"Please don't tell Mom and Dad," I begged my uncle, not even answering his question. He stared at me.

"Why are you here?" I gave a pleading look to Eli, not wanting to tell him that we skipped school, even if it was to go to the cemetery.

"Hope, who is this? You seem like you know each other," Eli said. Thanks for stating the obvious, babe.

"Eli, this is my uncle. Uncle Two-Bit, this is my boyfriend, Eli Cade." I prayed that this was enough of a subject change for now.

"So you're the famous Cade Brother," my uncle said, offering his hand to shake. "It's nice to meet you, buddy. You guys want some milkshakes?" We nodded, smiling. As soon as he walked away, I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"Eli, we're dead. I'm a goner. As soon as my parents find out we skipped, I'll never be able to see you again," I cried. He squeezed my hand.

"It'll be fine, Hope." I shook my head. I knew my uncle, and he may be happy, getting us milkshakes and making small talk, but I knew he'd say something. Even if it was just in passing to someone, like Uncle Soda. It would get back to my parents though, and that would be the end of everything.

"Let's talk about something else," I decided. He nodded.

"You want to hear what my parents told me?" He asked. I said yes, and he went on to start a long story.

"My parents told me that they were alcoholics, Hope. They had Johnny young and got depressed, so they turned to drinking. And they... they..." He took a deep breath. It seemed to be hard for him to say whatever was coming.

"They beat him from the time they could walk. They said they didn't mean to and that they loved him... but my own parents. They hurt him, Hope. Real bad. He stayed with your dad and his brothers mosta the time. They were best friends, ya know. My brother and your dad." I blushed. That was kind of a weird thing to think about.

"One day... your dad and Johnny ran away. His big brother did something and he asked Johnny to leave with him. They don't know the whole story, but there was a fire wherever they were staying. He went in, with your dad, to save some kids... He got burnt bad. And then when he was hurt, in the hospital later on, he didn't want to see him." He stopped for another second.

"They were so heartbroken that he picked his friends over his parents that they snapped out of whatever they were going through. They stopped drinking. They went to his funeral and they cried. They knew they were bad parents, and they hated themselves for it... so they decided to try again. The next year, I was born." I stared, wide eyed. It was quite a story. I knew the story of the church, my mom had told me ages ago. I just never thought there'd be another side to this. A whole different perspective.

"Are they good parents?" I asked.

"Now?" He said. I nodded. So did he.

"They're great." I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't know I was holding in.

"And what about you?" He asked. I looked up at him.

"What about me?" I asked.

"Your father?" He said. I nodded.

"I don't know everything. I just know that my mom and Ponyboy were friends from when they were really young, and she always had a crush on Dallas. After Johnny died, he kind of freaked out, and my mom kissed him to calm him down... Even though she was going out with Ponyboy at the time. They ended up going further... And by the time she found out she was pregnant, he was long gone. Ponyboy offered to raise me because he was in love with my mom, and to this day they're still together... But I'm not sure if they will be for long," I told him.
Before I could say anything else, my uncle was back with two milkshakes.

"I'm telling your parents," he said, before walking away. I looked at Eli with wide, fearful eyes.

"I'm dead." He shook his head.

"You'll be fine. I'll make sure of it."

"No, you don't understand. When I first got grounded, it was for getting a $200 ticket with a learners permit. Then it was because I snuck out. Then they found out that I snuck out every day to be with you and Faith anyways... And they didn't punish me. If my parents find out that I skipped school, Eli, I'll never see the light of day again." I was terrified of what my parents would do, how long I'd be grounded for.

"Hope..." He started, but suddenly my Uncle was standing in front of us again.

"I'm going to get my keys, and then I'm taking you home," he said, then walked towards the kitchen.

"We have to go," I said.

"What?" Eli asked.

"We have to leave, now. Before my uncle gets back. C'mon," I begged. He sighed.

"Fine." I took his hand and we ran out towards his car without looking back.

"Where to now then?" He asked. I thought for a second, happy anxiety bubbling up inside me.

"Wanna go back to your place?"

A/N: I don't like this chapter, but I'm definitely excited for the next one. What do you think's gonna happen?