I sit on my bed next to Ponyboy with a smile on my face, "so Pone, how was school today?"

"Good," he smiles as he puts his books on the table. "Why don't you go to school?"

I shrug, "I guess, it's just the way."

"How did you get here Chloe?" He asks looking at me scurrilously.

I turn to him quickly, "why do you ask?"

He shrugs, "just wondering."

I smile a soft smile as I think about back home, "if I tell you the truth,you don't have to believe it."

He chuckles, "why wouldn't I?"

"It's an interesting story," I chuckle before sighing. "I don't think I'll ever get back home. I don't think I know how to."

His smiles fades into a frown as he talks softly, "you wanna go home? What about Sodapop?"

A few tears drip down my cheeks as I think about everything, "I don't know yet Ponyboy. If I leave, I'm sure I'll come back."

He nods, "promise."

I pull him in for a hug, I've grown found of the little guy, "I pinky promise."

"What about Sodapop though?" He asks.

I pull him down onto the couch, "Sodapop and I are sixteen, we're dating, but it's not gonna be forever Ponyboy. You're brother is gonna find somebody so much better than me."

He looks at me confused, "what about you? Are you gonna find somebody better Chloe?"

I break eye contact crying softly, "no, I don't deserve Sodapop or anybody...maybe Dally, but I don't deserve somebody, good."

"Why not?" He asks me curiously.

I kiss his forehead, "I'll tell you another day."
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"Come on!" I yell as I hold Soda's hand. "Come on! Hurry up!"

"I'm hurrying! I'm hurrying!" He smiles.

I stop at the top of the hill as I watch the sunset, "this is it! We have to wait until the sun is set!"

"Cliche," he snickers.

"No! Look!" I yell as it's pitch black.

He looks up to see a shooting star, "it's pretty."

"Did you make a wish?" I ask.

He smiles as he pecks my lips, "I wished we could be together forever."

I pull away and sigh, "Sodapop I-"

"What's wrong?" He asks me. "Do you not like me?"

"I am so into you Sodapop, it's not that," I sigh as I look at him sleepily.

He sighs loudly, "then what is it?"

"I'm not staying here forever. You know? I'm going home," I remind him.

He frowns slightly slouching his shoulders, "you don't have to. Everybody int he gang loves you Chloe."

"It's not about that Sodapop," I remind him. "I have a family."

He grabs my hand, "they'll understand."

I shake my head as tears roll down my cheeks, "no they won't. Not my family. I wish they would. If they did, I'd love to live her. This place, this world. It's heaven, it's not just about money. You love each other. I don't have that. I get 500 dollars form my dad once a month, that's his love. My mom and I are always fighting. My sister is never home. I don't know love. I know money. It sucks! I wish I could stay here. I love my pets because, they'll all I have. My family won't understand me leaving because, all they see is the money in it."

Soda looks down and I don't know what he's feeling. Sadness? Anger? Shock? Disappointment? Horror? Relief? He looks up and speaks slowly, "wow. That sounds really lonely. I'm sorry, you have to live that way Chloe."

I nod my head, "me too. Some people don't have all the money I do, but they have love like you guys do. When I first came here, I would of said, I just want my money, but now I want to be loved. I just want a real family that feels love. I don't care about money."

He pulls me in for a hug, "then just stay."

I shake my head, tears dripping off my cheeks, "I can't!" I want to, but I can't."

He nods his head and lays down letting me cuddle up to him...neither of us saying a word. We're just happy being with each other something I've never felt before.
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"You made a break through today Chloe," Miss Smith smiles warmly at me. "I'm proud of you. I'm seeing you change and it's time."

"What are you talking about?" I ask her confused.

She walks over to me slapping a note in front of me, "this is from your family. It's time for you to read what they're thinking when you wake up. To see how this is affecting them Chloe."

I blink away tears as I stair down, "oh my god! Thank you."

She walks over to me and hugs me, "you deserve it. They's also a gift from your dad in there. The choice is yours for what you do with it."

"What is it?" I ask hoping she tells me.

She shakes her head as she chuckles, "I can't tell you silly. Now you fell asleep on Sodapop in the middle of a date silly girl."

I shrug, "he won't care, even if I snore. He's a keeper."

"Over your family?" She asks.

I sigh, "had to bring that one up?"

"Sorry, but I did," she informs me.

I roll my eyes, "whatever. After I go home, will I ever be able to visit?"

"We'll talk about that when we get there," she frowns.

"What if I stay? Will I ever see my family?" I ask her once again.

She walk over to me and looks at me with this sad look, "I wish I could tell you, but it depends on how you do."

I bite my lip, "oh okay."

"I'm sorry Chloe," she hugs me once again.
*****************************************************************************************************
I wake up with Soda next to me in bed. I look over next to my desk to see the note from my family and the present from my dad. I open the letter first not really caring about the material items, it's nice, but I'd rather see how my family is doing.

'Chloe, please come home to me. I miss you. I'm sorry about the fight we got into it, but it's no reason for you to runaway. I know we're not the perfect family, but we're a family and we all love you. I've been a mess without you. I wish you were here with me just for one more minute. I wish I could see you just one more time to be able to tell you I love you. I miss you so much Chloe. Please if you're hearing this please come home. -Mom

Hey Chlo! I never thought there'd be a day where I missed your brattiness, but I do. I even miss our fights. I spent so much time trying to get away from you and mom, but now I wish I didn't. I know how you treated us and everybody else, but you're my big sister and I miss you. Please, if you're hearing this somehow, someway come home. I know you didn't runaway. You would never runaway, but if you did just know mom is very sorry and so am I. -Courtney
Hey baby girl, I've heard you got in some trouble. How did I always know leaving my baby girl in the same house with her mother would drive her away. I should of never taken this job, but I did and I'm sorry for that. I've missed so much of your life. I'm there for holidays, but not your first days of school or your first heartbreak. You're a junior now and you haven't had a dad since you were in fifth grade. I'm so sorry baby girl, but please come home. I promise things will change -dad'

Tears fill my eyes as I pull the note close to my chest. "I love you three so much. I'm gonna come home. I just don't know when."

I turn to the present and grab it carefully opening it. When I look down inside I see name brand clothing, name brand pursing, designer shoes, name brand make-up, tons of hair products and five hundred dollars showing me, I've been here for a month. I unpack the present, but I actually preferred reading the note. It meant so much more than expensive things, but I know what I can do with the money.

I rush down stairs, "Darry! Darry! Darry! Darry! Darry, I have a present for you! Darry!"

Darry looks at me and smiles, "good morning Chloe. Are you hungry?"

"Darry!" I squeal and run over to him handing him the five hundred dollars. "Here!"

He looks down shocked and shakes his head, "this is so much money. How did you get it all? I could never! I can't!"

"You have to," I whine.

"I would never even take a dollar from you," he informs me.

I shake my head, "you have to take it. If you don't take it, I will leave it on the counter until you do. Darry, you have another mouth to feed with me here. You have to pay rent. You need more money and I'm giving it to you so please take it."

"No," he shrugs. "I'm not taking it."

I sit down and a few tears fall from my eyes, "but Darry you have to."

He sits next to me and hugs me, "what's wrong Chloe?"

I turn to him and break down into sobs, "I've never done anything good with my money. I've spent it on the dumbest stuff for no reason instead of helping people. I am a terrible person and all I wanna do is help you because, I-I love you Darry."

"I love you too kiddo," he smiles, "and if it means that much to you I'll take it, but I don't want to."

I sniffle slightly, "you will?"

"I'll do anything for you," he informs me.

Oh my god! How cute is this chapter? So, we're defiantly seeing some growth in Chloe. I'll have the next chapter up asap. Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!
-Beth