All credit of The Outsiders goes to S.E. Hinton.

Ponyboy's POV

The next morning, I found myself waking up on the living room couch. The sun was shining through the large window at the front of the house; the bright light hit me right in the face and practically blinded me the second I opened my eyes from a deep sleep.

"Jesus Christ," I muttered, immediately shielding my face.

Then, suddenly, I felt a weight shift on top of the bottom half of my body. I uncovered my eyes and looked down at the person laying half on top of me, half on the floor.

Jamie. Her head was right on my crotch, and honestly I didn't know what to do. Was it there on purpose? Was she trying to tell me something? She seemed to be sleeping, and I didn't want to bother her, so I let her lay there for a couple of minutes.

I lied back down, my head on the little couch pillow, and tried to fall back asleep myself. I was guessing it was still pretty early since no one seemed to be up yet. Just as I was starting to doze off, I realized how awkward it would be if either Darry or Soda or anyone else came along and saw Jamie sleeping with her head on my crotch. So, I decided to wake her up. I also didn't want Darry to know she had slept over; even if nothing happened but us just sleeping on the same couch together. I didn't even know if he knew about this or not, but better safe than sorry right? I knew he would have a heart attack if he found out. The last thing Darry wanted was for me to actually like a girl. That would take away attention from my studies!

I softly shook Jamie until she woke up.

"Ponyboy...?" I think that's what she said, though I'm not totally sure. Her voice was really hoarse.

"Did I really sleep over last night?" She spoke after clearing her throat, and let out a little laugh.

I nodded and sat up straight myself.

"Why the hell did I do something like that?" She chuckled a bit more and started fixing her hair, which was a mess. "Oh, I didn't mean it like that..."

"You were cryin' a lot last night. You kept sayin' that you didn't want to go home. After all that you told me about your dad, I figured you deserved a break from him."

"Right."

We sat in silence for a moment. I didn't really want Jamie to leave, but I didn't want any of the guys to catch her there so early either. They'd probably get ideas in their heads.

Jamie looked at me with a very faint smile. "Thanks for helping me last night. I felt so crazy for trusting you so quickly, but I also felt crazy for never sharing anything with anyone. You know what I mean? Anyway, thanks."

She then stood up and grabbed her sweater off of the armchair. "You want to me to go, I know."

I stood up quickly and shook my head. "What? No! I don't want you to go. Jamie, you're-"

"Darry will probably wake up any minute. We can see each other later."

Before I could say anything more, she turned around and headed out the door. Right before she closed it, she poked her head back in. "Sorry for sleeping on your crotch, by the way."

Darry's POV

I woke up at around 8:30; a little later than usual. I wasn't one to sleep in. And I would've probably even slept later if I hadn't heard the front door slam close.

I got out of bed and threw my work pants on. Work was slow, and that day we only had two houses to roof which were both scheduled for later on in the afternoon. So I had the whole morning free.

As I went down the stairs, I heard someone shuffling around in the living room. It was no one other than Ponyboy, fixing the cushions on the couch.

"What's up Pony?"

He jumped and spun around. I must've frightened him.

"Uh, n-nothing Dare. Just fixin' up the couch."

I kept my gaze on him as I went outside to get a clean work shirt off the clothesline. Ponyboy looked nervous, and I couldn't figure out why.

When I came back in, he was in the kitchen about to make eggs on the stove.

"Why you up so early? It's only eight thirty, usually you sleep in much later," I said while I put some bread in the toaster.

He cracked an egg over the pan and threw the shells out all in one swift move. Ponyboy was always good in the kitchen.

When he still didn't answer me after a good 30 seconds, which is really a long time, I asked him again.

"I don't know, Darry. I just wanted to wake up early is all." He spoke very slowly. I could tell something was up.

"You sleep on the couch last night?"

He nodded. "Yessir."

"When did Jamie leave?"

"Would ya quit askin' me so many questions?"

"I just want to know when Jamie left. When I went to bed she was still there in the living room talkin' with you. Did she stay over?"

"Why would you ask me somethin' like that?"

"I ain't gonna start yellin' at ya if she did, Pony. I just think I have the right to know."

He shook his head. "Don't say you ain't gonna yell at me. We both know you will."

"So you're sayin' she did sleep over?"

He shrugged.

"Dammit Ponyboy, all I wanna know is if she slept over or not! Don't be so difficult."

Pony picked the pan up from the stove once his eggs were done. They were scrambled, the only way he ever ate them since he was a little boy.

"Yeah, she slept over," he said very quietly as he moved them onto a separate plate.

"Are you kiddin' me? Ponyboy Curtis, I thought you were better than that. This is unacceptable!"

He threw the dirty pan in the sink and spun around. He tried to push me, but of course he was too weak and I barely moved an inch. "It ain't like anythin' went on, Darry! You wanna know what's unacceptable? You treatin' me like shit ever since mom and dad died! I didn't mind you acting like a father to me and Soda before, but now it's disgusting!"

I put my hand on his shoulder and tried to calm him down, but she shrugged me off instantly. "Come on now, Ponyboy. You don't mean that. I'm just tryin' to watch out for you."

He glared up at me, fear and pain in his eyes. "Really?"

Pony then stormed off to his room.

Sodapop's POV

I woke up to the sound of the slamming door, yet again. What was it with people slamming doors? Earlier that morning it was the front door, which was probably just the wind as usual, and now it was Ponyboy.

"I swear to God, I can't take it no more."

I sat up as Pony sat down on his side of the bed.

"What's it now?"

"Darry treatin' me like a little kid."

I let out a little chuckle. "Still ain't used to it?"

He put his head in his hands. "I really like Jamie. She's such a great person, you know?"

"Yeah, she seems pretty great."

"Last night she told me about her dad... he's a drunk. Damn, I probably shouldn't have told you that. But I just felt so bad for her. I didn't want her to go back there, Soda. Golly, her dad's probably beatin' her up right now for not comin' home last night."

I shifted over next to Pony and rubbed his shoulders. It was something that only I ever did to him to calm him down. I was pretty much the only person who could relax the little boy.

"I shouldn't have made her leave so quickly."

"You shouldn't feel so bad, Pone. It ain't your fault her dad's like that. You can't help it. You can't change anythin'."

"But I want to help, Soda. If Sandy's dad beat her up when you were dating, wouldn't you wanna help her?"

He had a point. If Sandy's dad ever laid a finger on her when we were together, I really would've given him a piece of my mind. "When's the next time you're gonna see Jamie?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

I got out of bed and threw some clothes on; yes, I only sleep in my underwear. I then opened the blinds and turned to face Pony. He was staring miserably at the floor.

"Tell ya what. Me n' Steve are meetin' at the Dairy Queen in a half hour," I said, bending down in front of him. "You wanna come and have a milkshake or a burger or somethin'? I'll pay."

He shrugged again. "Darry probably won't let me outta the house. I don't think he wants me seein' Jamie anymore."

I laughed. "Why? Cause she slept next to you on the couch? Ponyboy, Darry was just as young and in love as you are when he was your age. He just forgot what it's like. So next time he yells at you about Jamie, or any other girl, just remind him of that."

"Hey, I don't love Jamie."

"Okay, he was young and was good with the girls when he was your age, just like you. Well, actually, you ain't that great with the girls at all." He playfully punched my arm. "Now you gonna come with me or not?"

He stood up and nodded with a smile. I ruffled his hair and we both headed out of our room.

Enjoy!