We knew what Darry was going to say. Who didn't? Two-Bit just had to ruin our night again.

It wasn't even a big deal, really. I mean Two-Bit was sticking up for Shelby, but that's what he should do considering he is her cousin.

"Two-Bit and that tall kid I think he's with the Brumly boys."

I sighed and turned my head back to watch TV. Two-Bit was actually making me mad lately. He was just making everything thing worse…

"Why?" Shelby asked, her voice sounded hard, and thick with emotions.

Darry looked over at her for what seemed like forever then sighed and picked up my coat and a pair of Soda's jeans. See what I'm talking about? He's cleaning again.

"Darrel I'm so serious!" She said standing up; I pulled her arm so she would sit back down beside me. She let me pull her without putting up a fight so she fell gracefully beside me.

"Darrel…tell me…please?" She said turning her head around again.

"Okay Shelby, the guy was talking about how you were 'easy'" Darry said making quotations with his fingers. She looked over at me, I shrugged and she frowned and looked back at him.

"Well, the guy didn't realize he was talking to your cousin, and even though Two-Bit couldn't be madder at you two, he threw the first punch. And that's all it was it was just a few punches…" The lights were starting to flick back on as Darry yawned. They should be back soon.

Shelby tipped her head back closing her eyes. She got up and went to the door. I got up and stepped in front of her blocking the door. She gave me a look.

"Your not going to see him are you?" I asked her, I wrapped my arms around her waist. I leaned in to kiss her but she leaned back.

"Pony I got to. Aren't you tired of fighting with your friend?" She asked, while still leaned back.

"I don't know I guess…" The truth is I hated it, and It made me mad that I hated it, so I was always mad when I thought about it.

She pulled back when I tried to kiss her again. Ugh, now she's making me mad.

"Ponyboy I know you care just as much as I do. And I care a lot so I got to go."

"Okay," I said letting go of her, slouching myself down. That's it, today wasn't my day. I frowned and went to go sit on the couch again.

Shelby grabbed my shirt and pulled me back for a kiss. Finally, I thought. She was so great.

Darry pried our heads apart by pushing our foreheads away from each other.

"Aw come on Dar…" I said looking at Shelby smiling. She smiled back.

"None of that, especially not when I'm here. I get enough of that with Sodapop." He said disgusted and went to watch TV.

I took Shelby's hand and smiled, kissing her cheek lightly.

"Okay well than can I at least walk her over there?" I asked.

"Yeah," Darry said waving me off with his hand.

Shelby's POV (first and only time)

Ponyboy held the door open for me like he always does and I ducked as if trying to get away from the spitting rain. At least my hair was up so it would not look too bad. I never wear my hair up. I don't like my ears. Understatement alert. I hate my ears, partly because I've always wanted my ears pierced and my mom would never let me.

'If you were meant to have holes in your ears you would've been born with them' my mother's voice rang in my ears.

I used to hate it when she would say that. Roll my eyes and slouch.

Sometimes when Ponyboy looks at me, I'll think he's looking at my ears. I'm so stupid and self-conscious sometimes, but isn't every girl?

I used to have a bad habit of staring at myself in the mirror and cutting myself up about all the little things I wish I could change about myself. Of course, I haven't really had the time to do that lately.

However, even if I did have time I don't know if I would. Ponyboy makes me feel so great. Every time I'm with him, I feel so much better about myself.

Every time I look at him, I just want to let out an "Aw…" I don't though; he just always looks so serious. His big green eyes look like he always has a lot on his mind. It makes me wonder if he was like that before Johnny and Dallas died. In addition, his parents. I don't really remember him as a kid. Well I do but I hung out more with Steve and Soda since I was Two Bits cousin. They didn't much hang out with Ponyboy then cause he stuck around more with Johnny.

I love Two-Bit more than anything, but he needs to lighten up on Pony. He never used to be like this…Two-Bit should be more than happy for me, he knows that me and Pony have both had it rough, and for me to have had the worst time ever in New York and then come here and within a few days have Ponyboy I am way more than lucky.

I looked over at Ponyboy and thought about how much he looked like Sodapop. Ponyboy is a lot smarter than he puts out. I know he is but I always thought that maybe the guys made fun of his for it.

I took his hand; I love it when I do stuff like that and he looks down and blushes before smiling at me. There, he just did it. I smiled back of course and leaned into him. He gets all shy and anxious sometimes so I usually take the pressure off by taking his hand and stuff. I don't mind at all.

I had this tight feeling in my stomach. Sort of nervous/anxious. I didn't want to tell Ponyboy that I was scared that Two-Bit would just ignore me. Or even worse tell me he didn't want to talk to me anymore. If I could think of another relative I could go live with I probably would. What's keeping me here the most is Ponyboy. But I've pretty screwed him over too, isn't there some saying…if you love someone let them go? Well whatever I don't want to let him go, I don't have to. Yet.

"Shelby?" Ponyboy said as if it was the seventh time he'd called me.

"Hmm?" I asked snapping out of it seeing that we were here. My eyes, and ears, scanned quickly for any sign of Two-Bit.

"Are you okay?" He asked leaning closer to me. "You didn't say one word the whole time while we walked here.

"Oh yeah," I mumbled realizing he was right. I shrugged my shoulders "Yeah sorry Pon just thinking I guess" I grinned.

He didn't smile back; he does that a lot too. He doesn't realize it I don't think he just gets so into thinking.

I let go of his hand and walked around the Nightly Double looking for his car. Aunt Sherri's Car. He can be so friggen clueless it's sickening. My Aunt has to work all these damn bar jobs. I don't know how many, it doesn't matter because Two-Bit wont even walk to his late night parties. He shouldn't be driving anyways he's a horrible driver without 50 percent alcohol blood level which he seldom comes home without. It's not fair. Two-Bit makes it not fair. I should be allowed to date whoever I want. I can date whomever I want. I'm not six I'm almost fifteen! Dating Pony shouldn't be a problem at all. He's Two Bits best friend he knows him better than I do. Well this thought kind of turned from Two-Bit being lazy to Two-Bit being way too controlling. This is kind of a contradiction…

Ponyboy and me were sitting down now on the ground up against the fence. It was still raining, and my hair was soaked with pieces now falling down and sticking to my forehead.

"Shelby?" Ponyboy said quietly, I turned to look at him and his head was down, his hair was soaked and messy. It was adorable like that. My nose felt cold and I was starting to shake. Ponyboy sniffed then looked at me.

"I…I don't think he's here Shelb…" He said looking around one last time. He was right. I knew he was right but I started shaking more as I do when I am about to cry. My throat got all clogged up as if a chip had gone down the wrong way.

"I-I" I chattered out, then I looked over at him and his eyes were so full of concern so in tune with me I wanted to cry, laugh and dance all at the time. I felt like I was going to start bawling and I threw myself into him, I buried my face into his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me in and warming me up. I melted into him and turned my head so my forehead rested on his neck. My ears and cheeks felt cold and, is if reading my mind, Pony pressed his face to the side of mine and kissed my temple so lightly I barely felt it. I smiled into his neck and I wrapped my arms around his chest. After a little while he sighed and started to stand up.

"Come on I'm cold," He said dragging me up with him and steadying me. I nodded and he wrapped his warm arm around my shoulders leading me the way.

I felt really stupid and naive. I thought I would be home in my bed at Two Bits right now. I really did. I wonder if Aunt Sherri has asked Two-Bit what happened with us.

"Do you want me to walk you to the Shepherds?" Ponyboy asked while he lit a cigarette. My stomach sunk. I forgot I had to go back there. Angela is my friend but her family is insane. Curly's always giving me this creepy grin, Tim is with a new slut every few hours, I'm pretty sure their moms on crack, I haven't met the dad yet, and there's this other little kid running around and I'm not 100 percent sure that he even lives with them.

However, I looked up at him, forced a grin and nodded.

I was dreading when I got there, because when I did Ponyboy would leave and I would go in and be alone. Well not technically, I'd be with the Shepherds but Ang wouldn't be there and I'd rather be alone then alone with Curly or Tim.

Nevertheless, it came fast because it isn't far away.

I stood on their old porch kind of like the Curtis' but hideously old and cracking. I stood on the step above him so that I was about eye level.

"Aw your hair…" I laughed sadly and pushed it off his forehead and smoothing it back. He grinned and leaned in to kiss me. It was slow, long and not long enough. I didn't even try to smile when he pulled back, because this was it. There was nothing left after the good night kiss except goodnight.

"Do you want to spend the night?" I asked quickly looking at his chest. I looked up at his eyes, knowing mine were probably making him feel guilty.

He shook his head slowly "Darry'd never let me." He shrugged.

"I know." I whispered. He smoothed my hair back now. His eyelashes were stuck together from the rain around his bruised eyes. He pressed his lips silently to mine.

"I'm sorry Two-Bit wasn't there." He whispered. I nodded. "Goodnight," He whispered again and turned to leave.

"Goodnight," I whispered thinking he wouldn't hear me, but he did and turned around and waved before turning the corner to head to his house.

I went inside after a little while just hoping for the best. Curly and this girl from school were on the couch.

"Shelby," He greeted me. I just hurried past and went into Angela's room. Angela was there but passed out cold, the room smelled like vodka and puke and sure enough beside her bed laid a garbage pail. I shook my head, peeled out of my soaking wet clothes, and changed into my nightdress. Slipping under the covers beside Angela I knew it wouldn't be long before she started to snore or wake up puking. So I tried to fall asleep fast, which wasn't a problem after my night with Ponyboy floated into my head and everything else floated out…

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Oopsies… didn't update for a long time again. However, I didn't get very many reviews for the last chapter and I got more for my other stories so I sort of forgot about this one I guess. I know I know, I feel guilty enough. I still need a girl for Sodapop to date if anyone wants to be in this story or has a character for me. Hope you guys liked it, that whole Shelby's POV thing was kind of a spur of a moment thing… tell me what you think. It was actually kind of fun writing as a girl for the first time. Hmm… anyways please, pretty please, review?!

Peace and Love Mercedes! xoxox0