(Johnny's P.O.V)

I was standing next to the speakers listening to the STD Queens when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I jumped and turned around to see a flash of Jackson and then she was shoved into me. She looked up; her cheeks were getting red and her lips brushed against mine. About two seconds later she jerked back and turned about fifty shades of red and then smiled weakly. I moved over a little so she could stand between Soda and I. They started talking but I didn't hear them. My head was spinning slightly, I had just met her and she kissed me! I mean I liked her...a lot! But it was a shock. I don't think it was supposed to happen but I was glad it did. I smiled widely.

(Soda's P.O.V)

Jack was acting funny. I figured she was just mad about being kicked out of a mosh pit. I gave Sarah the finger and continued listening to the music. For the next five hours Jackson was in and out of mosh pits. Pony, Johnny and I stayed by the speakers and after the concert was over we all walked out with our ears ringing and grins on our faces.

"That was probably the best show of theirs that I've ever seen!" Jack exclaimed.

Johnny nodded.

"Yeah I know right, it was great!" I said happily as we piled into the car. "

Jack lit a cigarette and handed it to Johnny, then did the same for Pony and then herself. Darry didn't like Pony smoking but we always let him. We'd promised not to narc and he knew we wouldn't. I drove slowly so he could smoke his cigarette.

Johnny was humming the tune to their song "Cut Me Deep"

I laughed, "Good band huh?" I asked him.

"Yeah." He said quietly and took a drag from his cigarette.

(Ponyboy's P.O.V)

Jack handed me a lit cigarette and I smoked it as fast as I could. Soda explained to Johnny what was up with Darry not liking me smoking and he promised he wouldn't tell.

"Soda you can drop me off here." Jack said quietly as we approached her house.

"Your dad home?" he asked cautiously.

"I don't know, that's why you can drop me off here." She replied.

"OK." Soda stopped the car and let her out. She hopped out of the car, flicked her cigarette away and started walking.

"What's wrong with her dad?" Johnny asked almost like he was afraid.

"He's a dick, treats her, her sisters, and brother like shit. Puts 'em down constantly. When he catches her with us she always gets bitched at. If he thinks she just went to the concert alone then she'll be ok but if he found out that we were with her then he'd yell at her because supposedly we're 'troublemakers'. I swear if this guy got any dumber he'd have to be watered twice a week!" Soda answered, his voice was dark and bitter. He didn't get mad like that often, but he really didn't like Jack's dad.

"Oh." He said quietly, flicking his cigarette out the window.

"So where do you live?" I asked, finishing up my cigarette as well.

"By the lot."

"Alright, we can drop you off." Soda said, as he pulled onto our street and drove to the house that Johnny pointed to. There were people yelling from inside the house. It sounded like that place was a war zone! Man, it was bad!

Johnny blushed and got out of the car, "thanks for the ride." He said quietly as he shut the door and walked away.

(Jack's P.O.V)

When Soda dropped me off I flicked my cigarette away and started walking down the street toward my house. I approached my door, opened it slowly and closed it quietly, I knew Alicia, my little sister was asleep and I didn't want to wake her up. It was around midnight and I knew everyone else was asleep too, so I went in the bathroom and took a shower, then put my pajamas on and went to bed.

"Jack wake your lazy ass up!" Jenna scolded as she shook me.

"Go away!" I grumbled.

"No, you've got company!"

"I'm dead."

"I've already told them you were breathing now get up!"

I sighed angrily and pushed the covers off of me, walked down the stairs, into the kitchen, poured myself a cup of straight, black coffee and walked into the living room where Pony, Soda, Johnny, Two-Bit and Steve were waiting.

"Hey." They all greeted in unison.

I glanced at the clock, two-thirteen, "mornin'" and took a swig of my coffee.

"Nice pajamas." Two-Bit cracked.

I looked down; I was still in my Jack Skellington pajama pants and my purple t-shirt. "I know right." I replied and sat down on the loveseat next to Steve. I yawned, "Oh shit, I need energy." I muttered.

"What are you drinking?" Pony asked.

"Coffee." He grimaced, "hey now! I'm no good till my first cup!" I scolded in mock anger.

"How was the concert?" Two-Bit asked boredly, staring at the family portrait that hung on our wall.

"It rocked. One of their best." Soda said, "oh yeah, Jack, why were you actin' so weird after you got kicked out of the mosh pit?" he added curiously.

I swallowed hard, I glanced quickly over at Johnny who was blushing slightly, "I was just mad. I was having fun." I shot a death-glare at Steve and punched him in the arm, "and it's all jackass here's fault!"

He rubbed his arm, "what the hell did I do?"

"You got me all fired up because I accidentally punched you so instead of moshing I was throwing punches, if you hadn't of dragged me out of there I wouldn't have gotten kicked out in the first place!" I replied indignantly. Then I muttered under my breath, "cocky bastard."

"Hey what's this?" Two-Bit asked pulling out a sheet of paper. It was a poem I'd written a while ago.

"Bit man, don't read that." I pleaded.

He stood up and cleared his throat,

"To My Mother-"

"Two-Bit, don't read it!"

"Hey mom,

It's Jackson.

Haven't seen you in awhile,

And I was just wondering,

Because it's been awhile.

Why did you leave?

Us all alone.

I've haven't heard your voice,

Not even on the phone-"

"Two Bit!"

He cracked a grin; I felt my cheeks turning red.

"Dad and everyone,

We're doing ok.

But I wanted to know,

Why didn't you stay?

I don't even know you.

But I still miss you.

You're my mom.

And you left when I was two.

I just wanted to know,

What did I do?

I found a picture,

Of you Wednesday,

And I thought you might wanna know,

I turned fifteen today.

I miss you mom,

And I want you back.

We need you around.

It's your presence we lack."'

I was massaging my temples angrily, trying to keep myself from knocking out Two-Bit's front teeth.

"That's really good." Ponyboy said quietly.

"Yeah." Johnny said. "What happened to your mom?" he added thoughtfully.

"She left." I replied bitterly.

"Why didn't you tell us you missed her? We could've done something fun." Soda said. All their faces looked sad.

"Because there's just some things I want to go thru alone. She left when I was two, I can't even remember her, all I know is I look like her and she walked out. It was my birthday and I was missing her so I wrote it. It's no big deal." I snapped at them. Pony looked at his shoes quietly. Johnny's eyes got big and Soda, Two Bit and Steve just stared at me. "It's nothing to cry over ok? I'm fine, it was just my way to let her know I missed her whether she knows it or not." I added.

"Ok, you're weird." Two Bit said with that goofy grin on his face.

"Well that's the pot calling the kettle black Keith Matthews!" I said with a smile.

He gasped and put his hand to his chest, "ok, that's it, you're goin' down!" he screamed and jumped on me and started tickling me.

"Haha-quit! Jackass! Feel my SQUIRRELY-Haha! WRATH! Stop! EEEEE!" I screamed, trying to squirm out from underneath him. By this time Soda had jumped in too, he had a hold of my kicking feet and was tickling them furiously while I tried to kick him in the face. "Ahh!"

"Holler uncle!" Two Bit shouted over my screams.

"Go to hell!"

"Well, you've sealed your fate!" he said and started tickling me even more, "Tickle Jackson!" he screamed and at that Pony and Steve had jumped in too. "Holler uncle and we can make it stop!" he shouted over my laughter.

"NEVER!"

"Say it!"

"No!"

"Ouch!" Soda screamed after I finally kicked him in the face, "hey that hurt!"

"Well then get off of me!"

"Nope, not until you say uncle."

"No! Never! HAHA! Stop!" I shrilled, and squirmed around, flailing around like a fish out of water.

My hand wriggled free and I grabbed Two-Bit's hair and pulled. "OUCH! Not the hair!" he shouted, his hand moving up to my wrist.

"Get off then!" I screamed. I yanked once again on his hair and he jumped off. Everyone else stopped and I lay weakly on the floor, still laughing. Johnny was still on the couch, looking at this peculiar scene in front of him with a huge grin on his face. My sides hurt from laughing so hard.

"Oh, I'll get you back." Two-Bit threatened jokingly.

"I'll just pull your hair again." I replied with a mischevious grin.