"I lost my dad too," Soda whispers.

"It's different Sodapop," I look over at him. "You had people who love you. You're not an attic. Sodapop, I have to leave Tulsa."

"Stay with me," he whispers moving his face toward mine.

I break eye contact with Sodapop, "I love you."

He pulls my face to his so I am looking right at him and the tension is palpable. I stare at him as he stares back at me neither of us daring to break eye contact or move a muscle. That is until the door opens. I jump back landing on the floor hoping the person didn't see. Sodapop looks up pulling his head back and I hear the soft voice of Virginia, "hey Soda, Darry wants to know how Lacey and if he can talk to her?"

Soda looks over at me at the floor then back up at Virginia and nods, "yeah, uh he can talk to her now."

As he walks past Virginia he kisses her lips and I hear her whisper, "I love you."

"Love ya too," he mutters under her breathe.

Virginia walks over to me sitting next to me, "are you okay? I know this must be hard and I mean where are yo-"

"What do you know?" I ask her. "You're a fricken Soc who gets everything she wants whenever she wants. You never lost a parents or anything like that. You have the perfect life Virginia and you act all kind, but I see right through your little act. You can't even get out of Virginia world long enough to see some people lost everything or to see what you stole from me."

She looks away as she sniffles, "I'm sorry Lacey and I hope one day happiness finds you...I gotta go now!"

She runs out of the room crying and sigh looking down knowing that she's gonna tell Sodapop and everything is gonna change between us two again. At least she didn't see how close we were. I look around the white room and I look under the bed to find a small little locket. I pick up and open it to see a picture of my dad holding me when I was a baby then on the other side a picture of us two together last summer, but I can see a note sticking out behind it. I pull out the photo and see a piece of paper folded up super small. When I unfold it I see a scribbles on half sheet with 'to my dearest Lacey' written on it.

"To my Dearest Lacey,
I know it may not seem like it, but I have always loved you. I might not of always been there for you, but you've always been close to my heart in a locket of mine. I'm sick Lacey and I'm dying. Although I need to see you one last time. I've known I was sick for a while and for that reason I made you come down two summers ago. I want you to know this was never meant to hurt you. It might seem like that and it may seem like the world is against you right now, but I'll always be with you and when you need me to be there for you just reread this note. I love you my dearest Lacey and I always will. Even though it might not seem like it, I'm standing right next to you holding your hand every step of the way. To my dearest Lacey, you'll always be my baby girl and I'm be with you forever and always. Whenever you wear this locket know I'm there with you.
Love you always,
Dad"

"Are you okay Lacey?" I hear Darry's rough voice.

I stand up and hug him tightly. I grasp onto his shirt as if my life depends on it as I cry, "he still loves me Darry and now he's gone."

He rubs my back soothingly, "Lacey come and sit."

I follow him closely as I sit next to him I quickly wear the locket so I know he's there with me. I sob quietly, "it hurts so bad Dar......So bad."

He  nods his head, "I know Lace. I can remember the day I lost my parents. I was a few months older than you at the time and I had just turned eighteen. I needed my parents the least out of the three of us, but it didn't mean I didn't want them. I knew I couldn't fall apart because, I had my brothers to look after and Sodapop needed them the most. I can remember sitting in the empty room just like you are and my brothers were at Two's house, your house. I lost it. I was sobbing and screaming and throwing things. I was wondering why me. Why did this have to happen to me? Why did I have to loose my parents? I was completely gone and nobody could make it better. I had Dally, Steve, and Two-bit trying to calm me down and make the pain go away, but nobody understood how much it hurt. It was gonna change my life. That's how you're feeling right now."

I look away from him taking in a short breathe then I look back at him, "what am I supposed to do?"

"Lean on your friends," Darry whispers. "Fall apart in the middle of the night when nobody is watching. Feel everything and don't block it out. Just let yourself hurt and one day the pain will subside. It will never fully go away and you're gonna have those nights where you feel like everything is going wrong and all you want is your dad. Your sobbing and your wondering why me. It's gonna feel like the day he died, but just know it's gonna be better the next day. You'll always love him. Although, you're gonna learn that he's still with you."

"Thanks," I sniffle as I hug him. "Do you know when the funeral is?"

"This weekend and the whole gang will have your back," he smiles as he grabs my hand and squeezes it softly. "Even Sodapop."

I smile, "I think I'm gonna go join the gang now...Thanks Darry."

He hugs me tightly as we stand up whispering in my, "anytime kiddo, I'll be there for you in your darkest days because, we're family."

I walk outside and when my eyes meet Two-bits we both just fling ourselves into each other arms finally letting down our walls, forgetting that we've been fighting over what happened with Sodapop and I. He hugs me tightly as he cries softly, "Lacey, I am so sorry I haven't been there for you the way I should, but that's gonna change...I promise. I need you and you need me. We need each other more than ever now."

"I love you," I whisper my voice crack as silent tears make there way out of my eyes. "I love you Two-bit and I am so sorry we've been fighting. I don't know what I would do without you."

As we pull away the whole gang gives me a hug telling me how sorry they are. As we're getting ready to leave Sodapop looks up at me, "do you wanna stay at my house tonight Lace?"

I nod my head as I walk next to him, "can I sleep in your bed with you?"

"Anytime you need," he smirks as he looks down. His hand slowly finds it's way to mine as we walk back to his house.
***
"Sodapop?" I whisper in the middle of the night. "I can't sleep. Are you still awake?"

He rolls over to look at me and smiles, "neither could I."

I take in a sharp breathe, "Sodapop?"

He smirks as he moves his head closer to me, "yes Lace?"

"Do you still love me?" I ask him knowing I love him with all my heart.

He smirks as he rolls back over, "goodnight Lacey."

Oh my god! No! Sodapop! He can't leave her hanging! Do you guys think he loves her? Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!

-Beth