My life was too good. I should have known something was bound to go wrong.

The car was out almost out of gas and Darry wanted to be kind and pay to fill it up. He was just that way. We pulled over at the DX. Neither Soda or Steve were working today so it wasn't too crowded. Usually Soc girls only drop by to flirt with Soda, which if you ask me is very annoying.

"Here," He said handing me about five dollars in change. I walking inside to pay while Darry filled up the tank.

"Hi how are you?" A teenage boy said about Sodapops age.

"Good," I said quietly while I handed him the money. He began counting and I waited for him to give me the receipt.

"Kaylee?"

I turned around and sure enough I saw Joey standing there with a Reece's and a coke in her hand.

"Joey what are you doin here you never come on the east side?" I was shocked and confused and partly scared.

"I had to, Jamie's is closed because a he had to go out of town and this was the closest station," she said walking over to me. "But what are you doing here? Thought you had too much homework to hang out with me and Cherry?" She raised her right eyebrow and made a suspicious grin that let me know she had caught me in a lie.

"Jo are you ready?" Darry asked walking in and then he stopped when he saw Joey.

Joey chuckled lightly. "Jo?" She questioned. "Oh I see. You couldn't hang out with me because you'd rather be around trashy greasers like the Curtises?" I looked at Joey with pleading eyes.

"Joey," I said softly.

"Save it. I don't care anymore. Hang out with all the greasers you want. You're a liar and you deserve to be with trash like them anyways," she glared at me and then shot a look at Darry. Then without another sound leaving the DX, She walked out.

I felt tears in my eyes and I looked at Darry. He didn't say anything. I didn't want to say anything either. We just walked outside and drove to the Curtis house.

I carried Ainsley inside. It was just easier. If I set her down she might try and run or something. She's that unpredictable. When we walked in all the boys were there as expected.

"Hello boys!" Ainsley yelled and I set her down. She had only met Ponyboy before now. But she was never shy.

"Hey Ainsley," Ponyboy said smiling and she ran to give him a hug. She jumped in his lap and the boys laughed.

"Kid looks like you Kaylee," Dally said.

"Jo," Darry corrected. "She wants to go by Jo now."

"Jo, huh?" Sodapop said putting an arm around me. "Sounds tuff, I like it."

"Is that one your boyfriend?" Ainsley asked making all of us chuckle.

"No Ainsley," I said smiling.

"Well which one is it?! Darry isn't your boyfriend. Ponyboy isn't your boyfriend. Which one do you likeeeee?" She said giving me a very serious look. This kid was going to be the death of me.

"Yeah Jo which one of us do you like?" Dally laughed and I rolled my eyes. I wasn't going to do this.

"None of you. I don't date hoods!" I yelled sarcastically and I felt Sodapop swoop me up.

"No!" I yelled laughing.

"Take it back!" Soda yelled laughing as well. I felt butterflies start growing in my stomach.

"Fine! Fine!" I yelled and he laid me down gently on the couch and winked at me. The butterflies turned into dragons after that.

"My turn!" Ainsley yelled running over to Soda with her hands in the air. Of course once again we all laughed.

"This kid is hilarious," Dally chuckled. "Two-bit that's how your daughter is gonna act, man."

"Yeah! Hey Jo maybe we should have a kid so we can have two Ainsley's running around here," Two-bit said winking out me.

"First of all, we definitely don't need two of that child," I said glancing over at Sodapop throwing my mess of a sister in the air as she giggled loudly. "And second, in your dreams Mathews."

"Yeah in your dreams," Ponyboy mumbled. He didn't look happy. His face was relaxed and he was sitting forward in his chair.

"Ponyboy come here I wanna show you something in my car!" I exclaimed and I ran outside hoping he'd follow. He did. I hopped in the drivers side and he got in the passenger side. I turned and looked at him but he was looking straight ahead.

"Ponyboy what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"It's something."

"No it ain't anything."

"Ponyboy. Please." He sighed. He glanced at his house which was to our right and then he looked at me.

"You've gotten real close to all of them," he said.

"Well yeah, I love them Ponyboy. Is that not okay?" I was worried. What if he didn't want me around his family and friends? Did he still see me as the spoiled soc that yelled in his face a month ago? He was silent again. I was beginning to worry.

"Ponyboy please," I pleaded.

"It's just that, you're kinda my best friend Kaylee," he said.

"Jo."

"Jo," he corrected himself and then continued. "I don't want you to not need me because you've got them now. I guess I just get jealous that's all."

I frowned at the sound of this. It broke my heart to think of Ponyboy feeling this way. I loved Ponyboy and I considered him my best friend too. Not in a million years would I ever not need him.

"Hey," I started and I grabbed his hand. "I need you. I need you now more than I did a month ago. And I'll still need you a month from now. You're my best friend too Ponyboy. Look, Joey saw me with Darry today. She basically disowned me as a soc and I couldn't have cared less. Because I have you."

He didn't respond. Just pulled me in for a hug. I loved hugging Ponyboy. He was so gentle and comforting and he always wore the same cologne that smelled so nice. When we pulled away we walked back inside. When we did I saw Dally holding Ainsley in his shoulders as she commanded the other boys to "do as the queen said." The boys we all bowing down to her and when I saw this I slapped my head with my hand.

"KK I never wanna go home! These dudes are awesome!" She yelled. "This one is my favorite." She said pointing down to Dally. Dallas grinned a wide and genuine grin that I hadn't ever seen on him. But it looked nice.

"Yeah, Ainsley's got Dal wrapped around her little finger," Two-bit said standing up from his bowing position.

"Kneel peasant!" Ainsley yelled at Two-bit. And like we had a hundred times, we laughed at my little sister. Looks like the gang took a liking to her. And I think the feelings were definitely mutual.