Title- A No Title Jess

Chapter Title- Bye-bye Cigarettes

Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders

I bought some stuff and then went home. I threw it all into the closet. I went to lie down on the bed to relax; I didn't want to fall asleep. I did of course. I'm not complaining, I really liked the sleep. I woke up when Two-Bit decided to slam the door.

"Thanks a lot," I said walking into the hall.

"Sorry," he replied.

"Are you making dinner tonight?"

"I don't know, I forgot whose turn it is," I answered him shrugging. I knew he didn't like it when I cooked as much as when Darry cooked. Of course, if it was my turn, I could always get sick. That solves that problem. It was Darry's turn anyway and he made chicken. It wasn't burnt like mine would be and it wasn't a funny color like Soda's. It was just plain old chicken, and I liked it. I ate some, more than I would have normally, but not as much as everybody else.

"Jess, you really should eat more." I sighed.

"We've been over this, I don't eat as much as you guys," I snapped and got up from the table. The guys got really silent and I went into the bedroom. I slammed the door shut and sat on the edge of the bed. I really hated them constantly worrying about me. I understand Soda worrying a lot because it's his wife and kid, but everybody else?

I felt somebody sit on the bed next to me. I knew it was Soda when he put his arm around me and kissed my cheek.

"Hey Soda," I said quietly.

"What's wrong?"

"Why is everybody worrying about me? I can understand you worrying so much but why does Steve care? Why does Two-Bit, or Pony, or any of them care?" I wasn't going to say Darry because he hasn't said anything to me about it.

"'Cause they love you." Yeah, they love me. That's why Two-Bit called me crazy, Steve had told me to go back to go back to New York, Pony doesn't even look at me and Darry doesn't even seem to notice me. I wasn't going to say this to Soda.

"If they loved me, they'd leave me alone."

"So you or the baby could get hurt? I don't think so." Maybe he had a point, or maybe I just didn't want to believe it. I sighed, I knew he was right.

"I guess you're right," I told him finally. He hugged me and went back outside. It was his turn to do the dishes. I went to the bathroom and then got into my pajamas. I slipped under the covers and hoped to sleep until the morning.

I was woken up by a scream.

"What the hell?" I asked Soda. He got out of bed and rushed to Ponyboy's room. Ponyboy was having one of his nightmares. I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

I woke up and Soda was still in Pony's room. I went to peek on them. I felt really bad for Pony. I stole Soda away from him. Soda doesn't sleep in the same room as he does anymore. Maybe that's why he doesn't like me. He has to learn to share. Darry was already up.

"Hi," I said entering the kitchen.

"Hi," he said back, he didn't turn to look at me. I knew he thought I was irresponsible, but I was ready for this baby. At least that's what Soda said.

"Why do you think I'm irresponsible? I went to New York for that long time because I had some stuff to sort out, I had a job and the only reason I was fired was because Lisa had to have a fight. None of that was my fault. Why aren't you happy for us?" He was getting ready to answer but the door opened and shut. I went to go see who it was. Steve has bad timing.

"Just because Steve is here, it doesn't mean you can't say it. Why aren't you happy for us?"

"Never said I wasn't," he replied quickly. He put the eggs down and walked into the other room to wake up Pony and Soda.

"What was that about?" Steve asked. I shook my head. I went to go find the cigarettes that were lying around the house. I hated it when people smoked in the house, now I hated it even more. It could harm baby. Wow, Soda was right, baby needs a name. I thought of all the names I liked. I picked out two names if it were a girl and two for a boy. Veronica and Kaitlyn, and for a boy I liked Glenn and Nathan. I'd have to ask Soda later if he liked either. I liked Veronica and Glenn the best. I found a pack and broke every cigarette in the pack.

"Now why'd you do that?"

"It's not good to be smoking with the baby," I replied and grabbed the cigarette out of his mouth.

"If you're gonna smoke, do it outside," I ordered and put out the cigarette. He groaned and walked outside. I ate my eggs quietly and went to go take a shower. I got dressed and sat down on the couch. I changed the channel on Soda.

"I didn't want to watch that crappy show; I want to watch this crappy show."

"Okay, did you think of any names yet?"

"Yeah, did you?"

"No, I was going to let you pick it out." Two-Bit came in and switched the channel on me.

"HEY! I was watching that."

"Mickey's on."