hips. "Right from the horse's mouth. Besides – it was you that did most of the tearing." I nodded firmly at his surprised expression. "When you thought I was leaving, you went right to someone else. You never cared about me. I was just a rebound from Cherry Valance, wasn't I? Then her boyfriend come's back – and BAM! I'm just the girl you hang with until she's free again."

Pony shook his head. "It's not like that..."

"We both have our stories!" I yelled at him, throwing my arms up into the air. "Stop making excuses and stories and I will, too! Here's my truth, Ponyboy Curtis: I came to town. I hated the people and everything because I was ripped from my very roots without consent. I see a guy and think he's cute. The boy tells me he likes me. My best friend falls for his brother. Accidents happen. I had my brother to fall back on. He leaves. More accidents. Boy I like decides he doesn't like me – leaves for another girl. I'm stuck in the place I hated all along with no best friend and no more boyfriend! NOW does it seem like I ever wanted to be here, or fit in here?!"

Pony chewed on his bottom lip, like he didn't know what to say. But I knew he had a story he wanted to share. Something about tragedy and bouncing back – and tragedy again, and bouncing back again.

"Well?!" I cried, tears streaming down my face. "What's YOUR story?!"

Pony stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. He closed his eyes and rocked us back and forth. "Shh," he whispered into my ear. "It'll be okay, I promise. I won't leave again."

"I can't trust that."

"You'll have to."

"I won't."

"I'll make you."

I smiled. "No one can make Callisto NTG Shizuko do anything."

"I'll try, then."

"..." I took a deep breath, my eyes closed with a small smile on my lips. "I like the thought of that."

"Good. Because I won't stop trying until you either give in, or one of us dies."

"Sounds nice." I chuckled.

He sighed with a large smile. "Are we good, then?"

"I think so," I murmured. "But it won't be that easy."

"I like a challenge."

"You better like a chase, too. I run like a cheetah and drive like a NASCAR driver..."

"Do I get the Lamborghini once in a while?"

"I'll buy you a Corvette."

Natalie chuckled.

"It's second class – but it'll do." I shrugged as he held me.

Darry and Steve stepped into the room. "Are you two done yet?" he groaned. "Seriously, this is getting so mushy I'm thinking of inviting over the Easter Bunny and buying a cat."

"A cat?!" Two-Bit groaned. "I'm allergic!"

Natalie snorted at him playfully. "Allergic my butt!"

Two-Bit's eyes lit up. "REALLY?!"

"Two-Bit!" Natalie screamed as he chased her around the room. "STOP!"

I chuckled as I watched them, leaning against Pony. "This is nice."

He laughed. "I hope our kids aren't this rambuncious."

I eyed him oddly, lifting an eyebrow at him and furrowing my other. "Kids? What kids? I'm not sacrificing this body for kids!"

Pony rolled his eyes. "Of course not."

"We'll adopt!" I volunteered.

He paled. "Adopt... right..."

"I'll settle for another Lamborghini and a Jaguar!"

Pony lifted an eyebrow at me. "What are you talking about? Cars or kids?"

"Kids ruin everything!" I laughed. "CARS! I'll go pro in NASCAR and we'll get rich, rich, RICH I tell you!"

"You're all ready rich."

"Then we'll get richer and I'll get all the guys rich! WOO HOO!" I jumped into Pony's arms and he twirled us in a circle.

When we finally stopped twirling, Pony set a gentle kiss on my lips.

I smiled up at him and ran my hand through his hair, and we kissed again.

Our kisses were never so sweet....

END! EH okay! So a weird ending, but I thought this story deserved a weird, down right firm ending. Sorry if it disappointed any of you, but I'm moving onto different stories – think I should post any of them? Outsiders, I mean. Email me, PLEASE! Tell me if you'd like to read another story – and I could post one or something. Blckdrkdragoon@aol.com

Happy reading!