The next day

Rosanne's POV:

I lay in bed while everyone is awake doing their thing. I just think about everything that happened last night. I appreciate Johnny sticking up for me. When we got home, I just broke down crying my eyes out. From Dallas, to the incident with Bob and Randy. I am sick and tired of constantly running into Bob and Randy! It's like they're watching me.

I sit up and stretch. I love Johnny. I need to eventually tell him. I know he's just anxiously waiting for the day! There is no way I would ever date Dallas. He'd end up cheating on me, and I will not stand for that!

I get up and walk to the kitchen. I don't see Johnny anywhere, and same with Ponyboy. Wonder where those two are?

I make myself a little breakfast, nothing too much. I don't have much of an appetite.

While eating, Dallas walks inside. I stare at him with fear because him and I are alone in this house. Oh Ponyboy please come in! Save your sister!

"Hey there," Dallas says.

I look up at him without an expression. "Hey."

"Look, Rosanne listen. I'm sorry!" Dallas says.

"Sorry doesn't fix anything Dallas! It's like breaking a plate and then saying sorry to that, it doesn't work," I say.

"But I really mean it! I wanna make it up to you, please Rosanne, please," Dallas said.

I glare at him. "We'll see."

I sit up and walk out the back door and slam it behind me. Am I being too mean to Dallas? Ugh, my good heart always wanting to give more chances. I mean, I shouldn't get too mad for him checking out a girl, we aren't dating. But the fact he said he'd try to be nice and change, but didn't. You know what, I'll forgive Dallas. But I'm not gonna date him. I choose Johnny.

Dallas's POV:

There is nothing I can do to have her forgive me. Nothing. I'm such an idiot. I wish I could go back in time and make sure I never have done anything. Rosanne would be my girlfriend if it weren't for Cherry.

Everyone in the gang hates me, especially Darry, and now Johnny is terrified of me. In fact, he hasn't even spoke to me since I almost killed him. I need to fix my relationship with everyone. Soon, I believe that I will be kicked out of this place. I can't afford to be homeless. Also, I don't want this! I don't want the gang hating me, I don't want the only two people I care about to hate me, or fear me. Ugh. What am I gonna do..?

I sit down on the couch and set my head back and close my eyes. Usually I don't care, but I feel like a total jerk right now.

~

Ponyboy's POV:

Johnny and I are sitting in the front yard just speaking. We're just talking about last night. Poor Anne. I've never seen her cry like that. From the whole Dallas thing, to the restaurant incident. She slept in pretty late, and usually when she does that, she's feeling down.

"Do you think Rose is up?" Johnny asked.

"Not sure," I say.

"It breaks my heart to see her cry that hard," Johnny said.

"I know, and she's a tough cookie," I say.

"You know what," Johnny says. Johnny stands up "I'm gonna see if she's okay. She probably wants to see me. But first…"

Johnny walks around and looks for something. He spots a blue rose in a bush. He picks it out and puts it in his jean jacket. I smile.

"Her favorite flower is a rose, specifically a blue one," Johnny says.

Johnny smiles and walks away to inside the house.

~

Johnny's POV:

I walk inside the house with Rose's favorite flower. I have a smile on my face. I can't wait to give her the rose. She needs something good in her life. I can't wait to see her smile again.

I look around the living room. Completely empty, except Dallas on the couch. I freeze, hoping he doesn't realize I'm in here.

Dallas lifts his head up and opens his eyes. He stares at me. I don't say anything. I look around and try to leave the room without making it even more awkward as it is already.

Dallas clears his throat. "Yo Johnny."

My eyes get big. I start shaking. "H-Hey, D-D-Dallas…"

"Look, before you start running away and freaking out, I need to talk to you. I'm not gonna hurt you. Trust me," Dallas said.

"How can I trust you?" I ask.

Dallas rolls his eyes. He pulls out his knife and puts it on the table, along with his feet. "Look, I'm sorry for wanting to kill you the other day. I.. I.. I feel bad for everything. Also, you deserve Rosanne. That sweet, beautiful innocent girl deserves someone who will treat her like a queen. I'm not the guy to do that. I tried to change for her, but I failed. I'll never be the nice guy girls want."

I look at Dallas. "You really mean that Dal?"

"Yes," Dallas said. He looks up at me. "Can we be buddies again?"

I don't answer. I'm just testing to see how much he wants to be buddies again.

"Also, if you and Rosanne become a couple, I will try not to get mad, and I won't get into the middle of you two," Dallas adds on.

I smile. "Okay… Buddy."

Dallas smiles and stands up from the couch and high fives me.

"Good. I don't have to worry about that," Dallas said. "Have you seen Rosanne today?"

"No I haven't. The reason I came in here was to check up on her," I say. I need to give her the rose.

I walk to the kitchen where the purple tulip is. I put the blue rose in the same vase so that it doesn't die just yet. From the corner of my eye, I see Dallas watching me put the rose in water.

"You got her a blue rose I see," Dallas said.

"Yeah, I was gonna surprise her with it. Blue roses are her favorite," I said.

"That's… great," Dallas said.

"Yeah," I say. "I'm gonna see if Rose is in her room."

I start to walk but then Dallas jumps in front of me to block my way. "She's not there!"

"How would you know?" I ask.

"I..," Dallas said then he looks away.

"You what?" I ask.

Dallas looks around and sighed. "I walked in, and she was in here by herself, looking depressed. I came in to talk to her but she was still boiling mad at me and she ran out the back door and I haven't seen her since then."

"When did this happen?" I ask.

"Hmm. About 10 to 15 minutes ago," Dallas said.

"Ugh, she could be anywhere in Tulsa by now," I said.

"Come on, it's Rosanne," Dallas said. "She'll realize she misses you and come back to talk to you. She'll be back within an hour. She can't stay upset for too long."

"You're right," I say. Rose and I haven't talked at all today, she'll be back soon. She's worth waiting for.

Dallas and I sit down and wait for her. While waiting, we just talk about Rose. Dallas told me about their "date". It does sound like they had a great time, but to be honest I'm actually glad Dallas ruined the night. I'm sure Rose made up her mind now.

An hour passes, Rose is not home. I start to worry a little bit. She has to be on her way home, she just has to!

"Do you think she's okay?" I ask Dallas.

"She's on her way home. She probably stopped at DX for a little bit," Dallas said.

"You're probably right," I say. "She always stops by there."

Another hour passed and she never came home. I'm starting to think something bad has happened to her.

Sodapop and Steve walk inside the door, but without Rose! Maybe she was with them earlier. She can't be out still, the sun is going down, and she is always home by sun down. Rose has to be coming home now…

"Hey guys," I say.

"Sup," Sodapop says and puts his work hat up.

Steve goes straight to the shower. His face was covered in oil.

"Hey, have you by any chance seen Rose today?" I ask.

"No she didn't stop by today which was odd," Sodapop said. My eyes get big. "Why are you asking? Is she not here?"

I look down. "I haven't seen her at all today."

Dallas is quite.

Sodapop looks at Dallas. "Have you seen her?"

"Earlier," Dallas said.

Darry walks in. "Sup guys."

"Where did she go Dallas?" Sodapop raised his voice.

"I dunno," Dallas said.

"Dallas…," Sodapop said. "Where… Did… Rosanne go?"

"I just said I don't know! She walked out the back door and hasn't came back," Dallas said with anger rising. "Now stop bugging me you're getting on my nerves!"

"What's going on?" Darry asked.

"Rose is gone!" I said.

Ponyboy walks out of the room. "Did I just hear that Anne is gone?"

"Guys she'll be back home within this hour," Dallas said. "We know she's always home before dark."

"My kid sister has been gone all day and no one has done NOTHING to see if she's even alive?!" Darry yelled.

"We've just been waiting," Dallas said.

"Waiting for Rosanne won't figure out if she's dead or not!" Darry said.

Ponyboy's face went from a smile to fear. "We have to find her now!"

"Oh my goodness man, how many times do I-," Dallas said until Darry went over to him and picked him up from his shirt with one hand.

"I think you know more about what happened then you're saying," Darry said in his face.

"I'm telling all that I know," Dallas said.

"Sure, Darry said. "We'll go with that excuse."

"I'm telling the truth!" Dallas said.

Sodapop steps in closer to everyone. "Maybe Dallas did something to Rosanne out of anger since she said she don't want to date him?"

"Did you kill her Dallas?!" Darry screamed.

"No!" Dallas said. "I know I've made a mistake for checking out Cherry, but it's my fault. I'm angry at myself, not Rosanne. I understand that she's mad at me."

Darry drops Dallas down on the couch. "I've got my eye on you." Darry walks to his room and shuts his door.

"Plus…," Dallas says. "If I kill anyone from this situation, it would be myself."