I am so sorry for the long awaited update, but I'm back and personally, this is one of my favorite chapters!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"Come on, Aimee!" Soda begged.

"Soda, you... you don't understand. My parents don't like Greasers, or me for hanging out with them."

"Aimee, we've been dating for months, and I still haven't met your parents. I'll dress up real nicely; we'll pick a night your sister's out of the house, and your parents will never know I'm a Greaser."

Aimee sighed. "I guess it's worth a shot, but dressing nicely for my parents means dressing like a Soc. I can ask Randy to lend you something; you two are about the same size."

"Great. What night?"

"Well, Marcia goes out partying every Saturday, so maybe this Saturday, six o'clock? I'll tell my parents."

"Thank you!" Soda swept Aimee into his arms, swinging her around.

"I guess you quite literally swept me off my feet," she giggled.

"Nah, I'd need a broom for that," Soda said, casually.

"Only you, Soda. Only you."

"Only you, Aimee. Only you."

The two stared at each other before laughing.

Three nights later, Soda was dressed in a pale blue shirt that buttoned up with a pair of crisp blue pants that felt weird to walk around in. His shoes were a spotless pair of trainers that used to belong to Darry before they were given to him and he always forget to wear them. His hair was grease free, but he'd brushed it until it was flat as a board before putting it in a low ponytail.

Somebody whistled from behind him. "Soda the Soc."

"No. Just no, Steve."

"Dude, what's with the get up?"

"Two Bit, I told you all three nights ago. I'm going to Aimee's. This 'get up' is to impress her parents."

"How much you wanna bet they're bastards, like their daughter?"

"You better be talking about Marcia."

"Of course. Aimee's a sweetheart, but Marcia... she's the devil in pretty girl form."

"Geesh, Two Bit, where'd that came from?"

He shrugged. "My mouth?"

"Idiot."

Two Bit turned to Steve with that challenging look in his eye before tackling the boy and engaging in a full out wrestling match.

"You two better not break anything," Darry said, stepping over their legs.

"Holler Uncle!"

"Never!"

"Well, look at my kid brother, going to meet his girlfriend's parents," Darry chuckled. "You clean up nicely."

"Thanks, Dar."

"Ow, that was my foot!"

"Sorry, Pony!"

"Ouch, my shin! "

"Sorry, Johnny!"

"Who says shin anymore?"

The brothers laughed before Soda pulled the comb through his hair one last time for good luck.

"Don't tell me you brushed your hair one hundred times," Darry snickered.

"Shush up, bro. I've got better hair than you."

"Oh, I beg to differ."

Suddenly, Ponyboy and Johnny stumbled in, falling over each other snd landing in a heap on the floor.

When Soda and Darry turned to them with questioning glances, they simply huffed, "Animals."

"Soda?"

"Yeah, Darry?"

"Get out of here while you can."

"Agreed. Peace, people!" He shouted, running out of the room, doing a cartwheel in the air over the wrestling boys, and sprinting out the door.

"He's always one for flair, isn't he?" Darry said.

Ponyboy turned to him in disbelief. "You're just now figuring that out?"

A little bit later, Soda was arriving at the doorstep to the Browns' home and knocking lightly on the door.

The door was opened by a stocky man with brown hair like Aimee's and ice cold blue eyes. He was tan with a bit of a mustache on his upper lip, and he was wearing a white button up shirt with blue jeans and dress shoes.

What a weird combination, Soda thought before he stuck out his hand.

"I'm Sodapop Curtis. How do you do?"

The man shook his hand. His grip was firm and strong and slightly intimidating.

"I'm fine. My name is Brad Brown; call me Mr. Brown or sir. Nothing else. Do you hear me, Sodapop?" He put emphasis on Soda's name, showing his less than approving opinion of it.

"Yes, sir."

"Come in. Hang up your jacket on that coat rack and sit at the table beside Aimee."

"Yes, sir."

Woah, strict dude, Soda thought as he hung up his coat.

He walked into the dining room and seated himself beside his girlfriend, who was dressed in a plain purple, short sleeved dress and silver flats. Her hair was pulled back in a braid.

She smiled at him, but she said nothing as her father seated himself.

Aimee's mother was there, and she looked a lot like Aimee with brown curly hair and chocolate brown eyes, but she looked much more defeated than Aimee. Like life had beaten her down hard. She wore a white skirt and a pale orange shirt. Her expression was devoid of any emotion.

There was one empty seat across from them. Soda assumed that was where Marcia sat every night. This meant that he and Aimee sat beside each other with Mr. Brown closest to the door and beside Soda, leaving Mrs. Brown beside Aimee.

Mr. Brown bowed his head, clasping his hands, and the rest of them followed.

"Dear Lord, we thank you for this food we have been blessed with, alongside a roof over our heads and the clothes on our back. We thank you for the presence of Sodapop Curtis, and we pray you guide him as you have guided us."

What does that mean? Soda thought, not sure whether he should be offended or not.

"I'm afraid my daughter cannot be here with us tonight, for she is studying and behind the good girl you have made her to be. Guide us, Lord, and bless us with your strong hand. Amen."

"Amen," they chorused.

"Sarah, dinner," Mr. Brown said, although it sounded like a command.

Mrs. Brown nodded before exiting the room to fetch the food.

"Sodapop," Mr. Brown said, "Aimee tells me you're a drop out. Do you work?"

"Yes, sir, I work at the DX gasoline station full time," Soda told him, politely.

"What of your parents?"

"They passed away sir in an auto wreck six months ago."

"Who do you live with?"

"My twenty two year old brother, Darryl, is my guardian. I also have a fourteen year old brother named Ponyboy."

"No wonder you're a drop out, being raised by a twenty two year old," Mr. Brown rolled his eyes.

"Excuse me?" Soda snapped.

"Dad!" Aimee exclaimed at the same time.

"I also know about your brother and that little murderous friend of his! You're just a family of mistakes, aren't you?"

"Dad, that is enough! Just because he doesn't meet you standards," she spat the word standards like it was the worst possible thing, "doesn't mean you should insult him."

"Shut your mouth, Aimee," Mr. Brown said, calmly.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Soda roared. "Aimee, I'm sorry, but I'm leaving before I do something I regret."

He threw his chair back and stormed out.

"Soda, wait!" Aimee shouted before glaring at her parents. "I'll be home when I've calmed down. Not that you bastards care."

She followed Soda out the door.

"What happened?" Sarah asked, timidly, from the doorway.

"It will just be us two dining tonight, Sarah. Apparently, the Lord has given up on leading that Curtis boy."

"Soda, I am so sorry!"

"It's not your fault, Aimee."

"Still. Please, is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

Soda smiled. "Aimee Brown, how would you like to meet my parents?"

And you'll find out what that means next chapter! Also, the religious views in this chapter are purely Mr. Brown's, so I don't mean to insult anyone. That's just who Mr. Brown is.

Until next time!