"how do we fall apart, faster than a hairpin trigger?"

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I was watching closely at Bob as he caught the football midair, him running like lightning to get a touchdown. My hands were on the fence that separates the seats from the field and I was standing up, jumping up and down anxiously.

Everyone was cheering, but as soon as I finished screaming his name, someone crashed into him from the side, making him fall to the ground. Hushes filled the crowd and my eyes went wide, my heart beating rapidly.

"BOB!" I shrieked and ran on the field, his mother and father soon following me. I bent down beside him and put my hands on his chin, lifting it up to open his airways. "Where the hell is an ambulance?" I shouted, tears stinging my eyes.

My question was soon answered because the sound of sirens were the only thing that was keeping me sane at the moment. Help is on the way, Bob will be fine.

Finally, the ambulance arrived and took Bob away on a stretcher, his mom climbing in there with him. His dad and I hopped in the car and drove right behind the ambulance. I leaned my head against the window, my heart still pounding extremely hard.

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"Tell me my son is okay!" Bob's mom shouted, making the doctor sigh with slight irritation.

"Mrs. Sheldon, you need to calm down."

"Calm down?! My son is in there!"

The doctor gave all of us a sad smile and shook his head. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could. He had way too many concussions go undiagnosed and this one was his final."

"H-he's gone?" My voice cracked. I could feel my breath speed up and I felt as if I was going to pass out.

I didn't hear the doctor tell me to sit down, I didn't hear them talk about funeral expenses, I didn't hear the sobs of two parents who lost their only son. I didn't hear any of it because I ran.

I dashed out of the hospital doors, the cold fall breeze greeting me with a slap in the face. I glanced around and decided to run towards a random street, feeling something pull me towards it. My pale cheeks have already turned red and my nose made me look like Rudolph.

After a few minutes of running, I broke down in the middle of the street, crying every bit of water that was left in my frail body. Even worse, it started pouring down rain. I sat on the edge of the curb, burying my face between my knees as I continued crying.

I was shaking not only from crying, but from how cold it is and the fact that it's raining doesn't make it any better. I heard a voice speak from behind me, causing me to jump. "Dakota? Is that you?"

I wiped my tears away, but the rain made it look normal, so I turned around to face Sodapop. "Leave me alone, Cheerios." I replied in a monotone voice, turning back around to face the empty road.

"You know you're on our side, right?" He questioned. I could practically feel him crossing his arms from behind me.

"What are you going to do? Kill me?" I shrugged, not even caring if he did just that.

He chuckled softly and sat down beside me. "I'm surprised you're out in the rain. I figured you wouldn't want your hair messed up or your expensive clothes all drenched."

I rolled my eyes, too upset to even make a snarky remark back. I continued to stare at the rain hitting against the concrete and Soda stared at me. "Dakota, did something happen?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine, Sodapop. You can go back inside now." I said it in a demanding voice, like a mother would to her child.

He raised his eyebrows, not believing me. "You know, I wouldn't be able to tell if you're lying, but you haven't made one sassy remark back to me. Plus, you're on our side by yourself and you're sitting out in the pouring rain. What happened?"

I stood up and laughed sarcastically, shaking my head. "I'm sure you'll find out tomorrow."

I started walking away, but he grabbed me by my wrist. "Let me at least take you home. You're probably already going to get sick."

I pulled away from his grip. "It's not like I'll be going to school tomorrow anyways. Go back inside."

He scoffed. "Dakota, just let me take you home! I'm only taking you back because you're probably going to get jumped by Greasers! I couldn't care less if you got sick!"

I rolled my eyes and followed him to his truck, him turning the heat on full blast as soon as we got in. Once he started driving, he looked at me. "You know, I actually do care if you get sick. I only said I didn't because if I acted like I did care, you wouldn't get in the truck with me."

"Sneaky bastard." I muttered, making him laugh.

He pulled into my neighborhood and I pointed out my house, him pulling on the side. I turned to him and closed my eyes, mentally cursing myself. I opened my eyes and shot him a glare. "You only wanted to take me home just so I would say 'thank you', didn't you?"

He shot me a huge grin, followed by a laugh. "I just have to see you say 'thank you' to a Greaser. It will make my day."

I chuckled and put my hand on the handle. "Too bad. My job isn't to make your day, hood." Before I could open the door, I heard a lock.

I growled and clenched my fists, turning back to find him with an amused smirk on his face. "What? I still haven't heard it."

"Thank you." I mumbled quietly.

"What?" He asked, his voice louder.

"Thank! You!" I shouted through gritted teeth. He unlocked the door and I stepped out, slamming it as hard as I could.

I walked up to my front porch and he waved. "Bye, bye, None of your business!"

I shook my head and opened my front door to find my parents and Bob's parents both sitting at our couch in silence. My mom and dad ran up to me, worry evident on both of their faces. "Dakota, are you okay?! Where the hell have you been? We were worried sick!" My mom cried, pulling me into a tight hug.

"I was just walking. I needed to get some fresh air." I lied, taking a deep breath.

"I thought I heard a car door slam outside, though." My dad knitted his eyebrows in confusion, making my eyes go wide.

"Oh, my friend saw me walking and took me home."

Did I just call Sodapop my friend?

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do y'all like the new cover?

#KOTAPOP is rising

I was a little sad when Bob died, but it soon got replaced once her and Soda were talking lmao.