Sophie And Lane

Chapter 15

Lane's POV

"NO! NO!" I screamed, "PLEASE, DON'T DO THIS!! I'LL STOP!! GIVE ME A CHANCE!!"  I paced angrily around the room.  Soda and Pony sat on the couch, white as ghosts, both crying.  Darry stood off to the side, hands shoved in his pockets.  I thought I saw tears in his eyes, but I wasn't sure.  Honestly, I didn't care.  This was his damn fault.

"Lane, it's just for 60 days," Hazel Waterton, our social worker said calmly.  "60 days and you will be back home."

"Soda," if anyone could help me he could, "Soda, please don't let her take me."  I threw myself at him, "please Soda.  I'll be good!"

"Laney, it ain't about you being good or not."  Soda pulled me into him, "what you're doing is scary and dangerous.  Laney, we cannot lose you too!"

"What about Sophie?" I demanded.  "She's cutting too!"

I just found out that I was getting sent to Lawton; a city about 3 hours west of Tulsa.  Darry ratted me out to our social worker and she was taking me away.  For 60 Days!!  Darry turned on me!

"Elaine," Mrs. Waterton took my arm, "you have to come with me.  Your brothers are very concerned.  We aren't doing this to hurt you.  We want to help you."

I turned my attention to Ponyboy, "please Pone, please help me!"  I sobbed grabbing his arm.

"Laney, I can't." He whispered, "it's only two months."

I glared at him, "easy for you to say!" 

"Lane," Darry took a step forward.

"No! You don't get to say a damn thing!  You're the one who ratted me out!  I hate you Darrel Curtis!  I hate you more than anyone!"

Two-Bit, who had walked in a few minutes ago, came up behind me and wrapped me in a bear hug, "Laney?" I clung to him, sobbing into his shoulder.

"Don't let her take me, Two."

"Hey, look at me," he lifted my chin, "when Darry told us what you and Sophie were doin'; it scared us.  All of us.  Hell, Dallas was even scared for ya.  We just want ya to get better." He sat down in the arm chair and pulled me into his lap, "can one of us drive her up?"

"If you can guarantee that she will be at the therapy center at noon tomorrow." 

Two-Bit turned his attention to me, "whaddya think?  We can drive up tomorrow," when I didn't respond, he joked, "I'll let you drive."  Mrs. Waterton breathed sharply through her nose, "settle down, Ol' Lady. I'm just joshing ya."

Mrs. Waterton glared at Two-Bit over her glasses, "get her there by noon."  She turned on her heel and strutted out the door.

I sunk into Two-Bit and cried into his shoulder.

Soda's POV

I have never been so grateful for Two-Bit in my life.  None of us wanted Lane to leave in the state she was in.  It killed me, seeing her so broken.  I met Darry's eyes and motioned to the kitchen.  He followed me in there, "you ok, Dare?" I was concerned.  Darry put a lot on the line asking for help like that.  It worked out in his favor, but he didn't know that.

"No, Soda." He shook his head, as if he was disgusted with himself, "did I do the right thing?  Or are we gonna lose her forever."

"It's 2 months, Dare."  I tried to sound confident, "she'll be back sometime in February."

"That's not what I meant."

Sophie's POV

"Lane's really leaving for 2 months?"

"Yeah, Soph.  Darry called the social worker.  She's going out to Lawton."

"But," I stammered, "she's my best friend!  She just needs help!"

Steve ran his fingers through his hair, "so do you, but you an' Lane can't go to the same place."

I whipped around, "what?"

"You two need to get better without each other."  Steve sat down on the bed and patted the spot next to him, "Darry, Soda, an' I talked with the social worker  an' she found you a different place in Duncan.  I'm dropping you off day after tomorrow."

I just stared at him.  No way in hell did I hear him, right.  I started laughing, but the look on Steve's face made me stop, "oh my god," fear wrapping a hand around my throat, "you're serious."