While me and Johnny were making out I noticed that Maggie and Ponyboy had already left. When Johnny and me came up for breathe I said I thought we should leave. Johnny agreed and we left hand in hand. We were in a kind of awkward silence on the way home but halfway there I stopped Johnny.

"Johnny what are we gonna tell the guys?"

"If you want for a while we can keep it a secret, I'm sure that's what Ponyboy and Maggie are gonna do."

"Yeah, that would make me feel better," I said before starting to walk again but Johnny pulled me back and kissed me.

When we got to the Curtis's surprisingly Dally was already there, obviously he had gotten what he had wanted from Buck. The odd thing was neither Ponyboy nor Maggie were there.

"Hey Dal, did Maggie and Ponyboy come back yet?" I asked.

"Yeah, there in Ponyboys room."

"What are they doing in there?" I asked.

"What you think I know?"

"Whatever, hey you play poker right, Dal?" I asked him with a devious smile.

"Yeah, what's it to you?"

"Well I just wanted to know if you wanted to play me?"

"Are you kidding me, a girl that can play poker, yeah right."

"You wanna bet, pick your poison buddy, blackjack or Texas Holdum?"

"Alright kid I'll take holdum."

Two hours later, and I had $20.00 in my pocket. I'm sorry I meant I had Dally's $20.00 in my pocket. Johnny was just looking at me in amazement as Soda and Steve barged through the door. By this time Pony and Maggie had come out of their room and were watching tv.

"Hey guys whats going on?" Soda asked coming into the kitchen stopping by where Dally and me were playing. Johnny was on the couch with Ponyboy and Maggie and Steve was following Soda.

"Oh, nothing, I just beat Dally four times at Texas Holdum and won his $20.00," I said.

"Oh, Dally got beat by a girl, deal me in," Soda said sitting down. Dally was growling at me and I just gave him my cute smile.

"Me too," Steve said sitting down also.

"Here Steve you can deal but I'm outa here I got what I came for," I said flashing Dally's $20.00 in his face. I walked toward the couch and sat down.

Soon Darry came home and Maggie made dinner. I asked her if she wanted help but she didn't. Although she did say that I could do the dishes. Since Maggie and I obviously weren't going home anytime soon, we made an arrangement with Darry. Maggie and I would live with the Cutis's and go to high school. We would also cook and clean the house everyday. I would get a job as a part time mechanic at the DX after school and Maggie would become a waitress at the Dingo. We would pay for whatever dinner we cooked despite what Darry said.

Maggie would sleep in Pony's and Soda's bedroom and I would sleep on the couch. I really wasn't picky about where I slept as long as I had a place to sleep. Although I did feel pretty bad when Johnny slept over and he had to sleep in Darry's chair. I felt so guilty but Johnny insisted that I keep the couch. I also found out that last night Johnny had been the one to put me on the couch and put the blanket over me.

That night I stayed awake trying to figure out when the Socs would strike and when they'd ruin my perfect dream of a loving home.