So, I'd like to thank Ladybugs for the idea of Dallas getting drunk and breaking down. I altered it a bit, but I hope you like it. :)

I'd like to thank my other reviewers as well! Your feedback means a lot! :)

I hope you all enjoy chapter eight! When you get done reading, please review. It gives me motivation to write more and update.

Buck watched in amusement as Dallas finished off his fifth beer of the night. He slammed the bottle onto the counter and wiped his mouth lazily with his hand.

"You done?" Buck asked, prying the bottle from Dally's hand.

"M'good. I want 'nother un," Dallas slurred. Buck chuckled quietly to himself and sat the bottle in the sink.

"I don't think you need another one. You probably can't even make it to the door without fallin' flat on your face," he replied. Dallas leaned onto the counter and pulled himself off the stool.

"Imma make it," he said, stepping onto the ground. He brought his other foot around, and like Buck predicted, almost fell to the ground.

"Damn, you can't even make it of the stool," Buck said. Dally steadied himself and looked at Buck.

"M'goin' to bed," Dallas announced.

"You're gonna fall goin' up them stairs, and you're gonna kill yourself," Buck stepped out from behind the counter. He grabbed a hold of Dally's arm.

"Don't need your help," he slurred, swatting at Buck's hand. Buck didn't listen and helped a drunken Dal to his room upstairs. The trip up the stairs was the best part. Dally made it up the first two stairs successfully, but on the third one, he tripped and almost fell backwards. If it wasn't for Buck, he would've cracked his head open on the wooden floor, and Buck couldn't have that. It'd ruin his bar.

The two reached Dally's room. Dallas jerked out of Buck's grip and stumbled over to his bed.

"M'good. Go away," he said, waving Buck off. He tripped over a slightly raised floor board and fell onto the bed, getting a face full of dirty sheets. Buck rolled his eyes and turned away. He had to get back downstairs. His bar was more important to him than some drunk teen; even if they were rodeo partners.

Dallas pulled himself onto the bed and crawled under the blankets. He curled up in a ball and thought about the day's events. Johnny was leaving. Johnny was leaving the gang. Johnny was leaving him. He'd probably never see that kid again. Like everything else, Dallas had grown to love, he lost it. Eventually leading him to hate everything. A couple tears slipped out of his eyes and danced their way across his face, settling on the pillow. Dallas Winston, the toughest hood you'd ever meet, was crying. He never cried. He was crying because he was losing the one thing he loved: Johnny.

XxXxXxX

Johnny collapsed onto the Curtis' couch and got comfortable. Ponyboy brought him a blanket and fanned it out over him.

"Thanks, Pony," Johnny said smiling. Pony merely smiled in return before heading to his room. Unfortunately, Johnny couldn't sleep. His days in Tulsa were numbered. He wasn't sure he'd ever return, and he highly doubted he'd return. If he was put up for adoption that must have meant his original family couldn't afford him. But . . . If they were poor too, how come they are moving to California ? Johnny's active mind kept wandering. Eventually, it put him to sleep.

XxXxXxX

The next morning, Johnny was woken up with someone banging on a door. He rolled over and glanced around the room, and sure enough, just as he imagined, it was Soda.

"C'mon, Pony! I have to get ready for work!" he exclaimed. Pony's muffled voice answered back immediately.

"Wait a minute, Soda! I'm going to the bathroom!" Soda drew back from the door and walked into the living room.

"That dang kid. He's always hoggin' the bathroom in the mornin'," Soda mumbled to himself, plopping onto the couch. As soon as he met eyes with Johnny, a big smile formed on Soda's face. "Hey, Johnnycakes! You excited to be movin' to California ?" Johnny rolled over to be on his back. He kicked his blanket off and sat up slowly.

"I dunno. I'm kind of excited to get out of Tulsa , but I don't want to leave the gang. I'm gonna miss you guys," Johnny answered sadly.

"Aw, Johnny. We'll always be here! Whenever you miss us, just give us a call!" Soda said happily. Johnny looked at him and gave him a small smile.

"I know, but it won't be the same," he said. Soda's smile started to disappear, and a slight frown started to take its place.

"You're leavin' the third, right?" Johnny nodded. "Johnny, on the second of September, all of us are going to have such an awesome time. It'll be a day you'll never forget!" Johnny stared at him blankly. With Soda, he didn't know if this was good or bad. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin'. Just tryin' to figure out what you could possibly have in mind,"

"Nothin' yet, but I'll think about it. But trust me; you won't forget it anytime soon,"

"Soda, with you involved, it's hard to forget anything," Soda's big, goofy grin reappeared.

"I'm gonna take that as a compliment!"

XxXxXxX

A few days letter, Lucille received the adoption forms. She stared at the envelope and feared the worst. They came back faster than she imagined. What if they didn't sign then? Daniel sat in the passenger's seat of the car and sighed.

"C'mon, Ma, you were excited to get the forms a couple days ago," he said, staring out the window.

"I know, but what if . . . What if they aren't signed?" Lucille asked, flipping the envelope over. She slowly tore it open. She then pulled the piece of paper out and unfolded it. Lucille took a deep breath and held it in. When, she glanced at the bottom, she was relieved to find the signature of Richard and Patricia Cade. She released her breath and smiled.

Johnny was hers again.

review loves. :)