Hi guys thank you for the reviews. They really make my day. I'm so sorry for taking so long to update. Crazy things have been happening. Here's chapter 20.

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Guest- Thank you too. I'm really glad you like it.

"Wake up Tali. Let's go get some breakfast." it was Soda. I groaned & looked up at Paxton. Someone had taken the breathing tube out, but he still had just as many other tubes still hooked up to him. I nodded & Soda helped me up. We walked out & Michael was there, talking to Parker & Dad. Soda & I walked down to the cafeteria. We grabbed plates of food & sat down in a booth.

"So, what's with that Michael guy?" Soda asked. I laughed.

"Um, he's a soc. He doesn't care about that though. He's a nice guy & one of Paxton's best friends." I answered. Soda nodded.

"You don't think he's cute do you?" he asked. I laughed even more. Sodapop Patrick Curtis is jealous. Ha.

"Soda! Of course not. You are the cutest thing I have ever seen, & even if I did think he was cute, he sleeps around more than any greaser girl you know." I assured. That made him laugh. We finished eating & went back upstairs. Michael was gone & Parker & Dad were in with Parker. The rest of the gang was asleep in the chairs.

"You guys didn't have to stay." I told Soda, feeling guilty.

"Where else would we go. We're cousins." he laughed & I laughed too. Soda sat down on the chair & I sat on his lap for a little bit. Parker & Dad came out smiling.

"What's going on?" I asked. Parker grinned.

"He's awake. He wants to see you." Dad beamed. I jumped out of the chair & hugged Parker & my dad.

"He asked for me?" I couldn't believe it. I walked into his room & his his eyes were closed. He opened them.

"Hi." I said. He waved weakly. I suddenly felt a wave of guilt.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, walking over & sitting down in the chair. He groaned.

"Like I got hit by a freight train." he sighed. I started to cry again. He only had two tubes now. The IV & the one that was pumping more blood into his body. He patted to the spot next to him on the bed. I climbed up & sat with him.

"Can we talk?" he asked. I nodded.

"I've been an asshole. I shouldn't have went to Buck's. Alyssa was a bitch. It was only a matter of time before I broke up with her or she broke up with me. Parker told me about you telling her off. I'm sorry Tali. I ruined your date & hurt Soda. I didn't mean too." he croaked. I shook my head.

"No. I'm sorry. I've been completely unforgiving. I shouldn't have run off last night. I'm so sorry. What even happened? I shouldn't have left you." I cried. He looked down at me. His blue eyes filled with the worry that I should have had in mine.

"Tali, it's okay. I would've been mad too. Just… can we… can we promise not to get mad at each other again. You can get mad at Parker any time, but I don't like you being mad at me." he chuckled, & then groaned. I sat up.

"Are you okay?" I asked. He nodded.

"Yeah, I'm just really sore. This is a great time to get shot. I have basketball." he whined. I laughed.

"Oh yeah. Michael's been here a few times. He just left. Do you wanna see him if he comes back?" I asked. He nodded.

"Oh yeah. He's gonna hafta take over as captain for the rest of this year. Shit." he worried. I laughed.

"Yup." I snickered. He shook his head.

"Hey tell the gang that they can go home, & I want you to go get some sleep too." he told me. I shook my head.

"No I'm good." I denied. He raised an eyebrow at me.

"No. I know you slept in that chair last night. And I know from experience that they aren't comfy." he protested.

"Okay. I'll tell the gang they can go home, & then I'll go home & get some sleep. Change my clothes, I probably look great." I said, sarcastically. He nodded his approval. I walked out & Parker & my dad went in.

"You guys can go home. I'm gonna go home & get some sleep. You guys can come to my house or we can go to the Curtises, or I can go to my house & everybody else can go to theirs." I told them. Soda jumped up.

"I'm gonna go with Tali. I'll meet you guys back at the house later." he blurted. Darr looked at him.

"Okay. Have fun doing whatever you're gonna be doing." he said with a smirk. We walked out of the hospital, holding hands. I put my head on his shoulder as we walked towards Darry's truck. They had Steve's truck there too. He drove & I sat in the passenger seat. We drove in silence. We got back to my house & walked through the door. Rain greeted us & Soda picked her up & just started loving her. I love it when he does that. He's so good. I walked up the stairs & I went into the bathroom. I changed into a sweatshirt & sweatpants & walked back down stairs into the living room. It had started to thunderstorm. Ugh. I hate thunder. Soda was on the couch with Rain, just cuddling with her. Soda scooched over & I polled down next to them. I put my feet on the couch & Soda put his arm around me. I was drifting off the sleep when a loud clap of thunder jolted me awake. I jumped up.

"Hey. It's okay. Are you scared of thunder?" He asked me. I nodded sheepishly. I layed back down & he tightened his arm around me.

"It's okay. I'll protect you." he whispered. Rain came over & layed on top of me. I fell asleep thinking about how pretty the rain was.