Heather came back with me to school the following Wednesday. A good thing, to; when Two-Bit didn't stop by she'd start cleaning, and now we couldn't find anything. But having her there also intensified the stares. I remembered that girl at the DX, Amy, and wondered if she'd said anything.

"I get what you mean now." Heather whispered to me as we made our way to Science.

"About what?"

"I'm so used to everyone ignoring me, it's disconcerting when suddenly everyone's staring at you."

At home I kept an eye on her (she didn't notice), stepping in whenever Two-Bit got too rough. Since her first night here I couldn't get the image of her as a China doll out of my head. I wondered if they was how Darry and Soda felt sometimes.

It felt good to have her at home all the time and not have to worry about her father anymore. She'd asked the doctors what was going to happen to Mr. Reed, and they'd said he would spend four months in jail and then to rehab. I couldn't understand how she could still care about him after all he'd done, but she just shrugged. "He's my father."

I thought of Johnny. His parents didn't give a hoot if he lived or died, but he always asked if things were okay without him, if they were worried. He still loved him, just like Heather still loved her father.

It was Saturday afternoon when we got the letter. The whole gang was there, eating ham sandwiches and having a good ol' time. Heather decided she'd better go get the mail. When she came back, she looked stunned.

"What is it?" I asked her, dropping my sandwich.

"It's… from the state." she said. Darry stood and took the letter from her. We all waited for his response as we watched his ice blue eyes, glittering with surprise and then sadness.

Finally, he sighed.

"What's it say?" Soda asked impatiently.

"I don't think you'll like it much."

"Read it out loud."

Darry cleared his throat. "Dear Mr. Darrel Curtis," he began, "This letter has been sent to inform you that your custody of Miss Heather Lynn Reed has come to an end."

"WHAT?!" the whole table erupted.

Darry continued. "Two in a half weeks ago we sent out several letters inquiring of Miss Reed's remaining relatives to become her parental guardian until she turns eighteen. We have gotten a reply from Ms. Elizabeth Thornton, the late Mrs. Reed's sister."

Heather sunk into a chair, looking dazed. "Aunt Elsie?"

"Ms. Thornton will be arriving Sunday the Eleventh to collect her niece."

"Collect?" Two-Bit asked incredulously. "Did they forget she's just a girl and not some baseball card?"

"The eleventh?!" I jumped to my feet. "But that's tomorrow!"

"What else does it say?" Soda leaned over, trying to get a look at the letter.

Darry folded it up. "Nothing important. Just that all the paper work has already been signed, so all we have to do is hand her over."

We were quiet. I guess no one really expected Heather to have any other family, and especially not this soon. I remembered what the nights were like when she was in the hospital: silent, uncomfortable, and dull. We'd go back tot hat for a long time once she left again. Internally, I was screaming. How come every good thing I ever came across was taken away too soon?

"Where does this aunt of yours live?" Darry asked.

"Out east," she told him, "In Virginia, I think."

"Virginia?!" I realized we were pretty good at talking in unison when we were upset.

"But that's so far away!" Two-Bit pouted.

"I'm sure Aunt Elsie will let me visit once in a while."

"Once in a while ain't enough!"

"We need you here," I continued, "I don't know how we'll get along without you."

Her eyes were sad. "You did before you knew me, right?"

That hit home. She was leaving tomorrow. How could we lose her already? I shook my head. She'll be better off. Don't be so selfish. But I couldn't help it.

"Is she nice?" I asked.

Heather shrugged. "Seemed nice enough on her last visit. Only…"

"What?"

"I was told she died six years ago."

That was unexpected.

Steve, who had been silent this whole time, laughed dryly. "Girl, you got one whacked up family."

-0-0-0-

Everyone stayed late that night, wanting to put in some last laughs before she left tomorrow. We watched cartoons, taught her how to play poker (and regretted it after she somehow won every round), even fished out an old photo album. It was a nice night.

Steve and Two-Bit left around midnight and the rest of us went to bed. I was exhausted, but I couldn't sleep. I guess I was nervous. Eventually I crept out of my room, just for something to do.

I found Heather sitting on the windowsill, arms wrapped around her knees. She stared up at the sky, looking vacant and dreamy.

"Can't sleep either?" I whispered.

She turned to me. "Not really."

I walked over and sat beside her for a while, watching the few stars you could make out. "I wonder if they watch us back," I said eventually, just for something to say.

She smiled slightly. "I wonder that, too."

I turned away from the window to look at her. Tonight the moonlight made her look sad and scared. Then again, she probably was anyway. I pulled her into me, wrapping my arms around her.

She sighed. "I don't want to leave."

"I know."

I held her until she fell asleep.

-0-0-0-

Elsie came at nine.

We had just finished cleaning up breakfast when we heard the knock on the door. We'd been silent all morning, but right then everyone's face fell.

Darry answered it, and in stepped a tall, round woman, dressed in a purple dress and a colorful scarf. I couldn't see much of a family resemblance in her wrinkled face. Her eyes were green, but didn't have the gold that Heather's had.

"Aunt Elsie!" Heather faked excitement and hugged her aunt.

"Oh, little Heather!" Elsie's voice sounded gravelly. I wondered if she smoked. "You've gotten so big."

Heather smiled. "You haven't seen me in seven years; I should hope I grew a little."

They pulled away, and Elsie smiled at us in the kitchen. "Well, aren't you going to introduce me to these fine young men?"

Heather blushed. "Oh, yeah. Aunt Elsie, this is Darry, Soda, and Ponyboy Curtis."

I was relieved when she didn't look like she was suppressing laughter. "Thank you for taking care of my niece." she said, "It means a lot."

Darry waved his hand. "We'd do anything for Heather. It was our pleasure."

Elsie nodded, then turned back to her niece. "Do you have your things packed?"

Heather looked at the floor, twisting her foot. "No. They took the house before I could get anything. Those boys are all I have."

Elsie looked from her to us and to her again. She pursed her lips in a sort of half frown, the way I'd seen Heather do when she was working through a particularly confusing math problem. Maybe they were family.

"Elsie…" Heather sighed, looking up again. "I'm really glad you came for me. I really am. It's just… Pony and the gang have been the closest thing I've had to family since… well, for a while. They were there when I needed them most. But they have a hard life as it is, and I just --"

"I understand, darling." Elsie hugged her again. "But I've already signed the papers. I have to take you in."

Heather's face fell.

"But I tell you what." Elsie continued, and I felt myself brighten a little. "I have a friend who lives not too far from here. I'll stay with her for a week, give you some more time with your friends. Maybe when I get back, we can work out some kind of schedule. Sound okay?"

Heather nodded, her eyes sparkling. "You're the best."

Sorry, it's another unexciting chapter. I didn't even like writing it. But it needed to be done, so please review anyway! Next one will be good, I promise!