Thanks for all the review! A special thanks too xohugsndkissesox, angelofdeadlydarkness0010, Hahukum Konn, lil cwick, LatinaChick4life, CasperVolleyBallPlaya18. Well somehow i managed to majorly screw up me leg... and i can hardly walk and now my family and friends call me Hobbles. The god news for you is i have alot of time on my hands to be able to update for you lol! So enjoy the next chapter and most likely I'll be updating very soon... Enjoy!

Chapter 15

Breaking Point

"Need a ride?"

"Not from you."

"Ouch Kate that hurts."

"Yeah well join the club," I replied harshly as I started to walk away.

"Come on Kate! Don't be like this!" I heard the voice holler after me.

"Be like what?" I inquired turning around to face him.

"Well…. I dunno… a bitch!"

"Not like I haven't heard that one before Soda," I said finally looking up at one of Ponyboy's older brothers Sodapop.

I honestly couldn't believe he had the nerve to show up here. I had heard enough stories about what him and Steve had to say about me. I didn't care any more. If he thought he was going to show up here and be my hero or something he had another thing coming. Not to be rude or nothing like that, I mean Soda and I had been getting along pretty good before Pony broke up with me. Soda was just a happy go lucky guy. Not to mention a good-looking one at that. I had known him before Ponyboy, and we had talked a few times. Well, mostly flirted but trust me that stopped the second Ponyboy came into the picture. But any ways Soda and I were what I considered friends. We weren't the best of friends or nothing but friends none the less. Besides Soda and Pony were really close so I practically knew everything about Soda.

You'd think that after all the shit I had taken from everybody Soda might have been the one to stick up for me. But no… he just joins in on my bashing sessions. Not like I really cared any more. People could think and say what they wanted about me; there's nothing I can do to change it. Not to say it doesn't hurt or nothing. But what could I do.

"Kate. Stop. I'm just trying to help you out here."

"Help me out? Is that what you're doing? Or are you trying to clear a guilty conscious?"

There was an awkward silence and for once in the time that I've known Sodapop Curtis he sighed and looked down at his shoes.

"That's what I thought. Now excuse me," I said as I started to walk away.

"Kate please. I… I'm sorry about what I said before. You didn't cheat on Pony…"

I pretty much stopped dead in my tracks. Why the hell had he suddenly changed his mind? I mean he was Ponyboy's brother, I assumed he still hated my guts…

"What made you changed your mind?" I asked dropping the glare I had been giving him for a moment.

"Curly."

"Care to expand on that?"

"He said he didn't sleep with you. He said it was all Angela's idea and he went along with it hoping Ponyboy would dump you. So he could try to have a go with you…" Soda replied looking me right in the eyes.

"Well you know everything always makes more sense when Curly fucking Sheppard says it," I rolled my eyes and turned to walk away again.

So Curly had finally told everyone the truth. Good. Maybe then everyone can feel like an ass for ever accusing me of cheating. Though I'm sure not a lot of people would completely believe it. I did have a 'rep' around these parts for sleeping with guys. Most people were still going to think I was a slut. I was glad Soda felt guilty though. He should as far as I was concerned. And so should every other person who had called me a bitch, slut, skank… the list goes on and on. But even if everyone suddenly everyone started believing my side of the story (even though I knew most people wouldn't), it's not like it was going to change much. Ponyboy and Angela would still be dating, Lee, Scott and Garrett are still going to be in the hospital right now and I still needed a ride to get to Jenna and Anna.

Soda gave a slight laugh and a brief smile. He really did have a great smile. He could honestly be a movie star with his looks. But as he saw me walking away again he sighed and followed me.

"Kate seriously. You need a ride. I'm offering."

"And I already said I don't want one from you. So will you please leave me alone."

Soda shook his head, "Not until you let me give you a ride."

For one brief second I had forgotten how pissed off I was at him and smiled. But just as quickly as my smiled had appeared it faded. Just cause Soda was ready to forgive me, didn't mean I was ready to forgive him.

"That's never going to happen. So why don't you save us both the time and effort and go home."

"Because A) I have a lot of time on my hand any ways. And B) I have just as much energy," he said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head; "I'm assuming that even if I say no again your going to continue to hound me?"

"You assume correct there Kate," he smiled.

I stood there for a second debating. Getting a ride with Soda wouldn't be the worst thing in the world; it was a lot better then some random scummy guy. Plus the ride there and back wouldn't take more then 20 minutes. And I needed to get to Jenna and Anna as quickly as possible…

"Fine. But don't think you're the almighty hero or something. I'm still pissed off at you."

Soda smiled at me and I let out a sigh of defeat as I followed him out to his car.

As I got inside the car I realized that it wasn't Soda's. It was Steve's. Not that it really mattered to me though. As long as this thing got me to Garrett's as quickly as possible then I would be fine.

The ride was kind of awkward. Soda wasn't sure what to talk about. And I was still pissed off at him, so I wasn't saying much either. I just starred out the window thinking. Pretty much about everything. It was hard to believe that it wasn't that long ago when I was walking hand in hand with Ponyboy down the street. And how it wasn't that long ago when Garrett, Jeff and Scott had been teasing me about Ponyboy as we all headed over to the Dingo's. And how it wasn't that long ago when Lee and Danielle had started dating and how happy Lee was. And it wasn't that long ago that Gary had phoned me up telling me how him and Heather were engaged…

How did everything end up like this?

I had been busy thinking when Soda said something to me I just nodded my head.

"I knew it! You do think I'm the hottest guy around!" he said with a grin.

"What! I didn't say that!"

"You just nodded when I asked you that."

"Well… I wasn't really listening!"

Soda laughed, "No kidding."

I gave him a playful punch and he smiled and laughed. I smiled too before I stopped again.

Soda looked at me with an odd expression; "You okay Kate?"

"No," I replied as I looked out the window, "You can't… expect things to go back to normal you know."

I looked back over at him and he still had a funny expression on his face.

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean… like you can't just act like it didn't happen. And go back to being friends again."

Soda raised an eyebrow at me, "Why not?"

"Because what you said really, really hurt me Soda! What like… everyone has said really hurt me. And now that you actually believe me you can't just expect for me to forgive you. You, know?"

Soda looked hurt but nodded his head, "I'm really am sorry Kate. But you didn't see what I saw."

I didn't understand what that really meant. But at that point and time I didn't care. I was ready to explode. I didn't need anything else to add to the pressure.

After a few moments of silence Soda spoke up again.

"You know he really does love you Kate."

"Who?"

Soda smiled and shook his head, "You know who. Ponyboy… he really does love you."

I couldn't help but let a laugh escape me lips; "Don't you mean Angela?"

Soda sighed and shook his head; "Pony doesn't like Angela."

I rolled my eyes, "Come on Soda. I saw them… at the dance."

Soda shook his head, "You know Kate. You might want to stop feeling bad for yourself and think of Pony."

"Pony? He's the one who broke up with me remember!"

"Just cause he did it doesn't mean he wanted too."

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever."

"No Kate it's not whatever okay!" Soda said his voice slightly raised, "Whether you're about to admit too it or not Pony loves you alright! I've never seen him so depressed before in my life as after he broke up with you. And yes I'll admit I called you some not to nice names…and I really am sorry. But no matter what we said to him, no matter how much you know we tried to put you down so he would get over it. He didn't. Actually he got pissed off at us for calling you names. He kept saying that it wasn't your fault that you liked Sheppard better then him. He kept telling us to leave you alone."

I felt tears beginning to well up in my eyes again. I couldn't take anymore of this right now, "Please Soda, stop."

"Sorry Kate. But you're going to hear all of this okay. I mean I swear I've never seen Pony so down before. It was almost as bad as when Mom and Dad died. And he wouldn't talk to any one. Not even me. All of us started getting worried. But one night I see him sitting on the couch reading a book and he's got a tear in his eye. And I asked him what was wrong and all he could say was 'I miss her.' I tried to tell him everything would be okay but he sure didn't believe me. Then the next day we see Curly and Tim is twisting Curly's arm around his back telling us that Curly's got something to say."

I couldn't help but give a small smile. Tim Sheppard always had my back.

"Then Curly tells us that he was lying, "Soda continued, "And Pony basically beats the shit out of him."

I couldn't help but smirk slightly at that either.

"Then Pony runs into Angela who lets slip that your going to the dance. So then Pony decides he's going to the dance you know. To try and talk with you. And just as he works up the nerve to go talk to you… damn Angela Sheppard comes along and you take off. So you know what he does Kate?"

"Punches Angela in the face?" I asked hopefully.

Soda laughed, "No. He tells her he's not interested. She happens to be drunk out of her mind so Pony passes her over to Two-Bit. And Pony goes to look for you. And when he found you, of course you had to be drunk of your mind too…"

I felt myself blush slightly. I was still pretty embarrassed about that.

"And then your friend Lee comes along to take you home. And Ponyboy heads home and back to his book. And that's where he is right now. Sitting there alone, reading a book. So don't try to tell me he doesn't love you okay?"

I didn't know how to answer. Sitting there stunned and confused. I mean how would you react when your ex-boyfriend who you thought hated your guts was actually hurting just as bad as you were. Slightly relieved as we reached Garrett's house I pretty much ran to the door. Jenna was already standing there waiting for me. I leaned down and she gave me a huge hug and started crying again.

"Its okay girl," I said softly.

Garrett's other little sister Anna ran out of the house crying too. I was pretty sure Anna didn't know what was going on, she was only 3. Anna was just crying because she saw me and Jenna crying I figured.

I picked up Anna and was going to head inside to leave a note for Beth went she got home so she didn't think Jenna and Anna had been kidnapped or something. But Jenna stopped me.

"I already left a note."

I couldn't help but smile. She was like a mini Garrett. Smart, funny, nice, kind, considerate, brainy, responsible…He had to be okay.

"Come on. My friend is gonna give us a ride to the hospital so you can see Garrett okay?"

Jenna nodded her head. I carried Anna to Soda's car and Jenna followed.

Soda smiled as I helped Jenna and Anna into the car.

"Kate you should have told me you were bringing these lovely ladies in here. I would have fixed myself up a bit. I look like a mess in front of these beautiful girls! "

Both Jenna and Anna giggled I smiled and shook my head. Jenna gave me directions to where their Mom worked and after a few minutes we finally found the place. I left Anna and Jenna with Soda as I went to find Garrett's Mom.

I walked into the office building and felt a little odd. I mean I guess I had never really realized how much of a greaser I looked like. But there was a whole bunch of people in here with suits and fancy briefcases. I was in a pair of torn up jeans and Lee's old T-shirt. Needless to say I felt a bit out of place.

Thankfully Garrett's Mom was on her coffee break and I ran up to her and gave her a hug. She was a little taken back but embraced me like I was her daughter. After a minute I told her what had happened with Garrett. Tears welled up in her eyes but she didn't cry like I had. She was trying to keep it together. I told her I had Anna and Jenna in my friend's car out front. She nodded her head and gave me a hug.

"Thank Kate. You're a real sweetheart."

Soda and I took Jenna and Anna over to her Mom's car. I gave Jenna a hug before they left for the hospital.

Once they left I started walking off down the street lost in my own thoughts when Soda followed after me.

"Where are you going?"

I shrugged, "I might head over to Mrs. H's place. It's like two blocks from here."

"I can give you a ride."

"I'd think I'd rather walk."

He nodded his head in understanding. He started walking away and I was surprised to hear myself call his name.

"Yeah?" he asked turning around.

I ran up and gave him a hug. I don't really know why. Just felt like I needed a hug from a friend.

"I lovePonyboy too," I said quietly so only Soda had heard me.

"I know you do."

He gave me one of his famous smiles and I returned it with my famous smile. He walked over to his car and drove off. While I took to walking down the street. My mind was racing with so many questions, so many worries…

After a few minutes I reached Mrs. Hannigan's house but stopped a few houses away. There was a quite a crowd gathered round which was very unusually. Mrs. Hannigan was a really quiet lady. Very few people really knew her. I also saw a police car and an ambulance and then I saw it. Some men were carrying out a body, of course it was covered and my mind was racing so fast I couldn't seem to think of who it was. So I just ran up to Mrs. H's houseuntil someone stopped me.

"Excuse me miss," a police officer asked as he grabbed my arm, "Are you Kate Davis?"

I nodded my head my mind still racing. Who was that?

"I'm sorry Kate. But your grandmother Julia Hannigan has passed away."

I felt my body go numb.

"I know this must be difficult for you. But I assure you that there was no pain involved. She passed away peacefully in her sleep."

Gone. Mrs. Hannigan was gone. Just like Bryan. I would never be able to talk to her again. To discuss what happened at the end of the latest book that we had both decided to read. No one to tease about our names. I'd never see her smiling face again. I'd never see her sitting out in her garden reading a book. I'd never hear her soft, calming, reasurringvoice again.She was gone. Forever.

I just started running. I didn't know where too. All I knew was I had to leave. I was running as fast as I could tears streaming down my face.

Have you ever heard people talk about a breaking point before? I have. I figured that it was just a bunch of bullshit. I mean how could there actually be a breaking point in somebody. It's not like you just snap in half or something. But now I understood. Because it felt like my whole world had crumbled before my very eyes.

Most people hated me thinking I was some good for nothing, slutty greaser girl. Pony and I were still broken up even though I loved him so damn much. Lee hadn't woken up yet, he had a real bad fever and he was apologizing to everyone including the bitch that had caused him all this pain, Jen. Scott would have to wear a cast on his leg and miss football for at least a few months. And then there was Garrett; I hadn't even gotten a chance to see him one last time. And his family was in so much pain, worrying about him. And now Mrs. Hannigan gone. Just like Bryan. My two best friends couldn't be there to comfort me any more. I could just picture Gary, Jeff and Danielle crying out in the waiting room and I wanted to help them, to cheer them up. But I couldn't.

How come my life sucked so damn much? I couldn't take anymore of this. I felt so hollow and empty. I guess people really do have a breaking point… this was mine.

I ran to the park and collapsed to my knees. I was crying so badly that I could hardly see anything. Life sucked. It wasn't worth living any more. I reached for my pocket and pulled out my blade.

I examined it for awhile. My mind was hardly understanding any of this. All I knew was life scuked, and I wanted out. It would be so easy. Just like that it would be over. No more pain. No more worrying. No more suffering. I could end it all. Just like that.

I held my blade up for a second so that the sunlight shone on it. Again I starred at if for a minute or two. Debating.

It could all be over, so quick.

I looked at it again and slowly started to bring it towards me. Ready to end it all…

"Kate. I need to- KATE! What are you doing?"

Hope you enjoyed that chapter! I'll try to update soon! Any ways please review!