Chapter 2:

We arrived at the house and walked in. "Steve said you two got done early. Where've you been?" Darry asked.

I knew this would happen. "Movie." Soda said calmly.

"Were you going to tell me?" Darry asked.

"It was on my list, big brother." Soda said. Oh no. Darry's gonne blow! "At one-thirty in the morning!" Darry hollered.

"Come on, Darry, it was my fault." I said to save Soda. He didn't seem to want to listen to me and starting belting out on Soda, waking Ponyboy up. "Darry! Darry! Stop it!" Pony shouted.

Darry started hollering at him. "Hey! All of ya'll better settle down! Cool off and shut your traps!" I shouted. Everyone turned to me, which was pretty embarrassing. "Darry, it was my fault Soda was late." I told him.

"Alex, please just stay out of this." Darry asked.

"No, Darry. You three love each other and need each other! You shouldn't be fighting. This is about the first Soda was late, so give him a break?" I asked.

Darry rubbed his eye. "Fine, but if you go on with this Sodapop-" Darry didn't finish and walked into his room to go to bed. Ponyboy went to his room too. "Goodnight." I said to Soda. "Sweet dreams." he said back and kissed my cheek. I smiled and lyed down on the couch, falling fast asleep.

That night, I had an extremely strange dream. Everyone was in harmony. No socs. No greasers. Just people all living in peace. It was a place where rumbles didn't exist and we were accepted. I stepped out onto a feild, it was the park. The whole gang was there. They waved me over. Well, obviously, I walked over. There they were, no hair grease, not leather, and Johnny didn't have his scar. Sodapop smiled at me and pointed to his backpack full of books. He was back in school. "Are you kids ready?" a feminine voice asked.

"Yup, we're all here mom." Ponyboy said.

I turned around, their parents were still alive. "Alex, how about we stop at your house so you can put your stuff down." Mr. Curtis asked.

My parents. Were they different in this fantasy too? We drove to my house. It looked different than I remembered. I walked inside. "M-mom! D-dad!" I called, a little hesitantly.

"We're in the kitchen dear!" my mom said.

I ran in the kitchen. They looked so happy to see me. "I'm going out with the guys and the Curtis Boys' Parents." I said.

"Have fun! Remeber to be home in time for the recidal." my mom said.

I nodded and hugged them. "Alex are you okay? It's like you haven't seen us in ages." my dad laughed.

I smiled. "I love you guys."

"We love you too." they replied.

They loved me in my dream. I put my things down and went back outside to hear, "Oh Johnny, dear, your mother called. She wants you home for dinner." Mrs. Curtis informed Johnny.

"Oh right! It's taco night!" Johnny cheered. His parents loved him too. We came to a theater. "Hey there little lady, can I have a word with you?" Soda asked, so I stayed behind with him. He got down on his right knee. "Alex will you marry me?" he asked. I began to cry. "Yes! I will!" I screamed. "I love you." he said.

"I love you too." I said out loud.

"We love you too, greaser-girl, but you gotta wake up!" Two-Bit shouted. I sat up straight, blushing. How much did they hear? "So, who's it that you love?" Dally asked. Why's everyone here? "No one." I lied.

"We'll tickle out of you!" Ponyboy laughed. Oh no! I'm extremely ticklish and CAN NOT keep a secret when I'm laughing like that! "Okay, fine. It was----" I looked around to try and find someone. Aha! "----Johnny! I-I dream about you...I-I love you!" I giggled and got up to fake kiss him.

He got up and started running. I chased after him. He tripped and I jumped down next to him and tickled him. He laughed so hard he began to cry. 'Seriously, who?" Dally asked. "Why so curious?" I asked.

I stopped tickling Johnny and walked over to Dallas. "Because I don't want you falling for some Soc." he said. "Don't worry. He's no soc. Actually it's----" Sodapop walked in. "--SODAPOP!" I squeeled and hugged him.

Everyone shoud've known by now. Sodapop leaned down and kissed me right on the lips. I never really noticed that he's not that much taller than me. "I made eggs." Ponyboy said randomly and everyone stampeeded into the kitchen. God knows how we all fit, but we did! So we all ate eggs. I never understood how Soda put jam on his. Oh well.

"So what do we have planned for today?" Steve asked. No one answered, because no one knew the answer.I looked around.

"Did Darry have work today?" I asked, "Doesn't he have off on Saturday's?"

Soda looked over at me. "He's sick, so I'm staying with him today, whiile everyone goes out." he told me. Aww! How sweet! "I'll stay too." I said. He smiled at me.

Everyone went out, hunting action. It wasn't that great and adventerous around here, other than the fact we're having a rumble soon! It was that time of month and EVERYONE needs it! I'm totally excited, it's in a few weeks or so, maybe shorter! "Do you know how to cook soup?" Sodapop asked.

"My specialty," I laughed, "Other than water. I make the best water!"

We were making home-made, chicken-noodle soup for Darry. He has a cold. IT should be done shortly though. They don't last that long except for a bit of a runny nose. "Someone'll watch Darry, while the other cooks." Soda said. "I get Darry first!" I volenteered and raced to Darry's room leaving Soda smiling and shaking his head, I bet.

"You didn't go out with the others?" Darry asked. I shook my head. "Me and Soda are staying with you." I told him.

"Thanks."

I smiled at him. Maybe Ponyboy shoudl be here too? I mean, Darry is his older brother. I'm sure if it wasn't so dull around here and more action packed and they didn't need to go "hunting" for action, he would've satyed. He's nice like that. So I don't blame him.

"Soo..." I started, "Darry...anything you want to know or something?" I never really had a conversation with him, without Two-Bit jumping in hysterical laughing from something Steve or Soda told him. They were always laughing.

"Why'd they kick you out?" He asked. "Your parents."

I said, "Because I'm a greaser." That wasn't the only reason though and by the way Darry was looking at me, he knew it.

"It wasn't only because, I'm a greaser." I admitted. "It's because...I'm always with you guys all the time and never spend time with my mom and dad, so they got mad, really mad, and kicked me out. That's how bad they lie. The worst lie was that I actually believe that at one point, they loved me." My eyes watered a bit and I wiped it. "Honestly, they only adopted me because they wanted to boast their reputation and act like they loved me. They wanted me to be a soc, like them, so they could be praised over how "well-mannered" I was."

"Oh, Alex. I'm so sorry." he said. I weakly smiled. It really wasn't a big deal. I don't love them either. At least, that's what I want to think. I looked to teh doorway. Soda stood there smiling. I smiled back. It was my turn to help with the soup.

My part was basically ALL waiting. Other than I needed to chop up some celery and carrots and threw 'em in. I never told anyone that about my life, that I told Darry. Soda just knew part of it, by the expressions on my face. But no one else really knows. Johnny kinda knows how I feel a bit, but I don't entirely know how he feels either. I stood up and started whirling the soup around in teh cooking pot. Then I taste tested it. It was delicious! Golly, Soda's an amazing cook! I was about to take another spoonful when I remembered it was for Darry, not me. So I poured a cup of soup for Darry and walked up into his room. Him and Soda were talking, I guess about brotherly things. I wouldn't know. First, I'm a girl. And second, I'm an only child. I knocked on the doorframe and Soda motioned for me to come in. I did and handed Darry the soup. "Thank you." he thanked.

"Thank Soda. He's the chef. I just threw in some stuff."

Darry nodded to Soda in thanks.

"We'll let you eat in peace, Dar." Soda said. Me and him walked out of his room.

"Darry told me about your family.", Soda said slowly, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." I said and hugged him. I have the greasers. I don't need my parents. I'm better off without them. Right? Of cours I am! They never supported me. And they lied to me. The first ever compliment someone gave me ws from Dally, and frankly it was pretty rude. The closest thing to a compliment my parents ever gave me was, "That shirt doesn't match with your skirt! Go change!" They bugged me over EVERYTHING. Dally's compliment was actually how we became friends, I started saying things back to him and-----it was a funny day.

"I heard you dreamt of me last night." Soda started a conversation. I smiled. "So what was it about?" he asked, playfully and pretended to tickle me. I giggled.

"It's silly." I said.

"Really?" he asked, "Two-Bit said you woke up saying 'I love you too'."

I then told him all about my dream, I was a little hesitant at first, but I knew I could tell him. I mean I love him. And look at his face, he wouldn't lie to me. "Wow! You like me that much?" Soda asked. I nodded.

"I just don't want to hurt you, Soda." I said and fiddled with my fingers a bit. hen I looked up. "I'll be there for you through thick and thin. And make sure your happy. I promise, Soda. I love you so much and I always will, no matter what."

"Same here."

I felt so silly at the moment. I turned my self on teh couch and kissed him. He kissed me back. I felt like there was no worries. Socs. Greasers. LIke my dream. Then, Darry called, "Alex! Soda! Someone come here!" I held Soda's hands. "You'll come back?" I asked.

"I'll be back." He assured me and ran in for Darry.

I looked over at teh clock. It's only seven. Why's time so slow around here? I tapped my knee impatiently. Soda ran in and through the kitchen. "You need help I asked.

"No, Darry just wants some tea!" he called running back into Darry's room with tea. Hmmm...Poor Darry, he just got sick out of nowhere. Soda closed the door behind him and leaned against the wall. "Miss me?" he asked.

"So much!"

He jumped over the coffee table and next to me. I leaned against his chest and grabbed his hand,

"Soda?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you still love Sandy?"

I felt his heart jump.

"Well, of cours I miss her, we went out ofr two years," he said and started playing with my hair. I felt terrible and regretted even asking him that as soo n as the words came out of my mouth. "But, we weren't meant to be. New windows opened and I realized I'm better off witout her." he finished.

I hugged him tighter. "Do you think, I could be the one for you Soda?" I asked. Sodapop looked down at me, kissing the top of my head. Why did I ask that? Since when is the question-o-meter on? I turned to face him. He was smiling.

"I'd sure hope so." he said.

I smiled and gave him a quick kiss. "So do I." I breathed and rested my chin on his arm. Soon, we both fell asleep.

Later on, I heard Ponyboy come in. I lefted me left eye open. "What time is it?" I asked. "Only a little after eleven." he responded.

I looked up at Soda who was in a deep sleep. So I laid back down, lifted the blankets over us, and fell back asleep.