"You told him you love him?" Hope exclaims, gasping. I nod, laughing.

"Yes I did. And that was probably one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made," I say. Her eyes widen.

"What? Why? I thought you did love him," She says, clearly confused. I take a deep breath.

"Well... I did. But I also loved Ponyboy, I guess I just didn't know it yet.

"I don't understand. Why was it one or your biggest mistakes?" She asks me.

"Let me explain."

*Flashback*

"I love you, Dallas," I whisper into his shoulder, my breathing still heavy from crying. He's holding me in his arms and we're sitting together on his best, with me on his lap, him rubbing my back. I can feel his smile when I say it, I guess he's just never known what love really feels like. But here's the thing, when I said love, I meant real love. Not like friendship love... I was and have always been sure about my feelings.

Dally was silent for a while, maybe trying to figure out what I meant.

"Dally?" I say, finally catching my breath.

"Yeah?" Is his response.

"Do you love anyone?" I ask. I'm honestly curious. To see if he loves me, or Ponyboy, or his parent, or anyone in the gang... I don't know.

"Do I love anyone?" He asks with a laugh.

"Well, I'm not completely heartless, kid. I mean, I care about you and Pony and the gang. Hell, maybe I love Johnny. He's a great kid. My ma' was pretty good... Don't remember much of her, though..." His voice trails off, and almost I hug him again. But I can't. I mean, he cares about me? And puts me in the same category as Ponyboy?

It's times like these when I can literally feel my heart breaking into tiny pieces.

"Oh.... Do you miss your mother?" I ask him. It's all I can think of to say. He shrugs.

"Sometimes, I guess. She was a real great lady, but walked out on my dad and I when I was four. Guess she couldn't take my dad anymore. I don't blame her, that's why I left New York too," He says.

"I would leave too if it got that bad," I say. With that, he takes his pointer finger and tilts my chin up so I'm looking him in the eye.

"Then why haven't you yet?" He asks. I shrug.

"B-because my mom isn't that bad. She.... she quit drinking and-" But he cuts me off.

"Yeah, she quit drinking, but now she's going around beating you and telling people that she doesn't have any kids!" He yells at me, not angrier.

"So? She's 29 years old, Dally. She needs a life. I should be giving it to her, right?" I ask, tears threatening to spill over my eyelids again. Why am I even defending this monster? I mean, Dally is right...

"No! Not like this, you shouldn't, Lydia. Your mother is horrible. A real mother should be proud of her child, and brag to everyone about their child. Does your mother do that?" He asks me.

"N-no..." I say, looking down at the floor.

"I know she doesn't. Instead she's abusive. So you gotta get out of there," Dallas says gently, putting his hand in mine.

"Honestly, someone's gotta go down there and talk some sense into that woman," He mumbles to himself. That's when I get the courage to speak again.

"Dally, did you even listen to why I was here? My mom kicked me out. I'm done. Those two bags over there are all of my belongings. I'm homeless," I say through more tears.

"You can stay here for as long as you need to, Lyd. You know that. And I'm sure the Curtis's would be happy to lend you a place to stay, I mean, you're practically dating Ponyboy, so why wouldn't they?" He asks. Another dagger to the heart, right there.

"Pony and I are just friends. God, Dally, don't you listen? I love you. I'm in love with you," I yell, sobbing again. He doesn't say anything, just tries to soothe me again.

"You don't love me, Lyd. You care about me. Just like I care about you. You kissed Ponyboy. You've gone on dates. You and Pony are dating," He says. God, why is he doing this to me?

"Dally," I sob. He pulls me in close, and I lean my head on his chest and cry. I never should have told him in the first place.

"You don't love me, Lydia," He whispers, "You're just upset right now." But I'm not. I know that's not it, and it's never been it. I have loved Dallas Winston, the unloveable, since the day I met him.

"No," Is all I can say, although my voice is barely a whisper.

"All I would do is break your heart, Lyd. You know I can't be tied down. And anyways, you're 14. I'm 16. You and Ponyboy are a much better match," Dally says, trying to talk me out of my own feelings. Again with Ponyboy. Why always Ponyboy? He's my best friend. We kissed once. We're not dating....

"I'm sorry," I whisper. I don't even know why I said it, but I did.

"Lydia, this is Buck's house, not mine. Maybe... It might not be fair to have another person here. Why don't I walk you to the Curtis's? I'll talk to Darry for you, he'd probably be happy to let you stay there," Dally says. I shrug. I know they would, but it's not fair to them. To have another person stealing their couch every night. To have another person eating their food when they can barely afford enough for themselves... I'm just going to be a burden to them....

"What do you say?" He asks, looking into my eyes.

"Y-yeah. That's fine," I lie.

"Cool," he says picking my tote bag and backpack up with one hand and taking my hand in the other, leading me back outside into the pouring rain.

We run there, laughing and playing, splashing each other with the puddles, having fun. It was a mood changer, but probably for the better, even if it is only for a second. Any more crying and I'd probably get sick...

We walk into our friends house without knocking, and still everyone notices and looks over.

"Lydia? What are you doing here? You're soaked!" Ponyboy exclaims, grabbing my hand and taking me inside. Dally walks in too, holding up my stuff. Soda runs to get the two of us towels, and Darry comes out of the kitchen, from where he must have been cooking.

"What's going on?" He asks. Dally speaks before me, which is good, because suddenly there's a giant lump in my throat, threatening to make me cry if I speak.

"Lydia's mom kicked her out." It's all Dally has to say to make Darry's face red with anger. I can tell he wants to kill her.

"What?" Ponyboy exclaims. So does he, I guess. He looks at me, and I nod. Soda hasn't come back yet, and I'm still soaked, but Ponyboy pulls me into his arms, not seeming to care.

"Are you okay?" He asks. I take a deep breath, my eyes watering.

"I guess so," I say. That's a lie. I'm not okay. At all.

"Well, you're staying here. It's gonna be okay," He says, not letting go of me. And it's okay, Ponyboy has always been the best at comforting me.

"I hope so."

A/N: Awe! I love this chapter I hope you do too! Let me know! I LOVE HEARING YOUR FEEDBACK SO MUCH, IT HONESTLY MAKES ME SO HAPPY.

Leave requests if you have any for the flashbacks, and check out my newest fanfiction "Not What It Seems"! And remember that you can DM me anytime, whether it be because you're bored, you have ideas you want me to use, or because you need someone to talk to. (: Love you. -Katy