"Want to go for a walk?" asked Dally.

"Sure" I said so we left.

It was around three am, a good time for a walk. It seemed the entire neighbourhood was asleep. We walked to the park, then the Dingo which was closed and finally the nightly double. Just walking and talking. The movies were all over at the nightly double so we didn't go in.

"Dal?" I asked and he looked at me. "Have you ever been to the country?"

"Nah" he said "You?"

"No, but I think it would be nice, open sky and you could spend the day doing whatever you wanted. Not having to worry about getting jumped."

"Sure sounds nice." He said.

"And you could get a horse to ride for fun, not just for money and you could even teach me to ride."

"Golly, you sure do think a lot." He said

I sighed.

"I thought Ponyboy was supposed to be the thinker." He said. I thought so too.

We got back home around five. I headed up to my bedroom assuming Dally would stay downstairs, but he followed me.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

"Steve's on the couch." He explained. I rolled my eyes.

"The last thing we need is Darry catching us sharing a bed."

"Not like we haven't before." He said and I gave in.

It was true, the night of mom and dad's funeral I didn't want to go home because it seemed so empty without mom or dad. I went over to Dally's room at Bucks and he let me stay over.

I woke up in the morning to people yelling at each other. After a few minutes I got up and made my way downstairs. I realized it was Dally and Darry yelling at each other and everyone else was yelling at them.

"Guys" I said and when they didn't quiet down I yelled "Shut Up!" Everyone froze.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked

"Why the hell were you and Dally sharing a bed last night?" asked Darry.

"Holy Crap you guys woke me up over that. I'm going back to bed."

I slept for a few more hours and when I woke back up I only found Darry home.

"Hey" he said

"Hi"

"You can share a bed with Dally but I don't want anything else going on, agreed?"

"Ya thanks" I said. "Where is everyone?" I asked.

"Christmas shopping" he said

"Do you know when they'll be back?"

"Later this afternoon." He said. It was already two.

I got ready for the day and was just finishing up when everyone walked in.

"Hey" I said "Where are Ponyboy and Johnny?" I asked realizing they were gone.

"At the lot." Said Steve.

"Hey did you guys hear what happened to Tim?" Two-Bit asked suddenly. When we all looked at him he continued "He got caught holding up a convenience store, got 200 days for it."

"Wow" I said "That'll teach him."

"Well we got to work." Said Soda

"On a Saturday?" I asked. He nodded and left with Steve. I sat down on the couch next to Dally and yelled at Two-Bit to get me a Pepsi while he was getting a beer. I closed my eyes, resting my head on Dally's shoulder and drifted back to sleep.

The rest of the weekend flew by. We mostly hung out and I worked on my homework. Monday came soon. Too soon. We had to go see the judge in the morning and I was nervous as hell. Well at least I'm missing math and science I thought, but not even that comforted me.

Darry made sure we arrived at the courthouse early and looking wonderful. My knees were shaking so bad I could hardly walk. I had taken a good, long look around the house before I left trying not to think about leaving. I had lived there my whole life and it was a part of me.

I looked around at Darry, Soda, and Ponyboy as we entered the courthouse. Pony looked nervous along with Soda. Darry was trying to stay strong but he was really just as nervous as me.

There weren't many people there just Mr. Wepper who was the guy from the state, Judge Prezi, and our principal Ms. Cattlemore. We took our seats and I tried wiping the sweat off my hands on my jeans, but it didn't work to well. The judge talked to us about the people we hang out with. I wasn't looking forward to talking about my schooling. I should've just cut the crap and worked harder, and I would've done a lot better.

The judge congratulated Ponyboy on his grades then Ms. Cattlemore talked about my behaviour. The judge didn't look to happy about that. Finally Ms. Cattlemore read my grades.

"Math 43, English 51, Science 48, and Art 56." Crap. I thought. I was failing two classes and English I was just passing, and how the hell was I doing so bad in art.

The judge left for what felt like ever then finally returned to read her verdict. "Blah, blah, blah at this time I will be placing Ponyboy and Sodapop in a boys home and Megan in a girls home." And that's when I bolted.

I couldn't stand being in there anymore and I couldn't cry in front of everyone. I failed them I thought as I sat on the steps of the courthouse. In a few minutes time Darry, Soda, and Ponyboy found me sitting there, having a cigarette and bawling.

We had a group hug and Darry explained the judge just wanted to try it for a month. I still couldn't believe it.

Ms. Cattlemore came out took one look at us, and kept walking. Bitch I thought. She doesn't give a damn about anyone, just her stupid school. Judge Prezi came out. I had to say she was really nice. She gave me a hug and told me to start doing better in school and in a months time we would most likely be living with Darry again. I was also allowed to leave the home and go hang out with people, not like prison which is how I was imagining it.

That afternoon I moved out. I thought I was all cried out but turns out I wasn't. Some social worker came to get me and another for Soda and Ponyboy. The entire gang was there to say goodbye. I couldn't stop crying until I got into the car with the social worker and we were halfway to the home. The home was only ten blocks away but I was ten blocks to far for me.

Mary, the social worker introduced me to my roommate Amy, who was fourteen as well. I put my suitcase under my bed and layed down. Mary explained everything curfews, school, homework, and meal and bed times. Then she left Amy and I alone to 'get acquainted' whatever the hell that meant. If Ponyboy was here he would've known.