Hello!! Hope everyone had a good 4th of the July, with fireworks and good food. Well here it is Chapter 10.

If people were confuse, Danny is the same guy who kissed her and left, (back in the flashback in the earlier chapters) So here is what happeneds to their ride home.

The song bit is "The Way I Loved you" By Taylor Swift. I like most of her songs, and these lyrics were excatly what I was looking for. If you get a chance listen to the song. On that note, if any of you guys have a fav. song that you think I could use, e-mail me or review this chapter with the song. If I can't use it in this story, I will use it in another.

Please, Please review. The reviews help me become a better writter, and helps me continue writing. Anything is wanted, review, feedback etc.

Thanks to the reviews that I did get: harprani, ashleymarieanneclark, whatcoloristhesky

Thanks to Cathy for being a great beta.

Disclamer: I do not own The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Nor do I own the song "The Way I Loved You" By Taylor Swift.

Enjoy!!

Chapter 10: Welcome Back

But I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain
And it's 2am and I'm cursing your name
You're so in love that you act insane
And that's the way I loved you
Breakin' down and coming undone
It's a roller coaster kinda rush
And I never knew I could feel that much
And that's the way I loved you

Taylor Swift

We both walked out of the noisy house and into the crisp night. It was unusually quiet; the only sound was the wind making its own melody. We headed over to his dark blue Ford truck. We were both silent. What was there to say? I knew that once we both got into the car we would start talking. I wanted to yell at him, cuss him out and tell him the hell he put me through. On the other hand, I wanted him to hold me, to reassure me that he would be here to stay.

He came to my side and opened the door for me. He grabbed my hand and I felt a jolt of sparks go through my body. I turned my head to look at him. His eyes held a passionate gleam in them. Once I got in, he closed the door. I held on too my hand, feeling the heat coursing through it. He got into the truck and finally started to drive.

"When did you get back into town?" I asked.

"This afternoon. I was going to look you up. But the boys told me you were back with your brothers," He said calmly.

"Well, if you left a number, or something, you would have known." My reply was tense. I felt my emotions starting to get wild.

"Natalie-" Danny started to say.

"Don't even start," I snapped.

I was silent for a couple of moments, until Danny started talking again.

"Wes told me how you were after I left. That you shut down, almost like you were with Caleb."

I flinched noticeably, the memory still fresh in my mind. He continued anyway.

"Hell after I was done catching up with Wes, he almost kicked my ass. You're like his baby sister." He sighed. "I'm sorry for leaving you. I'm sorry."

"Why?" I whispered. "Why did you leave me?" I trembled at my own words, letting my emotions get the best of me.

We were at a stoplight. He reached over and brushed a stray piece of hair from my face.

"I needed to find something about myself. Once I left, I realized that I had everything a person would want." He sighed. "Well, almost everything."

We had arrived on my street and he pulled over at the house next to mine. He unbuckled his seatbelt and I followed suit. We both leaned toward each other.

"What don't you have?" I whispered again.

His hand reached up and cupped my cheek.

His hot breath was tickling my face.

"I want you," his husky voice sounded in my ears.

He leaned forward a few inches and lightly kissed me. I felt sparks fly through my body as he kissed me. My anger slowly melted away into another emotion. I had missed him, I still loved him, and I cared for him. He applies more pressure, more passion to it. I realized that I was in bliss, that I was happy. I used my arms to wrap them around his neck. I used my hands to feel through his hair. He stopped kissing me for a minute so we could both catch a breath. I realize I didn't want him to stop, that I wanted to stay in his arms. Then he lightly started to kiss me again. Suddenly, I saw Two-Bit's face appear in my mind, and I pulled away from Danny, unlinking my arms from his neck. I leaned back against the door, trying to stop my head from spinning. I looked into his eyes and saw a passionate fire in them. Smoldering and dark.

"Natalie, I'll do whatever it takes to get you back. I love you and I want this to work. I'll talk to your brothers; I'll show you I will never leave you again." He leaned toward me again to cup my face. "I'll prove it to you. I will never leave you."

I was stunned. I couldn't believe this. Could I really trust him? Could I give my heart again to him? I thought of Two-Bit, and how I also loved him. I didn't know what to do. I loved them both. I opened my mouth to say something. However, Danny's finger shushed me.

"Don't say anything. Just think about it. Ok?" He said deeply.

I only nodded slightly, still stunned about what he said.

"I…I…gotta get going. You know…gotta get home." I stuttered, trying to formulate a complete sentence.

"Alright, I'll let you go. Just think about it," he said quietly. He leaned toward me again, and lightly kissed me. He stopped only to have his hot breath again tickling my face. "See you later."

I turned around and got out of the car. I started to walk when I turned around to face him one more time. Through the window I saw he had a small flirty smile and his eye's danced in the night. Like stars shooting across the sky. I smiled a small smile at him and turned around and started walking towards my house. Suddenly a blast of cold wind hit me and I brought my jacket closer to my body. When I was in my yard I heard a car pass by me and down the street.

I started up the poach stairs and opened the front door. I saw Darry inside re-reading the newspaper. He looked up when I entered.

"Hey Darry," I quietly said as I took of my jacket and hung it up.

"Hey, you're back early," he noted, looking at the clock. I looked at it noticing it was only eleven.

I shrugged. "Why? Did you think I would be back later?"

He folded up his newspaper and looked at me. I got the sinking feeling that this was from this morning.

"Darry, when I said I changed, I didn't mean for the worse," I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. "I meant I changed, I grew, learned, saw new things. You wouldn't understand this."

"Then make me understand. Tell me. I can't…the boys can't see you fall apart like this. Just talk to us. We would understand," he said softly.

That was one of the first times I heard Darry use a softer tone on anyone, since Mom and Dad died. I knew it would hurt him to say I can't, so I just settled for the limbo.

"Just give me some time. I just need time." I told him.

Slowly he nodded his head, evident he would accept the answer; for now.

I walked into the kitchen to get something to eat. I had too much going on that I forgot about getting some food. I got out some bread and jelly and started to put it on it. I heard Darry's heavy footsteps enter the kitchen.

"Hungry this late?" He asked.

"Yep. Just forgot to get a bite to eat while I was with the girls. We all got caught up trying to catch up with each other." I chuckled a bit at the last part.

How was it?" He asked leaning against the wall.

I took a bite of my bread when he asked. "Umm…"

Let's see. I went to a gang council meeting, the meeting of one of the most feared gangs in Tulsa. I saw my ex-fling with no warning. Now I have to have protection, because a rival gang, Falcons, is stalking me. Oh and to top it all off, Danny kissed me and wants to have a relationship with me.

However, I just settled for a different answer.

"It was good, very surprising."

I decided to change the subject before Darry could ask any more questions. "Where are the boys at?" I finished my bread and started cleaning up.

"Pony is here, Soda is still out." Darry ran a hand through his hair.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"That brother of yours better get home soon. He gotta work tomorrow."

"Don't worry, he'll come." I reassured him. "I'm going to go and get ready for bed." I yawned. "See you in the morning," I started down the hall toward my room to get my clothes for a shower.

"Night, Natalie."

I grabbed my stuff, and entered the bathroom to take a quick shower. I let the hot water get out the knots and worries in my head. I didn't think about gangs and Danny or Two-Bit. I just wanted a minute to relax.

Once I was done, I got dressed in my pjs. When I opened the door, I heard hush tones in the living room. I closed the door softly and tip-toed into my room. I got into my room and closed my door and turned on my lamp. I reached out under my bed and got out my drawing pad. Everyone knew Pony could draw, but they didn't know I could. I liked to draw; it was my own special thing. And no one knew about it.

I heard my door open and I quickly put the pad under my pillow. It was Soda.

"Hey, can I come in?"

"Sure." He entered the room and sat down on my bed. "What do you need?"

"I just want to make sure you are all right. Is that wrong to make sure your baby sister is all right?" He teased me.

I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Do you want me to stay here with you tonight? I just want to make sure what happened last night won't happen tonight." Concern was not only in his eyes but also etched onto face.

"I'll be fine, if I have any trouble I'll come to you," I assured him. He looked at me with disbelief that I would do that. "I promise," I reassured him again.

He sighed. "Alright, good night, Angel." He messed up my damp hair and left the room.

Once he was gone, I got up and got a small box of pictures out from underneath my bed. Inside, I found a photo of me and Danny huddling together, smiling like crazy fools. I sat that picture on the bed and looked for another one. I found the other photo I was looking for. I t was a picture of me and Two-Bit, sitting on the stairs smiling. His arms around me, pulling me close to him.

I put the box back on the ground and held up the pictures, one in each hand. I look at both and realized something.

This shadow's night is far from over.

How will Natalie get through this???

Well there we go. Hope you liked it. Please, Please review.

I have a poll I am doing just to see what you guys will think will happen.

Who do you want Natalie to end up with?

A. Danny

B. Two-Bit

Review with your answer!!!

Thanks!! Please review.