Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders or the song Turn Into Earth.

A/N: I know the last chapter wasn't my best and I apologize for that. I hope these next few are better. :)

ah-ah-ah...How your restless hungry eyes, speak of cloudy summer skies. The morning dew, turns into rain. Lonely winds will call my name. Dying leaves of seasons brown. Losing life as they drift down. Too soon in life, return to earth. Only they can know their worth.

Darry and Soda fight all the time. This has been going on since Soda got back home. He hasn't given up on convincing Darry to do treatments. Not even close. He and Kathy are in cahoots and they've gotten Pony on board even though he's like me and doesn't really have a strong opinion on the matter.

Soda leads most of the fights and starts them. It's out of character for him but his nerves have been shot by all the work he's been doing and he just hasn't been himself in a while. He's trying to prove something to Darry and it's not working yet. He brings up the thought every night at dinner and the fight always ends with someone storming off and slamming doors and hurt feelings.

I haven't been at home much, spending most of my time at school and missing out on the fights.

"What are you doing?" Peter asked, sitting beside me.

I tucked my hair behind my ear and marked a place in my book. I looked up at him. "Reading. Shouldn't you be in class or something right now?"

"Shouldn't you?"

"My teacher's on maternity leave. The sub hasn't been here for days so I have a free period right now."

Peter sat back and rested his back against the big oak tree. "Me as well. What are you reading?"

"By Love Possessed," I said, flipping the book over to the back and handing it to him. "It was a film. You've never heard of it?"

"You like to read, don't you?" He flipped the book over and over, seeing the front picture. "What's it about? Some girly romantic stuff I'm guessing by the title?"

I took the book back and gathered up my blowing hair. "No. The main character's a man who's a lawyer."

"I'm not for anything that has the word 'love' in the title," he said. "You hungry?"

I leaned against the tree beside him and our shoulders touched. It was hot outside and the wind was cooling off. Spring flowers were in full bloom across the square of the school and all the P.E. classes took over outside.

The weekend was over and so was the kiss I had shared with Peter. Neither one of us mentioned it. He called me afterwards, apologizing for doing it because he had a few beers and shouldn't have even driven me home. It'd been almost a week since all that happened.

I didn't tell him it was ok. I didn't tell him that I had liked the kiss. I didn't tell him not to apologize. I sure didn't tell him I wanted to do it again. I just agreed and hung up the phone, making everything go back to normal between us. It seemed to be better this way….to him anyway.

A heavy built guy walked by us. He spotted Peter and winked, waving at both of us. Peter lit up and waved back. The guy was being followed by two other heavy built guys and after staring a little long, he lingered past us.

That's when I realized it was Dale Huston. The guy Peter introduced me to last weekend. His friend Dale. That night I noticed something about him that triggered a light bulb but never put together where I'd seen him from until now.

Dale was one of Jeff's friends.

"Who really is that Dale guy you're always with?" My eyes didn't waver away from him as he crossed the square and jumping in a car in the parking lot with the rest of his goons.

He looked down at me, a bit baffled as to why I would ask. "I'm not always with him." He shrugged it off. "We're just friends. I told you about it the other night, remember? He's a nice guy once you really get to know him."

"Doesn't look like it," I said. "You two are together an awful lot. Every time I see you outside of school, you're with him. Tim Shepard used to get in a lot of fights with him. It got pretty nasty sometimes."

Peter shrugged again. "We're friends, we hang out. What's the problem?"

"I've just heard a lot of stuff about him. He used to hang out with someone I know who wasn't too hot of a guy, if you know what I mean."

He pouted and quickly scooted away from me to where our shoulders no long touched and he was further away from me. "Yeah, well I've heard a lot of stuff about Dally too and you don't hear me harping about it none."

I twisted around, staring at him. Suddenly, my shoulder turned cold. "I didn't mean to offend you. I was just making an observation is all. You don't seem like the type to hang out with someone like that."

"Well you don't seem like the type of girl to date someone like Dallas Winston."

It turned quiet fast. Both of us had frowns on now and neither one of looked at each other.

I didn't know why it hurt so much to hear him say that but it really did. The girl who dated Dallas Winston. Was that my reputation now? Being high up there with Sylvia? Is that what people really thought of me? The type of girl to date someone like Dallas Winston? I looked down to the ground and inched further away.

Peter's eyes softened as he noticed my sudden movement and he looked guilty. "Oh, gee. I'm sorry Danni. I didn't mean to say it like that." His hand reached out for mine but I quickly pulled it back.

"How long have you known Dale?" I asked.

His face had fallen and his eyes were still locked on my hand. "A couple of months. I...I wasn't real popular last year and I met Dale after he pulled a guy off of me after he broke my nose in two. He made sure no one hurt me after that. He's not a bad guy."

The car Dale had went to filled up with smoke and I searched my brain for every little detail I could gather from what I knew about Dale. "What happened to that girl he was dating?"

"2moro?"

How could anyone forget a name like that? Somehow I had managed to and her story. "Do you know what happened to her? That's what I meant."

"She died two winters ago," he said. "She killed herself. Jumped off a bridge. Are you trying to say something, Danni?"

Angela had told me the story of this girl. Jeff had told her. It was a big headline in town. Her real name was Lucy Fisher. 2moro became her street name when she became a runaway. She jumped into a freezing cold river in front of a big crowd after they tried begging her back down in March. The river had been up because of storms and she floated two towns over before anyone could get to her cold, blue body. They showed it on the news.

It was a big story for about two months. It was the question everyone wanted to know: why did such a young, pretty girl want to kill herself? They especially wanted to know after they found out her grandfather was Herman Fisher, the founder of Fisher-Price. Her parents reported her missing two years before her death and they showed them and her grandfather on the news crying and showing old photos of her before she became 2moro.

Still, no one knows why she did it. Police questioned everyone, even Dale, who was put through the ringer. I never followed the rest of the case because my own case started one day during a wedding.

"No," I said quietly.

"He's done a lot for me," Peter went on to explain. "He's been like a brother to me since we met. He takes care of me and makes sure no one gives me trouble. He's a little rough around the edges but once you get to know him, he's a nice guy. He got into some heavy stuff after 2moro died but he was really broken up about the whole thing. He blamed himself and one day he stuck a gun in his mouth."

The car drove off down the road with Dale inside. "So he's a good guy?"

"Yes," he stressed once again. "Danni, look at me. Do I seem like the guy to hang out with some criminal? I've never done anything illegal in my life. You can trust me. We're friends, right?"

I stood up from the ground and wiped the grass off my butt. I gathered up my books and Peter got up and helped me get them off the ground.

"You want to get some lunch?"

"I already had lunch. I have to head for History," I said with honest regret in my eyes.

I started to walk away and towards the school. Peter grabbed my upper arm gently, holding me back. I turned to face him.

"I really am sorry about snapping," he said finally, looking guilty once again. "I shouldn't have said that about Dallas. It's just...it gets under my skin sometimes when people talk bad about Dale. He's worked really hard to change."

I nodded, agreeing and wanting to believe him. What did I know about the guy anyway? Two years is a long time. People can sure change in that amount of time. "Ok."

"Whatever. Sorry. You wanna go to the cafe now? I'm really starving."

I gave him a tight smile and followed him.

"Hey," I said.

"You're late," she told me, not taking her eyes off Johnny. He was looking at her now, smiling. With her mission accomplished Sarah stirred the smoothie in the cup with her straw, content, and looked over to me and noticing the person standing at my side.

Johnny and Sarah sat by themselves in a little table in the corner of the cafeteria. They always sat together and usually Pony joined them but usually, it was like the table the groom and bride sat at their wedding.

"This is Peter," I told them, pointing at Peter while he waved. "He's Kathy's cousin."

Johnny looked him up and down while Sarah grinned from ear to ear and eagerly reached out to shake his hand. "I'm Sarah and this is Johnny. Danni's told us lots about you!"

My face turned pink and I sat down next to her. I kneed her from underneath the table as a warning not to say anything too embarrassing. Knowing Sarah though, I already knew her intentions.

"You hang out near the Bingo hall," Johnny stated, eyes still locked on Peter. "With those guys."

Peter looked at him, slightly puzzled. He gave him a friendly grin. "Yeah. You been there?"

"Sorta."

"You have nice dimples," Sarah said, butting in. "Danni said she met you in Florida. Were you down there for break too? I've never seen you here before but, you know, I'm new myself."

Peter exchanged a look with me before answering. I felt my face turn red as I waited for him to answer everything Sarah had rambled off. "Sure. I've been going here since freshman year."

"You drive a truck," Johnny jumped back into the conversation. "That big one in the parking lot all those guys meet at after the last bell and smoke."

Peter got the same look on his face as he did before only this time, he didn't laugh. "Yeah. Do I know you?"

Johnny shook his head. He looked down at his tray of food and continued eating without saying another word. Peter kept looking at him, still puzzled and it was as if he wanted Johnny to say something else.

"It's nice to meet you two," Peter said, standing up. "I'm going to get some grub. Dan, you want anything?"

I shook my head and watching as he went off and stood in line. "He's cute," Sarah beamed, not taking her eyes off him while he went through the lunch line.

I followed where her eyes were with mine. All three of us were staring. "I guess," I muttered, feeling uncomfortable admitting that to anyone. I knew he was with those dimples and freckles, I'd just never said it out loud before.

"Doesn't he look familiar to you?" Johnny popped up.

"No, does he to you?"

Johnny studied Peter more before finally going back to eating his Salisbury steak. "Nah. He just looks like someone I suppose. How's Darry doing these days?"

I sat in the waiting room reading over an old magazine of Walt Disney's death from December. Kathy was talking to some of her nursing friends, trying to get a clear update. I kept gazing up at her every now and again.

Soda was biting his nails beside me. Pony went to go get him something else to chew on a few minutes ago. Soda's leg bouncing was shaking the floor under me. He told me all about what had happened. How Darry got dizzy and started bleeding again and then passing out. He said it was bad this time.

Three months seemed like such a sort time from now that it didn't even seem realistic. I remember Darry telling us if it had been his way, we never would have found out. I wonder if it would have been better that way. Do you want to know when someone you love is going to die or just be shocked when it suddenly happens?

I rubbed my face and looked at the clock. It was early morning now and we've been here over two hours and no one has come to talk to us yet. Two-Bit saw the ambulance and was here for a little while. He found out by accident about Darry dying. Darry didn't want anyone else to know but he forgot who exactly his friends were. A lot of people now know. All our friends anyway.

I looked up again and sat my eyes on Kathy down the hall in her pumps and nurses outfit. Her face was white and she seemed to be shaking. I wondered how much she really knew. What else had Darry told her and was there more to this story than just what we were told?

Someone came and got Soda and Kathy a few minutes ago. They were down the hall talking. Pony was beside me, nervously chewing on a candy bar. We were told Darry was in critical condition but stable. By the looks on Soda and Kathy's faces, I knew more was going on than just another attack.

"He's not doing good," Soda informed us. "Doc says he's taken a turn for the worse and there's not a lot they can do right now seeing as how Darry won't let them give him anything."

He said the last sentence more angrily. He gritted his teeth together and looked to his side and took a cooling breath.

"The doctor was telling us about that surgery, right Soda?" Kathy made light of the situation. "He said there was something that could probably solve this. The cancerous tumor in his leg is in one spot. He says he can easily remove it with no problem."

Pony jumped up. "Then let's tell Darry and have them do it."

"There's more," Soda said bitterly. "The surgery takes out a big chunk of his leg. A whole lot of muscle and tissue. If Darry does the surgery, he'll probably never be able to walk again. How you gonna convince him to do that?"

Pony sat back down, disappointed yet again. Soda looked away from him again, feeling bad he was as harsh as he was. We all knew who his anger was directed at.

"What happens if he doesn't do it?" I asked.

Kathy sighed loudly, letting her shoulders dip down. "He's not good. Without medicine, it won't be long before..."

"I thought we had three months!" Pony protested.

Soda shook his head, biting his bottom lip. "Not any more, Pone. I'm sorry."

"What does he have to say about all this?" I asked. "If the surgery is an easy fix it shouldn't cost much. He might really go for it if we press."

"He's not going to be able to walk again," Soda stressed, disappointed with even talking about it. "I'm sorry. I just...he's not going to go for it. Not this."

Pony looked up at both of them standing over us. "So this is it? We're just going to go in there and say good bye? It doesn't feel like that. You guys feel it too, I know. It doesn't feel like Darry's meant to die."

"There's nothing else to do, Pone," Kathy said softly. "I don't believe it either. It's still not sunk in yet but we have to face it..." She paused and turned to Soda. "Unless you talk to him again."

"I've been talking to him for days," Soda gripped, clearly exasperated. He hadn't been acting like himself since this all started and he was even missing his old self. "It's not working. If anything it's making it worse."

We all stood, baffled and scratching our heads. It didn't seem real. It seemed like it wasn't over. This was just Darry getting sick again. It didn't mean he was as good as dead...right?

"I have an idea," Kathy broke the tension but spoke softly and we barely heard her. She kept her head down and kicked the floor with her shoe. "There's a sure fire way it'll work."

Soda crossed his arms and stared at her. "There sounds like there's a but."

Kathy slowly lifted her head up. "There is...and you're not going to like it."

We were told to go along with the plan. Play it cool and follow her lead. We knew going into the hospital room what Kathy was about to do but it was still hard actually listening to her tell Darry. It clearly coming from her mouth.

Darry had turned pale and looked as sick as we were to hear what Kathy had to say. The eerie quietness in the room didn't help matters any. We all stood back and left it to Kathy, waiting for Darry to finally speak.

"You're...You're pregnant?"

Kathy's hand was on her stomach and she had developed tears in her eyes. They were real tears. None of questioned that they weren't. "Y-Yeah. I'm sorry. I was going to tell you at the right moment but now..."

Darry kept looking where Kathy's hand was. I expected him to throw up at any second. His worst nightmare was coming to life before his eyes. "Kat...I..."

It sounds ridiculous for Darry to believe all this. No one really would considering, but this was Kathy standing in front of Darry. The woman who had always been the most honest with him. The woman he fully trusted and loved to the ends of the earth. The woman he'd do anything for. If you told him this same thing a month ago, he'd laugh, not believing it.

Kathy looked scared and looked as if she was holding her breath and crossing her fingers. "Darry..."

Soda had his arms still crossed beside me and his face was stone cold and hard. He was the first to agree to this plan but his stomach was just as sick as ours were.

"We were careful," Darry whispered to himself. "How..."

The three of us were here for support more than anything. To support this web of lies we were spinning. Anyone watching from the outside would truly be so sick as to what we were doing...they didn't know what we were doing it for though. Darry's life. Was it worth this lie though? We were all asking ourselves this.

We were asked to leave soon after. Darry started yelling. Not mean, just frustrated.

You'd think now that we were alone and on the outside, we'd have a lot to say to each other but all of us were speechless. So we sat, and waited for the verdict, hoping and praying for the right one.

Sure enough, Kathy emerged from the room, drying her tears. "He said yes."

"What happens when he finds out?" I was the first one to ask. "He's going to notice in nine months when you're still the same size, if not sooner."

Kathy was driving. It was raining and she hadn't talked to any of us since we got in the car. "I'll tell him...I'll tell him I wasn't pregnant after all. It was just stress or I'll have a miscarriage. I don't know yet. I didn't exactly plan this out."

Pony was beside me, pouting. "I can't believe we just did that."

"Well believe it," Soda called over his shoulder as he looked back at us. "Look, I don't agree with it and Kathy doesn't either. It's all we had to go on and we did it and it's over and we got what we wanted."

"What if Darry finds out we lied?" I asked. "Kathy he's never going to want to see or speak to you again."

Kathy deeply sighed. "Well then be it. I will lie until the cows come home if that means he'll be alive. He can hate me all he wants but I'm not going to sit back and watch this when there's something I can do to stop it!"

"I know it wasn't the best approach," Soda went on. "But we need to back Kathy up on this. We're in this together and Darry's not going to find out. At least not until after the surgery. Got it?"

We all reluctantly agreed as we pulled up to the house. Small tears were rolling down Kathy's cheeks as she got out of the car and swore to herself. "Hopefully he won't hate me forever..."

Soda put and arm around her and helped her inside. "It'll be ok. We support you. Right?"

Pony and I nodded, though we were still feeling queasy from the night. "I just...can't believe we said that."

"No fairy god mother is going to show up and fix this!" Kathy stressed loudly. "Darry is going to die. Not everything can be fixed with just some miracle. Sometimes you have to do things yourself."

Silence filled the room until the phone started to ring. Everyone looked in the direction of the kitchen.

"Who could be calling at this hour?" Soda asked, looking at the clock.

"Probably a bill collector or something." I got up off the sofa and went to it. "I got it. Ya'll just go on to bed."

I heard their footsteps as they all went to their separate rooms and closed the door, not wanting to say anything else or face what we had all done tonight. They'd deal with that in the morning.

I reached for the phone. "Hello?"

There was silence on the other end. I pressed it up to my ear and opened my mouth to say something when laughing started on the other end. Smirky, cocky, laughing. "Well, well, well, look who it is. Long time. Miss me...Curtis?"

Dying leaves of seasons brown. Losing life as they drift down. Too soon in life. Return to earth. Only they can know their worth. Distant dreams of things to be. Wandering thoughts that can't be free. I feel my mind.