This story is about to change for a bit. I promise there is a reason. Just hang in there.

"Cherry, why do you keep looking at them?" I asked as rude as I possibly could. It was annoying me that she couldn't just be happy with me.

"I'm sorry it's just," she paused a little and I raised my eye brows at her waiting for her to finish. "She's so happy. I haven't seen Kaylee this happy in a long time."

What she said hurt me. Of course I didn't let her see that. Instead I rolled my eyes. "Then why don't you go join them Sherri. Honestly nobody wants you over here anyways." Her lips parted in shock and then her eyes began to water.

"Fine!" She yelled and then stormed over to where Kaylee and her three greaser boys were.

She said a few words to Kaylee and then sat next to her. Kaylee comforted her. I missed her. I missed the way she was so good at that. Kaylee could make you feel like a hundred bucks when in reality, I never treated her like two cents. But it was too late. At least I chased Cherry off too. I make people miserable, I'm not dumb I can see it. I need to let these people go.

"Aaron," I said getting his attention.

He was eating a turkey sandwich with way too much mayo. But that's how he liked it. He looked at me and I felt my heart sink a little. I didn't want to do this. I needed to.

"Let's take a walk baby," I said getting up and extending my hand.

He didn't even question it. Just got up with me and we walked out to the front of the campus. Students didn't typically eat out here so it was just us too.

"Are you happy?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you happy, Aaron. Are you happy being a soc? are you happy being my boyfriend? are you happy being you?" He looked down at his feet as we kept walking.

"Most of the time." I sighed and then stopped so both of us were standing still facing each other.

"We aren't in love, Aaron. We're just together because the school told us to be. I care about you and I do love you. That's why I want you to be happy. So I can't do this anymore." He nodded in agreement. He looked a little upset, but not much.

"You're a good person Joey, and you're beautiful. Let more people see that," he said putting both hands on my shoulders.

He could tell I was looking somewhere else cause he glanced over there too. I was looking at Kaylee and Cherry. They were laughing and they both looked so happy.

"They miss you too," Aaron said.

"No they don't."

"Hey," He said turning me toward him. "They miss the real you. I promise they do. Because nobody could know you and not miss you Joey."

I glanced away so I wasn't looking into his eyes and blinked allowing a tear to slip out. Aaron wiped it away and just as he did the bell rang. I quickly grabbed my stuff and began walking to my class.

I didn't say much the rest of the day. One, I didn't want to. And two, I didn't have anyone to talk to. When the final bell rang, I quickly made my way to my locker and then got outside before anyone else. I turned behind me to see if Kaylee, Cherry, or Aaron were there and then I felt my self running hard into someone.

"Watch it!" I yelled while sitting on my butt on the ground. "I mean, I'm sorry," I corrected while grabbing my stuff and standing up.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. I had seen him before with Kaylee.

"You're friends with Kaylee," I said softly. He looked confused at first but then recalled something.

"Oh yeah, sometimes I forget her real name is Kaylee," he said. He had such a naturally quiet voice. I almost had a hard time hearing him.

"What do you mean?"

"She goes by Jo now."

I smiled a little. I had always wanted her to go by Jo but she was afraid people would think she was trying to copy me. I just though Jo and Joey, best friends forever, sounded cute.

"Can I ask you something real quick?"

"Yeah sure," he agreed.

"Is she happy?"

"Yeah, She's dating Sodapop Curtis. Man, he really loves her. They're real good together." For some reason he didn't act afraid of me.

"Don't you hate me?" I asked confused.

"No," Was all he said.

"Why not?"

"Because you're just a person, Joey. I don't think you're as mean as people say. Plus, Jo says you're actually real nice, just sad."

My heart broke again. This was too much for me. I wanted to be better. I wanted to be kind but I just couldn't. Kindness is weakness and weakness leads to heart break. I can't do this.

I saw Joey and the other two greasers walk and we made eye contact. I quickly turned around and took off to my car not looking back. I didn't want to face them right now. By the time I got home I wasn't almost crying anymore. I walked in and saw my mom sitting on the couch with a glass of red wine that was filled all the way up. The bottle sat right in front of her just ready to fill her glass up when she ran out.

"Hi mom," I greeted. She looked at me and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Honey did you wear that to school?" She asked.

"Yes, why?"

"Makes your legs look fat," she said in a monotone voice before looking back at the magazine in front of her.

"Where'd Dad?" I asked ignoring her insult. I was used to it.

"Work."

"He didn't have work today though?" She rolled her eyes and looked at me.

"I don't know Joey, why don't you go find him then."

I stood there for a moment and then just walked to my room. My family wasn't always like this. Everything changed when my little brother died. My mom still blames me. And if my dad was home enough I'm sure he'd blame me too. I sat on my bed and looked at the pictures on the dresser. One was me and my brother. He had just lost his front tooth. And the other was me and Cherry and Kaylee. I looked at them and I knew what I had to do. I was my own person and I got to decide who I was. And I wasn't this girl. And there was only one way to truly show the whole school I didn't care anymore. And I knew what I was going to do.