**Baby's POV**

Nobody, elite, had spoken to me since I had confessed to Darry and me. I wasn't sure what to do...even Lisa was ignoring me. I was wondering around looking for someone of something. I stumbled upon Darry's gang who was hanging out around the lake. As soon as Penny saw me she stopped talking to Dally and hurried over to me she wrapped her arms around me before I could even contemplate what was happening. "Oh Baby...I'm so sorry I heard what happened." "Thanks." I mumble into her ear then pull away.

"Come hang with us." She takes my hand and drags me towards the group; I groan in protest not really wanting to deal with anyone right now. I was worried the group would judge me after what I had done but instead they welcomed me warmly. "So you're the one that did the real dirty dance with Darry?" Two-bit laughs "Two-Bit shut your trap!" Penny snaps but Two just continues to laugh hysterically thinking he was the funniest guy alive and I suppose if it wasn't such an awkward time it may have been funny. I blush from embarrassment, I am surprised by a slap on the back I turn to see Two-Bit "Oh don't worry doll I was just playing around." I smile slightly but don't really know what to say. I wasn't used to being around such loud and outgoing people the most outgoing person I knew before coming here was Lisa. Apart from Lisa all I knew was uptight, wealthy socialites.

"So Baby you a Soc?" Steve blatantly asks me nodding and looking at me disapprovingly. "I-I'm sorry a what?" I look at Penny for an explanation but she just glares at Steve. "A soc...you don't have them where you're from?" I shake my head slowly at Johnny "What's a soc?" Steve starts to explain but Ponyboy butts in "Well where we are from there are two rival social groups...the Greasers and The Socs. We are greasers; we're poor, we sometimes steal things and have long greasy hair hence the name greasers. Socs are rich and cold....they jump us for no good reason and make fun of us just because they have money and we don't." Ponyboy finishes and the entire group goes quiet and uncomfortable. "Well that's enough of the mopey shit...let's go swimming." Two-Bit cheers and runs to the water the boys and Penny follow after him. Dally picking Penny up and spinning her around making her laugh. They both looked so happy to be together.

"I should of known I'd find you with them." I turn to see Lisa glaring at me she turns around and walks away angrily. "Lisa!" I run after her trying to stop her just to explain my side of the story. "Lisa please just listen."

"You know I used to admire you Baby. I thought Baby's weird her hair's to short, she walks funny...she's better than me." Her voice was full of disappointment which to me was worse than anger. It made me feel worse than before I didn't know what to do.

I looked around in a daze seeing my surroundings but not taking any notice of any of it. But one thing caught my eye a father and daughter laughing as they walked along the sand his arm slung around her shoulder. I knew immediately then what I needed to do.

I stormed over to the Gazebo where I saw the greying hair of my father. I suddenly had reservations of what I was about to do but I knew I had no other choice; I pushed myself forward and with each step more doubt but also more anger came seeping in. The wind blowing off the lake blew against me as if warning me this wasn't a good idea but if I didn't do this I was forever the Baby who never had any courage to stand up for herself and was everyone else's door mat. Before I even started speaking I already knew I was going to cry.

"I'm sorry I lied to you.
But you lied too.
You told me everyone was alike and deserved a fair break. But you meant everyone who is like you.
You told me you wanted me to change the world, to make it better. But you meant by becoming a lawyer or an economist...and marrying someone from Harvard.
I'm not proud of myself. But I'm in this family too. You can't keep giving me the silent treatment. There are a lot of things about me that aren't what you thought. But if you love me, you have to love all the things about me. And I love you.
I'm sorry I let you down. I'm so sorry, Daddy. But you let me down too."

He refused to look at me; he just continued to stare out into the water looking uncomfortable and upset. I didn't know what else to say or do so I left him alone with his thoughts. I went into the garage where I doubted anybody would find me so I could be left alone with my thoughts.

My eyes opened to see Darry in front of me; I must have fallen asleep...obviously. "I have been lookin' for you all over." I sat up and rubbed my eyes, trying to wake up properly. "They found the Schumachers." Darry had a tone of urgency in his voice which made me snap to attention. "Fingerprinted their water glasses. Found out they were wanted in Arizona and in Florida...and they made a fortune here this summer." I jumped up and hugged him finally something good happened from this I thought to myself relieved.

"So then it's all right. I knew it would work out. I knew they'd have to apologize." "I'm out, Baby." I stopped my heart skipping a beat. "They fired you anyway because of me." I muttered realising that it really was my fault once again. "And if I leave quietly, I'll get my summer bonus." I knew Darry couldn't turn down that money and I knew he was leaving. Suddenly pain swelled in my chest overtaken every ounce of my body...he was leaving and I knew I couldn't follow him.

"So I did it for nothing!" I yell angry at the world more than anything. Darry looked extremely uncomfortable almost anxious. "I hurt my family, you lost your job anyway-- I did it for nothing!" I throw my hands up in the air as if saying you know what F*** the world. However Darry wouldn't allow that he grabbed me by my arms and looked me in the eyes , his icy blue-green ones pouring into mine.

"No, not for nothing. Nobody has ever done anything like that for me before." But that meant nothing to me...all I knew was I ruined everything because of my own selfishness. "You were right. You can't win no matter what you do." Darry's grip tightened "Listen to me. I don't want to hear that from you. You can." I was suddenly no longer angry but I felt defeated "I used to think so." I mumbled into his chest as he pulled me into a hug. "I love you Baby." "I love you too Darry." I never wanted this hug to end but I knew it would and I was dreading it.

**Darry's POV**
Even though I never wanted to leave Baby's side there was something I had to do...and she couldn't be there for it. "I'll come back and find you later." We were both hesitant to let go but we did almost in unison. I kissed her as if it was the last time I ever would.
I trudged up the stairs to the veranda of the cabin anxious as hell and fighting doubt with each step i took.
I took a deep breath before knocking, after knocking three times i hoped to god he wasn't home but i knew if he wasn't i would regret never doing this for the rest of my life. Doing what I was about to do could maybe save Baby and my relationship.
I was about to leave but the door swung open revealing a very angered father.
"Dr. Houseman, can l, uh--Look, I'm going anyway and I know whatyou must be thinking-" "You don't know anything at all about me." He interjected surprising me slightly.

"I know you want Baby to be like you. The kind of person people look up to. Baby is like that. If you could just see--" i try to plead for her sake...I know she was suffering without the care of her Father. She loves him so much you can see it anytime she looks at him or talks about or to him...that girl wore her heart on her sleeve.

"Don't you tell me what to see. I see someone in front of me who got his partner in trouble...and sent her off to some butcher..." and that's when i realised pleading and begging wouldn't get me anywhere because he only saw me as one thing a poor greaser who was never going to be rich enough or good enough for his daughter.
"Yeah I suppose that is what you'd see." I say more harshly than i intended but I was so god damn sick of everyone treating me different because of my wealth status! How is it fair? I tell you IT ISN'T!!

**Sodapop's POV**
"So then why are they kicking us out?" I questioned Darry my voice full of anger and sadness.
Ponyboy looked between at us like he was a lost puppy unsure of what to say or do...he had gone pale...something he does when he gets nervous.
Darry didn't answer...with words but i knew by his look and uneasy bodh language why we were being kicked out. "You slept with her..." How Darry get a girl like that? She was in the same wealth and class status as a Soc and Socs and Greasers didn't go together. But I guess looking back on it Darry was really a Soc...he had the brains and properness of one but the gang and wealth status are what keeps him a greaser.
Darry nods in response to my statement avoiding eye contact. I wanted to be mad at him... I wanted to blame him for taking me away from my girl but i couldn't because he did something for himself for once and unfortunately it just turned out bad for him. It wasn't really his fault...he fell for a girl like I fell for a girl and now we were both about to live with the consequences of that.
"Have you told her?" Darry then made eye contact "not yet...I'm gonna go do that now." I nod and stand up Pony looks up at us and I look down at him. "You're so lucky you don't have a girlfriend Pone." I smirk and ruffle his hair. Ponyboy just glared at me making me chuckle; I follow Darrel out the door and towards our fate...i suppose...depending on how this went.
"Sodapop!" She laughed adorably as she ran up to hug me her auburn locks flowing behind her. She wrapped her arms around my neck. She seemed so happy and I didn't want to ruin it so I refused to let her go for a bit longer breathing in her scent of roses and vanilla. "Soda what's the matter?" She whispered in my ear. I sigh and let go grudgingly "I'm leaving...Darry got kicked out...meaning Pony and I also got kicked out..." I mutter I look at her and see her smile has vanished and was replaced with a frown and tears brimming in her eyes. The wind blew her hair into her face but she barely flinched. I wiped it out of her face..."Don't cry...please....just please don't cry." But she couldn't help it the tears started rolling down her cheeks and she buried her face into my neck. It took all I had to hold back the tears myself because i had to be strong for her.

"Why do you have to go? Why can't you stay?...here...with me." The way her voice broke, broke me. "Because, beautiful if Ponyboy and Darry both need me and I can't abandon my brothers." She pulled away and smiled "Sodapop Curtis...the most kind hearted there is. I've never met anyone like you." I didn't know what to say so I kissed her.

"I'm coming with you!" she states shocking me into silence. "No...Cyndi you can't. You need to stay here...earn money so you can go travelling like you've always wanted to. You can't give up your future for me." "But Soda don't you get it you are my future!"

I gulped there were two ways out of this I could either break her heart and let her follow her dreams or be selfish and allow her to follow me back to a dead beat town where her only future was me...something I knew she would never want.

I pushed her away "Damn it! Don't you get it? I don't want you to follow me. I want to be single...I don't want to be tied down and certainly not to you." She blinked astonished by my outburst and I regretted every second after what I had just said. "Soda....you-you don't mean that." "Don't i? Cyndi I don't like you....you're boring to me now. We're done and that's it. I'm going back to Tulsa where I can be with numerous girls and you're staying here where you can earn money to get away from me." I spit and stalk away before I changed my mind.
"Soda?" I hear her whisper and my heart crumbles into tiny pieces. What had i just done?

IMPORTANT A/N
Hey loyal readers,
Sorry about the lack of updates!! I promise I will try to start updating weekly again! I hate making you guys wait so long for an update.
Anyway I was curious, as we are approaching the end of the story, would any of you be interested if I did a sequel to this? Explaining their lives after that fateful summer? If so please comment because otherwise I won't know. Thanks guys!!