Hello my darlings. This book is coming to a close soon. I will write a couple more chapters and I will be starting a new book soon, but I am just not connecting with this story. I am so sorry.

Lydia Hale

"Are you sure about this?" I asked Joey.

We were sitting in my car and she was, well not a soc. People were going to talk and people were going to stare. I'm not entirely sure what is going to go down from there. Aaron wouldn't care. He and Cherry have always been real supportive and caring, but like Joey, for the sake of their reputation they hid all of that.

"Of course I'm ready," she replied while checking her makeup one last time in the mirror. "I mean, look at me," she said turning to me and smirking. "I make one hot greaser girl."

I rolled my eyes and got out of the car. She was right. She really did look good all tuff and dangerous. It fit her feisty and fearless personality. She hopped out of the car and right about that time Two-bit, Johnny, Ponyboy, and Steve found their way to us.

"Ready?" She questioned them. The boys nodded.

"Lets go." I grabbed my bag out of the back and followed.

Joey thought the point she was trying to make would be better with backup. She got white t-shirts for me and all the boys and in red spray paint Joey wrote Greaser on them. She walked ahead of and through the hallway we all turned heads. Joey had her head held high and the boys and I walked slowly behind in our sarcastically labeled shirts with less confidence. Well, me Johnny and Ponyboy did. Steve and Two-bit radiated confidence like Joey. I couldn't believe the looks we were getting. They weren't necessarily mean glares by any means, but more just pure shock. Joey, Joey Hanes, the biggest and meanest soc, was dressed like a no good grease. Her point was being screamed and believe me, everyone heard her.

Finally when we walked to the end of the hallway we went our separate ways. I didn't get far before someone grabbed my arm.

"What the hell is she doing?" Aaron asked.

"Making a point," I mumbled and tried to walk away but that wasn't good enough for him. He kept ahold of my arm.

"Kaylee, you know I don't give a shit about greasers and socs, but why is she doing this?"

"I just told you," I pulled away from his grip. "She cares about me and my friends and not about labels. So if the school is going to make her choose, she chooses us."

I walked away feeling like a total badass. Joey had that affect on people. She could give me all the confidence in the world without ever trying to.

I had my friend back. I had a kickass boyfriend that was absolutely beautiful. I was figuring things out. Yeah, I was figuring things out.

School was absolutely crazy. Girls were talking to Johnny and Ponyboy like they were some kind of heroes. They were. We all were. Thats's thing about high school, we are all so fucking brave for even showing up. If you're skinny, you're anorexic. If you're not, you're fat. If you're smart, you're a nerd. If you aren't, you're stupid. If you play sports you're a dumb jock. If you don't, you're a geek. You're a trashy greaser or you're a spoiled soc. You're damned no matter what so you might as well be damn happy. Someone once told me, things are rough all over. I like to think that's true. I like think we all lay are heads down at night and stress over stupid stuff, because it means we aren't alone. No matter what none of us are alone. Ponyboy showed me that. And I showed Joey, and with a little grease and spray paint, she showed the whole school.

Yeah, things are rough all over.

But they're good all over too. I like to believe that.