Disclaimer: I only own Bleu.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter 8~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I awoke the next morning feeling Johnny's hand on my face. "Hey, wake up Bleu."

I opened my eyes and smiled groggily at him. "Hey, Johnnycakes."

I promised myself that I would act like nothing had happened yesterday, just so I wouldn't worry anyone.

I looked over at Dally. He was still asleep. I gently ruffled his hair and he slowly opened his eyes.

I sat up and wrapped my arms around Johnny. He hugged me back, then led me into the kitchen.

"Hey, Darry what're we havin' for breakfast?" Johnny asked.

"Uh, chocolate cake, hard-boiled eggs and ham. Bleu do you want chocolate milk or orange juice?"

I rubbed the back of my head, trying to get some knots out. "Chocolate milk'll be fine, Darry. Thanks."

Darry nodded and went back to making breakfast. I heard Ponyboy and Soda upstairs wrestling or something. They finally trotted downstairs. "Hey, Bleu, do you wanna go to the Nightly Double today? I finished the book!" Pony beamed proudly.

"Wow, you're a fast reader! Yeah, sure we can go tonight!" I smiled at Pony and we slapped hands before he disappeared into the kitchen.

I sat down next to Dally and Johnny sat down next to me. Dally had already folded up the blanket and stuck it behind the couch.

"Anybody here?" I saw Two-Bit yell through the screen door.

"Hurry up, Two-Bit! I don't wanna stand outside all day!" I heard Steve growl.

          "Breakfast is ready!" Darry shouted, and everyone scrambled into the kitchen.

          Pony, Soda and Steve were the first ones, so they grabbed their food and plopped down on the sofa. Johnny and I sat down on the floor, below Pony and Soda.

          I tapped Pony's leg. "Hey, Pon, when do ya wanna go see the movie?"

          "I dunno, maybe around seven. How does that sound?"

          "Sounds great!"

          Dally entered and sat down on the chair closest to Steve, and Two-Bit parked himself on one of the footstools next to me.

          "Hey, if y'all don't mind, I'd like to see that Frankenstein movie. Can I accompany you and Bleu, Ponyboy?"

          Pony swallowed his cake. "Yeah, sure Two-Bit. Meet here at 6:30 and we can all walk over together."

          Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dally falter and drop his fork on his plate. Thankfully no one else noticed, or said anything.

          After breakfast, Johnny and I took a tour of the neighbor hood. We stopped at the park first to talk, and sat on the same swings that Dally and I sat on yesterday.

          "And over there," he went on, pointing to the west, "is where the Soc territory is."

          "Johnny," I said quietly, wringing my hands, "I never told you what happened to my parents, did I?"

          He looked at me sharply, and then softened his gaze. "No," he answered, just as softly, "But you don't have to tell me if you don't want too."

          "No, you need to know."

          I told him everything I told Dally last night. Johnny listened, and when I was finished he wrapped me up in a big hug.

          "I love you, Bleu. Don't you ever forget that, you hear? We can help each other get through this, I know we can."

          I held him tight and he rocked me back in forth, smoothing my hair just like my mother used to do when I was a little girl. I thanked heaven I had Johnny with me. And Dally. Heck, all of the greasers were such amazing people.

          After we settled down and Johnny showed me the important places of the greaser neighborhood, we headed back to Pony's house.

          Soda, Steve, Dally, Two-Bit and Darry were all playing cards. They were betting cigarettes, and noticing the huge pile next to Darry I figured he was winning.

          I glanced over at Two-Bit. "Wow, Two-Bit. Nice lookin' pile you got there," I nudged the single cancer stick next to his elbow. He laughed and ruffled my hair.

          Pony was sitting on the couch looking lonely. Johnny and I sat on either side of him, and I lay my head on his shoulder. "Whatcha up to, Ponyboy?"

          He patted my head, and then rested his hand on my hair. "Just hangin' and being bored outta my mind," he chuckled.

          "It's awful hot outside; is there a pool we could swim in around?"

          Ponyboy thought for a minute. "Yeah, one of Tim's friends has an in ground pool. Maybe we could convince them to let us swim in it for the day. Wanna give it a shot?"

          I got up. "Yeah! Go get your swimming trunks on and let's go!"

          Dally looked up. "Hey, doll, you gonna swim too?"

          "Hell yeah!"

          "Well then I'm coming' too!" Dally threw down his cards and got up. Two-Bit and the rest of the game followed.

          "Aw, that's just an excuse cuz y'all are losing!" Darry complained, gathering up his new cigarettes.

          "Hey, seeing a beautiful girl in a bathing suit is excuse enough!" Soda grinned and winked at me, then dodged the punch from Johnny.

          I ran upstairs to find my suitcase. I found it against the wall in Pony and Soda's room. Grabbing my blue-and-purple flowered suit and my hairbrush, I dashed into the bathroom to change.

          I guess my bathing suit is sort of like a bikini. The top looks like a sports bra, and the bottom is short shorts. I think it looks really good on me, because of my 108-pound figure. And let me just say thank God I had gotten my legs waxed less than a week ago.

          I quickly brushed my after putting on my suit. I put my brush and clothes back into my suitcase and headed downstairs. Ponyboy, Dally and Soda had already changed into their suits and were sitting in the living room. Two-Bit was in the bathroom down here, Darry was changing in his room, and Steve was waiting in line for the one upstairs. The gang hangs out here so often some of their clothes are left behind too.

          Johnny had gone home to get his, and he was just coming back now. "Hey y'all," he greeted the four of us, then sat down on the chair. I sat on Dally's lap because I didn't feel like sitting on the floor again. I felt his strong arms around my waist.

          The rest of the gang returned and we headed over to Shepard's house. He was just getting out of his car when we arrived.

          "Tim!" I yelled, running up to him and giving him a hug, "We need a favor," I added sheepishly.

          Tim grinned and looked me up and down. "Lemme guess. You wanna borrow Kenny's pool for the day?"

          "Is it that obvious?"

          Tim laughed. "No, lucky guess. Yeah, you guys go ahead and I'll straighten things out with Kenny. Hell, he wouldn't care less. Have fun y'all!" he shouted after us as we ran towards Kenny's house.