Kay so this is my chapter it took so long though, but you know, exams that sorta thing. and then i was just busy. But I'm updating now so yay! Read on! =)

Chapter 10

I walked in the door and just thought about that night for a moment. Then I realized that my parents, aunt, uncle and cousin, were looking at me. I smiled lightly.

"Hi, everyone. I'm home." I pointed out the obvious.

"I'm so sorry Laurie. I'm such a bad mother for forgetting." My mom apologized.

"Mom, it's fine really, I just got a ride with my friend." I couldn't bring myself to say Soda's name in front of Bob, I was afraid he would know who I was talking about. I knew I shouldn't care what Bob thought, but I couldn't help it. I cared too much about what other people thought. "Anyways," I yawned. "I think I'm gonna go to bed, I'm tired. Night." I kind of waved weakly and made my way up the stairs.

When I was in my room I closed the door and lay down on my bed, taking in the night.

* * *

That weekend I tried not to think about Friday night. The key word there is tried. Apparently, it didn't work very well because every two seconds, that night came into mind. It just kept replaying inside my head. I had tried to read, tried watching TV, I even tried cleaning to get my mind off it. But there was no way in hell I was going to forget about it, and it was killing me.

I don't know what my problem is. Sure, he said that he's never met anyone like me, but that doesn't mean anything. That could mean just as a friend. I mean, come on, a guy like him, like me? There's a better chance of the world becoming flat than him actually liking me. But I bet you he does like me, just not the way I would like him to. Yep, I bet that's the case, sure he may like me but only as a friend and with him I think I'd kinda like to be more. Who am I kidding? I'm getting way ahead of myself.

These thoughts drowned out the rest of them. I couldn't stop thinking about everything. God, I worried too much.

When Monday came, I was surprisingly excited to go to school. I just wanted to see my friends. Wow, I thought, that was the first time I called them my friends. I did my morning routine like usual and then went downstairs to wait for Bob. He came at his usual time and when he knocked on the door I answered it was a huge smile.

"Hey!" I exclaimed.

He just looked at me kind of sternly. What flew up his butt? "Let's go," He said plainly. He walked towards the car and I just stood there staring at him for a moment and then followed him. I sat in the car and after about a minute (yes I'm impatient) I couldn't take it any longer.

"So, are we picking up Randy again?" I asked trying to create conversation.

He just continued driving silently. I stared at him waiting for an answer. "Yep." He stated. Well, how rude. What did I do to him that's making him act all hissy at me? I decided to give up talking to him. When we picked up Randy, he looked at me as he was getting into the car. And it wasn't a 'how-you-doing?' kind of look. Then again, I couldn't really tell what it was seeing as I hardly knew the boy.

When we arrived at school, Bob got out of the car and immediately walked away. He usually made some sort of acknowledgement of leaving, but today was different. What was his problem?

I ignored it –kind of—and went to my locker, got my stuff and headed to the caf. I found Karen and went to sit with her. I talked with her and her friends until the bell rang and then I made my way up to English class. I sat in my usual spot, took my books out of my bag and put them on my desk. I didn't hear any of the announcements that day and it wasn't because I tuned them out either, it was because I kept thinking about how Bob acted. It was so unlike him. Apparently, though I had tuned Soda and the teacher out because I was getting nudged in the elbow.

"What?" I looked up and found everyone's eyes on me.

"Miss. Danning, are you having trouble paying attention in my class?" The teacher asked. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to answer or not, but then he raised his eyebrow, I guess to show he was waiting.

"Sorry." I mumbled.

He gave me a stern look and continued with whatever he was saying. I put my head in my hand and tried to pay attention. The teacher gave us some work and once he sat down, we all immediately started talking.

"You alright?" Soda asked looking at me concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I told him. I don't think he really believed me, so I tried to make a joke out of it to make him believe I wasn't lying. "Just being my regular self, you know, daydreaming 24/7," I said with a weak laugh. He just looked at me. I stopped laughing. "Okay so I got a lot on my mind." Then I smiled innocently. He laughed. Finally.

By the time class ended I felt like nothing had happened between Bob and me. I didn't know why I was so worried in the first place. I mean, it's Bob; he's so difficult sometimes, but whatever. He'd get over it. Whatever it was. At least I hoped he would. As much as he did annoy me at times, he was still my cousin and I couldn't just not care.

I went to math and it was boring as usual, but I was so proud of myself. I was focused on my work and not Soda or Bob or anything for once! When the class ended, I went to grab my books off my desk but the girl that sat beside me decided she wanted to push them off. What did I ever do to her? I glared at her as she was walking away and then picked my stuff up off the floor. I stuffed my books into my bag and then walked out of the room.

"Oh my God!" I said, noticed that I had ran into someone. "Geez Soda, you always do that to me. Do you enjoy scaring the crap outta me?" He laughed as I said this so I guess he did enjoy that.

"I was wonderin' if you wanted to come to lunch with me and my buddies again." He said.

"Yeah, I'd like that, just let me go to my locker first." We went to my locker and then went to the same tree as before. Everyone was already there so we didn't have to wait.

"Laurie, you still hangin' 'round this bum?" Two-Bit joked as I came over.

I tried to think of a good retort but I couldn't so I just laughed. I said hi to Ponyboy and acknowledged Steve, and we were on our way. We did the same thing as we did the last time we went for lunch, went to a variety store and just stood around talking. I was really into the conversation. I actually talked to Steve this time too. It turns out he's not really loud or obnoxious, just, himself I guess. Either way, my assumption of him before was now entirely changed.

We walked back to the school and then departed. Soda walked me to my locker and I got my stuff. The end of the day came quickly and I walked out of the school with Soda as always. We said our goodbyes and then I went to Bob's car. He was standing outside waiting.

"Hey," I said with a smile.

"We need to talk." He looked like he had no emotions.

"Okay." We got into the car and just sat for a minute.

"I've been hearing things." He began. "Things about you."

"What about me?" I asked in confusion.

"My friends've been tellin' me that you've been hanging with a greaser. A lot of them." I looked at Bob. His eyes were cold and filled with hate. I couldn't bring myself to say anything. He wasn't going to let up on this so easily though. "Well?" He asked after I was silent for so long.

"Well what?" I managed to say.

"Is it true?" He asked.

I took in a deep breath, thought about what I was going to say, and then sighed. "No, I haven't been hangin' with 'greasers', I was hangin' with my friends." I told him.

He stared at me with confusion. "What the hell is that even supposed to mean?" He sounded angry.

"They may be greasers to you, but to me they're friends." I defended them. Bob made a little huffing noise.

"Well I don't like my cousin hangin' with trash, so either you stop hangin' out with them, or I make it so you can never see them again."

"Oh, and what are you going to do if I refuse?" I folded my arms defensively.

Bob didn't give an answer just yet. He gave a mischievously evil grin. "I'll get rid of your little buddy friends. Especially that one you always hang around. The one that's in two of your classes?"

I let out a little gasp. He knew about Soda. I couldn't let Soda get hurt, I just couldn't. Not after how nice he'd been to me. I knew what I had to do next, but I just didn't want to do it. I took in a deep breath. "Alright. I'll stop talking to them, hanging out with them. Everything. But you cannot hurt them or do anything thing to them at all. Ok? Just leave them alone. You win, I'll stop. Now just take me the hell home or I'll walk." I hated myself so much. I should've known that he'd find out soon though. They were going to hate me. All of them. Hell, I hated me. Bob had a smile on his face like he'd finished some important job. He was proud of himself. He made me sick.

So that was chapter 10. Again, sorry it took so long. Please REVIEW!