Title- Trying to Adjust

Chapter Title- What a Nice Surprise

Chapter Number­- 14

Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders

Reviewers-

Eternal Dragon101- Sorry you had to wait long for this update. Normally, I'm pretty good at updating.

QTpie4- Oh, thank you, I hope you like the long waited for chapter.

Hahukum Konn- Thanks and sorry for the wait.

JamesDeanismygod- Tell me about being busy, sorry for the wait.

XAmberX- Green Day rocks. I have 67 songs on my iPod and a fair amount of them are Green Day songs.

Note- That must have been the longest you ever had to wait for an update. I'm sorry you had to wait that long. I made my confirmation on the 19th and I wasn't really able to get on the computer on the twentieth. I got sick on the twenty first and shortly after my brother informed me that the computer had a virus and the internet was down. He fixed it, but it came back shortly after. So, after MUCH waiting… here it is!

I woke up and screamed. This wasn't my bed, this wasn't my room. Where was I? And then, it hit me. The previous day's events came flooding back to me. I whimpered. I started to get angry at my mom for leaving me, but then I remembered it wasn't her fault. I wiped my eyes and started to think of who I could be mad at. Then it hit me, I could be mad at my dad. My brother always was. I walked into the kitchen, where Terry was cooking. She smiled at me and I sat down.

"Would you like a pancake, sweetheart?" she asked. I was about to say no when she cut me off. "They have chocolate chips," she kind of sang. My mouth watered. I hadn't had chocolate chip pancakes in a long time.

"Yes, please," I answered. She placed three small pancakes in front of me and then a glass.

"Do you like your orange juice with or without pulp?" she asked.

"With," I answered. She grabbed a container and poured some of the orange juice into the glass. I gave her a smile and took a sip. I quickly drank my orange juice and ate the pancakes while they were still warm.

"What do we have on our to-do list today?" she asked out loud. "We need to sign you up for a few weeks at the school down the block, get you some clothes and go grocery shopping. How does that sound?"

"Good," I said.

"Okay, now go get dressed. If we hurry, we might have time to go to Dairy Queen or something. Oh, and I think my car might need some gas," she said. I ran into my room and grabbed my jeans with the ripped knees and a big Mickey Mouse tee-shirt that used to be my brothers. I laced up my shoes and brushed my teeth and then my hair. "Wonderful," Terry said and led me out the door. She let me sit in the passenger side.

First, I was signed up at some very fancy school and I needed a uniform. So, I got fitted for a skirt and a fancy shirt of some sort. I really don't know. Then, Terry got me a new pair of sneakers and saddle shoes for my uniform. They were kind of tight on my feet, but she said I needed to wear them in. So, I got to wear them all day. I also got a few pair of jeans and some shirts. She got some groceries and then she went home to put them in the ice box. I stayed in the car.

"Okay, so we can go to Dairy Queen for lunch and then get gas, or gas before lunch?" she asked me.

"Well, I'm kind of hungry," I answered.

"Okay then, to Dairy Queen for lunch," she said and drove to Dairy Queen. I got some chicken nuggets and an ice cream sundae. "So, Jim expects us home around four and it's two o'clock now, we still need to get gas, what do you wanna do?" she asked me.

"I don't know," I answered.

"Well, let's go get some gas. Oh, gosh, where's that one gas station?" she asked herself. She pulled out of the parking lot and started to drive. I wasn't paying attention, I was examining the nuts in my ice cream sundae. "Could you fill my car up?" Terry asked.

"Sure thing ma'am. Wait- Liz, is that you?" I turned my head at the mention of my name. I gasped and put down my sundae. I opened the car door.

"Soda," I said happily, as I hugged him.

"So, this is the lady taking care of you?" he asked me. I nodded.

"Is Two-Bit here?" I asked. He only worked mornings on Saturdays.

"Lemme go check," he answered. He ran into the service station.

"Soda, what the hell are ya babbling about this time?" I heard Two-Bit ask a few minutes later. I turned my head and saw him. I took a running start and leaped onto him. "Lizzy, wow, you really are here. What are you doing here?"

"Mrs. Whitfield is gettin' gas," I explained. "Hey Steve," I said, casually.

"What are you doing back here?" he asked. "Come to bother your brother some more?" Steve had always been mean to me, but never in front of Two-Bit. Two-Bit set me down and turned to face Steve.

"Just because you had a fight with you dad, it doesn't mean you can take it out on my little sister, ya got it?" Two-Bit asked. Steve made a 'humph' noise and wento back to the service station.

"Elizabeth, it is getting close to three and we really need to start heading back! I'd hate to keep Jim waiting."

"Go, Lizzy," Two-Bit told me. He bent down and I kissed his cheek.

"See ya soon," I told him. He nodded. I got back into Terry's car.

"Well, wasn't that a pleasant surprise. Does your brother work here?" Terry asked.

"No, I don't think so, just his friends," I answered her.

"Oh, how nice, I suppose you used to live around here too?" she asked. I nodded. "Care to show me where?" she wondered. I nodded. "Well, give me some directions." I told her how to get my house. I pointed out which house I lived in on the block. "You lived there?" she asked me, sounding surprised.

"I lived there with my brother, my mom, and my dad. Well, before my dad left and my mom died," I explained.

"Oh, that's so sad. Well, I think Jim would like us home now." She drove us back. I saw him standing in the backyard grilling something.

"Have you ever had lamb, Elizabeth?" Jim asked me. I shook my head. "Well, these are lamb chops, you gonna try some?" I nodded. "That's a good girl."

"Elizabeth, could you go inside? Jim and I need to talk about a few things in private." I nodded and opened the back door, but I left it slightly open so I could hear.

Was it worth the wait? As a special treat, I won't have you wait that long for the next chapter. I really didn't mean to do that to you guys.