Liberty's POV

"Where are you going to go Liberty?" Faith asked

"I'm sorry Faith, but I can't stay here, Dallas will come here, I know it…well that's of he's even looking for me anyways. But I can't risk it. He'll only try and force me to go back, I know it, I don't see why though, he's the one who said he wanted me gone, I'm doing him a favour, yeah?"

"Liberty, you at least wait till morning yes?"

I looked at her, my heart filled with pity. I was the only other girl that she knew, well cept her mom, but for that one day that I'd spent with her, she'd been so happy, it was the same every time I went to see them. I'd spend the whole time with Faith and then she'd cry her heart out when I left.

"I'm sorry Faith." I repeated

She looked at me and then wiped a tear from her eye. I smiled weakly and then grabbed my bag and tip toed out of the bedroom trying not to make a noise. Faith followed me, tears rolling down her face. I felt so guilty but I couldn't risk Dal coming for me. I looked at Faith then turned and opened the door.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

Faith grabbed my arm as we looked at the figures in front of us. We were both screaming which made Marco and Eddie (Maria and Louis have gone out some place) run out of their bedrooms warily. We couldn't stop screaming though, that was until the figures came into the light. I stepped forward only to be pulled into a huge hug.

"Hey Two-bit." I mumbled

"Liberty." Faith said as she pulled me away from Two-bit

"Who the hell are you boys?" Marco asked

"I'm her brother. Who the hell are you?" Dallas snapped

I backed away thinking he was going to hit me. Faith grasped my hand and then pulled me behind Eddie.

"My name is Marco, Liberty is my cousin."

"OUR cousin." Faith said from behind Eddie.

"Yes Faith, now you say you are Liberty brother?" Marco asked fiercely

"He's my brother Marco, don't worry, he won't do nothing to us. If he does then I'll just go and kiss Tim Shepard." I said

Ponyboy and Two-bit sniggered, but Dallas obviously didn't find it funny.

"Liberty? Is the boy here? The one? The lovely boy?" Faith asked as she put her head around to the front of Eddie and took a quick glance over to them.

I nodded and then stood in front of Eddie.

"Come on, we're going home." Dallas said

"No. I'm not going anywhere." I said shaking my head and backing away towards the bedroom.

"Yes you are. You're coming home." Dallas repeated

I shook my head again.

"Please Bertie, come on?" Pony asked hopefully

I looked at him, I felt a pang of guilt again, I couldn't just leave Ponyboy, he was my best friend, but I couldn't go back, things would get better, and then they'd just get even worse again. I moved towards Ponyboy and then moved back when Dallas went to grab me.

"I'm sorry Pony. I'm gonna miss you guys, but well, I ain't never going back." I said as I made my way back into the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind me.

I paced the bedroom, thinking about what to do. I could hear them all arguing in the other room. It sounded as though Faith was crying, and Eddie was trying desperately to comfort her but at the same time stop them from getting into the room. I had bolted the Door shut, but I knew that they'd be able to get it open within a few seconds. I looked around the room and then paced it again then looked back, the window was big enough for me to get out of and it wasn't to far a climb.

Before I knew it, I was outside and running down the lane.

Meanwhile…

"Stop fighting! Stop. Can you not see what is doing to her? She no want to go to Tusla with you, she no want to stay here, she want to be away, away from this, I just only wish I could go too!" Faith shouted at the top of her voice.

The room went silent and everyone looked at Faith, who pushed straight past Eddie and Louis and kicked at the door to open it. She had no success but Darry had taken pity on her and kicked the door open. Upon realizing that Liberty had gone Faith fell to the floor in tears.

"See what you do; now she's gone." Faith said choking on her words.

Ponyboy pushed past everyone and ran into the room and started to look around desperately for her. He bit his lip and then looked out of the window and then back at everyone and ran out of the apartment to find her. Faith stood up and ran over to her parents who were standing at the door.

"What's going on? Where's Liberty?" Marie asked

"She go, she run and now she gone for good. Oh papa why? Why do she have to go again? I no want her to go again." Faith mumbled into her father's chest.

Dallas looked at the two adults standing opposite him and then shook his head and ran out following Ponyboy, along with Darry and Soda.

"Well my name is Two-bit Matthews. We was just here looking for Liberty, but she's not here, so we'll go now."

Johnny looked at Steve and then they followed Two-bit.

"Come on Marco, Eddie, we'll go help look, Marie you take Faith to bed and we will be back as soon as we have found her." Louis said pulling the two boys out of the door.

Marie hugged Faith tightly and then took her to her bedroom where they sat waiting hopefully.

(For the record, this is all taking place at night, just so you can get a better picture of it!)

Liberty's POV

As soon as I touched the ground I started to run. I could still hear them arguing as I ran away. I turned the corner and then ran even faster, the fastest I think I've ever run. I was at least half a mile away from the apartment by now, so I stopped running to catch my breath. I turned the corner quickly and bumped head first into someone else.

"I'm sorry. Are you alright?"

I looked up at the person standing over me. I definitely hadn't seen him before but he was the handsomest person I've ever saw in my whole life. Well maybe not as handsome as Soda, but still very handsome. He had dark blonde hair that was neatly combed behind his ears, although the front parts flopped into his face, his eyes were friendly and wise, a dark mahogany colour and he had the softest most heart warming smile I'd ever seen. He held out his had towards me, I looked at it distantly for a second and then grabbed it, and he pulled me to my feet and in towards him.

"My name is River. It's nice to meet you." He said softly

I nodded and then smiled

"My name is Liberty."

"That's not a very common name. I like it."

I grinned and then moved back.

"I've never met a River before. But I like the name."

River grinned. He has the most beautiful smile ever. My heart melted when he smiled. Well, it felt that way, sorta.

"So what are you doing out here at this time Liberty?" River asked

I liked how he kept on calling me Liberty at some point in each sentence.

"Well I'm running away, my brother wants me to go back to Tulsa, but I'm not, I can't go back, he hates me." I explained

"I had a sister once, I have a very large family, do you have a large family Liberty?"

"No, just me and Dal, and well my dad, but he's a jerk." River nodded simply.

"May I ask what happened between you Liberty?" River asked

"Well I got drunk because he treats me like a baby and then I ended up with one of his buddies, and he got mad and then hit this guy and then I got mad and well its pretty confusing."

"It sounds like your brother loves you a lot. He seems scared to show you how he feels. I think that if you go back that he would be able to tell you how he feels Liberty."

"No, I can't go back, I just can't."

"River!"

I looked at River and then we both turned around. A boy was running towards us. He looked a lot like River but he was boyishly good looking, not unbelievably good looking, although the more I looked at him the better looking he seemed to get. He had the same eyes but they seemed a bit tougher and his hair was much lighter, more of a sandy colour, it was shorter too and he looked very streetwise. He was wearing blue jeans with a loose white shirt and a blue denim jacket, whereas River was wearing the same clothes but a longer brown jacket. They were both wearing cow boy boots and carrying bags that looked quite heavy.

"Yes?" River asked simply as the boy reached us.

"Who's this?" The boy asked looking at me and grinning.

"This is Liberty." River said

I held out my hand and he took it and shook it gently.

"My name is Hale. It's real good to meet you Liberty." Hale said as he released my hand.

"Well anyway River, we gotta go now, I mean the boat is gonna be leaving soon. Well it was nice meeting you Liberty, but we gotta leave now- unless you wanna come with us?" Hale asked hopefully

I had no doubts about it I nodded and then we made our way towards the dock.