this chapter will be told from no one's POV since everyone will be talking

GIRLS TENT

"I'm not totally sure how to do this," Kayla says as she lays next to Lulu and covers them both with a blanket. Alex sits on her right, and Ellie sits next to Alex. Across from them, Bailey sits and climbs into a sleeping bag, and Victoria does the same. Lauren sits next to Victoria.

"I think we're just supposed to just tell a secret," Lauren says. "Who wants to go first?"

Alex raises her hand.

"I'm really afraid of any kind of extreme weather, like thunder, lightning, tornados, stuff like that," she says.

"Why?" Victoria asks.

Alex pauses. "I don't really like to talk about it.... but it is secrets night, so I guess I have to," she says. "A few years ago, my mom was killed in a tornado when she visited my grandma down in the South, and I'm not really sure why, but ever since then, I've been scared to death of any kind of bad weather because I guess I don't want the same thing to happen to me."

"But Dally's really good about taking care of you, isn't he?" Kayla says. Alex nods her head.

"Yeah, he's actually amazing at it," Alex says with a smile.

"Let's let someone else have a turn," Lauren suggests.

"I'll go!" Bailey says. "The reason I chose to 'stay' was because of Two-Bit. Like, I know this sounds unbelieveable, but him being there for me someone let me wake up a little bit sooner, I guess."

All of the girls "awe" and Victoria's hand shoots up.

"I want to go!" she yells. "I've liked Johnny for like 3 years."

"And now you two are together?" Kayla says with a laugh.

"Yeah," Victoria says with a smile.

Ellie clears her throat. "Steve and I did it on the first date."

Poor Victoria chokes.

Everyone has a mix of laughter and gasps.

To change the subject, Lauren raises her hand.

"I literally steal all of Darry's clothes," she says and gestures towards the jacket she's wearing.

"I LOVE wearing Dally's clothes, and he loves me wearing them for some reason," Alex laughs.

"Yeah, like when I go to bed, I'm always wearing a shirt of Soda's, whether it's a flannel, a long sleeve, or just a plain old t shirt," Kayla says.

"Well, Kayla, you're the only one who hasn't told us a secret," Alex says and fails dramatically at wiggling her eyebrows.

"I don't want to share," Kayla says slowly.

"Come on Kayla," Lauren lightly pushes.

"Fine. I, uh.... I don't have a good home life," Kayla says. "It's just me and my mom because my dad left about 4 years ago, and my mom is just horrible." She looks over at Lauren. "That's why I spend so much time at your place."

Everyone engulfs Kayla in one big hug. When they let go, she's smiling and everyone continues talking.

BOYS ROOM

"Well y'all, after all we said last year about never getting girlfriends, who would've thought we'd all be as happy as we are right now," Steve says with a laugh.

"You're right! I remember thinking, 'Man, I'm gonna die alone'," Soda hoots.

"I always knew I'd get the prettiest girl in the whole wide world!" Two-Bit jokes, and everyone laughs.

"Well, I got a secret about my girl," Dally says.

"We all know you love her, Dal, you've told us like a million times," Darry says.

"No! Well, yeah I love her, but that's not my secret," he pauses for dramatic impact. "New Year's Eve, we're flying out to L.A., and she has no idea."

"Woah!" Ponyboy says.

"Where'd you get the money to do that?" Darry adds.

"Well, you know how my grandpa died and, even though we weren't all that close, he gave that house to me and now I live there?" Dally asks.

The gang nods their heads.

"Well, some aunt on my mom's side just passed away too, and we were really close when I was a kid. She gave me this deal where I can get two seats headed to any destination by airplane anytime because she was a flight attendant."

"You're so lucky," Steve says.

"I'll say a secret!" Bryce says. He clears his throat as if he's about to spill the government's secrets. "Last week, I didn't eat all of my vegetables when Lauren told me to."

That causes everyone to bust out into laughing fits.

"Hey Pony, why don't you go," Darry encourages.

"I.. um... don't want to go yet," he says.

The gang immediately fights back, and Ponyboy eventually gives in.

"Okay, okay. I like a girl," he says slowly. The boys begin hooting and hollering with laughter.

"Wait, you're serious?" Dally asks.

"Yeah, I am," Ponyboy says.

"Well, what's her name?" Darry asks.

"Jessica Georgeson," Ponyboy replies.

"That greaser from our history class?" Johnny asks him.

"Yeah, her," Ponyboy says.

"Look at that, our littlest is finally coming around," Soda jokes and ruffles Ponyboy's hair.

"I'll go!" Two-Bit says. "Last week, some Soc was picking on Bailey, so I slashed his tires and busted his windows in. I still haven't gotten caught."

"Atta boy!" Steve yells.

"My turn," Darry says. "A few days ago, while I was roofing for a client, they had cupcakes sitting on the kitchen table, so I took one and left once I was done working on the house."

Everyone bursts out laughing.

"Wow Dar, way to play on the edgy side," Ponyboy jokes, only to make the boys laugh louder.

Once everyone calms down, Steve decides to go.

"I'm gonna propose to Ellie on Christmas day," he says.

"Hasn't it only been like 3 months since you've met her?" Dally says with a laugh.

"Yeah, but I love her, and she's carrying my children, so I kinda have to," Steve defends.

"Good for you," Darry says. "Who's left?"

"Soda and Johnny!" Ponyboy says.

Both of them look down, showing that neither of them want to share.

"Rock paper scissors, whoever loses has to share first!" Two-Bit yells.

Soda and Johnny face each other and bang their hands together, but Soda's rock takes Johnny's scissors.

"Ugh fine, I killed a Soc," Johnny says irritably.

The gang grows real quiet.

"Johnny, you killed a Soc and didn't get caught?" Darry asks. Johnny nods his head.

"Yeah, I said it. Someone else go," he says and puts his head down.

"It's my turn," Soda says. He takes a deep breath. "Darry, cover Bryce's ears."

Darry does as he's told.

"When I first saw Kayla, I thought she looked like a slut."

Everyone sort of grimaces before he can finish his story.

"She just walked into the DX with tons of makeup on -- which was because she got a black eye and had to cover it up -- and she had the shortest outfit on, so my mind immediately connected her with one of those broads that you just don't want to be around. But now that she won't wear that anymore, she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, honest to god."

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

That concluded this year's secret telling.

***Two-Bit's POV***

After secrets, we were all pretty beat. We just decided to hit the hay and get a good night's sleep.

I had joined Johnny, Victoria, and Bailey in our tent. Victoria and Johnny quickly became glued together as I lay down next to Bailey. We all fell asleep pretty quickly.

That is until I feel Bailey begin to tremble.

I immediately open my eyes. I recognize that tremble as the one that comes before her awful scream, signaling she had a nightmare. I pull her close to me so her head is buried into her chest, hopeful to soften some of the noise that's about to come.

Fortunately, it actually worked pretty well.

Once she had screamed herself awake, I pull away from her and take a peek at her lost puppy eyes. She's white as a sheet and has tears streaming down her face.

"Dammit Bailey, you'd been doing so well," I say with a laugh. She wipes under her eyes and I grab her and take her outside. We find a bench a little bit outside of the campground. She clings to me as if we're two attracted magnets.

When we sit down, she climbs into my lap and sits so she's straddling me with her legs dangling over mine.

"It was you, Two. They took you away from me," she says through the tears.

"Hey, I'm not going anywhere, okay?" I tell her. I feel her bury herself into her chest.

"Promise?" she asks.

"On my life," I tell her. "I love you, Bailey, I hope you know that."

"I love you too."

We stay out there for a while, just trying to calm her down. We watch the stars, and she points out her favorite ones. I just hold her and laugh at how frickin adorable my girlfriend is.