This isn't one of my best chapters, and I'm sorry, but I promise it'll get better. :) So, try to enjoy chapter five. When you're done reading, please review. It'll give me motivation to type, and I seriously mean that.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders or The Karate Kid.

"S-Should I got call her?" he asked Pony quietly. Ponyboy nodded his head and reached for the telephone on Soda's nightstand. Johnny accepted it and picked up the phone. He fumbled with it for a few seconds, but his shaky hands managed to dial the number. It rang a couple times, and he was afraid she wouldn't answer. But on the fourth ring, someone answered.

"Hello?" they answered.

Johnny took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His heart was racing. His heart was beating so fast, he thought it was going to break through his ribs and chest. Ponyboy nudge his friend lightly. Johnny opened his eyes.

"Answer her," he whispered to his friend. Johnny nodded his head and released the breath he had been holding in.

"Hello? Who is this?" the voice said again. Johnny's nose wrinkled in confusion. That was not a woman's voice.

"This is Johnny. Is L-Lucille there?" Johnny asked the person quietly. There were a couple moments of silence. The only thing he could hear was the buzzing noise within the phone.

"Hello, this is Lucille," someone said, causing Johnny to jump. Her voice was loud yet cheery.

"Hi, it's me, Johnny," he replied shyly.

"Johnny . . ." Lucille said, rolling the name around on her tongue. "Johnny . . . Are you Johnny as in my youngest son?" Youngest son? He had a sibling?

"Uh, yeah . . . That's me,"

"Oh, sweetheart, it's so good to hear from you again," Johnny could hear the smile on her face. If that was possible. "I was reading your letter again this morning . . ." Lucille trailed off. "A-Are you sure you want to come back with me?"

"Yes, I'm absolutely positive,"

"Would your folks be all right with me taking you back?" Johnny scoffed at the thought of his parents caring.

"'Course they would," he remarked bitterly. Ponyboy looked at his friend in shock. Johnny was never bitter like that.

"What's their phone number? Are you calling from your house?" Lucille asked him.

"No, I'm at my friend's house,"

"What's your phone number? Before I can fill out forms, I need to talk it over with them," Johnny gave out the number to reach his parents. "Thanks, darling. I'll call you when I get information, but I have to go now. I have to make Daniel dinner, and get ready for work. I'll see you later. I love you." Johnny opened his mouth to ask the one question that's been on his mind the whole conversation. But before he could, she hung up. Johnny pulled the phone away and hung up as well. He focused on a section of the wall and allowed the question to float throughout his mind.

Who's Daniel?

Was it his dad? His uncle? His grandfather? Johnny jumped to several conclusions before one stood out among the others. Was it his older brother?

"Well . . ." Pony said slowly. "What'd she say?" Johnny tore his attention away and looked at his best friend.

"She said she's going to try and get me back,"

XxXxXxX

Johnny explained the whole situation to the gang that night. Each of them held different emotions. Darry was shocked. Soda looked hopeful. Dally looked angry. Two-Bit looked happy. Steve looked anxious.

"Are you sure you can trust this woman?" Dallas asked as Johnny's story faded out. "What if your parents gave you some fake address?" Johnny's looked at him without any emotion.

"I don't think they'd do that, Dal," he tried to reason, but Dallas wasn't having it.

"You don't think they would? Johnny, your old man beats you. What's to say he wouldn't give you a fake address just to get rid of you?" Johnny saw what he was saying and frowned. He hadn't thought of that. What if it was true?

"Dallas . . . Calm down," Barbara said sweetly, squeezing his shoulder.

"Guys," Johnny started slowly, trying to change the subject. "She said I was her youngest son. I have a sibling. I have a sibling." A smile slowly worked its way onto his face. He had always wanted a brother or sister, preferably younger, but he was happy either way.

"Do you? What's their name?" Mr. Curtis asked. Johnny looked towards him and merely shrugged his shoulders.

"She never said. She only said that I was her youngest," he answered. Dallas heaved a sigh and stood up. He pulled a cigarette from his leather jacket and headed towards the front porch.

"I bet you're better lookin' than 'em, Johnnycake," Two-Bit teased. Johnny's cheeks began to flush, and he turned away. He was going to miss them if the adoption went through.

XxXxXxX

Mrs. and Mrs. Curtis lied in bed that night, talking about nothing in particular as they normally do. Finally, Mrs. Curtis brought attention back to Johnny's situation.

"Do you think we did the right thing?" she asked her husband curiously. Mr. Curtis kissed her cheek and smiled.

"Of course we did. He's going to have a nice home now," Darrel replied.

"I know, but what about the boys?" she asked again.

"What about them?"

"If Johnny leaves, they'll be lost without him," she said. Mr. Curtis sighed and pulled from her.

"I know, but . . . Let's not cross that bridge until we come to it," he told her sadly. Barbara nodded her head and rolled over. The thought of Johnny leaving was fresh in her mind, but she somehow managed to fall asleep.

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