I look in the mirror in my house for the last time. I know, it might sound stupid, but I can't help, but feel a little sad. I throw my last sweatshirt into a box before sighing. I look down at my outfit, this is all that fits now, sweats and sweatshirts. I place my hand on my now noticeably bump. "Hey Avery!" I hear Liz yell. "Are you ready?"

"Uh yeah!" I yell back down as I leave my room walking into my parents room as a few tears slide down my cheeks. "I'll be right down!"

I hear running up the stairs then I see Diamond's face, "oh, Ava, are you okay?"

I shake my head, "no, but I will be."

She wraps her arms around me hugging me tightly, "oh, Ava."

"Is it ever gonna get better?" I ask Diamond.

"Of course it will," Diamond smiles.

I shrug, "I don't care. I just wanna leave this house and never come back."

"What's going on?" I hear Liz ask.

"She's having a moment," Diamond looks over at Liz.

Liz smiles as she hugs me warmly, "don't worry, we got you that is until we have to go back to England for school."

My heart drops and tears fill my eyes, "what?"

"The agreement was that when school is going on I'll stay at Diamonds," Liz informs me.

Diamond nods, "but on breaks I say with Liz's family. Although, we weren't gonna tell you that yet."

"Oh," Liz blushes as she looks away.

I shake my head, "no, it's okay. I understand. Uh...wanna go meet the boys?"

Liz nods her head slowly, "yeah."
***
"Ponyboy! Johnny!" I yell as I tackle them in a hug. I stand up and smile over at Dally. "Hey Dally."

"Ava," he smirks flirtatiously. 

I run over to him hugging him, "why hello there Mr. Winston."

"That's better," he laughs.

"Where's Sodapop?" I ask Pony.

He takes a bite of chocolate cake before looking over at me, "the DX. Why?"

"Well I got my two best friends Diamond and Liz here, I just figured they might wanna meet him. Then all we'll missing is Two who's probably off trying to get with some blonde and superman who is working," I explain as I steal some of Pony's cake. "Wanna come for a walk with us my love?"

"Can't," he sighs as he pecks my lips. "I have to study, if I get another bad grade Darry'll skin me."

"I understand," I smile.

 I go to walk away with Liz and Diamond, but then I hear a tough New York accent, "I'll go with you love."

Liz looks over at me, "love?"

"That's just Dally," I whisper back before spinning around. "Okay tough guy."

He walks over by us and looks at my friends, "who are these broads?"

"They're not broads!" I snap at him.

He rolls his eyes as he lights up a weed inhaling smoke and blowing it out in a perfect ring, "well sorry princess."

"Just shut up!" I roll my eyes.

He looks over at me anger blazing in his eyes, "I'll do whatever I want!"

I look back at my one trembling friend, Liz and Diamond who is too busy comforting Liz to help me, "Dallas, just stop! You're scaring my friends."

"Well excuse me," he mimics me.

I walk over to him slapping him across the face, "I told you to cut it out and I mean it so you better leave me alone now!"

He grabs my by the wrist and I let out a cry of pain, "don't ever talk to me like that again! You hear me?"

"Dallas let out," I speak in agony. 

He throws me down to the ground and I hit my head against the ground, "little shit!"

I flip him off as he walks away, "fuck you Dallas!"

I stand up rubbing my head and Liz runs over to me Diamond trailing behind her, "oh my god! Are you okay?"

I nod my head, "he just got a little mad."

"A little?" Diamond asks.

"Don't worry about it!" I snap. "Lets just keep walking."

As we finally enter the DX Soda looks over at me and winks, "hey sweetheart."

"Hey Pepsi, can I grab a coke for my friends and I?" I ask.

"On the house!" He shouts out to me.

"Nobody can beat you Pepsi," I call back as I grab a few Pepsis.

I hand the sodas to Diamond and Liz as Stevie walks out of the garage, "when did Ava get here Pepsi?"

"You can ask me you know Stevie-boy!" I yell at him making him laugh.

Diamond looks over at me smirking, "so why don't you wanna move to England?"

I shove her jokingly, "oh shut up! I love these guys."

Liz smiles, "Soda's pretty cute."

"I know," I say as I look over at him. 

"Oh will you two shut up?" Diamond rolls her eyes. Diamond's the oldest of the group and I'm the youngest. "He's too old for the both of you."

"Soda loves me," I inform her making her laugh.

"I'm gonna miss this," Liz admits.

I look at her and smile, "we have three weeks in a few month."

"Two weeks in spring," Diamond adds.

Liz smiles, " a long time in the summer, three months."

"Yeah," I smile as I hug them. "I love you guys."

"Snore!" I hear a familiar voice yell.

Steve cracks up, "hey Two-bit."

"Well if it isn't my favorite drunk," I laugh as I run over hugging Two-bit. "Hey Mickey."

"Hey Minnie," he slurs the smell of alcohol present on his breathe. "Who are these two hot ladies?"

Liz blushes as she buries her face in a laughing Diamond's arm. "My two best friends and they're off limits," I inform him jokingly.

He smirks, "I think that's up to them my dear."

"Well they know better," I roll my eyes. 

He sighs, "whatever, nobody can resist me."

"You wish," Soda speaks from behind the counter.

I run over to Soda kissing his cheek, "now here is somebody that people can't resist."

"Ha!" Soda yells.

"Will ya two grease balls shut up?" I giggle as I look over at my two best friends who both look like they don't know what to do. "Hey guys, have you meet my friends properly."

Soda shakes his head, "and I've been in this room all day."

"Well their names are Diamond and Liz," I smile as I drag them over. "Girls this is Sodapop, Steve, and Two-bit."

"Nice to meet you pretty ladies," Two winks making Liz blush once again.

I lean over whispering to Diamond holding back laughs, "lil' miss innocent can't take pervy over here."

She chuckles nervously before speaking softly, "wanna get lunch?"

I sigh trying to sound happy, "uh sure."

"Can we come?" Stevie asks as he wipes grease off his forehead.

I look over at my best friends who I can tell don't want him to be with my grease ball friends, "not this time Steve, I'm sorry."

Okay, so this chapter was a little more fun than the other ones, but I figured I add something not so serious. Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!
-Beth