Hey guys! Just a reminder that the story is set in modern times. So here is the first chapter of Part 2…

Why was there a T.V.? I didn't have a T.V. in my room. Had I fallen asleep watching T.V. in Mom's room? Maybe it was a Friday night and I'd been so tired from a hard week of school that I just couldn't make it through "Fashion Police."

But the T.V. was off, and sunlight was spilling into through the white curtains.

I heard Mom's voice.

"Did you see that? Did she just open her eyes?"

My vision encompassed the room to find Mom and all three Curtis brothers in chairs nearby. Darry and Soda's faces were thickly coated with stubble. Why hadn't they been shaving?

Then I remembered everything. Johnny dying, me sleeping with Dally, trying to kill myself…. Crap, they were going to be mad.

"Livvy?" Mom stepped closer to me.

"Hey, Mom."

Clapping a hand over her mouth, Mom pushed back my hair, which was overgrown and wild, out of my face.

Then the relief faded.

"Olivet April Waters! What were you thinking?! You could've died! I can't…"

Mom was literally speechless.

"Anne, can I talk to your daughter alone for a minute?" Darry asked.

"Okay," Mom said, taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself.

She turned to Soda and Ponyboy, putting a comforting arm around each of their shoulders. "Let's go to the cafeteria. We should actually be able to eat now."

Then to me, "This conversation isn't over."

Darry watched the door close.

"Alright Olivet, let's get a few things straight," he began.

This was going to be fun.

"Trying to kill yourself because you lost your boyfriend? I know you're stronger than that, Livvy. You're incredibly lucky that they were able to remove the bullet before it could get to your heart."

I sighed. "He wasn't just my boyfriend Darry. He was my favorite person on earth. You know I don't get attached to people very easily."

"Are you listening to yourself right now kiddo? You aren't even getting close to reaching a valid argument for suicide," Darry said disbelievingly.

"Easy for you to say. You've never been in love."

"I am now. And if Rashida died I wouldn't shoot myself," Darry said logically.

They'd gotten that serious? Rashida had never told me…

…but I had never asked. I'd been too absorbed in Johnny, and too absorbed in myself. I hadn't even bothered to really talk to Rashida in weeks. We'd barely even celebrated together when she and Darry had gotten together…

"You know who you're acting like right now?" Darry asked.

"Who," I said dully, knowing he would tell me whether I wanted to hear it or not.

"Bella from the Twilight books."

I was too incredulous to speak for a moment.

"No, I'm not!" I finally exclaimed.

"Remember when Edward leaves her and she just stops her life, and then starts purposely putting herself in danger?"

"Darry," I started slowly. "When did you watch New Moon?"

Darry blushed, suddenly embarrassed.

"Soda made me," he said defensively. "The point is, don't be Bella. You're not Bella. You're Olivet fucking Waters. Start acting like it. Do you know none of us slept at all while you were unconscious? You're so beat up about Johnny dying; do you think it didn't affect us? Were you trying to put us all through that again? Your father, brother, sister-in-law, nephew, sister, brother-in-law, and niece, not to mention Two-Bit and Steve are out there waiting, worrying their heads off. You're acting like Johnny was the only person who loved you. That's selfish, and guess what, it's not true, though I don't really know why at this point. It's not like you deserve any of us."

Darry continued. "Your favorite person may be dead, but you still have people who you love and who love you. It's an insult to Johnny dying that you tried to kill yourself. You have life. You get to breathe in and out every day. That's all you have to do. Do it."

I felt like an asshole. I was an asshole. Who was I to dump life?

"I'm going to kick breathing in and out's ass," I announced decidedly.

"That's my girl," Darry said proudly, beaming at me. "I'm sure your parents are going to make you go to a therapist, but you know there's always someone else you can talk to about your problems, don't you?"

"Yep. Sodapop," I answered.

"Correct. That crap lights up his life. I'm going to go now so all the people you still have left can see you. I love you," Darry said.

"I love you too, Darry. Thanks."