Okay, so the reason it took me so long to put out this chapter is because I couldn't figure out how to write the rest of the story. So here's how it's going to go down.

This story will be written in multiple blurbs. These blurbs will vary in length and also when they happen in the timeline of events. This story will not follow a lateral timeline. There will be flashbacks, flash-forwards, etc. In order to help you guys out, at the beginning of each chapter, I will have "Before" or "After" written at the top. That simply means that everything that happens underneath the "Before" or "After" will be before or after a specific event. I won't tell you what that event is, but you'll find out. Eventually.

Now, I've never written a story like this before, so I would really appreciate some response so I can know if the story is making sense. Do I need to change things? Elaborate on something more? Stuff like that. Thanks bunches for reading and please review!

Before

"Don't you think it's a little short, Stace?"

"Nah. It looks good on you. And I'm willing to bet Dally would like it." I waggled my eyebrows suggestively. I had found out about Dallas not too long ago, and had made it my mission to help Lana with him. This skirt was just the beginning. It used to be one I wore to work, but I had recently gotten a newer one, so now it was Lana's.

"Really? Ya think so?"

"Lana, I know men, especially men like Dallas. Trust me, he'll like it."

"Thanks, Stace," she said hugging me. "You're a real friend."

. . .

Lana was home. She had gotten here about five minutes ago, and Jane had Curtis, giving us an opportunity to talk.

"So," Lana began. "You still workin'?" Lana knew exactly what I did. She tried not to judge me for it, but I knew she did.

"Yea," I answered simply.

"Are you…ya know…?"

"Most of the time."

That pissed her off. "Most of the time? What the hell does that mean? Stacy, you have to be careful or else-"

"Or else I'll end up like you?"

"Exactly."

"Why is that such a bad thing?"

That stunned her. "Why is that such a bad thing? Did you really just ask that? Why is this such a bad thing? Stacy, I had to quit school. I'm never going to go to college, never going to make something of myself because I wasn't careful." She was really pissed. I had struck a chord with her.

"But, you have Two-Bit."

"Yea. Two-Bit."

"I thought you loved him," I asked bitterly.

"I do, but…He's not-" she was tearing up. "He's not coming back. He's not here to see his son grow-up. He's not here to watch him take his first steps, or, or hear his first words, and someday I'm going to have to explain to him that his real Daddy isn't here. Dallas-" she paused, as if saying that name caused her physical pain. "Dallas isn't here because Pony wasn't careful, and Darry wasn't careful, or Johnny, and in the end Dallas was just- just plain stupid. And now I'm here, with his fucking baby, and he's not here, and- and…" she stopped. "Just, be careful. I've never tried to tell you what to do, or told you stop working, but just- be careful. Be fucking careful, or yeah, you'll end up like me: with a baby who's father's dead and trying to rely on fucking Two-Bit for support, who does nothing except sit around on his fucking ass while I'm out working and taking care of my kid! Stacy, you don't want to end up like me. Never. I just- I couldn't live with myself if you wound up like me, because believe me. There is nothing worse."

Curtis started crying. "Shit," she got up and started walking into the other room. "Shh, baby, it's okay. Mommy's here. You're fine. Shh."

Lana was wrong.