Author's Note: i blame tests, SAT'S and lack of an inspirational muse for not updating in so many months. i'd lost my intrest in writting for a while and i ran out of ideas about where the story was going. but, now, im back and have a clue as to what im going to do next in the story. im terribly sorry if this chapter is crap. i didn't really know what else to write as a transition chapter.
Note:Dally may seem ooc. sorry bout that. the chap might seem too dramatic/dragged out. sorry again. i use the names Amber/Valerie alternativly throughout the chap. in the beginning i call her valerie and by the end she's amber again. sorry if it confuses anyone, but when she's with tulsa people her name is Amber again.

Thank You's: Rugrats101, RachieBabe, Maddiecake, Stardust104, QTpie4, Weasleygrlz07, i love you all. thanks for the reviews.

Disclaimer: i dont own the outsiders. i do however, own Amber/Valerie

Once she'd made it out the door, she let out a breath of relief and put her attention back to the phone conversation she was suppose to be having with Jenna.

"VALARIE!" the voice on the phone screamed.

"Sorry" Valerie said.

"Will you please tell me what the hell is going on?" Jenna asked impatiently.

"Um, ok, look. I can't tell you now, just know that I'm ok and I'll explain later." Valerie said quickly while scanning the parking lot to make sure no one else was around to possibly recognize her.

"Huh?" Jenna asked dumbly.

"Jenna I'll call you back later. Bye" she said quickly, hanging up before giving her friend time to respond.

Taking one last look around the parking lot, she started running to the nearest bus stop, which happened to be located about a block away. She was turning the corner when she collided with something hard. The impact caused her to rapidly fall backwards. She braced herself, waiting got her body to come in painful contact with the hard cement but it never came. Instead she felt two strong arms quickly grasp her waist, saving her from the fall. She opened her eyes-which she hadn't realized that she had closed until now, and looked up to see who her savior was. Her warm brown colored eyes met the confused stare of two icy cold ones. Both her and the stranger gasped.

The two eyes belonged to none other than Dallas Winston.

"Amber?" he asked shocked. Run Run Run! Her brain screamed at her, but as always, she didn't listen to her brain.

"um, no, no" she said, nervously laughing. "I'm sorry but you have the wrong person, my name is Valerie." She said quickly, and in a high pitch, trying to disguise her voice.

Dally stared at her.

"You sure about that hun?" he asked laughing.

"Of course I'm sure. I think I know my own name." she said irritated.

"Why are you lying?" he asked.

"What are you talking about. I'm not this Amber person." She said while trying to slowly inch away from him.

Noticing what she was trying to do, Dally grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him.

"Lift up the lower part of your shirt" he said.

"EXCUSE ME! I'd like you to know that I am not some sort of stripper either" she said furious.

"Oh come on, I know that you know that is not how I meant it. Please, just do it" he said.

"Why should I?" she answered defensively. He didn't answer, just continued to stare at her.

"Fine" she huffed. As soon as she did, Dally's eyes flew to the lower part of the right side of her stomach. He had found what he was looking for; proof that she was really Amber. He lightly brushed his fingers over a long scar located where he was looking. Valerie stared at him.

"How did you get that?" Dally asked.

"Um...i... tripped over my dog and fell into my table" She said quickly making something up. Well that was certainly genius she said to herself as she looked to see Dally's reaction.

He laughed "Do you expect me to believe that?" he asked, still laughing.

"Yes, cause it's the truth" she said.

"Why are you lying to me?" Dally asked shaking his head disapprovingly.

"I'm...I'm not" She mumbled looking down.

"Yes you are! And do you want to know how I know?" He asked looking at her as if he expected an answer from her. She just continued to stare at the ground.

"I know because you got that scar three years ago when your dad stabbed you. Exactly a year before you moved to Tulsa and met Johnny and the gang." Dally said angrily.

She looked up; it seemed that there was no way out of this one. She sighed and gave in, mentally cursing herself from not following her brain and running when she had the chance.

"Dally, why are you doing this to me"

"Why? Because I want to know why you're back but seemingly trying to hide from your old friends!" he said.

"Dally you wouldn't understand and it isn't any of your business" Amber said.

"Like hell it isn't! When were you planning on coming over to tell us you were back?"

"I..." she started but he cut her off.

"Two, three weeks from now? A month maybe. Or maybe you weren't even planning on coming?" he said.

"I...don't know" she said quietly.

No one spoke.

"Why is this such a big deal?" she asked.

"Because you weren't the one who had to live with Johnny and watch him slowly rot for 2 years." He yelled. She winced at his words.

"You didn't see him after you left. He broke down. He knew you had to go but it still killed him inside. He hasn't been the same. It's like when you left you took half of him with you. He rarely talks, rarely goes anywhere. He still hasn't moved on after two years. We all tried to convince him that he needed to but he always had hope that you'd return. And now you finally did return and you weren't going to tell him. How could you do that! Do you have no shame? Are you that self centered! I bet when you left him it didn't hurt you at all!" he screamed.

By now she was in tears. Dally's words cut through her heart like millions of knives. She didn't know that Johnny felt like that. She had wanted him to move on, expected him to. Truthfullyeven she had doubts if she would've ever came back if not forthe recent events that took place.But Dally was wrong when he said that leaving didn't hurt her. Because truth was it hurt terribly.

"Dally I didn't know." She yelled.

"Well now you do. So think about what I said Amber. I really do hope that you chose to tell him your back, I really hope that you do the right thing" he said finally before turning on his heel and walking the other way.

She looked up to the sky to see that it had filled with dark gray clouds. Little drops of water started hitting her cheeks and hands, but she couldn't tell if it was her tears or the rain starting up. Maybe even both.

Why didn't I run? She asked herself again, though she already knew the answer to the question. Was it because she had really wanted someone to recognize her all along? Yes. Was it because she missed the gang and Johnny? Yes. Was it because being in Tulsa without her friends made her feel out of place and a stranger-like. Yes. Was it because she knew that eventually someone would remember her? Yes. Millions of theories and questions ran through her head and she found the answer to most of them yes.

A crack of thunder and a flash of lighting sent her spiraling back to reality. It started to rain harder and she was getting soaked. She ran over to the bus stop and sat on the bench, tears mixed with drops of rain, waiting for the bus to come. Would she go visit the gang tomorrow?

Yes.

hope you all liked it. and i think you'll be happy to hear that the next chapter is already written. yes that's right, it's already written, i just have to upload it. expect it to be posted friday, saturday or sunday. the day depends on the amount of reviews i get.

so. read and review! woo
Ps: i dont know when im gonna be updating my other story (whatever you do don't scream) i still have to write half of the next chapter for it.