"You'll let Johnny go free, right?" Tess asked Dal, batting her eyelashes at him.

Little brat has Dal wrapped around her finger, and he can't see how manipulative she is. But even so, she still has her moments.

"Well, I-um," Dal stammered. "Ya see-"

"Right?" Tess said, going from angel to demon. "You'll let me see the love of my life?"

I have no idea how Johnny fell for the kid. 

"Ugh, fine. I still want Darry's chocolate cake, though," Dallas muttered. "I need something from home, other than my leather jacket." He patted the shoulder of it affectionately. "God knows I'll need it."

"We'll try on the cake," Sophie said. "How did you even get the cigarettes anyways?"

"Two did his snappy fingers thing," Dally said. "I dunno."

"Okay. Maybe it'll work for cake mix too," she said, smiling. "Thanks for the help."

"I didn't help y'all," he scoffed, walking away. "I helped myself."

Dex rolled his eyes. "If you say so," he muttered.

"He's always like that. It ain't personal," Tess said. "You dig okay. I know he thinks that. He's just not good at showing his feelings."

See? She's so overpowering. I don't understand why she thinks she can come with Soda and me whenever we wanna do something. Sometimes I just wanna have some time with Soda without those tagalongs.

"I know," Dex said.

"He's an ass sometimes, but he's loyal to us," I said.

"Sometimes?" Tess arched her eyebrow. "Try most of the time."

I am fed up with her and her corrections! Not everybody is as smart as you are, ya little brat.

"I'm trying to make him sound better," I snapped. "You're such a brat."

"Am not!" Tess shrieked.

She leapt at me, fists flying. I tried to defend myself, but she landed a hard one on my cheekbone, causing me to get distracted by the pain. She managed to tackle me and sit on my chest, her arm against my throat.

"Get off, brat," I muttered.

She applied more pressure to my windpipe. "Call Uncle."

I couldn't really breathe, but I didn't wanna call Uncle. I just wanted the brat away from me. She's vicious. Way too vicious, if I wanted to stay alive.

"Never," I gasped.

"Tess..." Sophie said.

"Call Uncle." She glared at me. Real intensely.

"Fine! Fine! Uncle!" I hollered.

She stood up, her hair still perfectly placed. "Glad that that's settled." She smirked. "I'll make sure Soda hears about this."

"You wouldn't," I said. "You were struggling."

She was, but she didn't wanna admit it. I would've won, if she didn't sock me in the cheek.

"Nope. Do I look like I was struggling?" Tess asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Brat," I muttered.

Tess spun on her heel and walked away to find her brother. "And I heard that!" she called out.

"Because it's true!" I shouted.

I hate her and Ponyboy. They're both brats. Always needing to tag along whenever Soda and I wanna hang out.

But at the same time, I can't hate them. They're always trying to be nice to me. Tess always smiles at me, until I say something to her that she gets mad about. Then she just glares at me.

"Maybe you're the brat," she spat.

Her vibrant hair swished behind her as she disappeared from view.

"Steve, really?" Sophie asked. "Was that necessary?"

"Yeah," I said. "She's a brat, and she should know it."

"She ain't a brat," Maria said.

Tess has to have Maria wrapped around her finger too. It's not enough to have everybody else wrapped around her finger. She has to have the only girl I've ever loved wrapped around her finger too.

"She sure acts like one," I muttered. "And y'all are wrapped around her manipulative fingers."

"Steve?" Soda asked. "Ya meant all that?"

"Ya knew I never liked her," I muttered. "And she's so bratty. And don't get me started on Horseboy."

"Ya really hate 'em that much?" Soda asked, all traces of laughter gone. He was on the verge of tears. Tears I caused.

"I don't hate 'em," I said. "But I don't exactly wanna spend time with them."

"Well, I hate you," Soda whispered. "Liar. You're no better than a Soc."

The words cut through me, slicing me to ribbons. He was right. I wasn't any better than a Soc. Always snapping at them. Soda continued to yell at me through his tears, but I didn't hear the words. I heard all the insults the Socs had thrown at me.

Worthless.

Scum.

Greasy, useless, good-for-nothing.

I felt a headache coming on. A migraine to be exact.

"Soda!" Tess shouted. "It's fine. I know Steve cares about Pony and me. Don't lose your best friend over me."

"But-" Soda whispered.

"Don't." Tess pinned him with a glare.

"Steve, I," Soda said.

"It's fine," I said. "I'm fine with the brats."

Tess' head snapped towards me. "I'm starting to regret the fact that I ran interference for you," she muttered.

"Sorry," I said. "I'm trying."

I really was, but I didn't know if she could see that.

She smiled at me and nodded, before wandering away.

"Steve, ya good?" Soda asked.

"Headache," I muttered. "Migraine."

Sophie gasped. "Steve, it isn't your fault. You're not guilty. Stop. Feeling. Guilty."

"His mind's breaking?" Fitz whispered.

"I think so," Sophie replied.

"I'll get Tess and Johnny," Dex said.

The pain was becoming unbearable, pressing in on me from all sides. I whimpered and clutched my head.

"Steve," Tess whispered. "It ain't your fault. Ya gotta get over the guilt. Just like Johnny did. Beat it. Soda needs his best friend, and I need somebody to bug."

I laughed at that, but a wave of pain surged through my head. Stabbing needles of pain. I wanted to succumb to the darkness. Maybe that would stop the pain. But it hurt so much. I couldn't take it.

"We'll need to inflict," Sophie whispered.

"Make it stop," I muttered.

"You'll be fine," Tess whispered. "Ya ain't guilty of anything."

"But-" I muttered.

"We need you," Tess said firmly. "Soda's hurting, and he needs his best friend."

"I hate migraines."

The pain was coming in sharp waves. I'd rather it be one steady pain.

"This ain't a migraine," Tess said. "You're mind's breaking from guilt."