Authors note: Okay so I asked for an idea for this chapter, but then I got an idea… I think it could go well but I don't know…Oh! And thank you to Sofiaax0xo for adding my story to her favorites list, and adding me as one of her favorite authors! Yeah! I'm all happy now! Too bad I'm writing a sad chapter…Haha (I need to change my stories title I just don't think it really fits… please give me a few suggestions!)

Thanks

~PeetaLuver98

Chapter 7

I was lying on the hospital bed. Déjà vu much? The only difference was that I got horrible news. My mom had to drive down to Texas for a meeting. They are looking into what happened, but they found her body in an ally yesterday morning. My mom was dead. She was viciously murdered. My sweet mother who had raised me was dead. She was gone and I had to move back to California with my aunt.

When I first moved out to Oklahoma all I wanted was to move back to California. Now that I met people who I grew to love; I didn't want to leave. The tears stung my eyes. "I can't go. No. no. no!" I started to scream. "Please calm down sweetie." The nurse tried to calm me, "your plane will be here on Thursday. That should give you some time to stay home and pack."

I got up and started to walk home. How could I say goodbye when I just met all them? My life seemed to be taking a dive downwards. I missed my mom so much right now. I missed her long blonde hair. I missed the sound of her heels when she came home late, and walked up stairs to say goodnight. My tears blurred my vision. I saw the burnt lot. All that the lot reminded me of was how I felt in Johnny's arms.

I mean I wanted to see all my friends and Alex. Oh my god. Alex. I had forgotten all about MY BOYFRIEND. I couldn't even think about it. Here I broke up with him so I could move to Oklahoma without regrets, and now I'm moving back. He has to be so happy. I was torn. I had moved on. I fell in love with Johnny. I didn't have to be a glamorous Soc when I was around him. I personally knew that Alex had beaten a few greasers back in California. Yes. There are Soc's and Greasers in California. Their just called different things; Soc's (which I was.) were called Pop's (pretty much just Populars…) and the greasers were just called hoods. I was more of a greaser anyways. I hated dresses and nail polish, but when you grow up around people like that you whole life I guess it grows on you. Amanda, my best friend ever, Jackie, My other best friend, Cristen, Elysha, Matt, all of them I would get to see soon. Did I really want to? Hell no. Not without my mom and Johnny.

"Hey, Leah!" I heard Soda call. My tears stung and I cried harder. "Whoa, you okay?" he asked. "My mom died." Out of anybody I knew the Curtis brothers would understand. Soda hugged me. "I know how you feel." He replied. I knew it. "I have to go back to California." I threw out through tears. "How long until you have to go?" he tried to be gentle. He knew it was a raw subject. "I have till Thursday."

I looked down. I had four days. I knew it wasn't long enough. I hadn't been able to learn much about anybody; only Johnny. I'm glad we talked that one day, because otherwise I would have only known that he was cute. A month and a half wasn't long enough for me to feel that I got to know them well.

"We will just have to live with how much time we got. At least you lived yesterday." Soda smiled. Only Soda could think positive during hard times. Soda and I walked back over to his house. I smiled and walked over to the sofa, and took a seat next to Johnny. Nobody knew that we "had a thing". Even though I was pretty sure that Pony and Soda were real close to figuring it out. I looked at the whole gang. They all seemed so happy. I didn't want to change their mood. Wait what am I thinking? I've only known them for a month and a half; who could really care that much about me leaving. Johnny. a voice in the back of my head spoke. Yeah. Right. I tried to tell myself that they didn't like me anyways. "I just need to have a clean break from you. I need to move with no regrets." The words I told Alex. They buzzed around in my head like bees. I finally blurted out.

"MY MOM'S DEAD, AND IM MOVING BACK." The talking stopped and they all turned to look at me. Great job you dumbass. I told myself. "To California?" I heard Steve ask from behind me. I really need to check if there people behind me before I take a seat…

"Yes." I said barley over a whisper, "I have until Thursday." None of them seemed too sad. Which should bother me, but I tried to put it off by my use of denial. Johnny was looking down. His face was expressionless. Good. I don't want him to be depressed. The kid's got enough shit to deal with. He did not need a girl to fill his life with more drama. Alex and I WERE in love. I hope that he would take me back. I needed somebody to get my mind off Johnny.

Thursday, before the plane ride…

"Bye." I tried to break away clean. I saw Soda, Ponyboy, Darry, Two-Bit, Steve and most of all Johnny. I couldn't say what I wanted to fast enough. "I love you Johnny." With that I turned and got in the building. I then looked at the plane that we would be flying in. It looked to me like a flying death trap. My breathing got fast when the plane took off. The plane took off and sucked me back in my seat. I started to panic. My worst fears at the time were death, loss of somebody you love, planes, and heights. As of then I was dealing with all them at once. My head spun and I decided to just sleep.

Johnny's POV

She was gone. Just like everything else I loved in this world. She left me wondering; did I do something wrong? I grabbed a cigarette to numb me out. I didn't want to feel any pain right now. "Hey Darry," I asked, "Are you driving the boys back home?" "Yeah," Darry answered.

"Can I catch a ride with you back home so I can sleep?" "Get in the car." He responded. I went in and just tried to sleep off my thoughts of her. Maybe she'll be back. The thought kept me up. Jesus, since when was I girl crazy?

Ashley's POV

My plane landed about three hours later than from when I left, and I got over my fear of flying. I guess things could take a turn. Then I got out of the plane. I saw Alex running towards me. He picked me up in a flying hug. "I missed you so much!" He said in my ear. "Get off me." I said being a bitch. "What's your problem?" I heard him ask as I walked away. "My mom is dead, and did you forget? We broke up." I rolled eyes. "Hey, you need to calm down okay." He sounded angry. "You know what? We're done. Get the fuck away from me." I snapped.

I looked over and saw Matthew, Jackie, and Amanda. The smaller group of Pop's that I hang out with. "Oh." I turned to see Alex talking to Matt. "I told you she's not worth the time. She's just a bitch. Get over her."

Ouch. That hurt. Thanks a lot Matt. Jackie glared at me. Amanda walked over to me. "What are you doing?" she asked. "I told him we're done a while ago. I met somebody perfect while I was in Oklahoma okay?"

Amanda frowned. "What's his name?" "I'll tell you later." I turned away and called my aunt at the pay phone.

Johnny's POV

I woke up groggy. I don't know who can ever get a good night sleep on a couch. "Hey Johnny would you like some pancakes?" I heard Pony say from the kitchen. "Sure." I responded.

Yum, I needed a good meal. I hadn't had a good meal since I last slept at the Curtis's house; three days ago. My appetite probably was why I stayed so small all the time. It didn't matter though. I would rather be under weight then really fat. I could run the mile in 6 minutes. That was good enough to keep me at an A. Otherwise I was failing every other class. Pony tutored me the best he could, but I still fell asleep during class. "Hello?" Pony's annoying voice broke into my dreams, "I told you to wake up not fall back asleep."

I rolled over and Pony pulled me out of bed. "Fine, I'll wake up." I said still sleepy. Pony sat me in a chair at the table with Darry, Soda, Sasha, and himself. "So, Pony, Johnny you guys excited for school next month?" Sasha asked.

I felt my jaw tighten. Here comes another year of failing, getting beat up, getting stood up for all dances, and worst of all, getting attached to people that were just going to leave me alone. "Yeah, I'm a year closer to going to college." Pony said. "Oh. Do you do well in school Johnny?" Sasha asked innocently. I looked up from my untouched pancakes. "No." I said quietly.

"Well I used to be a teacher to that girl, Leah. I could help you." Sasha said quite smiley. I looked down remembering Leah. She's gone. Forget about her. I told myself. "Oh, really? Thanks." I said. I started to eat fast because Sasha started talking about Leah. I just wanted to forget about her for now.

Ponyboy's POV

Johnny sure left fast. I knew he liked Leah. The more I learned about her; the more I ended up finding her annoying and clumsy. Whatever, Johnny could have her. She moved and everybody needed to move on. We had bigger things to worry about. Like the fact that Darry had informed us that he's going to marry Sasha. Now we had a wedding to plan. Well, if she says yes, but with seeing her and Darry. She looked like she would say yes.

School was around the corner. I couldn't wait. I was going to be a sophomore. I finally grew; meaning that I could probably get a date to the dance. I really was at a disadvantage with me being a year younger that everybody. None of that really bothered me anymore I guess I just got used to it.

Soda's POV

"Dang, Soda," I heard Steve saying when we got in the gas station, "you wore enough cologne for 50 people." Steve laughed while opening all the windows and walking out to his car shop. "You better do good on Pamela's car." I rolled my eyes.

Steve went on being immature and making kissy faces at me. "Get a life!" I yelled after him while walking over to the cash register. Pretty soon Pamela walked up the street. I heard the bell on the door. "Hey," she started, "How's my car?" "It's doing great Steve is working on it right now." I replied. "Well," she smiled, "I just wanted to say thank you, and I also wanted to ask you if you would like to go see a movie sometime?"

I got it a lot. I was 'hot' they all said. I never had really got asked out on a real date with any of the girls here except Sandy. "Sure. When would you like to go?" I asked. "Tonight, sound good?" she told me. "Yeah, Meet you here 6:30?" I asked. "See ya, gorgeous." She winked and walked back out the door. Did I just get a date with a Soc girl? I think I did…

Authors Note: Btw I said through Ponyboy's POV that Sasha was walking with Leah. Ponyboy figured that Sasha was Leah's sister. SHE'S NOT. Okay,

Thanks!

~PeetaLuver98