They walked up to us, hand in hand, and the closer they got, the more clearly I could see that Soda was relaxed. More so than I had seen him in a long time. I could only guess that the talk had gone well.

"You guys have fun in the water?" he asked.

"We always have fun," Two-Bit said. "Scout is a lot more like you than either of your uptight brothers. Us three, we're the fun ones."

I smiled across at him. I wasn't sure if that was actually accurate, but I liked the thought of it. Being told I was anything like Soda would always be a compliment, in my book. It seemed funny of him to say it, though, since he had just said that Darry and I got along so well. I liked to think I was a mix of all three brothers.

"Scout, you wanna go for a walk with me?" Sandy asked. Soda actually looked surprised, which was weird, since I assumed that he would have been the one to suggest that she talk to me.

"Okay," I said, as Soda grabbed my hand and pulled me up. He sat down next to Two-Bit, and Sandy and I headed off in the opposite direction from which Soda and Sandy had come. This beach just seemed to go on forever.

We sat down a couple hundred yards from where we left the boys, and Sandy turned to face me.

"I'm really sorry, Scout. I mean, I guess if I would have told, nothing would have happened to you."

I didn't say anything at first, because I knew she was probably right.

"I didn't tell, either… I can completely understand why you didn't."

"I was scared… and ashamed. I mean, he was supposed to be Soda's best friend… and Evie is my friend…" she started crying. "I didn't know if anyone would even believe me."

"I know," I said. "I felt exactly the same. That's why I had to come here with Soda. Because I didn't think there was anyone else who knew how I felt, until I found out about you."

"I felt completely alone, too."

"I guess it turns out we're not."

"Guess not."

"How did it happen? I mean, how did he … get you?"

"It happened twice."

"Oh, God…Sandy…"

"The second time- that was when he really hurt me, when my parents sent me down here. I fought back that time. The first time, I was too scared. The first time, I cried, but hardly fought. He was driving me home… it was in his car. I was afraid to yell. I practically let it happen. I hated myself for it… I still do... and now…" she looked down at her belly.

"Is it Steve's?" I asked, softly.

"I don't know," she said, sadly. "It could be…either's."

"What are you going to do?" I realized the ridiculous enormity of that question the minute I asked it.

"About the baby, you mean?"

"Well, that… and, well… everything, I guess. Soda really loves you, you know."

"I know. I love him, too. I was going to stay down here until I had the baby, but Soda wants me to come back with you. I want to go back. But my family is not going to like that."

"Are you going to tell them the truth? That it wasn't Soda who hurt you?" It was killing me that there were people out there who actually thought Soda had hurt a girl.

"Yeah… I have to. I should have all along."

"Are you gonna keep it?"

"I don't know. My family says I can't. But… I don't know. I have a while to think about it, I guess. About five months."

We sat in silence for a few minutes. I could hear Soda's laugh carrying in the breeze from where he sat with Two-Bit, and it was a nice sound; a sound I hadn't heard much of for a long time.

"He was miserable, you know. After you left."

"So was I," she admitted.

"Seems kind of dumb for you two to have to be apart if you don't really have to," I said.

"I know."

"So how can that happen?" I just didn't want Soda to be so unhappy again.

"Well, I guess the first thing I have to do is go back and face my grandmother. Soda said he'd talk to her with me." She stood up.

"Sandy?" I called, as we walked back toward the boys.

"What?"

"It's real nice to not feel so alone anymore."

"I agree."

When we got back to Two-Bit and Soda, they stood up, brushing the sand from their behinds. Soda took Sandy's hand and pulled her toward him, kissing her forehead.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said, resting her head on his shoulder as we walked back to the car.

"Whose car is this, anyway?" she asked. I realized how much she had missed since she'd been gone.

"Mine," Soda said, laughing. "Only the very best for my special lady." The car ran okay, but looked pretty terrible.

We were quiet as we drove back to the house. Soda pulled up in front, and turned to us in the back.

"You guys stay in the car, okay?"

"Will do," Two-Bit said. Soda and Sandy walked back up to the house and we both climbed into the front seat. Two-Bit reached out and flipped on the radio.

"What do you think is gonna happen?" I asked him.

"I can honestly say... I have no idea."

"Her grandmother wasn't very happy to see Soda," I said.

"I know. I heard her yelling."

"I guess we'll find out."

It didn't take very long. We were only about two songs into sitting there waiting, when we both looked up to see Sandy coming out of the doorway, still yelling. Soda came out right behind her, looking extremely uncomfortable to be caught between the two of them. Two-Bit turned down the radio.

"You're making a big mistake, Alexandra!"

"Well it certainly won't be the first one! And probably not the last, either!"

"Well, I think that's quite obvious, judging from your situation!"

"God, Nana, how can you even say something like that after what I just told you? Soda didn't hurt me. He obviously cares about me, or else he wouldn't be here. The only reason I am even here in the first place is because I lied!"

"They won't be happy about this!"

"Well maybe it's time people started thinking about whether or not I'm happy! And I'm not happy here!"

"Fine, then, go ahead back to Tulsa! Your parents can deal with this whole mess!"

"I am! I'm going back with him! And I don't care what anybody has to say about it!"

"Fine, then. Go!"

Sandy came running over to the car and jumped in, slamming the door behind her, and started crying hysterically. Soda climbed into the back next to her.

"Go, Two-Bit," she sobbed. "Just get us out of here."

"Do it," Soda said firmly, and Two-Bit started the car and took off down the street, taking us to the only place he knew how to get to: the beach, again. Sandy was clearly in no shape for giving directions to go anywhere else.

Two-Bit parked and turned off the car.

I noticed there was a pay phone on the wall outside where the restrooms were, and I decided to kill two birds with one stone. Two-Bit followed.

I used the bathroom, and picked up the phone to call Darry. I momentarily found myself hoping it wasn't Steve picking up, but then I remembered what had changed - that he was the whole reason for this trip to begin with.

"Curtises!" It was Pony.

"Hey, Pone."

"Hey, you. How's it going? Didja find Sandy?"

"Yeah, she's with us right now. I think she might be coming back with us, actually. I'm not really sure what is going on yet. But, Darry said to call, so I'm calling."

"Well, hang on, he's right here. You all still plan on bein' back tomorrow?"

"I think so," I said.

"Well, seeya then."

"'kay." I heard him pass the phone over to Darry.

"Hey, Scout. Where are you guys? You found her?"

"Yeah, we found her. She and Soda talked, and then she got in a fight with her grandmother, and now we're at the beach."

"Can I talk to Soda?"

"Well, actually, he's still in the car talking to Sandy."

"Oh. Did everything go okay with… the other thing? You got what you needed?"

"Yeah, that all went okay. I'm all set."

"The boys didn't give you a hard time, did they?"

I waited too long to answer.

"What did they say?"

"Nothing, Darry. Forget it."

"Is Two-Bit there?"

"Yes."

"Put him on."

"Darry…"

"Put him on, Scout. Now."

I looked over at Two-Bit, holding out the phone, and I'm pretty sure that he could tell from my expression that Darry didn't just want to chat about the weather.

"Sorry," I whispered, as I passed him the phone. I walked back over to the car, not wanting to watch Two-Bit get reamed over the line.

Soda was talking softly to Sandy in the backseat, his arms around her. I leaned in the window.

"Soda, I think Darry wants to talk to you." He turned to Sandy.

"You okay, now?" She nodded.

He got out and I slid in.

"You're really coming back with us?" I asked her.

"Yeah, I am," she said. I didn't ask what would happen if her parents wouldn't let her stay. I knew there was no way Darry would ever let her stay with us; Social Services would be all over that.

"Sandy?"

"Yeah?"

"I have something that I want to give you," I said, reaching down into my bag. I dug around and finally found what I had been looking for, pulling it out. It was the returned letter that I had taken out of the trash the night Soda had tossed it. I was glad that I never had written that angry letter I had considered.

She looked down at it, at the big "Return to Sender" on it, realizing what it was.

"How'd you…"

"I was angry at you. Really angry, because I didn't understand how you could have just left him like that. I took that out of the trash because I wanted your address to write you an angry letter myself."

"I never got any letters, Scout. I swear. Or phone calls. She never said a word to me."

"I know. And I'm really sorry that I ever was so angry with you, especially now that I know what really happened. So I'm glad I saved that, because he wrote it for you."

I looked out and saw Soda still on the phone with Darry.

"I'm gonna go see what's up with those guys," I said. "But I really think you should read that."

She opened the letter and started to read it, and, as I looked back, I could see a smile cross her face, even as tears were falling.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: Between-posting times are gonna be longer for a while... craziness here. Please Review, as always!