Chapter 3

I woke up the next morning, with the events of last night swimming around in my head like the remains of a nightmare. I checked the clock. It told me that it was 11 in the morning, and so I made myself get up. I made the mistake of glancing in a mirror on my way to the kitchen, and saw my eyes were still pink and swollen from crying.

Darry was sitting with a cup of coffee, his eyes closed, at the table. Soda was still crying, and Pony was watching tv, with silent tears rolling down his cheeks.

"What do y'all want for breakfast?" I asked quietly. No one answered. I walked over to the fridge. In it was the untouched chocolate cake. On it was a note from my mom which read, "Two - stay away from the cake. I don't want to have to make another for dessert. Love, Eileen."

I pulled the cake out, and cut a big slice for myself. I sat down by Soda and stared at my breakfast. She put so much care into every cake she made. Everything was made from scratch, and tasted delicious. Before I knew it, I was bawling my eyes out. Soda put an arm around me and tried his best to comfort me.

A knock came from the door but I didn't care. Darry snapped out of his trance and opened it. Two-Bit was outside with his mother. I heard bits of their conversation: she was sorry, she was going to help in anyway possible, she could make the arrangements if we needed, etc., etc. I wiped at my eyes and walked over to Two-Bit, who stood akwardly by the door as his mom rambled on. I motioned for him to come in.

"Ya want some cake?" I asked. He looked at me, his gray eyes studying me, trying to find my motives. I showed him the note. "She would've known you'd have some anyway. It shouldn't go to waste." He sighed and agreed, and we both sat in silence eating the beautiful dessert. Eventually Soda joined, and then Pony. Darry went to his room, though, and I didn't bother him. He needed privacy.

"Hey, Baby...Are you okay?" Two-Bit asked. I realized I was crying again, and rubbed at my eyes.

"Ya, I'll be okay. I'm sorry."

"For what? Crying? You don't need to be sorry for that," he whispered, and I buried my face in his chest, suddenly realizing I had a lot of tears left in me.

"Look at me, Two. Blubbering here in front of ya for the first time. There goes my tough-girl image," I laughed dryly.

"Shh. I still think you're tough, Baby. We'll just forget this ever happened." His voice cracked, and when I looked up, his grey eyes were crying too.

Johnny didn't come by. I walked over to his house and knocked on his bedroom window three times to signal it was me, but he didn't answer. I tried the lot by our houses, and he wasn't there either. I realized when I was looking that I didn't feel anything when I couldn't find him. I wasn't disappointed, or sad; I was numb. I tried to think about the movies last night, and about how concerned he looked when I told him to leave with Dallas. Yet when I pictured his face, I didn't feel the chills I normally got. It was like when I woke up this morning I fell out of love.

I'd been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't even noticed the car that was following me. I froze with fear, thinking back to the navy blue Mustang, when I realized the car belonged to Dally. I turned and walked toward it. He stepped out.

"What the hell happened last night, Baby?" He looked at my face. "Were you crying?"

"It's my parents, Dal. I - I was just looking for Johnny to tell him, too, but I can't find him and - " my voice broke off with a sob. Great, I thought. I was crying again, only this time it was in front of Dallas Winston, who would never cry for anything. He didn't even move to comfort me, just waited for me to regain my composure to finish telling him.

"They're dead, Dallas." Something flashed in his eyes, and he walked back over to his car and got in.

"Get in. I think I know where old Johnny-Cake is." I smiled at the nickname he had for my boyfriend. Suddenly I realized I didn't want to see Johnny. He wouldn't do anything. He'd never even kissed me. Hell, he'd never hugged me. I was filled with a sudden anger, and I couldnt' shake the feeling that when I saw Johnny, I wouldn't get butterflies like I normally did.

Could someone fall out of love that quick? I didn't know, but I did know that when I saw Johnny I wouldn't need his comfort, or his sympathy.

I wouldn't need him.

So what do you think? I know I just updated, but I saw reviews and couldn't wait any more...I don't know if I'll update anymore today, cuz I'm busy reading other fabulous fanfiction...but you never know! I hope you enjoyed, remember to review :)