Lady Rose 05: I know. Melissa is awesome. Sandy is…not. Ha ha. Thanks for the review.

kaligirl05: Why thank you! I'll update ASAP. Thanks for your support.

SodaNDallysgrl410:Ha ha ha! Suspense is my middle name! Actually its…well I'm not going to tell you. Let's just say my parents listened to a lot of country and drop the whole subject. Lol. Thanks for the reviews!

blondie0589: I had a reason for Soda acting like Joey never said anything to him. Don't worry, you'll see this chapter. I hope you won't be disappointed with it. Thanks for the review.

Sodapop's#1gurl: Your question will be answered this chapter. I thought it was a pretty good idea but I won't know until I start getting reviews for this so let me know what you think. Always good to hear from you!

stardust104: Lol. Thank you. I thought the name Cody was cute. I know. I wish I had a crazy cousin like Melissa too! Thanks for the review.

Rugrats101: What a coincidence! I'm updating right now! Ha ha. Thanks for all the reviews!

WoPo12: Lol. Yeah. I need to work on that. I finally broke down and fixed chapter eleven. Sandy is now blonde as she was meant to be. It took me forever to get the chance to fix it but I don't think anyone will notice! He he! Thanks for the reviews.

Who really cares about pennames anyway: I will update soon! As a matter of fact, I think I'll update right now! Ha ha. Thanks for the reviews.

IMPORTANT: It has been brought to my attention that Sandy is a blonde in the book so I went back to chapter eleven and fixed it. Also, anyone wondering why Soda was acting like nothing was ever said to him will be happy to know that you'll find out why this chapter. Sorry for the wait and the confusion.

Oh yeah, don't be too disappointed if this chapter seems a bit…anticlimactic. It's sure not the end of the story so I wouldn't get too angry…unless you really want to get angry. Just PLEASE blow off your steam on something other than me. Thank you!

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Joey's POV

I sat on the foot of my bed and played with Cody. We had finally finished the outside of the house last night and Soda's birthday was tomorrow. I was worn out and we hadn't even gone to make the cake yet.

Today we had painted Melissa's room, the hallway, and a bit of the kitchen. The funny part is that it was only six o'clock when we finished. Tomorrow we would paint my room before Soda's party. I had my work cut out for me.

For the past three hours I had been lounging around my room and talking to Cody. I knew he couldn't really understand me, but I was sure he would like the attention anyway.

All we had to do tonight was go to Melissa's restaurant and bake a big chocolate cake.

I didn't bother changing from my paint covered jeans. Melissa would probably get cake batter all over me anyway. She loved seeing the expression on my face when she surprised me with paint or pancake mix. Making a mess was one of the finer parts of the day and I would never complain about it.

I whispered a soft goodbye to Cody and walked into the living room where Melissa was sprawled out on the couch.

"I'm buying a new couch when we paint this room." She grumbled and stood up stretching.

I laughed at her and pulled my baseball cap over my braided pigtails. I had gotten a bit tired of the hairstyle, but it kept the hair from my eyes while I was painting so I didn't bother taking it out.

I walked into the night air and made my way towards the cab that I assumed Melissa had called.

I opened the back door and crawled into the far side while Melissa climbed in after me.

We finally made it to the restaurant and Melissa pulled out a key from her pocket. The place was obviously closed this late at night and I was thankful that she remembered it would be locked.

We spent the next three hours running in circles trying to make the perfect chocolate cake. We even decorated it to say "Happy 17th Birthday" on the top and "Soda" on the sides. Not too shabby.

We called another cab and waited inside the building for it to arrive. When it did, we carefully picked up the cake and hauled it inside. The driver laughed and waited patiently for us to get situated before he drove off.

The ride home seemed shorter than the one to the restaurant and I was thankful for it. It was a bit difficult fitting in the back of the taxi with that big cake.

Melissa paid the driver and we both carefully walked the cake into the kitchen. It was only then I noticed how late it was. A few more hours and it would be daylight.

"Alright," Melissa yawned "get some sleep and we'll paint your room and buy that candy when you wake up."

"Alright," I stifled a yawned as I practically crawled into my bed. Cody was already asleep on my pillow so I settled down beside him and pulled the string on my lamp.

I awoke to the sound of ridiculously loud music. I didn't recognize the artist, but it was obviously a girl singing and it sounded like the kind of music you would listen to all night while you had a pillow fight. Very girly and cheery. I laughed and threw the covers off my bed. Cody poked his head out from the sheet and barked at me.

"Oh, I'm sorry boy." I laughed and picked him up. I scratched his head as I followed the music into the living room.

"There you are" Melissa was standing at the far end of the living room with open paint cans and brushes.

"I thought we were going to paint my room today?" I noticed all the furniture was pushed to the middle of the room as I put Cody on the floor and peeked into the paint cans.

"Well, all the stuff in your room is against the walls and by the time we get it moved, you'll have to go to your boyfriend's party!" She laughed at me.

"He's not my boyfriend" I giggled as I picked up a brush and flung some of the lime green paint on her.

She just shrugged and began painting. I rolled my eyes and helped her for the next few hours.

At five o'clock, we were almost done so I let Melissa finish and I headed to my room to get some clothes. I picked out a pair of old jeans and a white t-shirt.

I grabbed a towel from the hallway closet and went to take a shower.

By the time I showered, got ready, went to buy the candy, and came back for the cake, it was seven o'clock. The boys would already be at the party so I thanked Melissa for all the help and I slung the bag over my shoulder as I hauled the large cake down the road.

I wish I would have thought a better was to get that big cake to the Curtis's, but my stupidity didn't bother me when I finally made it there with the cake in one piece.

The door was already open so I just squeezed through the doorway and headed into the kitchen. The living room was packed. I didn't even know half the people. Of course everyone would want to celebrate Sodapop Curtis's birthday. Everyone loved Soda.

"Hey!" I heard Soda's voice as an arm flung over my shoulders and steered me back into the living room.

"Joey! Hey Soda, she's got a bag!" Two-Bit was trying to grab the bag off my arm, but I withdrew it and laughed at him. I'd forgotten Soda was so close. If I would have remembered, I would have had enough sense to hold it on my other side. He snatched the bag away and laughed at me as he took a few steps back so I couldn't get it from him.

His face lit up when he looked into the bag.

"There's enough candy in here for a year!" I laughed at him and plopped down on an empty spot on the couch.

To my annoyance, Sandy just happened to be right beside me.

"Hello Jacky," Her voice was cool, but anyone passing would have just thought she was bored. I knew she did it out of spite.

"Joey" I grumbled as I leaned back into the couch and crossed my arms.

"Such a manly name. I should have remembered." Sandy looked down disgustedly at my clothes. She was talking only slightly above a whisper and I knew she was being careful not to be heard buy anyone but me. I wish I would have been as smart. I was so angry I didn't notice Soda coming over.

"Oh yeah! You're that bitch Sodas dating! Where are my manners? Are you having fun tonight? Planning on going home with any of the lucky studs while Soda isn't looking?" I loved sarcasm. Sandy looked taken back and put her hand on her chest.

"What? No, I was just trying to be friendly to you. It's okay if you don't want to be friends." She looked hurt and it was confusing the Hell out of me.

"Joey?" I looked up to see Soda standing over the couch.

"Huh?" I stared at him confused before it finally dawned on me.

I cast a furious glare in Sandy's direction and she smirked while Soda's eyes were fixed on me with bewilderment.

"Joey, we need to talk." I wasn't used to Soda talking to me like that. His voice was firm and cool. I didn't like it one bit.

He turned and headed out the front door and I assumed that was my cue to follow him. I cast one more glare at Sandy and she mockingly blew me a kiss goodbye as I walked outside.

As soon as we stepped outside, the sparks were flying.

"What was that Joey?" He was practically yelling.

"You think I started that?" It really hurt seeing him jump all over me because she set me up, but I couldn't let him see that. He never knew how much he hurt me then and I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he hurt me now.

"Joey, I heard you! 'You're the bitch Soda's dating'. What gives you the right to call my girlfriend names? She was only trying to be nice." Now he was definitely yelling.

"Soda, you have no idea what you're talking about. That girl is psycho!" Okay, so maybe calling someone psycho while I waved my hands in the air and yelled wasn't a very good idea, but I couldn't help it. I was becoming hysterical.

"Why are you being like this?" His voice was a bit softer now.

"Like what!" As his voice calmed, mine skyrocketed.

"You're not like you used to be Joey," He paused and scratched the back of his neck. "It's so hard being around you anymore. For the past couple of moths, you've been somewhere else and I can't even talk to you. You don't come around as often as you used to and when you are around, you're not around. Not really." He took another long pause. I was hoping he wouldn't continue because he was really hurting me now and I didn't know if I could take anymore.

"As much as I try to ignore it all, the more it becomes a problem. When you told me I was never there for you, I sucked it up and took it. I didn't say anything about it, no matter how much it hurt, and I took it like a man and forgot. But this Joey," He shook his head. "This isn't you Joey. You've changed so much."

"Soda-"

"Maybe you should go home Joey." He was staring at the ground with no expression at all.

I stood there in shock. Tears were running down my cheeks and I couldn't breathe.

Soda looked up at me and looked a bit shaken when he saw my face.

I turned and ran all the way home.

This was what it was like to really break down.

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I hope you guys liked it. I didn't do everything the exact way I had it in mind so I have no idea if this is any good. Let me know what you think.