"I don't know," I sigh as I walk with Johnny.

He looks over at me and smiles, "Ava, you're stunning, sweet, and perfect. Any guy would be lucky to date you and if Ponyboy can't see that then he's stupid and not worth your time anyway. So what if you made a mistake, he made one too."

"Yeah," I sigh sadly as I look away. "Just not with my best friend. I am a terrible girlfriend Johnny. I feel awful."

"You're not terrible," he grabs my hands and looks into my eyes. "Everybody makes mistakes Ava."

"I just made a big one," I sigh as I look down at my stomach. I've gained a few pounds, but nothing major. "I gotta go. I'll catch ya later Johnnycakes."

"Wait Ava!" Johnny yells.

I spin around my hair whipping behind me, "yes Johnny."

"If Ponyboy can't see what an amazing girlfriend you are then he's an idiot. He ain't worth your time Ava. You're perfect from your smile to your voice to your perfect name Avery. So please Ava, if Ponyboy can't get over that one mistake you made when he made one too then he isn't worth your time," Johnny rants.

I walk over to him and hug him, "I wish that was true, but I messed up way worse than he did. I'll talk to ya later Johnny."

Johnny was my best friend because, he always had a way of making me feel better, but this was the one time he couldn't. No matter what he said I still knew in my heart I was wrong. I still knew that my mistake was worse and that my mistake would never go away because, my mistake involved me getting pregnant with his best friend's baby.
***
I sat next to Ponyboy the next day at school and looked over to him. He didn't dare look up at me. I sigh as I looked by at my notebook and scribbled away. "Avery Madisons," my teacher called and I looked up at her along with Ponyboy.

"Y-y-yes," my voice shakes and something in my body told me my life would never be the same.

She looks down at her sheet of paper writing something before looking back up at me, "you're wanted in the office."

Pony looks over at me and I shakily close my notebook and run off with the pass. I can hear him mumble something, but I'm not sure what. I walk down the stairs slowly until I enter the office downstairs, "umm, you wanted me."

"Avery Madisons?" The lady asks sweetly as she looks up at me.

I nod my head, "that's me."

"Please go into Ms.Kenny's office and take a seat," the lady says sorrow laced into her voice.

I do as she says nervously sitting in Ms.Kenny's office. 

Tick.

Tick.

Tick. 

Tick.

I anxiously wait for her to arrive. It feels as if time has slowed down and every noise has gotten louder. I can hear the ladies in the office talking. The clock ticking away. The birds chirping outside as the cold fall air blows loudly rattling the leaves. I look up at the clock as the hands move slowly.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

I hear a phone slam down before the creaking of the door. I look up to see Ms. Kenny standing in the door way, "I'm sorry to keep you waiting Avery."

I shake my head, "no, it's fine, don't worry."

She sits down at her chair and sighs, "so Avery, I hate to be the one who has to tell you this, but today there was an accident revolving your parents."

My heart drops and tears form in my eyes, "oh my god! Are they okay?"

"I'm afraid they couldn't make it through," she speaks and with that I run out of her office.

I bolt into my classroom holding back tears packing up my stuff . The teacher looks over at me as I fight back tears, "Avery?"

"I'n sorry, I-I-I gotta go!" I say as I rush out of the classroom.

"Ava!" I hear Pony's voice, but I don't turn back I just keep running as fast I can outside the school. I break down right in front not being able to do anything. I fall down and sob my eyes out as I just look up at the sky. I hold onto my stomach as if hugging my child because, this baby is the only thing I have left. I hear footsteps followed by a voice I can't forget, "Avery?"

"Get away!" I snap.

I feel a hand on my back and I cringe pulling myself away from the ruinous touch, "Avery, please just look at me."

"Nothing you can say will make what you did okay!" I snap.

"Avery!" He yells as he pulls my aching body back. I hit the ground and you can hear the banging on my body against the concrete. 

My eyes meet his wicked brown eyes and my whole body is frozen with feat yet with shaky words I manage to speak, "you can't make this better! You hurt me in a way no other guy has and I've been hurt a lot."

"Avery, c'mon baby," he presses his body against mine.

Tears form in my eyes as I push him off me, "leave me alone!"

He forcefully presses his lips against mine. I try to pull away, but he holds my body tightly. Warm tears roll down my cheeks and I think he's gonna hurt me once again. That is until I hear a voice of the only guy in the world I want to be with right now, "hey Randy, she said leave her alone and I suggest you do so!"

Randy pushes me off him and looks over at Ponyboy, "whatcha gonna do about it Grease?"

Pony walks over to him and I can tell he has no come back, but he stands his grounds, "Randy, I suggest you leave."

"Get outta my face!" Randy yells slapping him across the face. Pony falls to the ground. "You better leave us alone Grease or I swear to god!"

Pony stands up punching him the face as hard as he can, "then don't disrespect Ava!"

"Hey!" I yell as I stand up. "Break it up both of you!"

Pony sighs as he walks over to me, "I'm sorry Ava, but-"

I shake my head, "no! There is no excuse Ponyboy, just go!"

"Ava please," he begs.

"I just want to be alone," I speak softly as I sit down on the grass.

"What happened?" Pony asked.

I look up at him. He is the only person who understands what I'm going through well and his brothers. He is the one person who will understand how hard this is, but I can't get the courage to tell him, "nothing is happening Ponyboy. I just want to go home. I just want to be alone." Tears start to roll down my cheeks once again.

Pony squats down next to me, "then why are you crying?"

"Because..." I sigh.

"What?" Pony asks as he pulls me in for a hug.

"I thought you hated me," I sob into his shoulder.

"I could never hate you," he whispers into my ear. "I'm too busy loving you."

I hold him closely as I sob, "I miss you Ponyboy."

"I miss you too," he speaks softly. "Now tell me, what's going on?"

I shake my head, "I can't, I'm just not ready."

He nods his head, "it's okay, I understand."

"Thanks," I speak as I stand up. "I don't know what I'd do with my...my...uh...my-"

"Best friend," Pony speaks for me.

I nod my head sadly, "yeah, best friend. I should go."

"Yeah," he speaks lowly as I walk away.

Ponyboy was so much more than just my best friend even in that moment, he was so much more than that. There's something so innocent about a first love and he was already my first love. No matter what, we would never be able to be just best friends. It was impossible and we both knew it, but it was the only excuse to see each other which is what we both really wanted. No matter what he said, he loved me and I knew it.  I also knew, I loved him too.

Please don't tell me I'm the only person freaking out right now. I mean they love each other. They have a serious case of skinny love. I mean they are so freaking cute! I love them. Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!
-Beth