The days we were at the church flew by and were a blur mostly to me. What I can mostly remember is that I was cold, in pain (when the aspirin would wear off), and was now developing a cough. Pony and Johnny were doing their best to keep me comfortable and to get me better. At times they would have to force me awake to make me drink water and to stay hydrated. When I could eat, I would have a cracker or a piece of bread, nothing too heavy. I have memories of Pony reading us Gone With the Wind and I would fall asleep with images in my head.

I guess I was right about Pony being a blonde. Johnny did end up bleaching his hair and cutting both of theirs. I wouldn't really have noticed it was my own twin he looked so different.

"Pony?" I asked one night.

"Yeah Addie?"

"Do you think we will ever go home?" I asked snuggling in closer to him for warmth.

"Of course Addie. As soon as this mess blows over we'll be heading home to Darry and Soda and the gang and everything will be back to the way it was," he replied pulling me in closer.

"But it won't be. The Socs are going to be looking for us, you know that. No Greaser is going to be safe."

"I know Adds, but it will get better I promise. I'm sure there will be some sort of fight to ease things up."

"Pony I don't want anybody to get hurt. Fighting is bad and doesn't solve problems it just makes them worse," I cried.

"I know Addie, that's what Johnny was saying the night we ran away. Tell you the truth of sick of fighting and the different sides too. But I don't think that will ever change."

"I wish it will. And you know what I want to be the one to start the change."

"You do, do you?" he laughed.

"Of course. A change has to start somewhere."

"I guess you're right." I shivered. "You cold?"

"Just a bit." He placed his hand across my forehead.

"You still have a fever. How's your arm?" he asked.

"Hurts, but when has it not."

"Let's see it." He took my injury arm and was holding it up into the moonlight. He did a low whistle.

"It's pretty swollen. When was the last time you took some aspirin?"

"I don't know, yesterday."

"Alright here take three." And he handed me the pills. Now Pony believes the more pills you take the better you feel. I've seen him take four to five pills before even though the bottle only said one. I don't believe in his belief so I took one and swallow it and laid back down. Hearing a twig snap and some scratching on the wood I jumped up.

"What is that?" I asked.

"Johnny it's a monster!" Pony pointed out.

"Naw its just some animal. Go back to sleep you guys."

I woke up the next morning to a wonderful surprise. A kiss to the lips. I opened my eyes and saw Dally in front of me smiling. I wasn't sure if I was dreaming still or hallucinating but when his hand came up to cup my face I knew this was real.

"Dally? What? How?"

"Hey beautiful. I missed you." And he kissed me again. He sat me up and pulled me into his warm, soft embrace.

"Oh God, how I missed you," I cried holding on to him tighter as tears fell softly down my cheeks.

"Hey, it's okay babe, it's okay. I'm here now." Dally comforted me. "Gosh did you guys feed her at all? She's a stick over here," he asked turning to the boys.

"Trust me we tried," Johnny replied. "She's been really sick Dal. We were lucky just to get her to drink water or eat a piece a bread a day."

"She still sick and she's not getting better. We have to get her out of here Dal. This place isn't going to help her get better. It gets to cold at night," Ponyboy explained.

"I hear ya. Listen, let me take you guys out to grab something to eat. We'll let Addie rest here and then when we get back I'll take here with me to Buck's or something to help her get better. Sound like a plan?"

"Sure," the boys chorused.

"That okay with you babe?" he asked turned to me. "I would take you with us, but I rather you rest before the car ride. And these goof balls already look different from the last time I saw them."

"No its fine. I would probably just sleep anyways."

"You need anything before we go?"

"No I'll be fine. Just hurry back, okay?"

"Alright babe." And with a kiss from Dally the boys left with Dally exclaiming "I got a special delivery for Ponyboy Curtis." And with that I laid back down and fell asleep again.

Me coughing in smoke is what woke me up. Looking around I see black smoke everywhere and fire just shooting up from the ground. I could hear kids screaming and adult voices outside yelling out for them. I pushed off the blanket and wrapped it around me as I tried to stand up put only accomplished falling to my knees from being so weak. I pushed myself, for the matter of life and death, up and tried to walk. I got to the doorway when I heard my name being called.

"ADDIE! ADDIE WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Over here," I yelled as loud as I could. A coughing fit hit me as I fell to the ground again. I looked up and I could make out Dally's figure coming toward me.

"Adds, don't worry I gotcha," he grabbed me and pulled me up into his arms and started to carry me out. The fire was getting worse. From the sound of it all the kids were out now and I could hear Johnny shouting out through the fire's roar.

"Dal did you find her?"

"Yeah, get out of here Johnny!" he screamed.

We finally got outside and Dally laid me next to my brother who was passed out on the ground.

"Ponyboy!" I coughed.

"Where's Johnny?" Dally asked looking around. "He's still inside! Stay here!" And he ran back in to the burning house.

I remember yelling out Dally's name as I passed out into the darkness.