Sorry it took me so long to update. I've been real busy with Work and stuff has been going on with my friends and everything like that. So with that said, here ya go.

-Rose-

Rated K+

Chapter 3- Welcome Party-

"Melanie! What are you... wow... you look different." Two-bit said getting up. I smiled then gave him a hug. He picked me up off the ground and spun me around. He put me down and looked in my eyes for a slip second before he let me go.

"Yeah, Rose, we'll go." Johnny said coming out of the kitchen.

"PONY!" Two-bit yelled.

"Im coming Two-bit!. Ya don't have to yell. I have a headache."

"That's for drinking to much." Dally said laughing. Pony... drinking? alcohol?

"We'll take my car." Two-bit said as everyone made there way out the door. Me, Pony and Johnny got in the back as Dally sat up front.

We pulled into the DX and I saw Soda inside talking to Steve and Darry. It must be Darry's lunch break. Everyone got out of the car and Two-bit helped me out. Steve waved to everyone as Soda and Darry kept talking.

"Well... lookie here... the whole gangs here." Steve said looking at the boys.

"No it ain't" Soda said talking about me.

"Um... Yes it is." I said as the boys let me throw. Soda dropped the Pepsi he had just gotten and Darry's mouth was wide open. Steve started smiling.

"I thought I saw someone caring a guitar from the train this morning."

"Ya could have picked me up ya ass." I said smiling. He gave me a hug as Darry stood up.

"Rosey..." He said staring at me.

"Darry!" I said giving my big brother a big smile and hug.

"Oh Rosey! What in the hell are you doing here?" He asked looking at me. I smiled and gave him another hug.

"Hey Pepsi-cola. Are you just going to stand there or are you going to give me a hug?" I said as he laughed. He came over and picked me up and threw me over his shoulder running out to the gas pumps then letting me down. Of course after he spun me around half a dozen times making me dizzy.

"Rose! What... oh I don't care! Your home!" He yelled hugging me again making me have the biggest smile I've had in a long time on my face.

That night everyone went to Buck's. We even got Darry to go. We all fit into two cars. Dally got Buck's to use and we had the truck. Two-bit didn't go with us, he was already there by the time we got there. Me, Dally, Johnny, Pony, and Angela went with Dally and Soda and Steve went with Darry. Angela was pretty cool, not like her brothers. She had some class, but I was looking forward to seeing old Tim. He was always like the rest of the boys, he was like my brother. Well expect Two-bit that is. Anyways, Angela had a cute low cut red dress on with almost no make-up. Me? I had on blue jeans, tennis shows with a hold at the bottom (but they were the only thing of Soda's I really had in the city) an orange tank top with a little make up on. I never put on a lot of make up. Two-bit always told me I didn't need any. Of course that was what? A year and a half ago?. Now he was back to his blonds. Of course that was my fault to. Why did I have to write that stupid letter. Of course there are always going to be 'why' and 'what ifs' in my now fucked up world. We pulled up and got out. I turned and saw Pony helping Angela out of the car. She smiled so big. She was real happy. So was Pony. Johnny seemed to be enjoying himself as well which is odd because he is always on edge. If that's from the Soc's or his dad I couldn't tell you. Dally lit up a cancer stick and slipped his arm around my shoulders. Darry, Soda and Steve pulled up next to us and they got out. Soda come to my free side and pushed Dally's arm off my shoulder's and replaced it with his. Dally flicked his cig out to a bunch of bushes and we walked up the steps pushing the door into a group of people. We all walked in and everyone went there separate ways, expect for Darry and Soda. They stayed with me. We walked around seeing people I haven't seen in a year then we went to a table with guys playing a game and taking shots. I smiled and took a seat next to Tim Shepard.

"Rosey? Hey. Let you out for good behavior?" he asked drunker then anything.

"Yeah, Tim. Which ya playing?" I asked taking a shot.

"Blackjack... You in? Losers take shots?" He said leaning close to my breast talking to them.

"Yeah." I said pushing him back up. He laughed as some guy... um... Rob something dealt two cards to each. I became very good at poker, any kind in the last year. That's all my friends played. I had a Ace and a 9. 20.

"Stay." I said looking around. Tim hit said some cruse words then threw his cards down and took a shot. Some for three other people at the table. It was me and some old guy.

"21." he said flipping his cards over. Damn! I thought I had it. I took a shot and let it burn down my throat.

It went on like that for about three hours more. I got sick of that game and got up to see who else I could find. I saw Soda and Steve on the dance floor with two girls. That's another thing I missed, Sandy leaving Soda. I wasn't there for Soda. Darry was talking to Buck, having a beer and I didn't know where Johnny, Pony or Angela were and Dally was talking to... Salvia... EW. Then I saw Two-bit making out with some blond that looked like she didn't have any clothes on. I couldn't take that and went over to Dally.

"Dallas Winston!" I said more than a little drunk.

"Hey Babes." He said giving Salvia a dirty look making her walk away. He was the only one that could call me that.

"Could do you take me home?" I asked wrapping my arms around his neck. Even when we looked like we were together we weren't. Dally, out of the whole gang, was my best friend. Soda had Steve. Pony had Johnny, and I had Dally. We even acted like that when I was with Two-bit and he was with Saliva. That was just how our friendship was.

"Sure. Drunk?"

"How could ya tell?" I asked running that all together. He laughed then too my hand. We went over to Darry and told him we were leaving.

"Be careful."

"I know. Bye Dar." I said rolling my eyes.

"Why were you in such a hurry to leave?" He asked after we got in the car.

"Two-bit... was making out with some half naked blond." I said as a tear rolled down my face. I whipped it away quick before Dally could see how much it had hurt me.