From Weakness to Strength

Truth or Consequences

It's been two weeks since Bella has been hiding out in the Curtis house and the Curtis parents are getting suspicious.

Bella had been spending most of her days with the gang. Hanging out, sharing laughs, and being happy for once. Being with friends she never thought she would ever have.

One night, Bella, Johnny, and Ponyboy went to see a movie called "West Side Story".
When they got back, Mr and Mrs Curtis were waiting for them on the couch.  "Hey guys." said Mrs. Curtis. "Oh, hey mom." said Ponyboy. "Hello, Bella." said Mr. Curtis. "Hi, Mr. Curtis." said Bella. "We have a question to ask you." said Mrs. Curtis. "Sit down."

Bella then got nervous, but did so along with Johnny and Ponyboy. "Bella, it's been a few weeks since your parents went to see your grandfather. Have they ever made contact with you even once?" asked Mr. Curtis. "No. I'm getting worried myself. And I don't know how to contact them. They didn't give me a number or anything." Bella said, avoiding eye contact.

"Well, we saw a couple of newspapers in the trash and the titles seemed a little suspicious." said Mrs. Curtis taking out a crinkled newspaper titled Parents Found Dead and Missing Child!
"This looks kinda like you." said Mrs. Curtis. Bella took a look. "That's...not me. I don't have hair like that."
"-But, you have the same nose and eyes and mouth structure." said Mr. Curtis. "And you have the same name. It says your name in the paper." said Mrs. Curtis. 
"-PLEASE MR AND MRS. CURTIS! IT WASN'T HER FAULT!" Johnny blurted.

Everyone cocked their heads to Johnny. "Johnny!" Ponyboy said. "No, Pony. Listen to him." said his father. "The newspapers lie. We know it because Bella herself told us what happened and we could tell she wasn't lying!" 
"What happened, Bella?" Mrs. Curtis asked. Bella refused eye contact and continued to look down. "I don't think it would matter what I told you. You'd still give me to the girl's home." 

Then, before anyone could do anything, Bella sprinted out the door. She ran. She ran and she ran. 

Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs. Curtis told Johnny and Ponyboy to get their friends and go look for her. Once they were all in their little group, Dallas spoke up. "Hey, where do you think the kid would be? She's too scared to go far, so do you know any places we know of?"
" I'll check the Dairy Queen." said Two-Bit.
"I'll check the Drive-in." said Pony. "I'll go with you." said Darry
"Me and Steve'll check the DX gas station." said Soda.
"Me and Johnny will check the Vacant lot." said Dallas.

They split up and went to all the places. She wasn't at the Dairy Queen. She wasn't at the Drive in. She wasn't at DX. 

When Dally and Johnny checked the Vacant lot. It looked completely empty. "Check all around in small places. She's tiny and can fit anywhere." said Dallas. They split up and looked around the lot.

Dallas found Bella in one of the broke down cars, hiding under a bunch of newspapers. "Kid!"said Dallas. Bella screamed awake like she was having night terrors. "Hey, hey. It's okay." Dallas said as he placed his hands on Bella's shoulders. "They're gonna get rid of me." Bella sobbed. "No, kid. They won't. Even if they tried, they wouldn't be able to do it." said Dallas. "How would you know?" Bella asked.

"Because, kid. You can stay with me and Buck."
"I think its too late." Bella said. ¨No it's not, man. Just come with me and you won't be taken." Dallas held out his hand. Bella did nothing. "I don't know..." Bella said. "I promise, kid. I never make those."

Hearing him say that, Bella took his hand and he helped her out of the car. "Did you find her?" Jonny asked. "No!" Dallas lied. "Imma go check somewhere else she might be!" "Okay!" Johnny replied. 

They ran for a bit, making sure they weren't gonna get caught by anyone. Once they were close to the apartment complex, they turn the corner and someone jumped them.

"Pony!" Dallas yelled. "Found ya!" Ponyboy exclaimed. "Ponyboy, please. I can't go back. Ya can't make me!" Bella exclaimed, backing away from Ponyboy. "Bella, please. My parents aren't gonna turn you in. They promised. They never break promises. You can stay with us. We'll hide you from the police. Change your actual identity."

"I don't know if I can trust that." Bella replied, taking a step toward Dallas. "Yeah, Pony leave the kid alone and let her stay with me for a while. She'll be safe." Dallas protested. 

"Bella, please?" Ponyboy pushed. "It'll be like having a family again." 

Bella thought about it for a moment. He did make sense. It would be like having a real mom and dad and not just random strangers. "Okay, I guess." Bella finally said. 
"-What?" Dallas protested. "We could've had some real fun, man." 
"I know, Dallas. But, Pony is right. It would be like having a real family again." 
"Okay, fine. Whatever, fine, man. I'll walk you back to the house."

Bella, Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dallas walked back to the house. Everyone was waiting out on the front porch. The moment they saw Bella, they freaked out. "BELLA!" they practically screamed. 

"Shut your traps! Someone could hear!" Bella yelled at them. All the boys stampeded and practically tackled Bella. "Whoa! Too much contact!" Bella said. Everyone backed up. "Where were ya, kid?" Darry asked. "In the lot, hiding in a car." Bella replied, rubbing the back of her neck. "Why did you run, kid?" Steve asked. "I thought that Pony's parents were gonna take me to a girl's home. Maybe even prison! I can't go to jail! I didn't do nothin'!"

"-We know." came a voice. Bella turned around to see Mr and Mrs. Curtis. Bella backed up, nervously. "Easy, girl. We're not gonna turn you in." said Mr. Curtis. Bella looked to Ponyboy who gave her an 'I-told-you-so' gesture. Bella nodded and looked at Mr and Mrs.Curtis. 

"You can stay with us as long as you want." said Mrs.Curtis. Bella looked at them and shock. "W-wait, really?" Bella asked disbelievingly. The Curtis's nodded. Bella then looked at Dallas who had a disappointed look on his face. "Sorry, Dallas." she said. "Don't sweat it, kid. We would've had so much fun though."

Then Mrs.Curtis signaled Bella to come towards her and she did. She held her hand out for her to take, Bella did so. "Would you like me to make you some hot chocolate with cookies?" 
Bella nodded violently. "Okay. Come on kids. Hot chocolate and cookies for everyone!"

All the boys cheered and entered the Curtis's house.

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A/N: I know...I haven't updated this in a loooooong time. I'm thinking of changing the name of the story cause the one I have right now is too cheesy and gives away too much. |
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