Title- Trying to Adjust

Chapter Title-

Chapter Number- 10

Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders

Reviewers-

XAmberX- Unfortunately, e-mails don't show up in reviews. If you wanna talk to me, attach the hotmail thing to the end of this penname.

RangerDan- Did ya ever think, that if I stopped breathing there would be no conclusion to this? You lose. (LOL)

JamesDeanismygod- I liked the book a lot. My friend told me to read it after I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which is supposed to be a modern day Catcher in the Rye I personally like The Perks of Being a Wallflower better. It's written in a letter format to this guy who remains nameless.

Tessie26- I don't think he would have been able too. But, you never know. I wrote a lot about that more in this chapter.

Eternal Dragon101- I think I wasn't a middle child for about four and a half years. My sister is going to be ten in November and I'll be fifteen in January.

Hahukum Konn- Of course I'll keep it going

oOoRikku4EveroOo- Aw, I guess it is kind of cute

QTpie4- Isn't it just a fun age to be?

Note- I just thought of this, so sorry if it sucks.

The next morning, Two-Bit took me over to Pony's house. We ate breakfast with them and then Soda, Steve and Darry went to work. Two-Bit watched some television, and then he turned to look at Ponyboy.

"Hey, would you mind baby-sitting Liz?" he asked Ponyboy. "I got an errand to run," he answered. Ponyboy just nodded.

"I'll watch her," he answered. Two-Bit put Pony in a headlock, it looked kind of painful, but they laughed. He let go of Pony and then got into the car.

"So, what do ya wanna do?" I asked him. I made everybody bored. When I was around, there seemed to be nothing to do. Pony shrugged. "You're boring," I told him. He just nodded and went back to reading. I started to play with my doll. I pretended she was the baby and I was the mommy. I never got killed. I was always there for my baby. "Pony?" I asked, turning to look at him.

"Huh?" he answered, looking up from his book.

"Were you mad at your mommy and daddy when they left you? Or were you sad?" I asked him.

"I was really sad," he answered.

"Did Darry become really boring?" I questioned. I climbed up onto the couch.

"Yeah, he spent most his time working," he replied.

"Do you still miss 'em?"

"Yeah," he told me.

"It's okay, right?" I asked. He nodded. I got off the couch and went back to playing with my doll like that conversation never happened. "When's Two-Bit coming back?" Ponyboy shrugged.

I thought of everything that had happened since my mom died. Two-Bit was taking care of me. I love him and everything but he couldn't be my mom. Two-Bit dropped out. He didn't want to do that, but I don't know why he did. He got a job and he even fought with Steve. I know he didn't want to, but he did.

Two-Bit came back later. I was really nervous. I didn't know what he did, but he didn't go shopping. Normally, when mom said errands, she meant shopping. But, this is Two-Bit, and with Two-Bit you never know. He took me home and I sat on the couch. He went into the kitchen.

"Two-bit, are you happy?" I asked him. "Like, do you wanna go back to school and be a regular guy again?"

"Sometimes," he answered. His back was towards me. "Why?" he asked.

"Well, I was just wonderin', 'cause I know I really begged you for stayin' with you. But I never thought about you. And what you wanted. And, and, and, I don't know," I said. "Sometimes I just want a mommy," I whispered. Two-Bit didn't say anything. He just continued on with dinner. "Are you ever mad that you have to fight with Steve?" I asked him.

"Sometimes, I don't think it's fair," he told me. I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. Finally, I decided to ask the question I was thinking about all night.

"When the month's up, would you ever put me in a home?" I asked him. He just stopped. Nobody made any noise. Nothing moved. It was like everything froze. I bit the inside of my cheek and started to wring my hands.

"I don't know, would that bother you?" he asked me.

"Not really," I told him. "I'd like to be with you! But, I don't know!" Everything was still and quiet again. After a few minutes, Two-Bit told me dinner was done. I sat in the chair and started to eat the meatloaf he made. It wasn't a bad meatloaf. But, I never liked meatloaf in general. "What did you do today?" I asked him.

"Nothing, really, I just walked around for a bit. Thinking, ya know," he responded. He didn't look at me. By the way he said it; I knew we were both thinking about the same thing all day.

"You were thinkin' about this, uh, what d'ya call it? Oh, yeah, this 'situation'," I told him. He nodded. "You can't put me in a home," I said finally.

"But you just said you'd be fine with it," he reminded me.

"I don't know. I really don't wanna leave ya but at the same time I want you to be happy," I told him.

"We're just goin' to have to see what the State wants," he responded. I nodded and ate dinner. After dinner I took a shower and went to bed because I had school the next day. Part of me never wanted the end of the month to come, and part of me couldn't wait. I didn't know what to do.

I didn't get much sleep that night. I stared at the ceiling and when Two-Bit came in to check on me I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. And after all that thinkin' I got around to being mad at my mom and my dad. Why weren't they here? If they were here we wouldn't be in this mess. I rolled onto my stomach and buried my face in the pillow. I started to cry quietly. I didn't want Two-Bit to hear me.

I tried to imagine what I would've done in that situation, and to tell ya the truth; I would've sent me off without a second thought. Maybe I'm just mean, maybe, I don't know. I just have to wait and see what Two-Bit does. And next time Steve says something, I might just have to agree, but I will not fight him anymore. 'Cause now that I got to thinkin' about it. He just may be right.

This was a weird stroke of genius. There are two ways this story can go. I'm debating it going either way. Right now I'm leaning towards one way. But who knows? You could sway me.