A/N: Hey, hey! I'm so sorry I haven't updated for a while, but I'll explain that later. Right now it's time for the songs! :D

Songs for this chapter: Uh… let me get back to you on that. *thinks of songs and looks on ipod, only to see that I can't find anything for the chapter* uh… what are you all waiting for? It's time to read the chapter! *smiles nervously*

"Hey, Darry," I called to him while I was cleaning Soda's and my room. It was the afternoon before my date with Caitlyn, and I had been working my butt off, but I forgot to tell him about it so I could get some money. So, now was the time to tell him. I guess I'm a bit of a procrastinator sometimes.

"Yeah, Ponyboy?" he said as he walked into the room from behind me.

"I forgot to tell you… why do you think I'm doing all this work around the house?" I hinted.

"Well… I thought you were just helping around the house, but okay, why have you been doing all this work around the house?" he asked as he crossed his arms.

"Caitlyn and I kinda… have a date. And I need more money. I was wondering if you would give me some extra money for it?"

"As long as it's not tonight, sure." He told me.

"Okay, gr- wait, why can't it be tonight?" I asked him curiously.

"Don't you remember? The people from the state are coming tonight to check up on us. We all have to be here tonight. Why?"

"Oh, no reason at all, really… but I need to know: what should I wear? Something casual, formal, what?"

"Wear whatever will fit the date." He told me simply.

"No, I mean for the people from the state." I told him, slightly embarrassed.

"Wear whatever you usually wear. Is something wrong, Ponyboy?" he asked me, slightly curious.

"Nothing, nothing really."

"Ponyboy, something's wrong. Tell me." He demanded sternly.

"Nothing's wrong, now leave me alone so I can get ready for the people from the state." I told him, my voice rising with frustration and anger.

"Alright, fine. I don't want to start a fight. Remember what Soda said?" he ended as he walked out.

"I'm sorry, Darry. I'm just a little stressed right now, that's all." I told him as he walked out.

"You don't have to be stressed out over this, Ponyboy. Now I have to go get ready." And he was gone.

I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it. She was probably already going to the restaurant; we'd agreed to meet each other there. I couldn't call her, because I didn't know if she was there already, and if she was, I didn't know the phone number of the restaurant. Heck, I didn't even know if they had one in the first place. I could only sit there, dazed, trying to figure this all out. Then, suddenly, Soda came in.

"Hey, Pony," He said in that voice that he only uses when he knows something's wrong. Darry probably sent him in, because Soda had no other reason to be in there at the time, and he was certainly ready for the people from the state: he took a shower and I could see there wasn't any grease in his hair at all, which was combed to the side neatly. He looked a little like he did for the hearing we had after Johnny's death. Actually, his hair looked exactly the same, but he was wearing a different shirt; it was pale blue and had a flip-up collar on it, which at the moment was flipped down. I had never seen him wear it before.

"Hi, Soda," I replied. "Look, I know why you're here. Darry sent you in. Nothing's wrong, I already told Darry that."

"Ponyboy, there's something wrong, and I know it. You can tell me anything, come on," he tried. But I was annoyed then.

"No, Soda, nothing's wrong, okay? Now leave me alone so that I can get ready for my- the people from the state." I told him sternly, and my voice wavered a little for fear that he would guess that something really was wrong. But he didn't suspect a thing- instead, he volunteered to help me with getting ready. I greatly accepted, because honestly, I didn't feel like getting prepped up without any help.

That night would be the worst of my life.

A/N: Okay, so again I'm sorry for not updating very much lately. August has been a busy month for me. I mean, come on, my birthday, my sister's birthday, visiting my cousins and just being generally busy. And it was REALLY hard figuring out what should happen to Ponyboy here.

Please remember to R&R, though! :D Every good review makes me happy! :D Okay, I know that was a little lame, but whatever. :)