"one breath, it'll just break it."

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"Hey, Kota, want to come over to Andrew's house with me?" My brother asked as we walked on the sidewalk towards home.

"I don't know, Lucas. I have tons of homework to do tonight, plus I have to study for my science test."

He groaned, tilting his head back while rolling his eyes. "That's all you ever talk about. School this and school that. Try and have fun."

I huffed. "Fine. I guess I'll go."

He smirked and pulled me towards Andrew's house, my blonde, curly locks bouncing in the wind. Once we arrived over on the East side, we went inside Andrew's house. He gave Lucas a high-five and pulled me into a tight hug.

"So, what-" Andrew started speaking, but got cut off by the sound of gunshots.

"What the hell?" I asked, turning my attention towards the window.

We heard screaming and my brother ran out the house, me shouting after him. "Lucas! Get back here!"

Andrew and I shot each other quick glances, running outside after him. There were two Greasers standing on the street looking at a body on the ground. It was covered in blood. One of the Greasers ran off, leaving the other one standing there.

My brother shook his head, his blue eyes filled with fury. "I'm going to call the cops!"

The Greaser didn't want him to call the cops because he shook his head. My brother laughed and started going inside to call the cops when the Greaser held up the gun, pointing it at the back of Lucas's head and shot him.

And just like that he was gone.

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"Mom, I'm going to go take a walk. I need some fresh air." I breathed, getting dizzy from all of the flashbacks I've been having.

She nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "Alright, just be careful. Please. Be back in at least fifteen minutes."

Fifteen minutes wouldn't sound like a lot to people, but ever since my brother died, both of my parents have been extremely over-protective. I used to be able to be out as long as nine at night, but that changed in a matter of a gunshot.

I grabbed a bottle of water and walked outside onto the porch, the cool fall breeze instantly making me feel much better. Most people say fall and winter is the most depressing for them, but not for me.

I continued to walk and didn't know where I wanted to go, but I let my feet take me where they wanted. I saw the DX in the distance and felt my stomach growl. Maybe just a small snack. I entered inside the DX, glancing around. It was warm and cozy in here, just the right temperature for the season.

No one was in the front, so I just decided to keep looking for a good snack to buy, hoping someone would come out soon.

[sorry I keep switching POVS, lmao, but it won't be like this every chapter.]

Sodapop

[LAST NIGHT]

I kept tossing and turning, but my mind kept me awake. I sighed in frustration and hopped out of bed, my bare feet greeting the cold floor. The old wood creaked with every step I took, which always made me cringe.

It sucked because you could never sneak out of this house.

Trust me, I've tried.

I opened the door and wandered down the hallway, seeing Darry still sitting in the rocking chair reading his newspaper. He glanced up when he saw me and a small smile appeared on his lips. "Can't sleep?"

I shook my head and took a deep breath, sitting down on the couch in front of him. "Darry, can I tell you something?"

He heard the tone of my voice and knew it was important, so he sat down the newspaper and looked at me. "Yeah, go ahead."

"Do you know Dakota?"

Darry furrowed his eyebrows. "Last name?"

I shrugged. "I don't know her last name, but I'm positive she's the only Dakota in our town."

A dismal look washed over Darry's face. "Then that means you're talking about the Blue's."

I nodded my head. "Oh, yeah! That's her last name!"

Darry sighed. "Yeah, I know Dakota. Why?"

I fidgeted with my fingers and my palms started getting sweaty. "Well, she was the girl that was outside earlier."

"Oh no." Darry mumbled, biting his lip.

I knitted my eyebrows in confusion. "Darry, do you know something I don't? Have you known her for a long time?"

Darry went in the kitchen, grabbed two cups of coffee and plates of chocolate cake and came back in the living room. "This is going to be a long story, Soda."

I chuckled. "Well, it's not like I'm going to sleep anytime soon."

And then he got ready to tell me the story of Dakota Blue and why she's so hesitant towards Greasers and life in general.

And I think that night, was the night Darry and I got closer than we ever have before.

"Dakota had a brother named, Lucas. Lucas and her were as close as siblings get. They were twins, so it only made sense. They walked to and from school together in no matter what weather, and they always had each others backs. Lucas was best friends with this Greaser named, Andrew." Darry paused, taking a deep breath.

"Andrew and Lucas were best friends and everyone hated their friendship. It was because Lucas was a Soc and Andrew was a Greaser, but they never cared what anyone said about them. Dakota considered Andrew as her brother also and she always hung out with him whenever Lucas was. One day, they went to Andrew's house and there was a shooting between three Greasers. Two of 'em shot one, which caused Lucas to run out and see what was going on. When he did, he threatened to call the cops and...."

Darry didn't have to finish the sentence because I already knew. Her brother got shot. Right in front of her eyes.

By a Greaser.

And that's when everything clicked.

I shot Darry a sad smile. "Was she a good person before her brother got shot, though?"

Darry laughed and shook his head. "Soda, she was always a good person. She still is. I know because Andrew was also a friend of mine. He told me everything about her. I think he had a crush on her if I'm being honest. Anyways, you just have to understand, Soda, that sometimes people shut out people because they don't want to get hurt again."

I let his words sink in and stood up, walking back towards Pony and I's bedroom. I twirled back around and froze. "Hey, Darry, do you know what happened to her tonight?"

"Bob died from a concussion in his football game."

And that's when I knew... Dakota wasn't a preppy Soc, she was a girl.

A girl who lost two people she loved.

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next chapter will probably be one of my favorites, so GET READY

also, just a random shout out, but go check out my best friend, -endingquote's book Little Love, it's an Outsider's book and it's amazing!