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Ponyboy: Akward...

Cherry: Shuzz the Fuzz Uzz... hey, at least things are picking up now!
Ponyboy: Akward...

Cherry: Here's a thanks list to all my readers and reviewers! In no order:

SuperDope

Rugrats101

xImperfectlyx

acid rain 13

Johnny'sprincess

volleyballlover

babygurl33

sodapopluver

Eminemsgirl 16

Who fell the lowest

Lorelai Anastasia

Dess

Two-BitGortez

Snowgurl54

digitaldawn

crazyloverofboys

Drop Dead Fred Is My Invisible Friend

Thanks for being so loyal!

Ponyboy: She wishes she owned us... hehe...

Holly's POV

The next few days went by in a blur. I had to sit around the house, while Dally worked double shifts. Sodapop was normally with me, because he had the week off, and the gang often visited me when they could, but everyone was busy with school and work. I sat patiently in the house with Soda, and waited for my physical, mental, and emotional wounds to heal. I found a better friend in Sodapop than I have founnd in nobody else but Ponyboy. I could tell him almost anything, and he could give me expert advice, and comfort when needed. I told him and Pony about how I had trusted Luke, and I was ashamed of myself for making a bad judge of character.

"It's just, I used to be able to trust my opinion, and I was never led down the wrong way with my gut feeling, but now... it's like I can't trust myself anymore..." I said over a cup of tea, on the couch with Ponyboy and Sodapop. It was late at night, so they offered to keep me company.

"No, your judgement is fine, you just can't jump into things..." Soda said. I sighed... I'm such a sighbilly... I shook my head, and looked out the window. I was so shocked at what I saw, I dropped my mug, and the contents spilt all over Ponyboy, who yelped.

"Oh... my... god..." I said. Everyone followed my gaze, but no one was as surprised as me.

"I see Dally and Sylvia are together again..." Sodapop said good-naturedly, laughing. There, on my front lawn, was my brother Dallas Winston, making out with some blonde whose skirt was way too short. Dallas pulled her through the front door, (still kissing), and they tumbled on the ground.

"Dallas...?" I said, staring at him wide eyed. He and "Sylvia" looked up, and it looked like they were going to die of embarassment.

"Awww, is this your sister?" she said, coming over and pinching my cheeks. "You're sooooooo cuuuuutttteeee! What's your name?"

"Holly..." I said, rubbing my now-bruised cheek. Dally made a small cough, and beckoned her towards the bedroom. She smiled at me, and followed him in.

"Ok then..." Pony said quietly.

"Can I stay at your guys' place tonight?" I asked, wide eyed. Pony gulped, and Soda nodded. So I followed them back to their place in my pink fuzzy slippers and soft cotton pyjamas. I liked the Curtis home alot. It had a warm, inviting atmosphere. My house was cute, nicely decorated, but it gave the impression that it wasn't... home. Soda pulled a blanket up from under the couch, and handed it to me. I smiled at him, and mumbled a quick "thanks."

"No problem. If you need anything, don't hesitate." Soda said.

"Can you give me the chicken pox?" I asked, on account of the fact that I had to go to school the next day. Soda laughed.

"Get some sleep." Without furher ado, I was out.

Dally's POV

I woke up with Sylvia sleeping next to me. I lifted my head to see clothing strew across the floor. My clothes, and her clothes. I was glad to see that we were at least wearing our undergarments. I didn't need to leave a bun in the oven. I got up and threw on some jeans, and stumbled into the living room. Holly was there, munching on an apple and watching TV. She gave me a dirty look, picked up her school bag, and left.

"What was that for?" I yelled, even though she had left already. I shook my head and felt a hand snake around my waist.

"Come back to bed..." muttered a female from behind me. I didn't have to look to know that she was pouting, and her mascara was all over her face. I threw her hands off me, and took a step forward.

"Get the hell outta here, man." I said. I then turned around, and felt a hand smack my face hard.

"Ok, I guess you don't want your clothes..." I said, lifting her, dropping her on my front porch, and locking the front door.

"Dallas you whore!" she yelled, banging on the door. I threw her clothes out the window, and went back to sleep.

Holly's POV

I stepped into the Curtis house and slammed the door behind me. All I saw was Ponyboy looking at me wide eyed on the couch from behind a book. I stopped.

"Where's the guys?" I asked.

"In the lot doing some kicks..." he replied quietly.

"Oh..." I said, feeling rather embarassed from coming in in such a rage, when no-one but Pony was there. Yes, I am a bit of a dramaqueen sometimes. "Should we go see them?"

"Yeah, sure." Pony said, putting his book down and grabbing his bag. It was Friday, but I knew that if I didn't go to school, the staff would look into it, and the last thing we need is to be tangled up in a lawsuit. We walked to the lot in silence (as usual), and watched the guys kick the ball around. When the time came, the school-goers came with me and Ponyboy to school.

"Hey y'all, I saw Sylvia's daddy walking down the street yesterday, and said a few words..." Two-Bit said, with a grin.

"What'd you say?" I asked, mildly interested.

"Well, I called him a faggot, and he hit me with his purse!" he yelled, howling with laughter. Everybody laughed, even Johnny, who chuckled quietly to himself. I even giggled a little though I'm rather opposed to homophobes... but I knew that Two-Bit meant no harm, he probably heard about last night, and tried to cheer me up, because I was in a foul mood. We walked to school laughing and joking, and as soon as we got on school property, we saw the devil. Well, actually, we saw Luke.

"Come here, kid." Steve said, taking hold of my arm. I tried to pull away, but I was tired, and his grip was strong. Luke approached us, alone thankfully.

"Can I talk to you?" he said to me.

Ponyboy's POV

"Go to hell." she said in a quiet, dangerous tone that was often heard from Dally.

"Look, I'm sorry!" he pleaded.

"Sorry doesn't cut it, you fucking pervert! Do you think I'm going to just forget what you've done to me?" she yelled. I raised my eyebrows. Since when did she swear?

"What did I do to you?" he said, testily.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME? WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME! I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT YOU DID TO ME!" she shrieked hysterically. She lifted her top up to reveal her midriff. On it were the small red marks that we had seen a week ago. They weren't as red as before, but they were clearly visible. Two-Bit and Steve stared at the two of them in shock. Johnny just shifted nervously.

"Baby, I'm sorry..." he said, stepping toward her, trying to hug her. She belted him hard across the cheek. "You bitch!" he said, winding his hand up to smack her, but Steve grabbed his arm, and squeezed it tight.

"I would turn around and beat it away from her if I was you." Steve said in a rare dangerous tone. He let go of Luke's arm, and Luke glared at him, and walked away. We turned to her. She had Dally's famous scowl down pat, a family resemblance, no doubt. She looked at me, and her eyes softened.

"Are you okay?" I asked, because her face was beet red, and her eyes were watering.

"Yeah, I'm just sorry you had to see that..." she said, half-smiling. She looked at the ground. "I should have never left New York."