A/N: So, i'd just like to start off by saying how sorry i am that this chapter took forever to come out. On the bright side, however, i will be starting summer vaction on wednesday so i should hopefully have nothing in my way to stop me from updating sooner than i have been.

So, please read on, and feel free to review! :D

Chapter 7

I woke up Friday morning, to the sound of someone walking in the front door. Thinking it was Two-Bit stopping by for a visit; I slowly got out of bed and made my way to my bedroom door. And just as I opened it, I noticed Beth standing not three inches from me. I jumped back startled.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Beth said. "I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that I wanted to talk to you, and your front door was open so I just came in." She paused for a second then added: "Is that alright?"

"Yeah," I said, finally getting my heart rate under control. "It's fine. That's one of the reasons we leave the door unlocked." I pause for a second. "What time is it?"

"Almost eleven."

"Are you serious?" I asked. I hadn't realized that I had slept that long. "So what's going on, how'd it go with your mom yesterday?"

Beth's face dropped. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

I opened the door all the way. "Come on," I said, motioning Beth inside my room. She sat down on the edge of the bed. "Were you at your mom's friend's house all night?" I asked, taking a seat next to her.

Beth nodded. "Yeah. We were talking, it got pretty late and she thought it would be a good idea if I stayed with her."

"So, did things go well with her?"

"No, not really."

"Then why did you stay over night?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Probably because staying there was better then going back home." She paused for a moment then said, "She's married, you know. But I kinda figured that out when she introduced herself as Helen Baker."

"Is that why you're so mad?"

"God, I don't know!" Beth exclaimed, throwing her head down into her hands. "I'm mad at her, but then I'm not mad at her. I just don't know what to think anymore."

I put my hand on her shoulder. "Look, I don't know what you're going through, but I do realize that this hasn't been easy on you. But do you think it's been easy on your mom? I mean, can you really blame her for wanting to marry someone else?"

Beth looked up at me. "No, I can't blame her for that. But she didn't need to leave me and my brother behind."

"I know," I said, even though I really didn't. I was no position to be taking sides. "Did your mom say anything else yesterday?"

"Yeah," Beth said. "She said that after she left home, she went to New York to live with one of her friends for high school. Then she meet this guy, Joshua Baker, and then they got married, she got two step-children, and then realized that she missed her own children and here she is, moving back to Tulsa, and trying to fixed our messed up family."

"She's moving back to Tulsa?"

"Yeah, she came here early so she could talk to Mark and me about living with her. Joshua and his two kids will be here in a few days, then they're gonna move into their new house."

"Well, I doubt that Marks gonna wanna move in with her."

"He wouldn't be allowed to move in even if he wanted too," Beth said. "When I told my mom about what happened with him after she left, she said that she wasn't going to let him into her house and set a bad example on Joshua's kids."

"So are you going to move in with her?" I asked, hoping I wouldn't make her upset. But luckily Beth just shrugged.

"I don't know," she said. "I mean, I'm pissed at my mom for what she did, but if I go back with living with my dad, I'll be hiding out during the day, sneaking in at night-"

"Basically fearing for your life," I finished for her.

There was a moments pause, then Beth sighed. "I think I'm going to move in with my mom. I'll be a lot safer, and she really seems like she wants to make up for leaving."

"I think that's a good idea," I told her. The last thing I wanted Beth to do was to stay with her father.

She smiled. "I told my mom that I would stop by her friend's house sometime today to tell her what I was going to do. Will you come with me?"

I nodded. "Of course."

Happy, Beth wrapped her arms around me and kissed my cheek. "Thanks so much."

For the next few days, Beth stayed with her mom at her friend's house, but spent most of her time hanging out with me around town and eating dinner over at our house. She had some stuff worked out with her mom, but she still didn't feel as close with her anymore, and decided that it would be best if the both of them just did their own thing for the time being.

Joshua and his kids didn't come to Tulsa until the following Wednesday. Beth called me up the night before telling me that she had to help them unpack everything and that we couldn't get together the next couple of days, but that I was invited over for dinner on Saturday night.

This news made me a little nervous. Yes, I had already meet Beth's mother, but that was informal, and she was more interested in her relationship with Beth, not Beth's relationship with me. And then there was Beth's step-father. I didn't know anything about him, and Beth said as little on the subject as possible when we talked on the phone. And even though Joshua has never been a father figure in Beth's life, he might want to fit that roll as soon as he meets me.

"Just be polite and be yourself," Darry told me Saturday morning.

"Just not your greaser self," Soda added in.

"Right," Darry agreed. "Be your book reading, track runnin', movie watchin' self."

"No talking about knives—"

"—or guns—"

"—or rumbles you've saw—"

"—or have been in."

"Guys," I said, holding up my hands in defense. "It's only dinner, I think I can figure this out for myself without you two listing stuff I need to remember."

Soda smiled and wrapped his arm around my neck, and with his other hand, messed up my hair. "I can't believe it," he said to Darry, "our little Pony's growing up."

"Lay off," I said, pushing Soda away playfully.

"It won't be long until his married, has some kids, getting a job—"

Darry gave him a look.

"—just not in that order," Soda added quickly.

"It better not be in that order," Darry said, then turned to me. "I better see your butt in college before you even think about marriage."

I sighed. "Yeah, I know. Don't worry."

Darry nodded in improvement and Soda gave me a look as if to say, "Sorry for making this conversation turn into a mini-lecture."

When it was time to go, Darry told me that he'd drive me over to Beth's, and went off to get his keys. I waited by the truck and looked down at myself. I was wearing one of Soda's old button up shirts, – which was in really good condition because he had only worn it once at Christmas – my good pair of jeans and my sneakers, and my hair was combed back neatly.

Darry and Soda had both said that I looked fine, and I almost believed them until Two-Bit came over and had to leave the room so he could laugh. Darry assured me that he wasn't laughing 'cause I looked bad, but because I looked more dressed up then usually, and he refused to let me get changed. He did, however, let me un-tuck my shirt from my pants.

"Ready to go Pony?" Darry asked, making me jump. I hadn't heard him come up from behind me.

"Yeah," I said and jumped into the passenger seat.

A couple minutes later, Darry pulled up to a two-story white house, complete with a large porch, neat lawn and a mailbox with the name Baker written on the side. If I hadn't known who lived here, I might have thought it was some stuck up family who thought they were perfect. But then again, I only knew one person who lived here, so there was still a possibility of Joshua and Beth's mom being stuck up and soc-ish, if that's even a word (which I highly doubt).

"This looks like a nice place," Darry said, shutting off the engine. The whole gang, and probably other people too, knew that this kind of life; prefect house, perfect family, perfect job, was what he wanted, but knew he couldn't get there, or at least not anytime soon.

I started to get out of the truck and noticed that Darry was doing the same. "What are you doing?" I asked him.

"Walking you to the door."

I shook my head. "No, you don't have to, I can do it myself."

"Come on," he said putting his arm around me when I walked up beside him. "I'm only going to introduce myself then leave. Besides, parents are more comfortable meeting their daughters boyfriends when they see that the boy's parental figure is polite."

"I hope so," I said, shrugging Darry's arm off me. We made our way up the steps, but before we could knock on the door, it swung open and Beth stood were the door had been just two seconds ago.

"I'm so glad you're here," Beth said, a huge smile on her face. "My mom's been going crazy all day cleaning and she's been asking when you'd be coming over for the past hour."

Hearing this, I started to calm down. If Beth's mom was excited that I was coming over, then they probably wouldn't put me through an interrogation.

"Is that Ponyboy?" a voice said from inside the house. A few seconds later, Beth's mom came to the door. She was drying her hands on her apron that was tied around her power blue dress. Like Beth, she had a huge grin on her face. "How are you doing, dear?" she asked me.

"I'm good, how are you?"

"Oh, I'm just fine." Her gaze moved and landed on Darry. "Oh wait, don't tell me. You're Ponyboy's brother, right?"

Darry nodded. "Yes. I'm Darrel Curtis." He shook Mrs. Baker's hand.

"Darry, right. Beth told me Ponyboy had two brothers. The other brother isn't here is he?" Darry and I shook our heads. "Shame, I would have loved to meet him. What was his name again?"

"Sodapop," I told her.

"Right, how could I have forgotten that name? Such nice names you boys have, your parents must have been really creative. Shame what happened to them, but I'm sure you don't want to talk about that." Then, realizing that she was still talking she said, "Sorry, I just stand here and keep rambling, when I'm sure you'd love to come in a sit down. Darry, will you be joining us tonight, we have an extra seat if you want to."

Darry politely shook his head. "No thank you Mrs. Baker, I should get myself home."

"No problem, dear, will get together sometime soon I'm sure. Drive safely and please, call me Helen."

Darry nodded at her, gave me a quick smile and walk down towards his truck.

"Come on in Ponyboy," Beth said, grabbing my hand. She pulled me into house and down the hall. Even though Beth was walk quite fast, I noticed that the hardwood floors were freshly polish, and the deep red walls were full of pictures; some of Beth and her mom, Mr. and Mrs. Baker and some of two boys, who I figured were Joshua's kids. I would have never guessed that this family had just moved in three days ago; it seemed that they have lived here forever.

Beth didn't let go of my hand until we turned out of the hall and into the living room, which, like the hall, was decorated with pictures, as well as some plants. There were two couches and a dark wood coffee table which was position in front of, but a safe distance away, from a large fireplace. Sitting on one of the couches was a man who looked to be in his early forties. He was reading a book but looked away from it when we walked in.

"Joshua," Beth said, pushing me gently forward. "This is Ponyboy."

Joshua put the book on the coffee table, stood up and shook my hand. Now that I was standing closer to him, I noticed his hair was starting to turn gray at the roots, which didn't actually make him look older, just more experienced. I had a feeling that he was probably in his fifties but, for some reason, didn't look it. He was probably going to be one of those people who still looked forty when they turned sixty. Lucky. "I am very pleased to meet you. Beth, and my wife for that matter, have talked nothing but you all day."

"Oh," I said, not really knowing how to respond to that.

"Don't worry," he said, clapping a hand on my shoulder, "they've only said good things. Well actually, Beth said a lot of good things; Helen just talked about how amazing your name was." He started laughing at this, and so did I, but only because he was. Then I was left wondering if this guy actually thought he was funny?

When he stopped laughing, he looked Beth and me. "Why don't you two wait down here and I'll go upstairs and get the boys. I'm sure they'd love to meet Ponyboy."

Beth and I sat beside each other on one of the couches. When Joshua left the room, Beth turned to me. "So, what do you think so far?"

"Your mom's really nice and so is your step-dad," I told her. Even though Joshua wasn't as funny as he must hope, he was still really friendly.

"Ok, good, I thought you might not like them or something."

"I thought they wouldn't like me."

"Well don't worry," Beth said, taking my hand in hers, "Both mom and Joshua are really happy you're here. And truthfully, I think that the only reason their acting goofy is because there glad that I didn't end up like my brother and that I meet a really great guy."

I smiled at her, taking her face in my hands and then kissed her softly.

"Ewwwwwwww."

Beth and I pulled apart to see to young boys looking at us – her step-brothers.

"That's gross," said the younger looking one, his face twisted in disgust.

The older looking brother was standing beside him laughing. "Beth and Ponyboy, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G," he sang. My face started to feel hot. I looked over at Beth; her face was flushing red.

"Enough you two," Mrs. Baker said, coming into the room. "It won't be long until you've got dates of your own."

"But I'd never do that," said the younger boy, referring to kissing. Mrs. Baker only smiled at him.

"This is Jonathan," she gestured to the younger boy. "And this is Peter."

"They're ten and six," said Joshua, walking into the room. "So please excuse them. They tend to get riled up when we have guest come over, especially new guest."

"How old are you?" Peter asked me.

"14."

"So is Beth," Jonathan exclaim.

"No, not for two more weeks," Peter said, pushing his brother.

"Hey," Joshua said to the two boys. "Take it outside."

"OK!" the two boys chased each other out the back door.

Joshua sighed. "Boys." Then he looked at me. "I'm sure you and your brothers were like that too at one point. You have two, correct."

I nodded. "Yeah, I've got two, and we always beat each other up." We still did sometimes, especially when we played football, which we hadn't play since Dally and Johnny had been gone.

"Well," Joshua said, "I guess I should go get those boys in here so they don't get all dirty before dinner." He turned around and walked towards the back door.

"And I have a roast in the oven that needs to be taken out," Helen said, looking at the clock in the living room, then dashed towards the kitchen.

"So," Beth said. "You still like everyone?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I do."

Then we walked into the kitchen and helped Mrs. Baker set the table.

A/N: So that was chapter seven, any good? Let me know. Oh and just so everyone's aware, i will not be here all weekend (going to the US!) and i'm busy until wednesday with graduation stuff, so if i don't reply to anyone i'm sorry in advance. and i'll try to update shortly after wednesday! thanks for reading and happy summer!