I walk into the DX to see Claire sitting on the counter talking to Soda as she chews gum and drinks pop, "who was that girl the other day?"

"Nobody," he informs her and me.

"Really?" I ask only now showing him that I'm in the DX. "If I'm nobody I guess our date tomorrow is off then because, I  don't want you to waste your precious time with a nobody."

"Lucy?" Soda gasps. "How much did you hear? What did you hear? When did you get here?"

"Guilty much?" I ask trying not to cry.

"No, I was jus-" he starts.

"Just what?" I ask bitterly as I try to hide the sadness in my voice. "Cheating?"

"No," he argues. "Don't you trust me Lucy?"

"I did," I sigh. "My mistake."

"I'm gonna leave Sodapop," Claire slides off the counter, but not before kissing his cheek. "I'll check ya lates. 'Kay love?"

"Lates?" I ask once she's gone. "Is that what you want because, that's not me and I'm not gonna pretend to be somebody I'm not for you!"

"No!" he yells, but not an angry yell, a desperate yell. "I want you Lucy and only you!"

"I'm not sure about that anymore," I sigh sadly. "I'm not even sure if you know what you want and I can't be in a relationship with someone who might not even want me. I'm not sure if we're such a great idea anymore, I'm not sure if we ever were."

"No," he pleads desperately. "I know what I want and all I want is you. I can see us growing old together, getting married, having kids, moving to the country. Can't you? I love you Lucy, not like I've loved anything or anybody else, I love you like married couples Lucy and I mean that with all my heart. Please, believe me."

"I wish I believed you," I sigh once again. "Listen Sodapop, I think we need a break. Tell me when you know what you want, but believe me I do love you Sodapop. I love you with all my heart, like married couples and I can see us growing old together, having kids, getting married, and living in the country. That's my dream Sodapop. I hope we work out because, I've never ever felt like this before, but I think you love me, like a sister nothing more though and I want something more than that. I'm sorry Sodapop."

Soda's P.O.V.

I watch as she runs away from me, from us, from the DX trying not to cry, I don't know how she does it. I don't know how she stays so strong even when everything is telling her to break. I want to run after her. Trust me it takes all my willpower not to go running after her telling her how much I love her, but I know I can't. Right now she needs her space. I know she does. It's just like in 8th grade.

flashback

"Sod-" Lucy starts as she runs into my house, but when she sees I'm kissing Alison -my ex-girlfriend- she stops. "Oh hi Ali."

Ali looks at her and smiles, "hey Lucy." Lucy and Alison are best friends they have been forever. "Soda, I'm gonna let you talk to our best friend Lucy, I'll see you in a bit. I love you."

"Love you too," Soda smiles before he turns his attention to me. "Hey Lucy, what's wrong Pumpkin?"

"Oh it's just the little fact that you blew me off!" She yells loudly letting me know that she is beyond pissed at me, which is the last thing I want.

"I'm sorry, but it was for your best friend and my girlfriend Ali," I remind her hoping it'll cool her off before anything bad happens.

"Ali. Ali. Ali. It's all Al', all the time Sodapop! I'm starting to feel like you have no time for me. I'm not even your best friend at this point. I know nothing that's happening in your life lately," she chokes out holding back tears. "What about me? I miss my best friend and I need my best friend too."

"You were the one that set me up with Alison," I remind her. "I thought you'd be happy for us, but I'm sorry I made you feel like that."

Alison walks out kissing my cheek, but I can feel the wetness on her cheeks cluing me in that she was crying because, she heard mine and Lucy's fight, "I should go."

Lucy turns to Alison before chasing after her screaming, "Ali wait!"

When she comes back in you can see the tears gleaming in her eyes, but she blinks them back as she tries her very best not to cry, "what's wrong?"

"I already lost one best friend today, I really don't need to lose two," she says hinting to me that her and Ali aren't friend, but also letting me see her kind of weak. She runs sadly upstairs still trying to hold back all the tears she's been holding in since my parents died and she got over being depressed.

I chase after her in hopes of repairing everything I just broke, "Lucy wait! I'm sorry!"

She turns around, "I just need a break from you and me being best friends. I need some space right now Sodapop, please."

I sigh as I turn around, "okay, I guess."

Flashback Over

Steve walk out of the DX, "what the hell just happened out here between you and Lucy?"

"She told me we need to take a break," I sigh sadly. "I guess she needs her space to think things through and see if she still want to be with me after everything with Claire."

"Nice going Soda," Steve rolls his eyes.

"C'mon man," I plead knowing I can't lose him and Lucy in one day.

"No man she's fifteen and you broke her heart!" Steve yells at me angrily. "You two should of never went out, you're better off as friends. You might of ruined everything. How does that make you feel? Huh?"

"Like shit! I do love her man and the last thing I want to do is to lose her. Lucy isn't only my best friend or my girlfriend, she's the best thing that ever happened to me!" I fire back at him. "Do you really think I want to lose her. I love Lucy, no matter what you or Lucy think!"

Steve rolls his eyes before storming off, "whatever Sodapop! I tried to protect you and more importantly I tried to protect Lucy, but I guess I can't save you two now!"

Lucy's P.O.V.

I run out of the DX barely holding myself together, but I don't look back, not once. I run straight into the Curtis house on the verge of tears to see Dally, Ponyboy, and Johnny. Their eyes shoot up to me

as I slam the door. Dally walks over to me with this look on his face, this look I've never seen before, worry maybe, "what wrong princess?"

"Sodapop," I simply say.

"What you happened between you two?" Pony asks as he looks up from his book walking over to me.

"I told him we needed a break while he figures out what he really wants because, he was flirting with Claire again. I don't know what happened, but I'm not what he wants," I sigh as I look away from them. I was dating him, I am dating him and I'm not even sure it he wants to date me."

"Soda loves you Lucy," Johnny speaks up.

"I'm not too sure about that," I sigh as I try not to cry holding back everything. "I gotta go take a nap and think things through."

"Feel better Lucy," Dally yells.

"I think you and Sodapop should try to work things out," Johnny speaks up. "Ya'll make the perfect couple."

"Yea plus we can be brother and sister," Pony adds.

I walk over to him slinging my arm around his shoulders, "you'll always be my kid brother, kiddo. I love ya and nothing that happens between Soda and I changes that. Ya hear?"

He nods, "now go get some rest, you look tired."

"Thanks," I kiss his head before I walk upstairs falling into a dreamless sleep.

Is this the end? Does Lucy believe that Soda's love her? Does Lucy still love Sodapop? Will this be able to be repaired? How long will the break be? Why doesn't Claire know who Lucy is? Is Sodapop lying to both girls? Why was Claire there? How many other times has Claire been with Sodapop? Is he cheating? Will Lucy end up heartbroken? Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!

-Beth