I think this'll be the last chapter.
Then I'll start the SEQUEL. And the
time-travel story I've been thinking
about writing.

Chapter twenty-three

I couldn't hide from the big issue anymore. They keep telling me to fight, but it just keeps getting worse. People say you have to fight, and you'll survive but that's not true. There was nothing I could do now, so I figured I'd have to let it go. Let myself go. Whatever.

I wrote no letters, no will, nothing. There was nothing I could say. What I wanted to say had to be said in person. It'd be more... effective. But as the seven greasers sat around my bed to tell me about the rumble they'd won, I couldn't even say it. I couldn't tell them I was just letting myself go. Buuut, I had to.

"Yeah, we whipped those socs good," Soda said, high-fiving Steve. The others were grinning and flooding me with questions, while Dally just stood back, smirking. Not grinning, smirking. He was obviously 'satisfied' that they'd won the rumble. But when the question 'How are you?' came, I couldn't avoid it anymore. Not that I didn't try.

I shrugged. "Fine..."

The way I'd trailed off must have clued them in, because Soda and Steve exchanged glances, Pony and Johnny frowned, Dally glared at me, Darry looked worried, and even Two-Bit's grin disappeared from his face. No one asked any questions, but the silence was... well... awkward.

"Er... actually, I'm not. But DON'T even go freaking out. It's for the best... I'm just gonna tell them to let me go. You know, I'm not getting any better, and I probably won't. So... it's for the best."

But how could I expect them not to freak out? All of their eyes widened. Well, except Dally's. But he wasn't smirking anymore. In fact, he was looking at Johnny. It didn't take long for him to turn and glare at me, like I'd expected.

"You're just gonna fucking let yourself go? What about Johnny! He fucking cares about you, and you're gonna do this to him?"

It was my turn to glare at him.

"So now you're gonna go and blame me for everything? You want me in this world fucking suffering? If I don't do it now, it's gonna happen. I can't avoid that."

He opened his mouth to retort, but instead stormed out of the hospital room. No apology, either. But hey, Dallas Winston would never do something like that. Ever. He was too... proud.

Shortly after he left, there was silence again, and I decided to break it by turning to Johnny.

"Um... I'm sorry?"

He shook his head.

"It's not your fault."

There was a few seconds pause, and then I smiled.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Then, I turned to the rest of the guys.

"Most of us never talked, and I'm sorry about that. I guess there's no time now..."

I am not tough, and I can not stop myself from crying when I need to. So, that's what I did. I'm no fucking Dallas Winston, although I don't like crying in front of people. I fucking cry, I care, and I love. Something Dally needed to learn to do. Love. It's the greatest feeling in the world, to know that you're loved.

Getting hugs from each of them, I suddenly started to laugh. I don't know why.

"Man, this is turning into a soap opera. Or a really dramatic story." (A/N: Oh, ironic. Lol I hate soap operasss.)

That's just like me, to laugh. It makes things better and... lightens the mood. I dunno, it's dumb. But it works. Soon everyone was laughing, saying their goodbyes, and talking happily about the rumble again. Johnny just kind of stayed out of the conversation. He looked kinda upset. Could you blame him?

He mostly just stayed near me, and listened to the guys talk. I guess this was kinda normal for him, because no one said anything. We just... talked. And talked. Like nothing was wrong.

The nurse, a less bitchy one, entered the room.

"Are you ready to go Miss Potter?"

With one last glance at the guys, I nodded. As she wheeled me out into the hall, I called out;

"Tell my family I love them. I always will. And I'll always love you, Johnny Cade."

Yeah, that was kinda depressing.
Probably not capable of making anyone
cry but whatever. DON'T WORRY. I didn't
wanna kill her off, but happy endings suck.
And if the ending wasn't like this, there
wouldn't be a sequel. So, just watch for it.