Two-Bit sat on the ground a smoke hanging lazily from his lips as he was intensely staring at the TV featuring mickey mouse. I laughed at him as he reminded me of a little kid and I wondered what he must have been like...probably no different to how he is now.

I was wedged between Sodapop and Johnny on the couch. Darry was in the kitchen serving up dessert. "Desserts ready come and get it." He calls out from the kitchen. I don't even bother to get up I decided to wait for the boys to get theirs first after being almost balled over before.

When they returned I got up to get mine. Darry had served chocolate cake and ice-cream making me real happy I hadn't had ice-cream in years. The chocolate icing had started melting into the ice-cream creating a swirling pattern.

I take the ice-cream back into the living room and sit back down in my spot.

Steve sat next to Two-Bit lazily leaning against the wall, we made eye contact for a second before he turned to look away ignoring me. Well fine if he was going to be like that stuff him.

"So Emma where do you think you'll be going tomorrow?" Darry asks inbetween shoving ice-cream and cake in his mouth.

I take a moment to respond pondering his question. "I haven't thought about it really. I just thought I'd catch the next train out of here and see where it takes me." "Really just like that? Just up and leave to wherever with no money?" Ponyboy asks surprised his eyebrows furrowed together trying to comprehend it. "You just described my life Ponyboy." I chuckle and push my ice-cream around in the bowl. Trying to make it last as long as possible because I knew it may be years before I have some again.

"Don't you ever think about settling down in one place?" Johnny asks his black eyes staring deeply into mine as if he was trying to search my eyes for the answer.

Before I could answer the screen door creaked open "oh hey Dally." Darry greets half smiling. I look towards the door to see a man I never thought I'd see again.

"Dallas Winston?" I exhale almost to scared to say it any louder. Scared it might not be him even scarder that it was.

His eyes locked onto mine a look of recognition crossing his face for a split second before returning to its usual cold, emotionless state. "Who's the chick?" He asks to no one in particular confusing me. I know he knows who I am. So what is he doing?

"This is Emma. She's just crashing for the night." Ponyboy answered never taking his eyes of the TV.

"Cool." He simply states before turning toward the kitchen.

Was it that I had the wrong person? Was he really not Dallas Winston from New York?

Or was it him and he was ignoring me?

And if so why?

He comes back moments later with his own dessert making sure to stay on the other side of the room and if attempting to distance himself from me.

"Um Emma your ice-cream's melting." Sodapop chuckles in my ear his hot breath making my skin tingle sending shivers down my spine. It snaps me out my thoughts and I look down to see he was right I now mostly just had a puddle of vanilla cream covering half a slice of chocolate cake.

"Thanks Sodapop." I mumble smiling and taking a mouthful of the cream.

Ponyboy got up and took my empty bowl from me I smiled in gratitude and then went back to watching TV. Mickey Mouse had finished and now the news was on, the news readers monotonous voice slowly started to put me to sleep. I was half way between dreaming and being awake, dreaming about when I was in New York so long ago.

I felt something slide up my arm startling me awake, the room was darker then before. I looked above me to see a tall figure standing over me I sit up straight trying to back away from whoever it was but I was trapped in the corner of the couch.

"Woah Alexa calm down." his gruff voice whispers filling the silence of the empty room. "Dallas?" I huff I hear him exhale signifying he was smirking I had learnt that about him years ago. I knew it was Dal because he's the only person who knows my real name.

"What were you doing?" I grumble rubbing the sleep from my eyes. All I could see was his outline the light was shining from behind in the kitchen burning lowly.

"You looked cold I was just giving you a blanket." He sits down beside me and I could now just make out his features. Dallas hadn't changed much he still had those chocolate eyes that always revealed his emotions like an open book, he still had that same tuff brown hair and pale skin with the strong jaw line. The only thing that had changed was he looked meaner now, meaner amd colder.

"What are you doing here Alexa?" His casual tone was now serious and rough. "I could ask you the same thing." I raise and eyebrow crossing my arms over my chest.

"Don't avoid the subject Alexa! What are you doing here?" He growls clenching his fists and shoving them in his jacket pockets. I narrowed my eyes at him and refused to answer for a minute or two whilst I thought about what to say.

"Why does it matter Dallas? After all I'll be gone by tomorrow." I mutter and stand up stretching out my arms.

I walk over to the kitchen looking up at the clock I realise it's 12 am. I hear Dally's low thumps come towards me I don't bother to turn around but grab a glass and fill it with water.

Taking a sip of the cool liquid enjoying the cool feeling it gave my throat Dally starts talking again. "It matters because I need to know whether you told them you knew me or not." "Relax Dallas they don't know anything about us besides until tonight I thought you were dead or in jail or somethin'" I sigh turning my head to look at him. His cold features were hard and I could tell he was angry by the fire burning behind his eyes. "Good." He states before stalking out of the house slamming the screen door behind him.

"Missed you to." I whisper to myself. After finishing my water I returned back to the couch and went back to sleep.

.................

I walked down the short path towards the rusting metal gate, swinging it open made it squeak loudly no doubt letting all of them in the house know I was leaving.

I sighed and left it open, walking down the cement path I notice all the dark spots where people had spat out there gum or even bled.

"Hey!" I heard someone shout from behind me I knew it probably wasn't for me because it never was. But it made me curious as to who was up this early after all it was 6:30.

"Emma!" they called again I stopped and turned around seeing Sodapop run after me his open flannel shirt flapping in the wind behind him. "yeah?" I call out he soon reached me.

"Leaving so soon?" he smirks catching his breath. "I did say I was leaving first thing in the morning and it is first thing in the morning so..." I chuckle smiling sheepishly. "I didn't think you were being so literal." "I am a very literal person but also a very sarcastic person I kind of contradict myself." Sodapop laughs at my attempt at humour but to be honest I was speaking the truth as well.

"Would you at least stay for breakfast?" he pleads raising an eyebrow at me. I shake my head and start walking again "I can't Sodapop. I got to get going."

He starts walking beside me after shoving his hands in his jean pockets. "Why? What you got to go to so fast?" I took a cigarette from my shirt pocket and lit it before speaking "nowhere really but it ain't a good idea if I stay here much longer." I answer in a calm voice much like Dally's with no emotion apparent.

"Why isn't it? Someone after you or something?" I chuckle at his question. "No. Nothing like that." "So what is it then?" He asks impatiently. I could tell by now Sodapop didn't have a lot of patience he would probably be the type that could never sit down to watch a full movie he'd get too bored.

"You're a curious one aren't you?" I look at him from the corner of my eye "yes sirree. Now why can't you stay?"

I take a drag on my smoke and take a few seconds before I answer it wasn't because I didn't know the answer it was because I didn't like sharing my personal thoughts.

"Because with my life you can't get attached to anyone or anything and I think if I stay I will get attached very easily. You guys are great and I've never met anyone as genuine as y'all."

Sodapop was quiet for a moment before replying "So why can't you just stay here then? And not run away? I'm sure I can speak to Dar and we-" "Look, thankyou but the truth is I am content with moving from place to place. I mean have no money for food or clothes but I can steal real good and I get by alright. I don't think I'm built to settle down in one place Sodapop." I turn to face him dropping my cigarette on the ground and crushing it with my foot.

"Well then promise something?" I didn't reply but stared at him intently. "Come back one day?" The fact was I didn't really like making promises. The last time i made one it bit me in the ass but I decided to for the hell of it. "I promise." I smile and hold out my hand for him to shake it. Soda shakes his head and pushes my hand away I feel a second of rejection before he pulls me into a bone crushing hug. I didn't know what to do, I couldn't even remember the last time I hugged someone. I awkwardly put my arms around him. "I'll see you then." I rush and walk away not looking behind me.

I was walking along the abandoned road thinking about when I might come back here and where I would be heading next, where the next train might take me.

I was enjoying the outdoors. The sun was warm and there was little wind, the sky was a magnificent crystal blue with clouds spotting here and there. I was snapped from my thoughts by the sounds of an engine rumbling coming towards me from behind.

I turned around admiring the car it was the newest version of the convertible mustang. They started to slowdown as they approached me which worried me slightly. I sped up my pace and turned back to the road in front of me I could see a bar just up ahead, I just had to make it up there.

But the car sped up relieving me until it stopped right in front of me. I stopped in my tracks and looked wide eyed at the 4 teenagers who got out of the mustang. They looked rich with their madras and fancy shoes but they also looked drunk and taller and stronger than me.

I tried to swallow the sudden lump which had arisen in my throat but I failed.
"Well, well, well boys lookey what we have here?" The blonde curly one chuckled scoping me his eyes trailing up and down my body making me feel sick. I wanted to slap the smug look right off his face.
"A full blown greaser slut. Didn't think I'd ever get to see one up close." One of the others replied.
"Leave me alone." I spat faking my courage. I was trembling and I was trying to hide it the best I could.
"Oh no. You don't get to make orders missy. We make the orders." The blonde one said taking a swig from his silver flask.
"Nobody tells me what to do!" I growl backing away towards the bar it was only 60 feet away or so.
"Get her boys." He commands I turned to run but before I could get very far I felt hands grab me by my arms, shoulders and waist. I struggled against them trying my hardest to break free but with 3 to 1 it was real hard. The blonde walked towards me wiping his mouth on his sleeve and looking at me with lustful eyes.
"Get away from me!" I screech through gritted teeth thrashing away. The blonde didn't say anything but came closer towards me putting his head near my neck, he took a deep breath in and sighed "mhmm you smell good baby." "Don't call me that you asshole." His eyes turned from lustful to angry in a matter of milliseconds.
His right arm raised up and swung back down smacking me across the face with immense force. My head swung to the right and my cheek stung like it was being pricked a thousand times by a needle.
"Now should we try this again?" He smirks leaning in and crushing his lips to mine. His kissing was sloppy a clear indicator he was wasted or just an incredibly bad kisser but his lips tasted like whiskey.
I pulled away jerking my head back then bringing it back and headbutting him. "You bitch!" He spat before slapping me again. The next 5 minutes were of rigorous beating and groping from the boys but it felt like a lifetime to me. I tried to struggle against them but once they had knocked the wind out of me there was not much I could do. I guess I was just glad they didn't rape me.
But I was in immense pain barely able to move.
I lifted my head slightly to see the bar there and I knew I had go there in order to survive. My body throbbed in pain in some places and in others it stung where they had used the switchblade.
Slowly and painfully I pushed myself up off the ground grunting from the pain. I looked down to where I had been lying to see the blood spots and a small puddle of blood where my upper arm had been...they must have cut me there.
I started to limp towards the bar every step sending a new wave of pain through my body.
Slowly I reached the bar, pushing the glass door open I stumble over to the actual bar attracting the attention of the bar tender. "Woah miss, you alright?"
I stare at him and lean on the bar for support taking a deep breath I shake my head. "Do you have a phone book?" "I think you need a hospital not a phone book." His voice sounded deeply concerned. He grabbed hold of my arm softly but it still sent shooting pain up and down my arm.
"Just give me the damn phone book." I growl grimacing in pain. He shook his head and bent down grabbing the phone book from under the bar. "What's the name you're looking for?" I looked at him confused breathing heavily trying to focus on my breathing rather than my pain. "Curtis, probably under Darry." After a minute of scanning the book he shakes his head "No Darry but there's a Darrel Curtis." I nod my head "that's him." "Okay. I'll call him for you." I don't respond trying to focus on my breathing as it was getting harder and tasted more like blood with each breath.
Slowly the man's voice faded into the distance as he too slipped from my view. I must have fallen but by the time I realised this I was slipping into unconsciousness. I was struggling to keep my eyes open trying not to fall under but it was so hard. Slowly my vision went black and I couldn't feel a thing it was peaceful.