Okay, guys, I know, I know: I haven't updated in a loonng time. I won't hold it against you if you hate me forever and ever and...well, you get the point.

And no fair, how come there's only two reviews for the last chapter! Well, oh well, that's what I get for not updating in such a long time! Well, thanx to you two, and thanx ponyisgoldxxx for the chapter 3 review!

Oh yeah, and I was just wonderin', what's up with all the bad fics lately?...well, they're not bad, they just don't have that 60s attitude or whatever. The girls (that aren't even greaser girls) are walking around with tube tops and daisy dukes??? That makes no sense! And what about the music? I mean, yeah, I know not a lot of people really know about some of the music back then, but I mean there are popular songs...in fact, even if you don't know what the 60s are, you could at least use some common sense and not use songs by...50 Cent or something in your story...well, that's just my opinion, and as my dad always say: "Everyone has an opinion, and they all stink." so who cares what I think? Well, I do, but you know what I mean! Anyways, on with the show!

Chapter 5: Talks and Walks

"So, Pony, what was that all about?!"

I rolled my eyes and tried to ignore Sodapop...well, we all know how hard that is.

"I think Ponyboy has a girlfriend," Two-Bit began.

That was it. I couldn't take this incessant torturing any longer, and decided to just go to room and try to read or do my homework or something.

Well, that, too, was impossible, considering I couldn't get Jackie off of my mind. It was beginning to get a little annoying too, so I just laid on my bed and stared up at the ceiling...alright, alright, so I was still thinking about her, so what!

I heard the door open slowly and sat up, preparing myself for anyone that had dared to interrupt my thoughts. It was Darry.

"Oh, it's just you," I said laying back down.

He sat down in the chair at my desk and just sat there for a while with his hands in his lap. I knew he probably wanted to talk to me about something, but I pretended not to notice.

"Uh, Pony, about that girl..."

'Girl? Oh god, please let this not be a sex talk...'

"Jackie? What about her?"

He was quiet for a few moments, making me even more nervous about what he would say next.

"Well, Pony, I know ya like her and all, but--"

I rolled my eyes and sat up. All this talk about her was gettin' pretty annoying.

"Look, Darry, I know what you're gonna say: 'keep your nose in your books, Ponyboy, not on girls'."

Hell, we'd had this talk millions of times and I sure did not want to have to sit through another one.

""Yeah, that's true, but..." Geez, he certainly seemed to be having a hard time with getting this out, "There are just certain things in the world that don't work."

"Like me and her?"

He looked as if he didn't really want to answer, then reluctantly, "Yeah, Pony, like you and her...she's--"

"Black and I'm white, yeah I know," I finished for him angrily. Did he think I hadn't already thought about that?

"Look," he said, a little more sternly. I think he was starting to get frustrated with the way I was acting, interrupting and all, "I'm sure she's a nice girl, but...it'd just be better for you and for her that you don't get too hung up on each other."

I stood up furiously. What the hell was he talking about?! Nobody even said there was anything going on between us...okay, some people did, but that doesn't mean it's true.

"We...Nothing even happened between us, alright!"

He stood up also, which was enough to get me to shutup.

"Yeah, well, if nothing's goin' on, then why you got that scar on ya face, huh!"

I was dumbfounded, having forgot about what had happened earlier almost completely.

"Things like that happen, Pony, when you're not careful." His eyes got a little softer and he put a hand on my should awkwardly, "I just...don't want you to have any trouble just cause ya like someone."

I felt like hitting him or running out or something, but you just don't do that with Darry, so I just stood there with my face growing hotter by the minute.

later on that evening...

"Sodapop?"

He groaned and turned his head to look at me. It was so dark, I could barely see his features, but I could still tell he hadn't really been sleeping too heavily.

"What do you think about Jackie?"

He sighed deeply and sat up on his knees turning on the lamp beside our bed. For a while, we both squinted, trying to readjust our eyes to the light, then he sat back and leaned his head on the wall behind us.

"I don't know, Pon'."

I frowned, dissapointed with his answer.

"Well, do you think she's pretty at least?"

He thought about it for a minute, running his hand through his blonde hair.

"Well, yeah, she's pretty, but..."

My eyes narrowed. I prayed he wouldn't say the same thing Darry had. Soda was supposed to be understanding. "But what? But she's black?"

Okay, yeah, I know I was jumping to conclusions, but what else could it possibly be that had everyone all upset?

"Now, c'mon, I didn't say that."

"Yeah, but that's what you meant."

He just looked at me for a second, then stood up and grabbed some jeans and his jacket.

"What are you doing?"

I tried to keep my voice down, but hell, I didn't know Soda was even completely awake!

"We're goin' for a walk."

He said it as if there was nothing extremely unusual about going for a walk in the middle of the night.

"Where?"

"It don't matter, just come on."

I stared up at my brother, bewildered at what his motive could possibly be, but regardless of my thoughts, I got out of bed, threw on some clothes and we headed out.

Ha ha ha ha ha, you can't read chapter 6! Well, I act like someone just died or something, but still, you can't read it until I decide you can! But, while you're waiting, you can always review! (He, he, he, I'm so sneaky!)