So, I'd like to thank my two reviewers. It means a lot. :) I wrote another chapter, so here I am to post it. I hope you enjoy it. When you get done reading, please review! Also, I have a few more stories for The Outsiders on my page. Go check them out! Review those as well. :)

Pony stared at him blankly. He never could have seen this coming. His best friend was adopted. Johnny Cade wasn't a Cade. Suddenly, his emotionless face changed to that of anger. Johnny stared at him hard. Trying to piece together what was going through his friend's mind. One thing filled Ponyboy's mind.

Johnny was adopted.

Being that his parents weren't his biological parents, it brought Pony a great deal of anger. His adoptive parents abused him. That made the situation way worse. Pony brought his hand to his forehead to hide his face.

"Pony, a-are you okay?" Johnny asked him softly. He let out the breath he had been holding in.

"I'm fine. It's just . . . What does that mean for the gang? Are you going to try and find your actual parents?" Ponyboy asked fearfully. Johnny hesitated a moment before shrugging his shoulders. Honestly, he wasn't quite sure what he wanted to do.

"I-I dunno, Pony . . . I mean I want to find my real family; I want to know what they're like . . ." Pony nodded his head sadly as he listened halfheartedly to what Johnny was saying. "But I can't stand the thought of leavin' y'all. Pony, what am I gonna do?"

"I'm not sure. But . . ." Pony bit his tongue and wondered if this is what he wanted to say. Without warning, it slipped out. "If you want to find your family . . . I'll help ya." He knew that was the right thing to say, but it stung coming out. Johnny's entire face lit up.

"Would ya really, Ponyboy? You'd actually help me find my real family?" Johnny asked him happily. Pony forced a smile and weakly nodded his head. "But . . . How are we going to know where to fine 'em?" Johnny collapsed onto Pony and Sodapop's bed. Ponyboy took a seat next to him and sighed.

"Do your parents know anything?" Johnny turned to face his friend. He tried to hide the frown that was forming.

"I dunno. I just found out today," he answered sadly. Pony stared at the floor for a minute before jumping up.

"Maybe my folks can talk to your folks," he suggested. Johnny looked at him curiously. "Maybe my mom can ask your mom. It's risky, I know, but we'll never know if we don't try." Johnny tore his attention away from his younger friend and stared at the wooden floor. After several moments of thinking it over, he sighed.

"Would your parents be willin' to do that?"

XxXxXxX

He felt alone. No one else, besides the Curtis family, was there. Johnny felt like a bum. He felt terrible for always staying at their place. No matter how many times they insisted it was all right, Johnny couldn't ditch the feeling. He stared at his plate and absentmindedly played with his peas. He wasn't feeling too good. The thought of him being a part of someone else's family was still fresh in his mind. The thought of how difficult it'd be to actually find those people made him sick. He wanted to find them. He wanted to know why he was put up for adoption. He wanted a family that actually loved him. But wait . . . If he went to go live with his new family that meant leaving all his friends. He couldn't do that. He'd miss them too much, but would it be worth it? He'd be able to visit them every now and then, right?

"Johnny, darling, are you all right?" Mrs. Curtis asked, pulling him out of his thoughts. Johnny nodded his head and sat his fork onto the table.

"Sorry, Mrs. Curtis, I ain't that hungry," he sighed sadly. Mrs. Curtis continued to watch him, but her lips slowly fell to a frown.

"Is something on your mind, sweetheart?" she asked once more. Johnny looked towards Ponyboy and met his eyes. He looked at him pleadingly. He wanted them to know, but he didn't think he could do it himself.

"Um, Mom . . ." Pony started out slowly. Mrs. Curtis gave her youngest son a slight nod ushering him to continue. She never took her eyes off the tanned boy across from her. "Earlier Johnny found out that he's, uh, he's adopted. His parents now ain't his real parents." Mrs. Curtis stared at him with a sad smile.

"You want to find your real parents, don't you?" she asked Johnny. He avoided eye contact but nodded his head.

"I hate to ask; I really do, but c-could you maybe go talk to Mrs. Cade?" Pony asked shyly. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis exchanged glances, and one of them sighed.

"If it means Johnny gets to know his real family, we'd be more than willing to go talk to his mother," Mr. Curtis answered. Johnny felt himself smile. He looked up towards his best friend's parents.

"Really?" he asked excitedly. Mrs. Curtis nodded her head happily. "Gee, thanks! I-I really appreciate it. Mr. Curtis laughed lightly.

"You deserve it, Johnnycakes. After living with 'em for sixteen or so years, you could use a break," Soda called. Johnny looked at him and smiled.

"Thanks," he said quietly. Then, the entire family went back to eating dinner in peace.

XxXxXxX

Johnny had a hard time falling asleep that night. Thoughts raced in and out of his mind. What if his new family didn't even want to come in contact with him? Maybe they got rid of him because they weren't happy with how he looked. Maybe he was put up for adoption because he wasn't a girl. But if his original parents would have kept him, he wouldn't have been able to meet the amazing friends he had today. But if he somehow came in contact with his biological parents, would they want him back? Would he have to leave Tulsa? Johnny didn't know how he'd react if he had to leave the six boys who had grown to be his brothers. Johnny rolled over and stared at the empty living room. He pushed the negative thoughts to the back of his mind and closed his eyes. Within minutes, he was asleep.

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