I stayed up most of the night just thinking of what Soda had said. I wanted to love, wanted to love him, but something was holding back. I knew that it wasn't going to be easy to live my life normally again, but I knew I could do it, with the help of Sodapop.

The days after that went by slow. Not much happened either. Steve left me alone after the other day. I guessed that Soda had said something to him, but who knows. The counselor said I could write a composition, which had to be at least 6 pages in order to complete the year. It wouldn't be too hard. I only missed the first four months of the school year. I was glad she said that I could do that because then I didn't have to redo the grade if I got a decent grade.

I started working on it over the weekend. It was hard to concentrate though because Ponyboy and Soda were here. When they're together, the house can't keep quiet. What was worse is that Steve and Two-Bit had come too. I decided that I wouldn't start on the composition until everyone left, and Pony and Soda were too tired to do anything. That would be after dinner.

Today was one f the most boring days anyone can imagine. There was absolutely nothing going on. I decided I was going to go take a walk. I walked passed a few classmates, and talked to a few too. Then I met up with Jamie McCambridge. She was the girl that always gave me a mean look. I felt like Cherry Valance, or at least how I thought she might feel.

"Why did you ever have to come back?" Jamie said.

"Um."

"I don't even know what he sees in you. I mean you're an insane bitch."

"Who the hell are you even talking about?"

"Don't pretend like you don't know."

"My God! What the hell makes you think that I could read your mind?"

"Steve, you idiot! I know you two are together."

"Like anyone would wanna be with Steve. I was quite surprised when he got Evie to be his girlfriend. Is he still going out with her?"

"No, he broke up with her after he saw that you were out of the hospital."

"What an idiot."

"He's not an idiot! You did something to him!" Then she slapped me.

I wasn't gonna let myself get slapped and just let it go. So I punched her, knocking her tooth out.

By now there was a whole crowd of people, mostly from school.

She tried to take a swing at me, but missed. She was a lousy fighter. I punched her one more time, and pulled her down to the floor. I then kicked her and knocked the wind out of her. I then left it at that. I went back home as if nothing had happened.

By the time I got home Darry was already there. I wondered what time it was and noticed it was 7:30. I decided I wasn't hungry and that I would only eat a snack. No one asked any questions. I guessed it was because it didn't look like I was in a fight. I went to bed pretty early as there was nothing else to do, but then I remembered the composition. I wrote for hours and I finally finished.

Soda then came into the room.

"Still not asleep?"

"Nope. I had to write my composition."

"Did you finish?"

"Yup."

"Can I see it?"

"It's pretty boring."

"Everything about school is boring."

I smiled and then said, "That's true. Oh, you know what happened today."

"What?"

"I got in a fight. Well the girl did put much of one. The last I saw of her I had knocked the wind out of her."

"What was the fight about?"

"I'm not sure exactly. I was kinda not listening. She slapped me so I fought back in self-defense. What I do know is that it had something to do with Steve."

"Was the girl Jamie McCambridge?"

"Yeah, why?"

"That girl is totally obsessed with Steve. I guess she noticed how much he flirted with you. It was like when you noticed the little sparks between Dallas and Cherry."

"Well, I guess what goes around comes around, but I still don't see why she got all mad at me. Everyone knows I would never like Steve in a million years."

"Not everyone. Most people think you could end up loving him, and I personally think you should even though I know you won't. I mean he's a good guy or.was."

"What happened to him?"

"Evie broke up with him about a week before you came. He took it pretty hard, but then you came and well now he just ain't the same."

"I ain't either."

"I know you're not, but believe me you're gonna change. I'll make sure of it, but I doubt there's any hope for Steve."

"And how do you expect to help me?"

"I'll find a way. Besides I told you before, there's gonna be at least one guy out there who's not gonna leave you. They'd be stupid if they did. I mean, if I were the guy for you, I know I would never leave you."

I didn't say anything after that. I didn't know what to say. He did make me feel better like he always did.

"Well I'm kinda tired," I said. "I'm going to sleep."

"Yeah, me too."

He kissed me on the cheek and then left. I felt myself go red and then my cheek started to tingle. I smiled, and then went right to sleep.