Disclaimer: S.E. Hiton owns The Outsiders and I own the other peoples.

**Lez's POV**

I slept for two hours and woke up. Kevin was next to me and I decided to crawl over him and get a shower. I took a long hot shower and someone knocked on the door as I finished.

"Celeste. Dear? Are you ok?"

"Yes Mrs. Charlotte. Thanks for asking."

"You're up so early dear. It's only quarter to five."

"I know," I said drying off, "I guess I slept in a little. I usually get up at four."

"Oh. Well, I'm going back to bed. Goodnight dear."

"Goodnight."

I finished drying off and wrapped the towel around me. I sat on the floor near the toilet and Kevin opened the door.

"You didn't!" He yelled.

I laid my head on the edge of the tub and replied. "Sh. You're parents are sleeping and you're right. I didn't."

He walked over to me and picked me up by my arm. I felt light headed and fell down. He bent down and whispered in my ear. I put my arms around his shoulders and he picked me up. He set me in his bed and handed me the robe I had on earlier. I put it on and attempted to stand up.

"What?" he asked.

I slowly and carefully walked downstairs. I sat on the couch we were on earlier. He came down and sat next to me.

"I gotta go home. Come with me?"

"Why?"

"I'm not wearing your clothes to school."

"You can't board. To risky. You might fall again."

"I'll walk. You can come with me so if it appears i'm gonna fall you can catch me."

He shrugged. "I've got no other choice obviously."

"Nope," I smiled.

**Kev's POV**

I walked Lez to her house. We quietly walked inside and saw Darry in the kitchen. He turned and looked at us.

"Lez?"

"Soda hates me. I'm just gonna change into some clothes for school grab my stuff and go to Kev's."

"Soda doesn't hate you. I guess that's ok if you don't wanna have a run in with him in the morning."

She glared at him. "He hates me. On second thought I'll stay here. Thanks Kev. See you tomorrow."

"Uh, ok. See you in school."

**Lez's POV**

I sat in the kitchen and talked to Darry before everyone woke up. Pony and Soda wandered into the kitchen and got chocolate cake.

"Winter season is busy. You two get ready. I gotta go. Bye."

"Why are you here?" Soda asked.

"Soda cut it out," Pony told him.

"No Pony. He's right. I'm a jerk. I don't deserve to live. Maybe I'll just kill myself and make everyone happy."

"That's stupid."

"Just like her," Soda added.

I sighed, "Yeah. Hey guys I gotta head to A.J.'s before school. He was supposed to fix my board. Bye guys."

I walked out the door and was looking down as I walked to A.J.'s. I bumped into someone.

"Oops. I'm so sorry. My head just isn't with me today."

"Here's your board. Figured we could board to school together." He gave me a skateboard.

"This isn't mine."

"You trashed yours. I got you a new one. An early christmas gift."

I smiled. "Thanks."

I hopped on the board and skated with A.J. to school. We got there and there was a bunch of people crowded around a guy handing out fliers to people.

"Wanna check it out?" A.J. asked.

"Sure."

We boarded over to the guy and everyone turned to stare at me.

"What? Do I have toothpaste on my shirt?" I looked down.

"Maybe not."

The guy walked over to me and outstretched his hand for a shake. I shook it and stepped backwards into Kevin.

"We've been looking for you."

"Who?"

He pointed to a light blue mustang in the lot. He took my arm.

"Darrel will no longer have to take care of you. Come."

"No thanks." I looked at Kevin behind me and ran for the open school doors. I ran into the bathroom and locked myself in a stall. I sat on the toilet seat, me knees to my chest, breathing as quietly as possible.

"Lez?" I heard Chris's voice.

"What's up? Who was that guy?"

"I don't know. He wants to take me away and I'm not ready to leave here yet."

I unlocked the stall door and walked out to my friend's faces. A.J. looked at me and took my arm.

"Come on. We'll get you to homeroom."

Kevin walked in. "A.J. don't do it. It's not worth it. What's better. Her friendship, or the money?"

I looked at A.J. I frowned and punched him in his gut. "Jerk."

I walked out with Kevin. For some reason I trusted him. We ran to the art room and hid under a table. The man found us and there was nowhere to run. He grabbed me.

"I'm your mother's killer," he whispered in my ear, "Now it's your turn."