Another chapter is up! This was hard to write so bear with me. It's also kinda long for those of you who thought the last chapter was short.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks for the reviews everyone! Keep 'em coming!

----------

"It's gonna make it hard to tell you that I'm leaving
Now that I know just how much you care
You finally gave me one good reason not to go
But staying here is my worst fear"

--Rascal Flatts

-----------

Ponyboy's POV

Sunday morning came a little too fast. Sluggishly, I moved from the bed beside Soda and pulled on my jeans. I tiptoed into the hallway not wanting to wake him.

I started to light a cigarette then stopped. I didn't want our house smelling like smoke when the social worker arrived. Instead -after scouring the hallway for Darry- I settled for swallowing a few aspirin.

The house was spotless. We had spent our free Saturday night cleaning. Two-bit and Steve even stopped by and pitched in by giving us detailed directions on what to clean. Darry finally stopped what he had been doing and flung a mop at Two-bit. "Clean or get out," he had dictated.

In the kitchen, Darry was sitting and drinking coffee. He watched me come in without a word. I hated this part; being stared at as if I were a precious artifact that would be sold to the highest bidder.

I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat across from Darry. He raised an eyebrow at me; I never drank the stuff. Taking a swig I grimaced and choked back the bitter liquid. Darry laughed at me and took my cup.

"Here," he said dumping cream and sugar into it, "try this." He handed me back my cup and I took a tentative sip.

"Better," I said. "Thanks."

"Glory! Why didn't you two get me up?" Soda shouted. He walked in clad only in jeans, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "It's 9, the state comes at 10!" He yelled at us angrily.

"And the countdown begins," I narrated. "Dunh dunh dunh."

"Really Ponyboy," Soda sighed and left the kitchen.

"This is hard on him," Darry announced to me. "He thinks it's his fault. Just go easy on him."

"I know." I slumped in my chair. "I told him it's not his fault." I felt like a petulant child being scolded.

"Things sure are lousy," I muttered to myself ignoring Darry's uneasy stare.

"Listen Ponyboy," Darry began. I took a deep gulp of my coffee using the cup to shade my eyes as he spoke. "Today is gonna be hard but I will not let you two go anywhere. Ok? Alright?" Darry spoke as if to comfort himself.

I put the cup down and nodded earnestly. "You'll do what you can."

Darry could try his best but the truth was his best might not be enough.

XXXX

"She's here," I broadcasted from my position on the couch. I was peeking out from the curtains watching the social worker make her way into our yard. She kicked the football out of her way with her pointed shoes. I saw her lip curl at the condition of our house.

I turned and leaned back jadedly into the couch. "Just one time, couldn't we get someone who isn't an old witch?"

Darry and Soda looked uneasily at me. Darry had given in and was losing to Soda in a poker game. Anything to waste time while waiting for the verdict.

"I'm sure it won't be that bad," Darry lied haltingly.

A knock pounded through the house and I jumped up to answer it. "No! Let me," Darry said hurriedly. I shot him an incredulous look; like him answering the door would make a difference.

He swung the door open. "Hello Ma'am."

She looked at her notes. "Mr…Curtis. I am here for our scheduled appointment. I'm Ms. Barlow."

"Yes, please come in." She stepped inside and surveyed her surroundings. She nodded and wrote something in her notepad. She was an older woman with curly auburn hair and green eyes. She wore wire glasses and a stiff suit.

She noticed me on the couch and sat next to me. "So you must be Ponyboy," she winced as she said my name.

"Yes ma'am," I said lowly. Fear had jumped into my belly pushing whatever strength I had had away.

Her stern face softened into genuine concern as she stared at me. I felt uneasy and shifted my weight. Sodapop must have noticed it because he came over and introduced himself.

"I'm Sodapop." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Soda like he was a piece of garbage.

"Yes. You're the one who was recently jailed," she spat. She turned to me again, gazing at me as if I needed to be coddled. "You poor child," she cooed.

"I'm not a child." I glared at her. She merely smiled and brushed her eyes over me once more.

"Well," this time she spoke to Darry who had stood by silently. But his fists were clenched and he was as rigid as the pieces of lumber he carried at work. "My reports say that Ponyboy has been hospitalized twice in about three months time for reasons unknown," she declared wisely.

"Also witnesses state-"

"Witnesses? What witnesses?" Darry interrupted sharply.

Ms. Barlow flipped through her notes. "A Mrs. Hendricks states that she saw your other brother behave roughly with Ponyboy during his hospital stay."

"That's a lie." I had meant the statement to come out strongly but instead it was a mere whisper.

Darry had paled considerably and he fell into his chair. Soda however, was flushed with rage.

"That nurse. That damned nurse!" He punched a clenched fist into his palm. Then he remembered Ms. Barlow and said, "Excuse me."

He quickly went into the bathroom where we all heard the weak muffling of curses flying. My mouth twitched into a smile, but I bit it back as I saw Darry slightly shake his head.

Mrs. Barlow raised an eyebrow at Darry and tapped her pen on her notepad.

"So you can see how the facts raise concern for your younger brother's welfare."

Soda cracked the bathroom door and emerged sheepishly. He rolled his eyes and flashed me a wry grin.

"Ms. Barlow," Darry began struggling for control, "I can assure you that whatever Nurse Hendricks has said is untrue. My brother is just fine here and-"

Ms. Barlow held up a hand cutting off Darry's words. "I just need a moment to speak with Ponyboy. Evaluate the situation. You may stay." She smirked at Darry who had made no attempt to leave.

Soda plunked down on Darry's armrest.

Great. This would be fun.

Ms. Barlow smiled a syrupy sweet smile and cocked her head. "Now Ponyboy, truthfully, have your brothers ever hit you?"

My poker face was ready. "No." I didn't dare allow my eyes to flicker to Darry's.

"Really." her eyes narrowed but the smile was still there.

"Are you happy here?"

"Yes. I am," I said defiantly. "You won't solve anything by taking us away."

"Us?" she questioned, then shook her head. "Oh no, no. Only you Ponyboy. The state believes you're too young to be in the custody of your brothers. You seem to be the only one in jeopardy…"

Everything slowed down right about then. Me. Just me. Not Soda? Me. Alone?

"-love your parents?"

I shook off the daze. "What?"

"Do you love your parents?"

"Lady, that's not necessary-" Darry said angrily, his jaw twitching. Soda's face was taut as he watched us.

"Yes, of course," I stuttered. Her new tactic wasn't exactly making her any friends.

"Then Ponyboy," she said eagerly, leaning towards me, "do you think they'd want you to stay in this situation? I'm sure if they were alive they'd want the best for you…"

This time Darry was up out of his chair. "Ms. Barlow…"

Stung, I jumped up. "You don't know anything!" I yelled. "This is the best situation for me! Darry and Soda would do anything for me. Which is more than I can say for you!"

I could not believe this woman. Talking about my parents; wanting to take me away from my brothers; treating me like I was stupid and would fall for her reverse psychology crap.

I wouldn't be aware until later that I had started crying.

"Do you have everything you came for?" Darry asked her quietly as Soda pulled me to him.

Ms. Barlow seemed amazed that her good intentions had caused this much trouble. She stood up, smoothing unseen wrinkles from her skirt. She managed to look ashamed as she said, "Yes, I suppose I do."

Darry held the door open for her without a word.

"I'll make my recommendation to the state. You'll know in a week," she said without meeting Darry's eyes.

He swung the door shut in her face.

XXXX

Ok now everyone, answer truthfully (hehe): should Pony be taken away and I'll continue or should he stay and end my story. Or…any other ideas? I don't want it to get drawn out so let me know! Thanks everyone! ;)

Review please!