Chapter 4

The next day Kyana was more than ready to head out of the hospital. She walked out of her room with her stuff in hand and outside to the parking lot. She noticed who they had sent to pick her up, of all people, the one and only, Dallas Winston. She noticed the car that he was leaning against as well. It was a 1965 Pontiac GTO, fire burning red, and definitely a car that Dally could not afford to own.

"Where did you get this car from?" she asked knowing fully well that it was not his.

"Borrowed it," he said, with a grin plastered on his face.

"You mean stole it. You're gonna get us into trouble."

"What's life if you can't live it on the wild side, babe?" he said smiling. He walked over and opened the door for her, something Dally had never done before. Kyana raised an eyebrow at him as she threw her bag into the backseat and sat down in the passenger's seat. He shut the door for her and went over to the driver's side and hopped in. She just shook her head lightly at him as he started the car and they left the hospital parking lot. Kyana threw her hands into the air while he was driving, with the top down she felt as free as she could get.

"I love this car," she said smiling at Dally. He took one hand off of the steering wheel and put it around Kyana's shoulders.

She looked at his hand on her right shoulder and scooted closer to him, knowing full well that she shouldn't have. He noticed this and just smiled wider at the girl. He glanced over at her and then leaned over to kiss her while the road was clear. His lips touched hers and for a moment she was surprised, but then she fell into the kiss. They pulled away after a minute so he could watch the road they were on. They got to the Curtis house and Dally parked the car in front. He got out and then ran around the car to the passenger side and opened the door for Kyana, she was still not used to him being like this. She got out of the car and as they started up to the house, Dally reached for her hand, placing it in his. Kyana stopped mid-step up the sidewalk and turned to face him.

"So, how did you get voted to come and get me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. He let go of her hand and started to walk ahead of her, stepping onto the porch.

"I sorta volunteered," he said turning around on the steps to face her. She walked up the stairs and onto the porch. Dally opened the door and led her inside. She walked inside the house and everyone turned around to look at her.

"I'm back. Not dead," she said smiling. She walked over to the empty couch followed by Dally. Two-Bit was on the floor, as always was the case when the house was full. Steve was in the kitchen with Soda, probably wrestling or eating them out of house and home. Darry was in his chair, reading his newspaper. Ponyboy and Johnny were most likely in the dining room playing cards. Dally put his arm around her and she scooted closer to him on the couch, not paying any attention to anything else.

"Welcome Ba-" started Soda as he entered the room. It was then that he noticed Dally's arm around Kyana's shoulders, and he couldn't help but feel a pang in his gut at the site of it.

"Back, Kyana," he finished. She shrugged Dally's arm off of her shoulder, moving away slightly. She was beginning to get uncomfortable in this situation, something she knew would happen.

"Thanks," said Kyana, smiling at him. She stood up from the couch and headed towards the bathroom.

"I think I'm gonna take a shower and then go lay down," she said to the boys. Somehow she always managed to be the only girl around. And normally it never bothered her, but for some reason tonight, she wished she wasn't the only girl. Where was Rylie when she needed her?

She walked into her and the boys' bedroom to get some clothes and then she went into the bathroom to take a shower. After about twenty minutes, she hopped out of the shower. After changing her clothes, she went straight to the bedroom. She walked over to her bed and lay down, not caring that the house was still full. She rolled over facing the wall and her heart started to ache, she just started to cry. The door opened and Kyana quickly wiped her face, trying to hide the tears in the dark. She rolled over to see Pony walk into the bedroom and sit on his bed. She mentally thanked God it wasn't Soda or Dally.

"How are ya feeling?" he asked her.

"Not too good considering," she said giving a slight laugh.

"Well, I'm probably not supposed to tell you this, but Soda broke up with Sandy today," said Pony as he was taking off his shoes. Kyana sat up in her bed quickly and looked over to Ponyboy.

"He did what?" she asked, her voice slightly raised, "Why?"

"I thought it would be obvious," said Pony, "For you." Pony lay down in his bed and closed his eyes for the night.

"Thanks, Pony. Good-Night," she said getting out of her bed.

"Night," he said. Kyana walked out of the bedroom and into the living room, looking around to see who was still there.

"I thought you were going to bed?" asked Steve, from his spot on the couch.

"Change of plans. Where's Soda?" Darry pointed behind him, not looking up from his paper.

"Kitchen," he said. Kyana turned around and headed towards the kitchen. Soda was looking in the fridge, trying to find something to eat. He turned around when he heard footsteps, closing the fridge when he seen Kyana walk in. She just walked over to him and slapped him.

"Ow, what was that for?" he asked holding his cheek. Kyana pointed at him giving him her best angry scowl.

"You know damn well what that was for," she said trying to keep her voice low so nobody else could hear them, "You just had to break up with her. You had no reason to."

"I did too," he said, rubbing his cheek. The skin was warm, and probably red, where she had hit him.

"Yeah, well give me one good reason. And I swear if you say me, then I'm gonna kick the shit out of you," she said getting angrier by the minute. Soda hesitated for a moment. He knew that the only reason was because of her and he also knew that she could kick the crap out of him if she was motivated to. And she was motivated to.

"I don't know why I did. Okay," he said thinking of nothing else, "You were the reason. Alright?" Kyana sighed and then looked to the floor. She didn't know what to do anymore. She felt like she need to just give up on everything. She never expected this to happen. How could she have feelings for two very different people, at the very same time?

"You wanna know something? I just wish this would all go away and none of it had ever happened. You, Dally, all of it," she said walking out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. She grabbed her shoes and put them on. She picked up her backpack and dumped her books onto the bed. She packed it full of clothes and then walked into the living room. She waved to everyone as she started out of the house. Darry followed her out, knowing damn well she had nowhere else to go.

"Where are you going?" he asked, in his fatherly tone, from his perch on the porch.

"Anywhere, but here. Thanks for everything Darry. I appreciate it," she said walking out of the gate. She walked down the sidewalk and didn't stop. It was dark out now and she had no other place to go. The only place she could think of was to either Steve's or Dally's and Steve was at the Curtis'.

"Dally it is," she said to herself, knowing it wasn't the best idea, but it was a roof for the night. She heard someone behind her as she turned a corner. She was thinking of either Soda or the Soc's. She didn't expect to see Steve standing behind her when she turned around.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Come on," he said putting an arm around her shoulders and leading her in the opposite direction from which she was walking. She glanced at him, with a confused look on her face.

"I didn't think you would really want to stay with Dally. You can stay with me until everything cools off," he said. She reached around him with her other arm and hugged him tight.

"Is this one for being so damn hot? Or saving your life again?" Kyana giggled and stood next to Steve with her arm still around him.

"Both," she said, laughing lightly. Steve led her to his house and she ended up sleeping on the couch for the night. His parents were both at work and wouldn't be home until early in the morning, so she was fine until then.

The next morning, Tuesday, she got up and took a shower. After her shower, she left Steve's house and headed towards the Curtis'. She left her work clothes there and needed to grab some other stuff as well. When she got there, she started down the sidewalk and up onto the porch. She knocked on the door, knowing full well that she didn't need to, but she felt like she wanted to. Darry answered the door, laughing lightly at her, and she seen Pony sitting on the couch.

"I came to get my work clothes," she said. Darry motioned for her to come in and she walked in and towards the bedroom. She opened the door to reveal an empty room. Kyana walked over to the dresser and dug out her DX work shirt, and her jeans, along with a few other things that she had needed. She turned to walk out when she ran into Soda. He walked in the room dripping wet from his shower and wearing nothing, but a towel.

"Excuse me," she said looking down, trying her hardest not to blush and walked around Soda. She walked out of the bedroom and back into the living room. She motioned for Ponyboy to follow her so they could talk when Darry laid a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to look at him, knowing that he was probably going to tell her to come back home.

"He's really sorry," he said.

"I know, but he has to learn that he can't have everything he wants," she said, her voice almost a whisper.

"Neither can you, Kyana," said Darry, "Where did ya end up staying last night?"

"I stayed with Steve. He came after me after I left." Darry nodded his head, knowing she was better off with Steve than with Dally at the current moment.

"You can always come back when you want to. Just give him time to cool down and from what it sounded like you need to cool down too," said Darry smiling.

"Huh? What are you talking about? Why would I need to calm down?" she asked smiling slightly.

"We heard you slap him," said Ponyboy interrupting his brother. Kyana started laughing, shaking her head.

"Sorry about that, but he really did deserve it." She walked out of the house following Ponyboy. Johnny joined the two not too long after, as did Steve and Two-Bit.