The next day, Alex woke up at the crack of dawn to Dally's snoring. Okay, so it wasn't the crack of dawn, it was 7:30 AM, but it felt early. She nudged him and he shifted, and the snoring stopped. She went to her backpack, and then remembered that she'd washed her clothes last night and they were probably still hanging on the line. Sighing, she ran a brush through her still-dirty hair and went outside to get her clothes. There they were, flapping in the breeze. Her ripped up jeans, worn t-shirts and tank tops… and she blushed when she realized her bras and underpants were there as well. Sighing, she gathered her things and went inside to fold them and carry them into the spare bedroom/TV room. She folded and stacked her things, sighing at the sight of the threadbare underpants. She searched her backpack, making sure no one had disturbed the zippered pouch that she kept her money saved in. She was a very thrifty person, and whenever anyone asked what she kept in the pouch, she always replied with a blush, "Girl stuff." That kept the guys away and made the girls believe she was shy about such things, so no one ever bothered to touch it. There it was. Eleven years worth of saving every penny and only spending what she was forced to. A decent amount of 100 dollars, give or take about ten. She was also planning on getting a job to save up even more money. She never wanted to depend on anyone but herself.

She put it away just as Two-Bit ran in and jumped on her and Dally. "Gooood mornin'! How're y'all doin' this fine mornin'?"

Alex groaned. "Get off me, Matthews."

Dallas came up swinging and got Two-Bit good in the stomach. "Don't wake me up, you dumbass," he muttered when Two-Bit started cussing him out. Alex laughed and grabbed her clothes. "Gonna shower again?" She nodded. "Good. Ya stink!" She gave him the middle-finger salute and ran in to the bathroom.

About 15 minutes later, she was dressed and they were on their way to the Curtis' house. I guess this is an everyday thing with these guys. I like the Curtis'… I'd rather have these guys for me than against me, though. She thought to herself while twisting one of her many rings. She'd lifted most of them, and those were the only ones with diamonds or rubies. And there were four of those. On her right and left pinky were silver bands with chains carved into the silver. Her left ring finger was bare, but on her right hand she wore her aunt's wedding ring, a real diamond, and the only ring made of gold. Her middle fingers held silver bands with small rubies set into them. On her index fingers were the first rings she'd ever lifted. One had an amethyst, her birthstone, flanked by tiny diamonds, and the other was an onyx flanked by smaller ones. Her thumbs held silver bands inlaid with emeralds, and the other was inlaid with sapphires. They were never off her hands. Dallas had taught her how to lift things inconspicuously, and she put it to very good use. Most of the places were never the wiser, mainly because she'd dressed up and simply pretended she was looking for something special for her mother. Needless to say, she was a good actress.

She immediately broke out of her thoughts when tackled by Ponyboy. "What the hell, man? Are ya tryin' ta kill me?" She asked, starting to tickle him.

"NO! Alex, stopit! That tickles!" he yelled, trying to force her off of him.

She smirked. "Holler Uncle!"

"Never!" he yelled, trying to fight back even though he was laughing too hard to do much.

"Get her ribs, man!" Dally yelled over the TV and Sodapop's hollering about lost work clothes.

He followed Dally's advice. "Thanks Dally!"

"DALLAS WINSTON!" Alex hollered.

Dally stood above her. "You rang?" he asked with a smirk.

"You're (laugh) gonna die! (laugh) PONY! Get offa me! I can't breathe!" She gasped out, still laughing. He stood up and left her lying on the ground, trying to get her breath back. Two-Bit was suddenly standing over her, reaching his hand down to her. She took it and he pulled her up, making her stumble into him.

"Hey babe, not so fast…" he teased.

She rolled her eyes. "In your dreams."

Soda pulled her aside. She arched an eyebrow. "Just to warn you, he likes blonds." She groaned in disgust. He's a cool guy and all… but really! No way in hell. That'd be too creepy.

"Well, I'll just be getting some hair color now…" she trailed off.

Soda laughed. "Oh hell no. You're too pretty the way you are to change it."

A musical laugh escaped her. "Well, thanks, Pepsi-Cola, I appreciate the compliment." She reached up and messed up his hair. "There ya go…"

"Hey! What's that about!" he laughed, trying to catch her as she ran out the door and straight into Johnny.

She grinned at him. "Johnnycake! Hey, what's up?"

A shy smile crossed his face. "I'm okay."

Her own grin widened, showing off a dimple on her left cheek and making her eyes crinkle at the corners. "That's great! Glad to hear it." She really is an angel… sure is pretty enough to be one. Sweet enough too…Johnny thought to himself, following her inside to get something to eat. Today was the last day of classes before spring break, and he decided to cut it. He was still hurting, plus he was tired. And, truth be told, he wanted to get to know Alex a little better.

"Johnny, you goin' to school today? You look dead tired, man," Dally observed, taking a look at his face. Johnny shrugged. "It's the last day before break. You could use an early start. Besides, you go more than Two-Bit…" He pulled Johnny aside. "And I know he's cuttin' class today. Stick around Alex, make sure he don't touch her."

Alex looked up from her scrambled eggs. "Did someone say my name?"

"No," Dallas hollered across the room. "You're goin' crazy, sis." He turned back to Johnny. "You cool with that kid?"

Johnny nodded, secretly elated. "Yeah, it's cool." Soon everyone had left for work or school… or to go cause more trouble, leaving Johnny and Alex alone.

"So," Alex began, curling up on the couch and picking at a hole in her jeans. Johnny turned to look at her. "Tell me about yourself."

He ran his hand nervously through his hair, the other beginning to tap on the table beside the couch. "Well, y-you already know my name. Johnny Cade." He bit his lip, then decided not to do that anymore because his lip was still swollen. " I'm 16, and… a junior at Central." He looked up and saw that her eyes were dead focused on him, asking unspoken questions. "I grew up here. The farthest away I've ever been is the edge of town, and even then…"

"It was weird because this is all you know," she finished for him.

He let a quick smile cross his face. "How'd you know I was gonna say that?"

She smiled back. "Because I'm the same damn way. Hell, this is the first time I've ever been out of Brooklyn, and I'm the same age as you."

He sighed. "Yeah, but at least you're out. Me, I still got my dad beatin' me every damn time I come home, and my ma screamin' at me every time the damn floor squeaks." He sighed, then noticed the look of sympathy on her face. "Not you too…"

She knitted her eyebrows. "What?"

"Every time I try and open up to someone, they act all sympathetic… it's not like anyone else knows what it's like, you know? I just don't want you getting that way too."

She laughed softly. "Look, it's not sympathy with me. It's empathy. I've been there too, you know. Before my uncle died, he beat me with a damn two-by-four every day, and my other uncle would come in either with a belt or…" she trailed off.

"Or?"

Her eyes closed. "He'd rape me. He stole my virginity a long time ago. But not with my consent. In that way… well, in my mind, because it was forced, I'm still a virgin. I don't know what making love is. I just know disgusting, painful sex." Her eyes snapped open. "And Dally doesn't know. I'll tell him in my own time… I want him to get used to me being around first…"

He bit his lip and reached for her hand, although his own was shaking like a leaf. The same warm hand from the day before squeezed his. "I won't. I mean… look, I can't promise you. It might become an issue around here, and I might need to tell." She nodded, seeing where he was coming from. He sighed, relieved that she wasn't mad, then felt her move closer and rest her head on his shoulder. He tensed, then relaxed at the gentleness of their contact.

She looked up at him, and their black eyes locked. "Why are you so scared to be touched?" He shrugged, looking down. "No, tell me. Please."

"Part of it's my parents. I don't really know anything different. So every time someone touches me, I expect to get hit. It always surprises me when I don't."

She nodded. "Yeah, I've been there." She ruffled his hair. "It's gonna get worse before it gets better, I won't lie to ya. But it WILL get better, Johnny. You wait and see." Oh, he's so damn cute. Why does he have to be so sweet? Am I falling for him?