You had always been the princess of the family, with your three older brothers being boys, you grew up protected and cared for. Even if Ponyboy, the youngest of the three, could be a bit mean when you two were toddlers out of child jealousy you all got along great. You'd tease each other, and fight all the time, but if anyone laid a hand on you or any of them, the other three would be ready to scream bloody murder.

Still, it all changed when the accident happened. Your parents got into a car accident and, suddenly, your childhood was gone in a blink.

So you did what you did best. You kept being the 'perfect' sister even if it was all an act now, you didn't get into trouble at school, studied and got the highest grades you could, sucked your tears in when Darry yelled at you because he got overwhelmed with Ponyboy running off to whatever places, and kept clean of boys to avoid him the stress.

You knew your eldest brother was trying his best, working his ass off while playing father and a mother to the three of you.

But, still, accidents happen.

You were walking home from the movies one day when a group of socs decided that they'd take their anger out on you. They dragged you to the fountain of the park, and kept forcefully shoving your head down in the water —they would've drowned you if it hadn't been for Dallas.

You didn't want to go home after that. You were past your curfew due to the incident and feared making Darry angry even if it hadn't been your fault —you were the victim. So, Dallas went in first to calm your older brother down before coming back outside to get you in.

Your hair a mess, soaked down to the bone, finger-shaped bruises on your arms from being held down. And your brother standing there, arms crossed, yet his stern eyes a tad softer than usual. He walked closer to you when you didn't approach him, hands on his knees as he crouched down to your level. "hey, sweetheart" he spoke, he didn't sound angry. Blue eyes searching for your own.