ALRIGHT! I know every one has been eager for some new chapters and everything... But they are getting kind of short, I know. But so much is happening that I can't just run it all into three big chapters or something! I gotta give the reader a break... So! Without further ado... Enjoy - Scitah

P.S. Shinigamiredrose won a few virtual cookies because Shinigamiredrose guessed who Eva was roughly based off of! Lafayette from True Blood! YAY!!!!! Good work Shinigamiredrose!

It was bitter cold over the bridge thanks to the cold, churning black water below. Wind seemed to be picking up and everything was damp from a light shower a few hours earlier.

She left the school and on the road to New Coventry, on the bridge's railing Johnny was standing, looking down into the choppy dark water.

Transfixed.

Safely on the sidewalk behind him Gary was murmuring, "No one really cares about you anyway- you're existence doesn't make a difference. Sally aligned with me. Your gang aligned with her. Hell, maybe even your mother will be next. Where's that leave you? Some dirty poor kid no one cares about. Go on. Jump."

And Johnny leaned further. Gary was right.

Who cared about him?

He ruined the relationships he had with everyone.

He hurt Sally- three times.

He hurt his own mother.

He hurt his friends.

Would they care if he leapt over the edge?

No- at least, they shouldn't.

He swallowed at tears came to his eyes. They wouldn't- no one would even notice if he disappeared.

It didn't matter.

Sally snuck up behind Gary and clasped her hands together, bringing her joined fists down hard on the base of the idiot's skull, knocking him to the ground slightly stunned, so she moved towards Johnny, "Johnny? What are you doing?"

He looked at her and then away quickly, "He's right. He's so fuckin' right, Sally!" he almost shouted, "E- even if you didn't join with him after all the shit I pulled- all I did- the fuck's it matter?"

"Gary has mental problems, Johnny… You're just stubborn. Please come down from there… We all miss you like crazy." she tried, moving a little closer.

She was hoping she could talk him out of this suicide thing, even though it fell a little déjà vu to her.

"...would not" he mumbled not moving closer or stepping down. She'd stopped him from actually jumping- he was about to if she hadn't knocked Gary out.

That was his problem- anyone could change his mind for him. Just some common sense would make him do it right- but instigation made him leap to conclusions. He was too trusting. Or, just an idiot.

Given the current situation he was sure he was an idiot.

"Johnny? You are THE ONE for me. You die, I die too. You have no idea how much I need you. Forget what ever Smith told you, forget he even fucked shit up! Just remember what we had shared. It was a beautiful thing when it lasted… And that's the truth." Sally said, reaching up to him, "Take my hand, Johnny. Let me help you."

"I don't wanna hurt you!" he exclaimed, "I'm so fuckin' stupid! I've hurt you so many times! I'm never gonna stop! I'm just like my dad!" he said, looking at her.

He didn't know if he wanted her to condemn him too or if he wanted her to forgive him. He wanted to take her hand but he didn't want to hurt her.

That upset Sally and she frowned, "DON'T YOU EVER COMPARE YOURSELF TO THAT PIECE OF SHIT!" she glanced away and sighed to calm herself down, "You think jumping to your death won't fucking hurt me, Johnny? You think you can fix everything with your own death?" her voice was strong and utterly demanding, as if she were scolding him for smoking weed or something.

She wiggled her fingers slightly, "Johnny. Give me your hand."

He shook his head- "Sally- Sally- maybe dying ain't the answer b- but we can't ever be together! I can't hurt you anymore- I don't wanna hurt you anymore! You deserve better.." he said and it hurt to admit that.

"We would be together if you would just trust me enough to listen to what I have to say. The guys were attacked, earlier this year, because I asked them to keep an eye on Smith and the Preps. When I saw how bad Peanut got hurt, I took that responsibility so they wouldn't get hurt… I also did it so Smith wouldn't hurt you. I did what I did for you, even though I knew you would react like you did if you ever found out. It wasn't long until Smith found out about my keeping tabs on him and threatened to tell you about me doing so, so I was forced to help him… I never wanted to align with him, and I kept the guys from Smith, so they wouldn't be bothered by him… It should be me up there, not you. This is my fault. I should have told you, rather than keeping you in the dark. I'm sorry." she said, blinking up at him.

Johnny shook his head, "I don't... Sally, it's just I told ya' not t'talk t'him so none'a this'd happen- an' I hurt ya. I hurt ya. Sally I made you cry! I made YOU cry!" he exclaimed.

"So what?! Every one cries! Shit! That's not a fucking reason to jump to your death, Johnny!" she hollered, then pointed to the cement next to her, "Get down from there, now! How the fuck do you expect me to explain you jumping to Mary?! To the guys? To Larry? You jumped 'cause you made me cry?! Are you fucking nuts?!" she was feeling a little panicked, so, her fright and sorrow quickly turned to anger.

Johnny looked down sadly and obeyed- hopping down- he looked at her sadly, "It's not that entirely, but.. I hurt you- I won't do it again."

Sally sighed gratefully, "Shut up… Just shut the fuck up, Johnny." she said in a low tone while grabbing the front of his shirt, "Damn right you'll never do it again!" she growled before kissing him hard. When she pulled back roughly she smiled slightly, "Don't you EVER do that again! Or I will kill you."

He blinked and shook his head, "No- no- we can't hook back up!" he exclaimed in a pathetic voice.

Sally blinked at him, "You're right… We don't have the time tonight…" she then released him and glanced around, Gary mysteriously gone. "Shit… Come on." she called to Johnny, grabbing his hand and starting off towards the Academy once more.

Johnny ran behind her. Why didn't she understand?

He pushed the thought away, "What's goin' on?" he asked.

"War. Nerd are under observation by the Jocks out by the field so they don't help Gary. I got every one else lookin' for Jimmy. Gary's got Russell, the Nerds, and the Preps! He's aiming higher than the Academy." She said back to Johnny.

"Jimmy's at Blue Skies" Johnny told her- "I saw 'em an' Zoe earlier. Seems he got 'er pregnant and they're freakin' out!" he told her.

Sally stopped her running and looked at Johnny, "Shit, really?" She blinked around in thought, "Then this is what he needs… Something to take his mind from freaking out… D'you know exactly where they are?

"Zoe's house." he sad with a shrug, "By the Shippin' place. C'mon." he turned and tugged her along behind him.

Sally nodded and ran with him, praying they got to Jimmy and Zoe in time before Gary did something stupid… Again.

Johnny found the house- sneaking around in shadows to avoid Townies since Sally seemed in a hurry. He got on the porch and knocked- Jimmy opened it.

"Vincent?" he asked.

Johnny tugged Sally forward, "Tell 'em." he said to her.

Sally took a breath, "Smith is up to no good again, he has the Preps, Nerds and Russell on his side. I figured since you've beaten both before, you could do it again?" she said in one breath.

Jimmy nodded, "Russell ain't.. I told 'em t'keep an' eye on Gary, but okay. Let's go kick ass. Be back in a few, hun." Jimmy said to Zoe who was in the house.

"Bring some chocolate ice cream and watermelon back with you" Zoe demanded.

"I'll get right on that." he said, and he had no intention to bring back what she wanted because she wouldn't want it then.

Then they left together.

Sally sighed, "He almost ordered Russell to kill Johnny because I was this close-"she put half an inch between her index and thumb to prove a point, "-t'poundin' that shit's head in! He's ordering Russell around. Was that part of the deal?" she asked Jimmy.

Jimmy nodded, "Yeah- I told him to make it like he was listening to Gary." he told her, "I told him especilly t'leave the Greaseballs--"

"HEY!" Johnny snapped.

Jimmy ignored him, "--alone."

Sally nodded, "What a moral dillema for the poor giant. Listen to good friend Jimmy, or don't blow cover for Smith. We gotta get t'the boys dorm. Eva and Johnny's boys're there. I have my boys, the Jocks, keeping the Nerds in their stellar observatory for now. Orders are to hospitalize the idiots if they attempt to leave." she informed Jimmy, also partially ignoring Johnny.

Jimmy nodded, "Cool. Good work- you two good again?" he asked not seeming too concerned. Hell, he'd done it before- he wasn't too concerned.

"Go ahead, Johnny. Tell Jimmy why you think we shouldn't get back together." Sally said icily, not looking at Johnny.

"Because I ain't gonna hurt ya again! Fuck you yell at me for hurting you an' now ya' yell at me for caring I do!" he shouted at her- not meaning to get so angry but the way she was mood-swinging pissed him off.

"You two ought to just get married!" Jimmy said.

Sally laughed, "We almost did. But he threw his ring at me." she said easily. "Past is the past and that's where it's stayin'." she said, mostly to Johnny, "And I'm a big girl, Johnny. Hell, I'm older than you, too!"

"Older than me or not- ya got hurt!" he said, "Hurt 'cause I kept fuckin' up!"

"Hello!? Earth to Johnny? So did I! Shit happens." she said, looking at him. "And you got hurt too."

"But it's my fault!" he exclaimed, "I'm not lettin' it happen a fourth time! 'Cause it WILL!" he cried.

She sighed, "FINE! What ever! Let's just kick Smith's ass and move on with our lives!" she shouted back as they approached the Academy gates.

"FINE!" he yelled back.

Jimmy stopped them, "You two-" he said, "Are idiots. You're both too stubborn to admit you both MIGHT be right- an' you're too close-minded to hear the other's point. You're perfect for each other besides that." he said.

Johnny just glared at him as he turned and started back into the Academy.

Sally rolled her eyes at Johnny and followed, nearly jogging to the Boy's Dorm eager to make sure every one was alright.

Of course the Greasers, Eva, and Ted and Damon were there. Talking to a few Bullies and non-clique students.

Sally grinned at them and point back to Jimmy and Johnny, "Look who I found! Are you guys alright? Any attacks, threats, idiocy? Other than Ricky's mouth, that is."

Ricky looked up, "I resent that!' he argued.

Norton shook his head, "It's all clear- we got Gary an' the Nerds trapped in the Observatory... and, uhm, well- we may have killed the Preps.."

Hal smiled sheepishly, "He said to trap 'em.. I lit it on fire."

Sally stood there blinking at them, then snorted a little and cleared her throat, "The Prep's place or the Observatory?" she tried not to smile at the hilarity.

"Preps place" Hal said.

Norton sighed, "We TOLD him not to."

"But he said it'd be 'like an oven'." Vance mocked.

"Actually, it's more like throwing the fire on them. They won't be baked, they'll be burned. Alive. How long ago you start it? We can't actually kill the fuckers, or else we all go to a maximum security prison."

Eva nodded, "She's right. It actually looks like they got locked in and then set on fire…"

"They DID get locked in" Vance said, "I locked 'em in."

Hal shrugged, "Not so long ago."

Sally sighed, "Now, I've been tormenting those freaks for a while now… I don't think they exactly deserve to die, although it would better the world. You boys seriously need to learn how to cover your tracks… If you want to kill some one, you gotta do it right! Jesus! Did you cut their electricity and water so they couldn't call for help or put it out themselves? Should have locked them in one of their rooms after reversing the door knob or something… It takes planning to ki-" she stopped lecturing and glanced around, "Never mind."

"Eva coulda' told us all that" Vance said and looked up at him, "Why didn' you?"

Ricky rolled his eyes, "It was just t'keep 'em in. It wasn't a big fire may have been out by now too- but it was jus' t'keep 'em in there."

Sally rolled her eyes, "If their stupid little club of whorish ways is all marbel and shit, they'll be alive. But if it's wooden, that little fire will be a big one and they will burn. Eva? Come with me. Rest of you do what needs to be done. Ted? Follow Jimmy's orders until I get back. We need to work together on this, or we'll all fall."

Eva nodded, shouldering the spud gun he still kept and began towards the Harrington House as Sally glanced at Johnny.

She shook her head, shrugged and followed after Eva without another word.

Johnny frowned and followed Eva and Sally, "I'm comin' too" he said.

They heard Jimmy barking orders for people to go and get everyone- even girls into the dorm.

Sally glanced back at Johnny, then sighed so only Eva could hear.

"Didn't get a happy ending?" Eva asked quietly.

"Not really. No. Let's just focus on the now, hm?" she replied.

Johnny walked along. He knew he wasn't wanted there right now, but he didn't wanna take orders from Jimmy.