Author's Note; "Thanks for reviewing! Chrissy, Steph, Vincenza, and Shermern. Really appreciate it. I know you all hope Tori ends up with Soda, but do you really think he deserves another chance after the way he's gone on?Ah... it's so sad they both love each other but both think each other are over it. Just wait and see what happens. Things start to spice up a bit after this chapter! Please read & review! Thankyou."

Soda woke up early the next morning determined to sort things out with Tori. He was downstairs and fully clothed the same time as Darry.

"Hey little man. You're up early. You going to school?" Darry asked confused. The only time Soda got up early was if they were going somewhere for the day and he had to.

"No. I'm going to the flat. I'm going to sort things out with Tori once and for all. I screwed up again, after taking your advice. I'm not going to do it again. I'm gonna think for myself." Soda stated as he crunched on his cereal.

"Good for you. What did you do this time?" Darry asked. He made a cup of tea and sat down at the kitchen table.

"Went on a date. With a slag, she kissed me in front of Tori. It wasn't pretty. Thing is I hate the girl; I don't know why I even agreed to go out with her." Soda explained between mouthfuls. "Then it turns out she was playing me just to get back at me 'cos I wouldn't date her in the first place." Soda mumbled.

"I see. Sounds like a bitch." Darry laughed.

"It's not funny Dar, I'm telling you it was awful. Then I found out Tori hasn't even been seeing anyone. I'm such a fool!"

Hours later and Tori was awoken to the sound of the doorbell. She stretched in her bed and looked towards the clock. Eight o'five am. Who would be knocking at this time? She rolled over and tried to ignore the irritating noise. Ring…Ring… She took a deep breath and sighed, taking in a smell of Sodapop, she sat up.

That was not something she wanted to be reminded of at the minute. She rolled out of bed and re-tied her hair.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." She shouted, as she picked up her silk dressing gown and wrapped it around her frail body. Half asleep, she unlocked the door and opened it. Sodapop was standing there dripping wet. The rain was pelting off the ground. Tori immediately tried to close the door. Soda pushed his hand against it, keeping it slightly ajar.

"Tori. Please. We need to talk. Please let me in." Soda begged, raindrops falling from him.

Tori let go of the door, walked into the kitchen, and started pouring a glass of milk.

"Go on then. Talk." Tori said taking a drink of her cold milk.

"I don't know where to start." Soda rubbed his hair. Water dripped from it. Tori walked out of the room and out of sight, she came back and threw a towel and one of his tops at him.

"Dry yourself off. I don't want you getting everything soaking." Tori sighed. Secretly she was happy to see him. Deep down she was scared. As Soda took his top off, Tori couldn't stop staring. His body glistened with water droplets, and he looked gorgeous. She felt the urge to kiss him and forget everything that had happened. Tori snapped back into reality. Soda had hurt her. She didn't need this.

"Thanks. Tori, I'm sorry. It wasn't what it looked like. I thought you were seeing someone, and I got jealous. I only went out with her to take my mind off you. She kissed me. I hate her. And then I found out that she only went out with me to get back at me for not dating her in the first place." Soda said, hoping Tori would see that he was telling the truth.

"Ah, boo who. She treats you bad? She made a fool of you? I don't care Soda. It's your life. You can do what you want." Tori's voice was filled with sarcasm and was intimidating. She turned away from him as he explained his story, she could feel herself start to melt.

"Tori don't be like that. I was gutted. I thought you were with someone else. What else do you expect me to do?"

"It would have been nice if you had actually asked me. Who told you that?"

"Your brother. He said you were on a date." Soda told.

"Nathan? What a dick!" Tori spun around. She was furious. "Well, I wasn't on a date."

"So since we split you haven't kissed anyone or been out with anyone else?" Soda asked somewhat relieved.

"Well I hadn't. Up until last night. I kissed Dally." Tori stated. She felt bad, but why should she? She hadn't done anything wrong.

"Dally? Dallas Winston?" Soda's mouth dropped open. How could she stand there and go on at me? She's been getting it on with Dal! Soda thought, anger building up inside.

"Yeah. You know any other Dally's?" Tori replied sarcastically. "It didn't mean anything. It was just a kiss." Tori felt embarrassed. She knew it shouldn't have happened, but it was a small slither of reassurance and at the moment, she needed it.

"Yeah, sure it was just a kiss. Bet you threw yourself at him didn't you? Tell you what Tori. Fuck it. I shouldn't have come round here. You're a bitch. You're a hypocrite. Telling me I shouldn't have kissed Christie! But all the while you know, you've been digging Dally." Soda threw the towel to the floor. "See you Tori. Just leave me alone. I don't want you in my life. You're a two faced bitch." Soda grabbed his wet top and slammed the door behind him.

This is it. Soda thought as he walked down the flooded path and across the road. He had fucked everything up. He had lost his best friend, his girlfriend and his baby. Why could he not control his temper? Why couldn't he accept responsibility? No matter what he tried to do, it seemed, just made things even worse.

Tori lay down on their bed. She was angry. Why had she let it get so out of control? She needed to get up, she needed to do something but she couldn't. She was scared. Fear was consuming her. Eating her up inside.

Her arm ached as the cuts had begun to tighten. She pulled up her sleeve and looked at them. She ran her fingers over the brittle scratches. They stung. She thought about the razor blade, still sitting in the bathroom cabinet. She wanted to get up. She wanted to use it. But she didn't have the strength. Tori lay there, still thinking about what would happen if she plunged the blade deep into her veins. No one would find her, until it was too late. This thought ploughed over and over in her mind. However, much she thought about it Tori knew she didn't want to die, she used self-harm as a coping strategy, rather than giving up. She had done it frequently when her father had died, and when John had become unbearable. In these times of difficult and painful experiences, she found she needed to release tension. And at the moment Tori felt as if her life was spiralling out of her control, which is why, she had began cutting. She knew she could control that at least. All she wanted was for someone to show her love and compassion. Someone to understand, and support her. She thought she had found that in Soda. Obviously not. For a few hours she thought desperately of how she could stop thinking about cutting herself. This was useless. Tori saw no other way out; she was desperate to escape, desperate to feel in control, to feel free. Finally she stood up and went to the bathroom, pulled out the razor and began to slash at her forearms. Blood appeared all over her arms. Even though the cuts where not deep enough to kill her, she felt relieved.

Soda was at home sitting on his settee. He began to think of how he could sort things out with Steve. He needed him. Why had he hurt him? Why had he pushed him away?

The front door crept open. Dally walked in as if nothing had happened. His leather jacket glistened with water and his hair was wet.

"Hey Pop, is Two-Bit here?" Dally asked rather happy.

"No. Have a good night last night?" Soda asked sarcastically.

"Was okay. A bit weak. Why?" Dally asked suspiciously. He started to brush away his suspicions as Soda paused before he spoke. Surely Soda didn't know.

"Don't lie to me Dal. I know you kissed my girl." Soda spat.

"I didn't kiss your girl. I kissed Tori. Tori's not your girl." Dally retorted defensively.

"Shut it! That's the same thing. Why? How could you do that?" Soda questioned.

"Geez, it happened. No biggy." Dally shrugged, turning for the door.

"Yeah it is a big deal. I can't believe you two. You're both so scheming. I can't believe I've ever trusted you. So what happened? Did she come on to you? Or was it you?" Soda questioned. His temper was rising steadily.

"It was me. I don't know why I done it. Just leave it Soda." Dally stated.

"I can't leave it Dal. You don't get it do you? I love her. I can't just forget it." Soda slumped in his seat.

"Yeah well maybe you should have thought of that before you blew it." Dally turned and walked out of the door. He didn't want to argue, and he certainly didn't want to fight, not with Soda. He couldn't be bothered. Especially not over a girl. Dally knew what he done was wrong but he wasn't going to back down. He was too proud to do that.

A week passed and Tori's habit became more repetitive. Every time she was alone, the razor blade would come out. Tori had begun to cut the top of her legs; this was less obvious to the eye. Her and Soda hadn't spoken. She had started to become more and more isolated, refusing to leave her flat. She even quit her job. Nathan had to work away for three weeks. He left after having Kirsten promise she would keep an eye on his sister.

Kirsten had slept at the flat for three days. Tori was trying to act normal, trying to stop Kirsten from finding out. She waited until Kirsten was fast asleep until she crept into the bathroom to begin her work. On the outside Kirsten just thought Tori was nervous about the baby, as she was just over five months pregnant now. On the inside she was at the edge of her tether and was desperate.

One night, Lucy, Leigh and Shelly had come round. Everyone except Tori had been drinking.

"You need to start thinking about baby names!" Kirsten stated excitedly as she jumped onto the settee.

"Yeah I guess. Still I've got another four month to think about that!" Tori laughed. She smiled. Kirsten was oblivious to what was going on. She didn't have a clue that Tori was unhappy deep down. Kirsten is a real good friend Tori thought as she smiled.

"Yep!" Shelly exclaimed. "How about Winston, for a boy?"

All four girls stared at Shelly who was smiling, too drunk to care what she had suggested.

"As in, after Dallas Winston?" Leigh questioned.

"No. Oh, I see. I didn't realise. Just liked the name, I guess." Shelly lied. Her obsession with Dally was growing, and just as Dally had suspected she had been following him and ringing him in the dead of the night. She was infatuated with him.

"Okay. I got one!" Lucy suggested, feeling slightly tipsy from the wine she had been drinking. "How about Sienna? It's different."

"Nope." Tori smiled. "My baby ain't no Sienna."

"You should call it Leigh. Boy or girl. After yours truly." Leigh laughed as she gulped down a large glass of wine.

"I got one for a boy. What about Pepsi? After his dad! Ha!" Shelly started laughing.

"Sorry Tori, maybe it would be best if we left." Lucy stated feeling rather uncomfortable. "Shell is just a bit drunk she don't mean no harm by it."

"Yeah sorry Tori," Shelly sniggered.

"It's okay. I understand. Maybe it would be best if you did go. It's getting late. I'll be going to bed soon." Tori half-heartedly convinced herself. She didn't want to be reminded of Soda.

Kirsten and Leigh were least impressed by Lucy and Shelly's drunken antics; they were, in fact, more upset than Tori.

When Tori and Kirsten were sitting alone, Kirsten realised something was up.

"What's wrong?" Kirsten asked sympathetically. "I know something's up. You got to tell me."

"Just thinking about Soda." Tori replied. In truth she was thinking about calling him.

"What about Soda?"

"Just about how much I love him. I thought I was getting over him. But I'm not. I'm really not."

Kirsten expected Tori to start to cry, but she didn't. She had cried all of her tears away. Instead she just sat there. Holding her arm, which was draped, in long sleeved top.

"Come here. Give me a hug. You don't need Soda. You've got me." Kirsten hugged Tori. As she pulled away she held onto her arm. Tori flinched with pain.

Tori's green eyes looked scared. Had she been rumbled? Kirsten slowly pulled up Tori's sleeve revealing lots of blood red scars and scratches. Kirsten's eyes filled up. How had she not noticed?

"Shit Tori. What you been doing? Why?" Kirsten struggled to speak as Tori jerked her arm away.

"It's nothing." Tori said as she fought back tears.

"Why didn't you come to me? I could have helped you. You promised you wouldn't do this to me again Tori. I cant loose you. You're my best friend." Kirsten sobbed. She had been through this with Tori before.

"I'm sorry. I, you, you wont loose me. I just didn't know what to do. I, I, I'm scared. Kirst, I'm really scared." Tori cried as she hugged Kirsten. She felt relief. Someone understood. Her silent plea for help had been answered.

After a long discussion, Kirsten promised she would help Tori. They got rid of the razor blades, and bandaged up Tori's arm and legs. Tori had made Kirsten promise not to tell anyone. Especially not her brother. From now on Kirsten was to keep a watchful eye over her friend. She would have to be careful to notice any changes in Tori's behaviour.

The next day came as any other, Tori had been to the hospital and had another ultrasound. The image of the baby was clear. Tori had left the hospital excited and happy.

On the way home she walked through Sodapop's street, eager to bump into Darry or Ponyboy. As she couldn't see them pottering around in the garden, she decided to knock and show Darry the pictures from the scan. It was Saturday, she knew Soda would be at work, and even though Soda didn't care, Darry had made it clear that he and Pony were still interested, as he called by a few times a week.

Taking a deep breath she knocked on the door.

"Come in!" sounded the familiar voice, which belonged to non other than Soda.

Tori's heart rate fluctuated as she debated whether or not to run away or go inside. After all she was here to see Darry, not Soda. Whether instinct took over or she was too happy to care, she walked through the door and into the sitting room.

Soda and Two-Bit were sat on the settee watching Mickey Mouse. Soda turned to see who it was. The movie-star grin was wiped from his face, when he was faced with reality.

"Hi Tori." Two-Bit's smile was welcoming and encouraged Tori to be confident.

"Hey… Is Darry in? He...ah...said he wanted to see pictures of my baby, so I brought some round for him." Tori spoke with an air of confidence, which convinced Soda she didn't need him. It frightened him. Even though he had left her, deep down he still cared for her.

"No. He isn't." Soda replied trying to ignore the fact, Tori was carrying photos of their child.

"Okay. Well I guess I'll be going. Can I leave these photo's here?" Tori asked.

"No. You cant. If he wants to see them then he can come to you and see them." Soda spat, feeling hurt Tori hadn't asked him if he had wanted to see them.

"Why? Don't you want to see them? It's your baby too." Tori was sick of arguing, all she wanted was for Soda to actually seem interested in his child.

"No. I don't. I thought I'd made that clear when I said don't leave them here. So can you go now." Soda stated without an ounce of empathy.

"Fine. You're a prick. Hope you realise that." Tori turned for the door.

"Yeah. Well I do. And I'm glad because getting you pregnant was probably the worst thing I've ever done!" Soda screamed.

Tori dropped the pictures and ran out of the house.

"Shucks, was that necessary? You know you don't mean that." Two-Bit gestured.

"Yeah so. I love her, and she's over it, so I can't see her till I am. It's, it's just too painful. Anyway I better be going, I got work." Soda stood up and walked over to the door. Scattered on the floor, was pictures from the ultrasound. He bent down and picked them up. "Shit. This kids getting big." He said as he picked them up and placed them down on the cabinet, and walked out the door. My baby's huge. Both my baby's are huge, and I'm missing it. Soda thought to himself, but Tori's not my baby no more.

At the DX jobs were being turned over double the speed, with an echoic silence cast through the shop, the tension was so intense you could have cut it with a knife. Steve's hair still hadn't fully grown back. It looked, in all honesty, silly. His hair was all the same length except for a circular shape, which had been shaved off. A pattern of stitches could be seen also. Although Soda and Steve had been friends since they were small, and hated working in silence, Steve still wasn't speaking to Soda. It wasn't really the fact that he had hit him with the clock; it was more the fact that Steve blamed Soda for pushing him away and more to the point he was too stubborn to let it drop.

"Steve, this is ridiculous. It really is." Soda stated taking a sip of his pop.

"No. You're ridiculous. You risk everything you had with me to be a good dad and boyfriend then you go and throw it all away. You nearly killed me; you treat me like a fool, Soda. We were meant to be best friends you ruined it. For me. For you. For everyone. Now the whole gang cant hang out together anymore because of you. I don't even like working with you. I'm looking for a new job. I hate being in the same room as you. You're so selfish. I bet you don't even care that were not friends." Steve scoffed. His anger had not subsided.

"Course I care. Geez, Steve I miss you. You're my best friend." Soda sighed. He had ruined everything. It was all out of control and all he could do was feel sorry for himself.

"Whatever." Steve ignored Soda's bid.

"You want to do something tonight?" Soda asked.

"No. Not with you. And anyway, I'm going on a date. With Christie." Steve retorted.

"You're a prick. Steve I'm trying real hard to please you and make it up to you but you just don't give a shit. It was an accident. You know that. I would never have done it on purpose. You're like a brother to me." Soda's voice was becoming higher pitched.

"I don't care about the fucking clock. I care that you ditched me for your girl." Steve spat.

"That's what this is about? This is about Tori? Shoot Steve you know me and her aren't together." Soda put his head in his hands.

"I can't be assed with this. I'm going. If anyone asks where I've gone tell them you pushed me to walk out 'cos you were being an annoying bastard." Steve threw down the spanner, with which he was fixing a suspended car, and walked out.

Soda was angry, more with himself than anyone else. He decided to finish the job Steve was doing. He lay down under the suspended car and began to work.

Geez, this should have been written off. Soda thought while he continued working. The underside of the car had pieced of sharp rusty metal hanging down. It had been in a nasty crash, and needed a lot of work to be done. Usually the DX didn't take on jobs like this one, but some rich guy was paying double if they could sort it out.

Soda heard a screech and before he could move…blackness surrounded him as the world around him faded away...

Author's Note "Dun dun dun... Hope you all like this cliff hanger! He he!"