I walked into the room where the boys were resting from all of that running. I pondered if I should tell Johnny what Dally had said to me back on the staircase. I figured it wasn't a good time and I would have to tell him later.

"What's on your mind kiddo?" Soda said, raising his eyebrows at me.

"Huh? Oh nothing. I'm kinda hungry though. Can we go grab a burger or something?" I pleaded with him.

"Sounds good to me!" Two-bit jumped over the couch and grabbed his jacket, pulling it onto himself.

I got up and dusted off the bottom of my pants. "Are you guys coming?" I asked the rest of them.

"Might as well." Pony got up and ran to his room for his money while Soda grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a note for Steve just in case he came by.

Johnny stretched himself and walked outside, myself at his heels. I glanced back fearfully knowing that Dally would probably be watching. To my dissapointment he was.

"Hey Johnny." I whispered. "Dally told me something back there on the steps."

"Oh yeah? What was that?" He asked curiously.

"He doesn't want me hurting you." I said as I avoided his eyes.

"Hurting me? You told him?" His eyes widened.

"I'm not that stupid! I don't know how he knows."

"Aw, geez, I'll talk to him, Val, don't worry." Johnny shook the thought off. "Where are we going to eat at?"

"What about Wonder Burger?" I turned to the rest of the gang for agreement.

"Whatever floats your boat Valentine!" Two-Bit shrugged.

Wonder Burger was a popular spot for Greasers, but once in a while when the Soc's were in our territory they'd drop by for something to eat. It didn't matter if the restraunt was owned by a poor family, but boy did they make some good burgers and fries!

"I'm not that hungry anyway, but I'd kill for a strawberry shake!" Soda exclaimed.

I was thankful that it was only a block away. It took us 15 minutes top, I guess this was because we were so used to walking. Johnny reached the doors before me and held them open.

"Thanks." I smiled and he returned the favor. I peered at the menu figuring what I wanted to eat.

"Hey Soda!" A couple of girls giggled from the back. I turned in there direction and rolled my eyes. It was a bunch of neighborhood cats. Soda departed from us and went over to give a cheerful hello.

"It never gets old." I heard Pony say from behind me.

I smiled at Pony and then ordered my food. I wondered off to the side to wait patiently. "Your not going to eat Johnny?" I questioned him.

"Nah, I'm still full from breakfast." He assured me.

"If your absolutely positive." I looked him in his eyes, he looked back into mine and I grinned.

"I'm absolutely positive."

We laughed as the rest placed their orders and I looked around boredly.

"Valentine!" I heard a deep familiar voice behind me yell. "Dar?"

I turned around to the direction of the yelling.

"Guess who called me when I was at work?" Darry barked at me.

I shrugged, this apparently angered him more. The guys were all looking from either Darry to me.

"Why did you leave work in the first place?" I asked him. Danger Zone!

"I'm getting to that! Your school called. And you haven't been keeping up your grades as well as I thought!"

"What do you mean? My grades are fine." Well I wasn't too sure about this, I didn't know for sure, and I haven't been preforming as well as usual.

"Your grades are not fine, I talked with your teacher!"

"Will you stop shouting in here Darry, it's a restraunt!"

"Is there a problem?" The man behind the counter asked.

"No!" I exclaimed quickly.

"Well here's your order." I walked up to the counter, grabbed it, and headed outside. I knew Darry had followed me.

"All I ask is for you to do a couple of chores and keep your grades up, Valentine!"

"Well I'm sorry, could you rag on someone else for once?"

"No, I'm trying to do a good job raising you!"

"I appreciate that but you can't just-"

"I can do anything. I am your guardian and your going to have to respect that!"

"I do but-"

"But nothing, next time you say your doing a good job in school you better be doing a good job in school!"

I felt embarassed as people began to point at us. The guys had came outside.

"You need to concentrate more!"

"You need to stop making like your our father cause your not and hes never coming back!" I ran across the street not looking for any cars.

Suddenly I saw bright lights.

LONG TIME NO UPDATE HUH? -BRI-