Chapter 11~

Disguise

~Ash P.O.V~

I couldn't keep my mind off of Sodapop.

I nearly ran into five corners and a few poles, but we somehow managed to make it home unharmed. Sammy ran inside to make dinner, since he was 'starving.' "What movie are you and Sodapop going to Ashley?" he asked me as I walked into the kitchen. I looked at him suspiciously, "Were you listening to our conversation?"

He shook his head no, but I knew he was lying. "I don't know." I laughed, cracking into a smile. "By the way, it's not just me and Soda that's going. It's all the guys." I informed him. "The guys don't know about it you know." Sam said while pouring his Mac n Cheese in the bowl. I don't like Mac n Cheese, so looks like I'm having chocolate milk tonight. I raised my eyebrow at him as I sat down at the table.

"How do you know?"

"Ponyboy told Johnny that they were going to a football game tomorrow."

I wasn't very convinced at my brother's words. "That doesn't mean that Steve and Two-Bit aren't coming." I said. He just shrugged his shoulders and stirred his dinner with his spoon. I sighed, silently hoping that what Sammy said was true, because that would mean that Soda and I could be alone to get to know each other a little more. A huge slamming noise snapped me out of my trance as footsteps thudded into the room.

Tom walked in the room with a mad look on his face. "

Hey Tom, what's up?" I tried to ask innocently.

He glared at me, "What's up? That's all you have to say?" he yelled at me, getting up in my personal space. I could smell the smoke and beer on his breath. "I really don't know why you're so angry Tom." I spit at him, his face glowering with anger. "Really? Then how do you explain that?" Tom hissed at me, pulling me up to the window, and slamming my face up against the glass. I looked outside, ignoring the pain, and saw Tom's crappy old truck; except it was spray painted pink, had duck tape on the windows, and glass everywhere on the seats.

What did the hell happened?

I didn't have to think about it for more than 10 seconds.

Bob set me up.

"Well?" Tom asked angrily, ripping my hair back, causing me to bite my tongue in agony. "I didn't do that to your truck!" I replied. It occurred to me that Sammy was still in the room. "Tom, let's take this to the living room." I hissed at my step father, glancing over at Sammy, "We'll be right back Sam." I said calmly as Tom dragged me into the living room. As soon as we got in the room, he threw me into the wall. I felt my head hit the table that was up against the wall. Blood was trickling down my head, from the new wound and the old one. Tom grabbed my throat and held me up off the ground, pinned to the wall.

"Bob caught you red handed, so you can't deny it! Do you know how much damage you did to the truck? I'm glad that Bob caught you; you know why?" he spit into my face. I was too busy trying not to choke to understand what he was saying. I could feel my face getting red, and I tried to shake my head, but I couldn't with Tom's firm grip. He smirked at me, "Caus he hates you now almost as much as I hate you. He even gave me some tips on how to hurt you; I must say there are some things I would've never thought of without his help." With that, he dropped me onto the ground.

I gasped for air, hearing him go outside. That couldn't be it, I thought, listening for his return.

He came back in a few seconds, except he had a baseball bat with him.

First he went into my bathroom, dragging me along with him. Fear set in, but I didn't let it show. I couldn't show my fear to this douche bag. "Just so you can't cover it up…" Tom smirked, throwing all my makeup and bandages down the toilet. Great, just great; my disguises were gone and the toilet was going to be plugged.

"Now for the fun."

The last thing I remember was Sammy's little face, filled with fear, staring at me from the crack in the door, before I was hit in the face with the bat.

~Chapter 12~

~Soda P.O.V~

"Are you ready Steve?"

Steve and I were getting ready to go to the DX so we could fix Ash's car. Pony's principal called last night and told him that school was canceled because of some mold or something, so they were gunna hang out with us today. "I'm coming!" Steve yelled back at me, coming down the stairs. His dad had kicked him out again last night, so he spent the night here. I really felt sorry for my friend; he might as well not even have a dad if he's gunna be like that.

Pony and Johnny were already in the truck, so we were just waiting on Steve.

"Bout time." I mumbled as he walked out the front door. He grinned at me, "Well excuse me if a certain someone spent three hours in the bathroom." He said back at me as we were getting in the truck. "Suppose you were getting ready for Ash." He smirked. I tried to whack him on the head, but he dodged it. I could feel myself blushing madly; "I wasn't getting ready for Ash you dink." I told him, starting the truck. Pony and Johnny were grinning like mad men and Steve was chuckling.

"Sure." He replied.

I rolled my eyes at them and turned the corner to the DX. I had had another dream bout Ashley last night. It was shorter this time though. It started out I was just watching Mickey Mouse with Two-Bit…but then Ponyboy yelled to me from outside that he just saw Ash jog by with blood all over herself. I found myself sprinting outside, taking Two-Bits jacket with me for some reason. I found her at the park, and she looked awful.

"Ashley! Who did this to you?" I remember saying in my dream. I was holding her in my arms, and rain was pouring down on us.

"Tom….. and.." she tried to gasp out. "And who Ash?" she looked at me, and even though both her eyes were swollen, I could still see her beautiful brown eyes. "Socs." She gasped out before passing out cold. That's how it ended.

I thought about telling Ponyboy about it, but I would have to tell him later when we were alone.

I had barely noticed that I had stopped at the DX and the guys had already gotten out. "Earth to Soda!" Johnny said, waving at me from in front of the car. I shook my head, making Johnny give me a weird look as I got out of the truck. "You alright?" he asked me. I nodded, "Yeah, just daydreaming that's all." He nodded as we walked into the DX.

Oh crap, I thought; I forgot to call Ash and tell her that we were gunna fix her car up today. I ran past Steve and grabbed the phone before he could call Evie and talk away the day. He did that a lot with Evie, but I couldn't blame him. Besides us, he didn't have anyone. I would want to talk to my girlfriend too if I was in his situation.

He scowled at me, "What's the deal man? I was gunna call Evie!" he complained, a pouty look on his face. I smiled evilly at him, "Oh calm down, I'm just calling Ashley; I forgot to tell her that we're fixing her car up today." I responded to his complaining.

Steve seemed to calm down a little, "Fine, but don't take too long." I nodded as I dialed Ash's number. It rang a few times before a small voice answered the phone.

"Hello?"

I could tell right away that it was Sammy.

"Sammy? Hey it's your buddy Sodapop. Is your sister there?" I asked, curious that he had answered the phone. "Umm… I…. She…" he said nervously. "Umm… just a second." Sam said. I heard some noise in the background, and then Sammy saying Ashley's name. A few seconds later she was on the line. "Hey Soda, whatcha need?" she asked in a voice hardly recognizable. It was a raspy and quiet voice, like she had been awake all night throwing up or something. It immediately made me suspicious.

"Hey Ashley, I was just calling to tell you that since school was canceled, we were gunna fix your car today at the DX." I said in a happy voice.

"Oh…. Okay. I'll be there in a bit, Bye." Ash said in a even quieter voice then the last time. "Wait, Ashley!" I said quickly, wanting to make sure she was alright. She hadn't hung up yet, so I asked the question I had a feeling she didn't want me to. "Are you feeling alright?" I asked before she could hang up. There was a silence on the other line.

"I…." she stopped. It sounded like she wanted to tell me something, but she couldn't find the words. "I'm fine. Just a little tired."

I didn't believe her, but I knew I would find out anyway in a bit, so I let it slide. "Okay then, see you in a bit!" I said, trying to cheer her up.

"Yeah, see ya." Ashley hung up and I set down the phone, slightly alarmed by the phone call. That was so unlike her; usually she was all cheerful and happy…now she sounded sick and depressed. All the guys were looking at me with confused looks on their faces. "Did she even say anything?" Steve asked, a frown on his face. I nodded, "Yeah, I think she just has a cold." I replied, putting my DX hat on.

They looked at me worriedly, but luckily a customer came, so I went out there to get out of this awkward situation.

Nothing bad could have happened to her, could it have? I asked myself as I waited outside for Ashley. She didn't get jumped, did she? That couldn't have happened…Bob likes her too much. I sighed, hoping my nightmares I had wouldn't actually come true.

A few intense moments later, I saw Ash's mustang pull up to the front of the DX. I smiled, my heart skipping a few beats. As soon as she stepped outa her car, I stopped smiling and stopped dead in my tracks. That couldn't be Ashley…The person who stepped out of the car, didn't even look like Ashley. My jaw dropped as her and Sammy walked closer to me.

There was the most disgusting bruises and infected cuts I had ever seen all over her body. Her eyes were nearly swelled shut and it appeared that her leg had a huge knob on it also. Blood soaked through all of her clothes, dirt and what looked like tobacco wiped all over her shirt.

Now I've never seen a zombie before…but there's no doubt in my mind that they look like what Ashley did right now.