It's been one long, sad, dreadful, year. Today is the anniversary of the day Lucy walked out. The gang's okay, as for me I'm not. The gang is trying to move on, forget her, but it's so hard to forget somebody who gave you so much to remember. How do I forget her when I love her? That never changed, I will always love Lucy. 

I walk downstairs in the same state of depression I've been in since she left, I was hurting when she broke up with me, I am now broken. "Hey Sodapop!" Pony yells coming up to me. They all try to cheer me up, but they're not Lucy.

"Do ya'll know what day it is?" I ask the gang with tears in my eyes.

"What day little buddy?" Darry smiles as he walks up to me.

"It's day she left," I choke out as the tears make their way down my cheeks.

"C'mon Pepsi-" Two-bit starts.

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT!" I lash out. "LUCY CALLED ME THAT SINCE WE MET!"

"I'm sorry," Two-bit states as he shakes his head. "I didn't mean to."

"I miss her guys," I say as I start to cry. "I miss her. I can't take it. I love her and she left. I drove her away."  

Lucy's P.O.V. 

"Happy one year Lucy!" I say as I blow out the candle on the cupcake. "I miss you Sodapop. I miss all of you." A few silent tears fall freely. It's no use to stop them at this point. My life is over. I live in windrixville all alone. I lost everything the day I left Sodapop. I miss them, but I can't go back. They've probably all forgot about me and Sodapop, he's probably got a new girl. He probably loves her with all his hear. She's lucky whoever she is. I'm sure she's stunning. I used to be pretty, but lately when I look into the mirror I don't even recognize myself. My hair is dry and oily always in a high bun.  There are dark circles under my tired eyes. My skin is pale because, I don't get any sun anymore. my lips are all chapped and gross. I don't remember last time I ate anything. My wrists are covered in cuts and dried up blood. I couldn't be a model anymore. 

Soda's P.O.V.

"Do you guys think she's happy?" I choke out as we all sit on the couch after a long day at work.

Two-bit shrugs, "I don't know."

Dally smiles a little to himself, "she's probably happy. She got to escape, she got to escape Tulsa and Socs and rumbles. She always said she wanted to leave, but she couldn't because of us. I think she's in the country going to school to be a fashion designer like she always dreamed of. She's probably dating somebody and getting ready to settle down. Who knows she might even be pregnant? We gotta stop looking at the negatives guys, she's chasing her dreams. She finally got the courage to go! Lets be happy for her. I know I am."

I stand up pointing at him angrily, "you've seen her!"

"Whoa calm down little buddy," Darry rushes over to me.

"I haven't seen her," Dally says slowly. "I wish I have though. I miss her."

"Me too," Pony sighs. "Do you remember when they first started dating?"

Flashback

"Sodoapop and Lucy sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G first come love then comes marriage then comes the baby in the baby carriage," the gang laughs as a stunning Lucy sits on my lap half asleep.

"Shut up! You don't wanna wake her," I kiss her forehead.

"So it's going good between ya'll?" Dally asks.

"Yea," I smile as I look down at her stunning face. She's breathtaking in very single way. "I mean we're really happy."

"Do you love her?" Pony asks.

"I don't know," I sigh. "We've never told each other it, but I think I do. It's just weird. When I'm with her it's different, different good from when I'm with all my ex-girls. I think I might love her, but I'm not ready to tell her."

"So you do," Dally winks at me.

"Yea, I think I do. I think I always have since we were little kids. I was just always too scared of us hurting each other," I smile looking down at her.

"Just don't hurt her! Ya hear?" Steve threatens as he cracks his knuckles.

"I won't. I promise. I would never, could never, hurt her. I think I love her Stevie. I want to spend the rest of my life with her," I smile knowing we're gonna be together forever.

How did they get so broken? Has Dallas seen her? Is he covering for her? Will she ever come back? What happens next? Will things ever get better? Is this gonna be the new usual?Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!

-Beth