Title- Trying to Adjust

Chapter Title- The Man

Chapter Number- 5

Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders

Reviewers-

Tessie26- Here ya go… don't hurt yourself falling on the floor too much.

Tikagem- You make friends with dead ancient dictators. He was an evil dictator. What if I decided to get my Oedipus sock puppet, or my Brutus sock puppet? Or better yet, my Cassius sock puppet, complete with little foil sword! She only knows the bad words from Two-Bit.

oOoDancingQueenoOo- It is kind of sad.

QTpie4-I shall keep writing. Writing equal life…

JamesDeanismygod- Thanks for the compliment. You'll only see Two-Bit through Liz. I don't like switching POVs in a story and I'm not good with characters somebody else created. I have a fear of getting OCC.

Note- Wow, simply wow! I have a separate folder in my e-mail for my Outsider Fanfiction reviews and I have a total of 341 reviews! That's just the Outsider ones. If you add my Charmed ones it's: 356. Then, if you add my TKAM one it's 359. I am envious of the people who get that many alone for one story. (That's not counting my co-write "All's Fair In Love And War". With that added it's 383)

ORIGINALLY POSTED: OCTOBER 5TH, 2005. REPOSTED OCTOBER 6TH, 2005

The next morning I woke up earlier than Two-Bit. It was a Monday, but Two-Bit said I was allowed to miss school for the hearing and mom's funeral. I was really thirsty, so I opened the icebox to see what mom had put into it the other day. I started to get a little teary because I thought of mom. I went to pour myself a glass of orange juice, but the carton was too heavy. As I lifted it out of the ice box, I dropped it. The carton burst at the sides and the cold orange liquid started to form a puddle at my feet.

I couldn't help it, I started to cry. I stood in the center of the juice pool and covered my eyes, crying my eyes out. My brother rushed in, wearing a tee shirt and his boxers. He took a look around and saw me standing in the juice. He picked me up and brought me to the bathroom. He left, probably to clean the orange juice. I washed my feet in the bath tub

I was wearing my nicest shirt and pair of pants. I made sure my tennis shoes were tied nicely and my hair was brushed neatly. I went to bed early last night. Two-Bit was also dressed nicely and he drove like a normal person would. I hadn't seen him smile the past two days.

"Do you like living with your brother?" An older man asked me. I fidgeted in my seat. Afraid to say the wrong thing, I simply nodded. What was going on? "Is he nice?" he asked me. I nodded quickly this time. My brother was really nice, and funny. I loved him. The man turned towards my brother. "As much as it pains me to say, I don't think you are a suitable guardian for your sister." Does that mean I can't live with him?

"You can't do that! She just lost her mother, are you going to take her away from her brother and home?" he shouted. I hadn't heard my brother like that in a long time. He had a fit and yelled when my father left, but that was when he was fifteen.

"How are you going to support her?" The man snapped. He opened up a light yellow folder. "You don't have a job! You haven't gotten out of school! You've failed your junior year twice! You've been arrested," he pointed out. I jumped out of my seat and hugged Two-Bit.

"You can't take me, you can't take me!" I whined. Two-Bit picked me up and I hugged him tightly. I looked at the man and gave him my best puppy dog pout.

"In a minute," the man said and walked out of the room. I hugged Two-Bit and tried hard not to cry.

"I'm gonna miss you," I said quietly. He nodded.

"You gotta be strong, no matter what happens," he told me. I nodded and brushed the forming tears out of my eyes. The man came back in and cleared his throat. Two-Bit put me down and looked at him.

"We have decided to give you a month's trial period. You will be her legal guardian for a month and the State reserves the right to check up on you two when ever we feel like it. By the end of next month, all the due bills must be paid and there should be food in the house." Two-Bit nodded. The man extended his hand and Two-Bit shook it. He directed us to the door.

"Does this mean I can stay with you?" I asked, happiness rising inside of me.

"For now at least," he answered. I gave a shriek of happiness and gave him a hug. His smile was pretty wide. "Let's go see what we need for you."

Thank fully, mom had bought enough food to feed the army. Two-Bit took me over to the Curtis' while he went to get a job. He was going to fill out the papers to drop out of school. That way, he could work while I was still in school. He got a job at the super market, because they had flexible hours. He was able to come in a half an hour after he dropped me off and he could pick me up an hour after school ended. I think he worked that out with Steve to pick me up. I don't think Steve was thrilled with that idea. He was able to get most weekends off, but if he ever needed to go in, I'm sure I could do something.

"I'm so happy I get to stay with you," I told him. I gave him a hug and crawled into bed. I pulled the sheets up to my chin and pulled my baby blanket out from under my pillow. Two-Bit shut off the light and I half expected mom to give me a kiss.

Two-Bit woke me up late. I was going to be late for school, I knew it. I ran into the bathroom, to quickly brush my teeth. I briefly ran a brush through my hair and then I got dressed. I skipped breakfast, there wasn't enough time. I hopped into the car and Two-Bit drove me to school.

After school, I sat on the curb. I hoped Steve remembered, if he didn't I'd be lost. Finally, I saw his car coming. He slowed down enough for me to get in and when I did, he picked up speed again.

"Thanks," I said, smiling.

"Eh, the only reason I'm doin' this is 'cause your Two-Bit's kid sister and he don't deserve that much trouble." That's when it hit me. Everybody was being nice to me because Two-Bit was my brother. I sat still and silent the rest of the car ride to DX.

When we got there, I gave Soda a friendly wave. I still felt really bad. I was a problem for Two-Bit. He didn't have to work, but I was making him. I tried to do my homework, but I couldn't concentrate. I'd talk to Two-Bit later about this.

I have a hunger for reviews now! WAZSHA! (It's my new word!)