"Hey," I hear a familiar voice.

"LIZ!" I yell as I run over to one of my two best friends tackling her into a hug.

I hear a small scoff followed by a familiar voice, "what am I chop liver?"

"Never," I smile as I walk over to my best friend and hug her tightly. "Oh have I missed you two."

These two girls are my best friends, but their connection is stronger. I mean I love them and all. That will never change. I just always feel like I'm the third wheel. Sure when the three of us get together, it's a blast. I just think they prefer each other. Most people say it's just my insecurities talking and it may be, but I'm just terrified of being abandoned.
***
"So, are you okay?" Diamond asks late at night when Liz is asleep.

I shrug slightly, "I'll be fine. I've always been from a broken family. I mean sure he's pretty much my dad, but my real dad doesn't want me. He's just my step dad. As for my mom, I don't know. She's been the one constant in my life. The one thing I always had and now she's gone. I'll be okay though. I always am."

"Do you need a hug?" She asks as she inches toward me.

I look over at Liz and sigh as I think back to everything. We were all supposed to runaway and never look back. Let the wind blow through our hair. This was the team. This was my family. I love these girls with all my heart, but I'll never have a normal life. I'll always bring them down. I look back to Diamond and shake my head, "I'm gonna go for a walk."

"At this time of night?" She asks.

I grab my jacket, "don't worry I'll be fine. I know what to be like around here."

I walk down the streets of Tulsa until I get to the Curtis house. I look around the house before throwing my body onto the couch. I pull my knees up to my chest as I let my fears and insecurities take over. Tears end up streaming down my cheeks until I hear footsteps rushing down the stairs. I quickly wipe away my tears as Pony's morning voice comes out raspy and hot, "Avery, is that you?"

"Yeah," I sniffle slightly.

He sits next to me and wraps his arms around me, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing," I lie.

He turns over to me and our eyes lock, "Ava, I love you. I know when you're hurting."

I smash my lips against his and as we pull away I look up at him with a smile on my face, "I love you too Ponyboy, I am so sorry about everything."

"Will you be my girl again Ava?" He asks.

I nod my head through my tears, "of course Ponyboy."

He smirks, "I've missed you."

"I've missed my boyfriend," I admit as I peck his lips.

It was in that moment I knew that I was in love with Ponyboy Curtis. He was my first love. He was the guy that I knew I would never forget. There's something so innocent about a first love and he's my innocence.
***
"I miss this," I look over at my two best friends as the three of us eat popcorn as we watch T.V.

Diamond looks over at me and smiles sympathetically, "we miss you."

I look down sadly knowing they still live in England, "well I might have to go back to England."

"Is that what you want?" Liz asks me. Liz has always been more concerned in how we feel than what is actually. She's always wanted the best for us. That's one of the many reasons why I love her. I love both these girls with all my heart though.

I shrug, "I mean I miss you guys..."

"But?" Liz asks.

I stand up, "but nothing!"

"Who is it?" Diamond asks as she looks up at me being the one person who knows me best.

I smile down at my feet, "there's just these guys."

"How would it make you feel if we were moving down here?" Liz asks as she sits next to me.

I look at her and my whole face lights up as I tackle her in a hug, "oh my god! I have the best, best friends ever! I love you!"

"I love you too," She smiles. "My family is moving down here so you don't have to come back and Diamond's family is letting her live with us until she's eighteen. My family is also adopting you."

"Oh my god! I love your parents. I already call them mom and dad," I laugh as I hug my best friends. "We're gonna live together!"

Diamond smiles over at us, "gosh, I love you guys."

"I love you two more," I speak happily.

"Guys, you two are my family," Liz speaks as we all go in for a hug.

"Okay now," I speak happily. "His name is Ponyboy."

"Ponyboy?" Diamond asks as she smiles.

"He's cute, but we can't go into details with lil' miss innocent," I say as I nod my head over to Liz.

She blushes as she looks away, "hey guys love my innocence."

"She's lucky we love her," I say as I lean over to Diamond.

Diamond smirks, "she's a little too innocent," Diamond smiles.

"Hey!" Liz yells.

"You guys gotta meet the boys," I say as I twirl my hair.

Liz blushes as she looks away, "who are the boys?"

"Dally, Johnny, Soda, Two-bit, Darry, Steve, and Pony," I inform them. I go to speak once again, but a wave of nausea comes over to reminding me that they still don't know my little secret. I jump up covering my mouth, "I'll be right back!" I run into the farthest bathroom until all the popcorn I've eaten today appears in front of me. As I finish throwing up I quickly brush my teeth as I look into the mirror wiping away my tears. I sigh as I mumble to myself, "I smell like puke." I release have to hope in the shower in order to go back downstairs.

I slowly walk downstairs trying not to cry after I get out of the shower. I look over to see Liz and Diamond asleep on the couch as they cuddle. I sigh sadly as a few tears fall from my eyes, "goodnight, I love you guys."

I guess you could say those two girls, Liz and Diamond are my forever friends. I mean sure we're gonna have out up and downs, but at the end of the day we're always there for each other. I love those girls with all my heart and nothing will change that.

Okay, so we're adding two people into the book, Diamond and Liz. They're Avery's best friends and my real life best friends. I hope you guys like these two girls. Okay so this is also the last chapter until after Christmas. Happy Holidays Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!

-Beth