mIsS sHoWjUmPeR: Thank you. That was so sweet! I'll update as soon as I can. Thanks for your support.
kaligirl05:Oh I know. I just didn't want anyone to get confused. I agree! It is a nice name. Yeah, I update a lot because I have no life. It's all good though. Thanks for the reviews.
WoPo12: I know! Boys are nothing but trouble! Thanks for the review. Now let's see what Sandy is going to do to the plot! Mwa ha ha ha ha ha!
Sodapop's#1gurl: Yeah. I suppose it was a rather mean way of me to end the chapter…I got a kick out of it though. (Smiles evilly) "Mwa ha ha ha ha!"
Rugrats101:Don't worry! All questions will be answered in due time. Be patient and leave me reviews! Mwa ha ha ha ha!
UrnotSethCohen: I know! I want to see them together too but let's just see what kind of crap Sandy can cause! Wink-Wink! Mwa Ha ha. I crack myself up.
DallyxSodaJDLuvinHoods: I know! Will they ever get together? You'll just have to wait and see! Mwa-ha ha ha ha! (I do that a lot!) Thanks for the review! I love hearing from you!
angeloves1: Why thank you (bows). I love hearing from you (as always). I'm glad you liked it. I didn't really know if it was a yay or nay. Thanks for your support. Mwa ha ha ha ha ha.
Who really cares about pennames anyway: Well that part of you is no longer inquisitive now is it? Mwa ha ha ha ha ha! (Sorry bout the evil laugh. I gave everyone else one and I didn't want you to feel left out!)
You guys are so awesome. I love hearing from you.
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Joey's POV
You'd think after all these years of crying over Sodapop Curtis would make me run out of tears by now, but no siree! Yet again I was crying and he was oblivious.
I was afraid to look back. I hoped Steve would have enough sense to forget about seeing me and act like I was never there. I couldn't deal with Soda seeing me like this and I didn't know if I would ever be able to look at him again without crying.
I couldn't help but wonder how long Soda had loved me. He had made it sound like it had been awhile but I didn't believe that. Soda just stopped dating a girl two weeks ago.
I don't know why I bothered thinking about it. It was too late now. I screwed everything up and I already knew I'd be paying for it.
As if on cue it started raining and not just a little. It was pouring. I seriously doubted this day could get any worse as the freezing rain soaked through my clothes. I just kept running. If I stopped now I knew that I'd break down, so I sped up and passed my house.
The only sounds to be heard were the rain bouncing off the gravel and my feet pounding on the sidewalk. I tried to think of something else.
I remembered my dad when I was a little girl. I thought of how he'd tuck me into bed at night and read me a story. I remembered how my mother would stand in the doorway with an expression that only meant love. We were a family…But now we were nothing.
I thought of my friends.
My friends loved me. I loved them all. Two-Bit, Darry, Dally, Steve, Pony, Johnny…I wouldn't think of Soda. I can't think of Soda. I can't be around Soda…not after all this. If I kept thinking about him, I'd lose it.
I was running so fast I didn't see a branch on the sidewalk and I fell to my knees. I felt like screaming.
'Soda loved me'. 'He'll never feel for me again'. 'He's going to love her'. 'It'll always be someone else'. 'It'll never be me'.
Thoughts poured into my head as quick as the rain. I lost it.
I lost Soda.
After awhile I pushed myself off the ground and started walking back in the direction of my house. Thinking about these things wouldn't do me any good. I was through with hurting myself. If I don't think about the pain, it doesn't exist.
It can't exist.
I pushed open the door and scanned the living room through tear-stained eyes. I walked through the hall and into my mother's room. No sign of her.
I sighed and sat down on her bed. It wasn't the first time she disappeared but I wanted her home for a reason I didn't really understand. I knew she would probably be drunk when she returned, but I didn't care. I needed someone with me.
I lie down on the blue cover and dozed off.
I awoke to the sound of the telephone ringing. I glanced out the window and saw that it was dark.
I grumbled slightly and stretched. Mom still wasn't home so maybe she was calling.
"Yeah right…"
I walked over to the phone and picked it up.
"Yeah?" I really didn't feel like talking right now. The day's events had worn me out and I wanted nothing more than to go back into a deep, dreamless sleep.
"Joey Jacobs?" I didn't recognize the voice and they obviously didn't know mine.
"Yes…" Something wasn't right.
"Um…This is the Tulsa Hospital, your mother is here…and uh…you...uh…You just need to get down here" The man on the line sounded like they were choosing their words carefully.
"What? Why? What's wrong?" My mind was racing.
"Um…I'm not authorized to say. Just get down here please"
"Wait-Wait! Is she going to be alright?" He had already hung up.
I dropped the phone and ran outside. It was still raining and it was entirely too late to be walking alone anywhere. I didn't care. I sped down the street to the Curtis's house. Darry's truck wasn't in the driveway so I kept going.
A rational thought didn't cross my mind. I couldn't think of anything. All I knew as I ran down the dark road leading to the main ones, was that I had to keep going.
I finally made it to the building and threw the doors open. I got a few odd stares as I ran to the desk. Probably because I was soaked and out of breath.
"I'm Joey Jacobs-" The person at the desk silenced me and pointed to a set of double-doors. I ran to them and pushed my way through.
I immediately saw Uncle Joseph in the hallway. He was sitting in a chair in the hallway with his head down.
"Oh no.." I whispered as he looked up at me and managed a sad smile. I already knew what he was going to say.
"No…" I shook my head rapidly and he slowly nodded.
"No, no, no…" I couldn't help repeating myself as I flung into Uncle Joseph's arms. He didn't have to say anything. I knew by the way he was looking at me that she was gone.
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This chapter was pretty short. Sorry guys, but I though it would be best to end it there. I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Sorry for the wait.