I hadn't bothered to return to school that day, and neither did Kyle. We went to his 'stang and went to the movies.

By the time the movie had ended, I had convinced myself that it wasn't a person, but a mirage or…I dunno.

Also by that time, my mind was completely fried. I didn't care about anything, and my imagination was running away like usual. I felt like I had too much to drink…

Kyle drove me home and I went right to bed, bypassing my mother and my brother. I needed to go to sleep now and forget about everything.

So much for mom's goal of starting over. Like a ghost my past decided to haunt me, and it wasn't going to let me escape.

Thankfully mom let me sleep through dinner. I don't know why…maybe it was because I was sleeping all afternoon and she thought I had jet-lag or something (she is slightly scatterbrained…).

I was awake the next day and went to school. Rumors of my showdown with Dallas Winston spread fast, and the greasers were clearing the way, or threatening me, and the socs were cheering and clapping me on the back. I guess I had become popular overnight like mom had wanted…except I don't know if she would approve of the way it happened.

I had a group of socs approach me in the hallway with news of a 'rumble'. Apparently I had majorly pissed off the wrong people on the east side and there was going to be a gang fight…and guess who was invited…

Kyle wasn't too pleased when I told him, but I didn't care. Just because we kissed didn't make me his girl, and even if I was, if he tried to pull control shit like that with me, I would be outta there in a split second.

Life was great.

The no jazz before the rumble rule kept the greasers outta my hair, and I was making more and more friends by the minute. One guy was showing me how to handle a switch blade…don't really remember his name, but I got a nice switch outta the deal, so it's all good.

All the girls were also either looking up to me and my idiosyncrasies, or they would trash my name behind my back. I didn't care. Like I said, life was great!

Oh, and did I mention that Dally hadn't shown his face around here for a while. The only time I saw him was about two days after at the gas station I was buying my smokes at. He had a huge black and blue mark on his face…I laughed.

Then the day of the rumble dawned…and I wasn't really nervous. I managed a week here and now it was Saturday and I felt great. My world was taking an upward climb, but would probably take a nose dive shortly…it always did…

I raided Nick's closet for clothes. Me and the rest of the gang decided that it would be best if no one knew that I was going to be at the rumble. Sure rumors were spread around, but most of the guys kept their mouths shut.

Rumors in this town are very unbelievable. For example: it is also rumored that I sold my soul to the devil for the ability to get back at Dally for a relationship gone astray, or that I was a devil of some sort, some to take over the world. I'm not too sure how THAT one started, but it is amusing all the same.

By the time I was dressed and out the door, there was a blue mustang waiting outside for me, and I hopped in and we sped off to the rumble…