"Lacey, are you sure you're ready for this?" Mike, the guy at the rehab center asks me as I pack my bags for Christmas. "Going back to Tulsa, there will be a lot of temptations. You might not be able to fight the urges." 

I turn to look at Mike as I throw my duffle-bag over my shoulders, "I'm positive. Mike, I'm ready to go home, I'm done with withdrawals and I'm not going back to drugs...ever. This last trip was awful. I'll be back in a week Mike."
***
I walk into the Curtis to see nobody's home. I take a deep breathe as I walk into the bathroom. I open the cabinet slowly and look at the pain killer bottle. My breathing gets faster as I feel myself suffocating. The door opens and slams in the other room making me do the same with the cabinet. I walk outside to see Sodapop. The tears start immediately and I run into his arms kissing him passionately. He looks down at me and smiles, "oh how I have missed that...How long have you been here?"

I shrug, "a few minutes, I just went to the bathroom to uh-" I stop right there trying to think of a lie, but then I remember what Mike told me.

'If you lie about your drug addiction they'll never help and you'll always fall back into it.'

"I was looking at painkillers because, I needed to know if I could resist them," I admit.

He nods his head slowly, "did you?"

A smile spreads across my face, "I did, but it was hard. I wasn't sure if I was gonna be able to because, I felt as if I couldn't breathe, but I was able to." 

"I'm proud of you Lace," he grabs my hand pulling me onto his lap as he plops on the couch. He pecks my cheek softly. "I love you."

"I love you too," I blush.

He wraps his arms around me and places his hands on my lap. His head goes into the crook of my neck as I feel warm lips pressed against the side of my neck, "my baby girl is here with me today and I get her for a week."

I smile slightly, "what are you doing?"

He rolls over so that he's under me. He presses his lips against me pulling me down. It takes minutes before we're having a make-out secession on his couch. His tongue dances in mine as I taste his sweet lips. I try to fight for dominance, but he takes over. "He- SODAPOP YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND!" I hear somebody scream at him.

I sit up and look over at Jilly. She runs over to me tears in her eyes. She picks me up and spins me around as if we're dating. "oh my god! Lacey! Have you been able to stay sober?...I'm so sorry! I didn't rel-"

I shake my head, "no, Jilly, it's okay, really. You can say it. I got addicted to drugs and it was bad, but I'm better now. I have this week off then I'm out right before my birthday in three months."

She smiles as she hugs me once again, "I would say lets find Spencer, but she's on a date with Mr.Perfect."

"Oh Dallas," I scoff jokingly as I laugh.

Her smiles grows, "we  have so much to catch up on because, girl I haven't seen you in forever and we need to go shopping!"

Soda clears his throat and we both look over at him, "are ya'll forgetting about something or someone?"

I chuckles as I walk over to him pecking his lips, "I could never forget about you, I love you."

"Ya'll are so gross," Jilly gags.

"Don't pretend you don't do the same thing with Steve because, I know you do," I chuckle. "Every couple is gross."

"Yes, but ya'll are especially gross," she jokes.

"Whatever,"  I roll my eyes. "Lets go Christmas shopping.

"Lace, I'm in charge of buying the-" Jilly starts as we walk out the door, but then stops.

I sigh as I look at her, "what Jilly? Are you trying to step around my feelings and my addiction again because, that's not gonna help me? Please just pretend I never had a drinking or a drug problem...Okay?"

She nods her head, "I'm buying the beer. It's just hard because, I don't want to hurt you or drive you back to drinking."

"Thank you," I hug her as we walk into a liquor store. I chew on my lip as we walk around the store. I look at every bottle and I can feel myself slowly giving in. I turn to Jilly, "are we almost done?"

"Yeah, I just have to check out. I got two six packs then Dally is buying rum and vodka," she explains as she pays. "It'll be a good Christmas."

I smile nervously as I nod, "are you guys gonna all drink?"

She shrugs lazily, "most likely, minus Ponyboy and Johnny. They never do even though Johnny would be allowed to. Although, I'm guessing you wont drink."

"Right," I smile as we walk into the mall.
***
"Thank you so much for helping me out," I hug her tightly. "I finished everybody."

"When did you buy my gift?" She asks.

"When you went to look at the perfumes," I chuckle. "I hope everybody likes their gifts."

"I'm sure they will," she smirks.

I smile as I look down at the ground, "last Christmas I was so high and drunk I don't remember what happened or what I did, but I woke up with three hundred in my purse and a ton more drugs. I guess we all gave presents."

She chuckles, "did you ever party at Buck's?"

"The real question is who didn't," I chuckle. "I'm excited for Christmas this year because, I get to share it with the people I love most."

"Awe, we love you too girl," she smirks. "Now I think Sodapop wanted you to meet him at the Dingo as always."

I chuckle, "like every other date we've ever had starting from the first one. Wait no sometimes we go to the dock or the lake."

She smirks as she looks down, "Steve and I too, it must just be a greaser."
***
"Hey Sodapop," I smile as I sit down kissing his cheek. "I was told by  Jillian to meet you here."

He smirks, "I figured we'd at least go on one date before you go back to rehab."

I smile as I grab his hand under the table, "I love you so damn much."

"I love you too," he smiles.

I look away him shyly and worried he might judge me or find me annoying. It's hard to do some things and this is one of them, but I have to ask, "Sodapop, are you gonna drink on Christmas?"

He shrugs, "I've never found drinking that fun, I'm just drunk on life, plain and simple, but I might have a beer, if that. Although, probably not."

I smile as I peck his cheek, "I am so happy you're my boyfriend."

He chuckles, "thanks, but with all of these cheek kisses, it doesn't feel that way."

I giggles before I kiss his lips, "better baby?"

He nods his head, "much, can you sleep over tonight?"

"I don't wanna face my dad, but I have to," I admit. "I know he's gonna be pissed at me and annoyed at me because, I could of died or he could of died because, he's sick and dying. I just hope he understands because, he was an alcoholic too."

"Just know if you need me, I'll be there," he rubs my hand.

I smile as I look at his eyes, "that means more to me than you will ever know."
***
I walk inside my house to see my dad on the couch. I take a deep breathe, "dad, I'm home, but just for Christmas and I'm sorry for not telling you-or Two for that matter, but I just didn't know how to face you and I'm sorry."

With tears in his eyes he walks over to me, "Lacey it's not about any of that. I'm not even mad at you. I'm concerned. You could of came to me, I know what it's like. You could of died Lace. You were drinking then taking drugs. Do you know what could of happened to you?"

I sigh as I walk over to him, "I know, but dad, I'm getting help. I need the help and I'm getting it because, I love you and everybody else."

"I'm so happy that you're okay," he walks over to me kissing my forehead. "I don't ever wanna loose you Lace."

Nikki walks in and gasps running over to me and hugging me, "oh my god! If it isn't Lacey! I've been missing your beautiful face."

I smile as I kiss her cheek, "it's nice to see you Nikki."

Ahhh! Lacey is back for a little bit! So it's actually 2015 as I write this which is why I'm making it around this time of year. I am so exited! Well stay gold. Do it for Johnny!
-Beth