I wake up in the same corner that I was beat, in the middle of the night soaking wet with a pile of my clothes next to me. I sit up and release what Randy did to me. Tears fill my eyes as I put on soaking wet clothes as I shiver. I walk to the Curtis house as I remember what Ponyboy said to me about his house. I take the piece of paper out of my boot and smile when it's still there. I slowly walk over to the Curtis house. 

As I arrive I walk into the bathroom and sob loudly.  I pull off my freezing cold clothing and ring out the best I can before hopelessly throwing them back on. I sit on the floor because some other guy with a mickey shirt is asleep on the couch. I wipe away the tears a few times until I hear footsteps followed by Soda's voice, "Avery?"

I look at him and stand up tears blurring my eyes causing them to have a slightly glassy effect. I choke out my voice cracking, "oh hey Sodapop."

"What's wrong?" He ask genuinely concerned.

That's when I loose it. I break down in sobs, "Sodapop!"

"Yeah," he speaks softly.

I think about if I should tell him or not, but as I go to tell him I look into his eyes and fold. I can't. "It's uh nothing."

He takes a step closer looking at all my cuts, bruises, scratches, and splashes of blood on me, "it doesn't look like nothing to me."

I shrug, "well it is."

"Wanna borrow something dry?" He asks.

I nod, "yes please."

He walks behind me and I hear a loud gasp followed by, "Avery, what the hell happened to your head?"

I put my hand on the back of my head and wince in pain, "oh yeah...that."

"Avery what happened?" He asks as we walk into Pony's room. Why his room?

"It was nothing," I mutter.

He grabs my wrist and I yelp so loud I wake up Ponyboy. He looks over to me as Soda drops my wrist, "Avery? Sodapop?"

"I-it's not what you think," Soda stutters.

I shake my head, "I just hurt my wrist."

Soda looks over to me with warning eyes, "Avery what happened to you?"

"I just got jumped,"  I admit. "They slammed my head against the ground and I passed out. It's nothing."

"Oh my god!" Pony jumps out of bed. "Avery!"

"It's nothing," I insist.

Soda walks over to me and looks at me, "it's something. Did they do anything else?"

I shake my head, "no, they just beat me up."

"Oh my god, Avery," Pony sighs. "Sit down."

"Can I just call my mom?" I ask.

Soda nods, "the phone's downstairs, will she answer?"

"What time is it?" I ask.

"Like three in the morning," Pony informs me.

I shake my head, "she won't answer. I should probably go to bed."

"Wanna sleep in my bed?" Soda asks.

"No, I'm fine on the floor," I sigh a few tears fall down my cheeks. "Night guys."

I knew there was so much more going on, I think even they knew it, but we couldn't talk about it. Every time they would try I would just shut them down. I didn't want to talk about what had really happened to me that night. I wish I could just forget... 

***
"Avery?" A tough New York accent questioned.

My eyes open to see, Johnny, Sodapop, Steve, Ponyboy, Dallas, and two other guys looking down at me. I jump back slightly, "morning."

"Who is she?" A huge guy asked.

Ponyboy looks over to me and smiles before answering the guy's questions, "her name is Avery Darry."

I stand up, "nice to meet you Darry, but I should really be getting home now."

"No!" Pony yelps.

The guy I saw last night on the couch smacks Pony's head, "let her leave man."

He nods, "I'll see ya at school on Monday."

"Bye Ponyboy," I hug him before walking out.

Sodapop chases after me, "wait Avery!"

"What?" I ask as I turn around.

He smiles, "do you want me to walk you home?"

A sit down on the curb and I put my head in my hands as I sob loudly, "I don't know what to do Sodapop!"

Soda sits next to me and puts his hand on my shoulder, "Avery, you're gonna be okay."

"Nothing will ever be okay," I shake my head.

"What really happened last night?" Soda asks.

I look at him, his eyes are lite up with concern and his whole facial expression is showing me that he's worried. He actually cares about me, "I'm sorry, but I can't."

"Why not?" He asks. 

"I just met you!" I yell as I stand up.

I go to storm away, but Soda pulls me into a hug, "you have a safe place to fall."

"No I don't!" I sob. "I never will! I never have."

Soda sighs, "you're gonna be okay. We're all here for you. Wanna come inside?"

"Looking like this?" I chuckle. "I could never see Ponyboy looking like this."

"He likes you," Soda smiles.

I nod my head, "tell him I like him too, but I should go."

"Let me walk you," he insists.

I intertwine our fingers as I grab onto his hand feeling safe, "okay. Thanks, Sodapop, but are you sure it's safe for you."

Sodapop and I got close. Very close. This moment was the start of something beautiful.  He's two year older than me, but he's my best friend. 
***
 Okay, so this is just a short filler. I swear the next chapter will be a million times better. Although my next chapter is already written (this is what happens when I'm home sick) I also edited some stories! Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!

-Beth