Hello people I know that it has been 4 months since I last updated and I am really sorry! PLEASE PLEASE don't hate me!!!! I AM SOOOOO SORRY!!! So here is the story and I think that this is going to be the next to last chapter!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Raleigh's eyes opened as the sun rays hit her face. She looked over at Steve, who wasn't awake yet. She nudged him a little and he opened his eyes and stretched.

"Blaze, what the hell are you doing?" He asked through a yawn. Raleigh rolled her eyes at him and grinned.

"Let's go check and see if they'll let Dallas come home." Raleigh said in an excited voice as she stood up and stretched. Her shirt showed just a little of her stomach when she raised her arms. Steve reached up and quickly tickled her. Raleigh slapped his hands and looked at him with her eyebrows wrinkled. Steve just smiled and jumped up out of his chair. They walked down the hall toward Dallas' room. The pair walked in to see Dally pulling on his jeans.

"HEY! Don't you know how to knock?" Dally asked, rather said. His eyes were hard and cold. He jerked on a shirt over his taped ribs. Raleigh walked over to him and placed her hands on his hips.

"What do you want?" Dallas asked in a cold, harsh voice. Raleigh stared up into his eyes and laughed. The meanness that was in his voice didn't travel to his eyes. He knew that Raleigh knew it. Steve looked at Raleigh with his mouth hanging open. He'd never seen anyone do that to Dallas.

"Shut your trap, Randall." Dallas said as he saw Steve's jaw. Raleigh laughed at him and the trio left the hospital. They climbed into Steve's truck with Raleigh in the middle holding on to Dallas' left leg.

When they arrived at the Curtis' house everyone was already there. Steve looked at Raleigh and cocked an eyebrow.

"You coming?" He asked. Dallas turned and looked at him and at Raleigh.

"Hell yeah, she's coming. Or else you and me are goin' drag her in there." He answered for her.

They walked into the house and everyone turned to look at the three. Darry caught Raleigh's eye and smiled at her, but she just looked down not wanting to cry all over again. Ponyboy and Johnny saw the look between the two and looked at each other. Neither one of them wanted to see Darry or Raleigh upset, but they didn't know how to fix it. Italy jumped up to hug Raleigh. Raleigh thought she was going to start crying again, but she bit her lip so she wouldn't. "I see you and Johnny are getting pretty friendly over there." Raleigh whispered into Italy's ear. Italy pulled away and looked at the taller girl with a smile. Raleigh rolled her eyes and laughed.

Meanwhile all the guys were asking Dallas how he felt and if he needed anything.

"I am not a helpless kid. I'm fine!" He shouted as he took a seat. All the guys looked at him surprised and the two girls just rolled the eyes. Just as Raleigh went to shower and change clothes, there was a knock at the door. Two-Bit got up to get it.

"Well low and behold! Cherry, what are you doing here? And bearing gifts? Come in!" Two- Bit exclaimed and threw open the door.

Cherry walked in wearing a cream colored knee-length skirt and a dark blue sleeveless shirt. Her auburn hair was pulled up into a bouncy ponytail. She had a casserole dish in her hands, covered in saran wrap. Sodapop took it from her and she smiled graciously. Raleigh came back in to ask Italy where a hairbrush was and she caught Cherry's eye.

"Oh, hi Cherry was it?" Raleigh asked very politely. Cherry looked up and nodded at her. She had a questioning look on her face. Raleigh smiled at her reassuringly.

"Well, if you don't mind I'd like to talk to you. Outside." Raleigh asked in the same sweet voice. Cherry glances at Steve and Two-Bit and they both nodded.

Cherry and Raleigh both stepped outside. They both sat down on the front steps beside each other. Raleigh let out a deep sigh. She turned to look at the red head beside her. Cherry looked at her very confused.

"Ok, I'm not very good at these apology things, but I'm going to try. I am truly sorry about what I did. It was immature and I was just so mad about Dally. He's the only thing that I have that is close to family. The thought of losing him. . . I would die. But I am really sorry about what happened." Raleigh said. The whole time she was rubbing her hands up and down her thighs, a nervous habit. Cherry's face was completely blank the whole time during the apology. She looked in the other girl's eyes and saw that she was sincere.

"Well they were my LEAST favorite pair of shoes, so I guess I'm in debt to you. I know how close ya'll are. Dallas told me. It's okay I understand." Cherry smiled at Raleigh and gave her a small hug. Raleigh gratefully returned the hug.

"So, what kind of food did you bring?" Raleigh asked as they walked in the door.

"I'm not that good of a cook so I hope it doesn't taste bad." Cherry stated nervously.

Raleigh looked at her, "Don't worry the boys will eat anything with enough Ketchup."

For some odd, unknown reason they both thought that the fact was very funny and laughed together as the walked into the house. All the boys looked at the two. Raleigh just laughed and whispered something to Cherry. Her eyes got big with surprise, but then she grinned and went to sit by Two-Bit. Raleigh went and packed the rest of her clothes and walked to Steve's truck. She put the suitcase in the truck bed and sat down on the end of it. Her bare feet were dangling above the dry, dusty ground. Somewhere behind here she heard the screen door slam shut. Raleigh looked up to see Darry leaning against the porch railing. They looked eyes for a moment, but Raleigh turned her head. No matter how much she loved Darry, she couldn't talk to him right now. After all he had done for her and to her, her heart was broken.

Soda opened the door and looked at the two. He patted Darry on the back and walked past him. Soda looked at Raleigh and she smiled at him. He handed her a pair of her shoes.

"Thanks, Soda." She replied as she slipped them on. He helped her down off the tailgate.

"Raleigh, babe, I think you should take a little walk with me. Ya' know, catch up on some old times. It seems to me we haven't talked enough lately." Soda stated with his lopsided grin. Raleigh smiled again and the two walked down the sidewalk.

Darry watched the whole exchange between the two, the girl he loved and his younger brother. Well, at least Soda had gotten her to talk, even if it was two words. He shook his head and went back inside.

"So, why is it that I get the feeling that you are still in love with my brother, but yet you want give him the time of day?" Soda asked innocently. Raleigh looked down at he flip flops and then back up to him.

"It's because I am." She replied quietly.

"You do know he is in love with you, right?"

"I suppose, but why did he break my heart? Not just once but twice." Raleigh stopped walking and put her hands on her hips.

"Well," Soda sighed "I bet he didn't mean to. If you still love him and he still loves you then why don't you two work this thing out?"

Raleigh sat down, Soda did the dame. She didn't say anything for the longest time. Soda looked at her to check if she was still breathing. Finally, she looked up. She had tear stains on her cheeks.

"Loving someone is different than being in love, Sodapop James Curtis. It is completely different. You, of all people, and Steve should know that well enough." Raleigh replied. Each word was weighed evenly and they hit Soda with a force that he couldn't explain.

Now it was his turn to not say anything. After a few minutes of deciding how to voice his question, he looked at his friend.

"Are you in love with Darry?" Soda asked with his eyebrows wrinkled together. Raleigh laughed a laugh that held no humor at all. She looked up at the sky.

"Yes, no matter what he does, or who for that matter, I will always be in love with him." Raleigh answered. Soda looked into her eyes and saw that it was true. He knew his brother loved her, but was he in love with her. And if he was, why did he break her heart.

Raleigh looked up and saw Steve's truck go by. He had a pretty little brunette with and the happiest grin you could ever imagine.

"Laney and me are goin' take your stuff to my house, Blaze." And with that he sped away.

Soda helped Raleigh up. When they got back to the house Raleigh sat on the front porch, thinking about what she was going to say to Darry.

~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~

Hey!!!!! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I really enjoyed writing it!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!

MY email has changed!!!!!!!!!! It is now( writerraleigh@yahoo.com!