Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, or "Red at Night" by The Gaslight Anthem.

A/N: This is a follow-up to Born to Run. It will be two chapters, followed by a one-shot and an actual sequel. It would be best to have read Born to Run before this, so if you haven't ... go, read ;)

CHAPTER ONE
Saturday, August 13th, 1966

And the warning bells rang, all right, all right,
I shoulda stayed home with you that night

He'd kissed Evie. Only weeks after sleeping with her and effectively cheating on the girl he actually wanted, Steve had just gone and made things worse. It hadn't been what he wanted - she wasn't who he wanted - but he couldn't think of any reason not to kiss her when the girl he really wanted didn't want him back. He'd had his hopes up for weeks, thinking that maybe if he just gave her time, she'd come around. But she wasn't going to. It was slowly sinking in that she didn't want him. She would probably never want him again, and he couldn't blame her.

So he had kissed another girl. It was a stupid thing to do, and he'd known it even as he did it, but it hadn't stopped him. He'd kissed Evie. Evie. He wasn't sure it could get any more fucked up than that.

They'd been sitting on his front porch, talking about nothing important, and he'd kissed her. It had been soft and sweet … and lacking any of the passion every one of his kisses with Anna had held.

But it hadn't been terrible. In fact, it was nice. True longing for Evie might be missing, but he was still a seventeen-year-old guy kissing a pretty girl. He hadn't been completely unaffected by it, but he didn't feel completely good about it either. He felt weird and confused and … guilty.

There wasn't anything to feel guilty about, though. At least, that's what he kept telling himself. He and Anna were done - she'd made that perfectly clear - and he was free to kiss whomever he wanted to. But whether or not he really wanted to be kissing Evie was the question.

One she was awaiting the answer to.

He looked at her as she waited patiently, unable to resist comparing. Evie was calm, quiet, and, as she was proving with her silence, patient. She had been good to him the last few weeks, despite how badly he had treated her. She cared about him, understood him, and wanted him.

Anna was none of those things. Anna was talkative and maddening and lacked all kinds of patience. She hadn't even glanced in his direction yesterday, she didn't give two shits about how their break-up was affecting him, and how much she didn't want him physically hurt.

But, comparing them wasn't fair to anyone. He supposed kissing Evie wasn't fair to anyone, either.

He'd only done it because of Anna, and he wondered if Evie knew that. She probably did, but going into details wasn't going to do anyone any good. She didn't need to know that he'd seen Anna yesterday, for the first time since trying to apologise to her. She didn't need to know that seeing Anna and not being with her is what had caused him to kiss her. She didn't need to know that the ache in his chest since kissing her was just getting heavier.

Anna didn't want him. He could feel guilty, he could compare, and he could try to ignore the hurt all he wanted, but it all came back to that one thing: Anna didn't want him, and that rejection was the worst. That rejection - from the girl he loved - decided everything.

"Listen, Evie …" Steve ran a hand over his knuckles, staring out at the front yard. "How about we go out tonight?"

As Evie smiled brightly at him, he couldn't help but wonder if this was a mistake.

XXXXX

Soda was looking at him as though he were an idiot. Hell, he was an idiot; that had become pretty fucking obvious the moment he'd walked up those stairs at Buck's with Evie. Steve didn't need anyone telling him just how stupid he had been - the proof was everywhere; in the way he'd cheated on Anna, the way he'd mouthed off to Darry a few days later, and in his bad mood since.

He knew he was an idiot, but he kept doing stupid things, anyway.

Soda fidgeted on the old couch they were sitting on. "So, what you're sayin', is that you an' Evie are back together?"

"Yeah."

"When did this happen?"

"A few hours ago."

"But … why?" Soda sounded genuinely confused and Steve couldn't blame him. If anyone knew how he felt about Anna, it was Soda.

He shrugged. "Why not?"

"What about Anna?"

Just hearing her name caused Steve's chest to tighten and he hated it. She didn't want him - never would again - and because of that, he shouldn't want her. He knew that if the situation was reversed - if she'd screwed around on him - he wouldn't take her back, but that didn't change how he felt. He wanted her back; he shouldn't, but he did, and she didn't want him. The only thing to do was move on.

However, moving on - getting over her - wasn't coming as easy as he'd hoped. Shit, it wasn't coming at all. But Soda didn't need to know that. He already felt like a wimp for everything he was feeling.

"Gotta move on eventually, right?" he asked, voice as casual as he could make it.

"Well, sure. But with Evie?"

Their conversation was going exactly how Steve had expected it to. Getting back with Evie wasn't his smartest move - he'd known that when he'd done it - but she was Evie. Anna didn't want him and the only way he could think of to move on was with another girl. Evie was the perfect girl for that; they had history, and despite the trouble she had caused, he was comfortable with her.

Being comfortable around her had become easy when she had turned up at his house, desperate to apologise for her part in ruining his relationship with Anna. It hadn't been her fault; she'd thought Anna was leaving just as much as he had. All she'd done was take the opportunity she'd seen and tried to get him back.

Too bad that night hadn't turned out well for anyone.

Anna had been cheated on, he'd lost his girl, and all Evie had scored out of him was a tentative friendship when he was too miserable about Anna to bother telling her to get lost. Although, that friendship had officially turned into dating, so maybe Evie had won out after all.

And there was no plausible reason for him not to date her, and he told Soda exactly that.

Soda scoffed. "Yeah, except you're in love with her cousin."

"Am not." He didn't want to talk about Anna. Christ, he could barely think about her.

"Well, you ain't over her and we both know it."

Steve traced the floral pattern on the old couch, avoiding Soda's gaze. "Like I said; I gotta move on eventually. Now's as good a time as any."

Now that he'd finally realised Anna had meant what she'd said. She'd been so angry and upset when he'd gone to apologise, that he figured he ought to give her some space. It hadn't even been a week since he'd screwed around, so of course she was still angry and saying she wanted nothing to do with him. But now it was a month later and he hadn't heard from her once. All he had were third-hand comments from Two-Bit, stating that Kathy said that Anna said she'd never speak to him again if she didn't have to.

He'd given her space, but it didn't help. She didn't want him anymore; it was that simple. It hurt, but he got it. And once he got it, he actually started answering Evie when she came to see him. Every couple of days she would turn up, just to say hi. She knew the mess at Buck's had been a mistake, and seemed genuine in her wish to be friends. So last week they became friends, and yesterday he had kissed her … just because. She didn't need to know it was because he had seen Anna at the Dingo and not being with her sucked so fucking much.

It sucked and he wanted to hate her. Everything would be better if he could hate her, forget about her, pretend as though the last few months with her had never happened. He'd been happier in those months than ever before, but he'd take them all back if it stopped the pathetic ache in his chest.

Soda stretched his legs out, crossing them at his ankles. "Well, if you're sure this is what you really want …"

Steve nodded. "It is."

It wasn't. He wanted Anna, but Anna didn't want him, and if Anna didn't want him, then he might as well be with someone who did.

XXXXX

Nails tapping in quick succession on the tabletop, Anna glanced around Buck's again. She didn't want to be there. She didn't exactly want to be at home, either; her dad was at work and Danny was locked up for the next week, and as much as she had enjoyed the privacy lately, it was getting a little lonely. But she still didn't want to be at Buck's. Hell, she especially didn't want to be at Buck's. It wasn't a good place for her anymore - hadn't been for a while - and sitting in her chair, sipping at her beer, all she could see was Steve. Everywhere.

He wasn't there. Kathy had assured her that, according to Two-Bit, Steve was hanging out with the guys tonight. Playing poker or something. She didn't care what he was doing, so long as he wasn't there.

"Maybe we shouldn't have come here," Kathy said.

Anna looked at her best friend. "Why not?"

"Because you haven't been able to sit still since we arrived. I know I said I wanted to get you out of the house, but that didn't mean we had to come here."

"It's fine. I just … I really don't want to see him." Christ, she couldn't even say his name.

"Yeah." Kathy nodded. "Maybe we should go somewhere else. Just in case they turn up. I mean, I know what Two-Bit said, but he's hardly a reliable source."

It was tempting, but there really wasn't anywhere else to go. Nowhere that they could go without the chance of running into Steve, and she hated it. She shouldn't have to worry about every step she took, but she did. The idea of seeing him was horrible, and if she could avoid it, she would. But she shouldn't have to. She shouldn't even want to. She should be tougher than that.

Anna shook her head. "It's fine."

"You sure? I mean, I know this ain't easy, but I think it's good for you."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. You need to get out and forget about him. Show everyone that he doesn't matter and neither does what he did to you. He's a jerk, and you can do a million times better."

Anna nodded, amused by Kathy's refusal to call Steve by name. Sometimes she was sure her friend was more pissed at him than she herself was, but then that heavy feeling in her chest increased and the image of Steve and Evie coming down the stairs together forced its way into her mind …

Christ, she wished she could just forget. Forget him and her and everything they did together. But she couldn't; they were constantly on her mind and all she could be glad for was that it was still summer and she didn't have to see them everyday at school. She hated what they had done, hated Evie as much as she could hate her own family, and tried everyday to hate Steve.

But she didn't. She wanted to hate Steve, but all she could really hate was herself for still wanting him. Or, maybe not still wanting him, but definitely still loving him. It disgusted her, but it was what it was. There wasn't anything she could do about that but wait. Wait to get over him and go back to pretending as though he didn't exist.

She sighed. "Maybe we should go, after all."

Kathy didn't complain, and they left their table, making their way outside.

She saw Steve as soon as the door closed behind them, and her heart thumped wildly. It was the first time she'd seen him since he'd turned up at her house, trying to apologise. After that she had made a point of not going out alone - and she hated herself for it - for fear of running into him. But now she was seeing him and they were at Buck's and he was with Soda and Two-Bit and … Evie. Her heart sank.

"Anna." Kathy tugged on her sleeve, trying to make her leave, but she didn't move.

She couldn't move. The whole situation was similar to the night he had slept with Evie - with the silence that was falling over the group and the growing ache in her chest. Not to mention her sudden need to throw up. Only difference was that this time Kathy was there and she and Anna weren't catching Steve and Evie coming down the stairs together. They were just catching them together.

Making out. That sure didn't help the sick feeling in her stomach.

She didn't know how to feel - hurt, betrayed, not even a little bit surprised? All she knew was that despite how badly she didn't want what she was seeing to be true, it was. They were there and they were there together and her theory that neither one of them gave a shit about her was obviously true.

Together. What the hell did that even mean? Were they back together? With tears stinging her eyes, Anna averted her gaze to the ground, and silently cursed herself. Of course they were back together. Steve's fingers wouldn't be under Evie's blouse if they weren't.

It only took a few seconds for the couple to realise that something was going on - that something had caused Two-Bit and Soda to fall silent - and they pulled apart, spotting Anna and Kathy. Blinking back tears and gathering up all the courage she had, she looked at them.

A crazy idea in the back of her mind was to give them a quick glance before leaving, as though she had barely seen them and was most certainly not bothered by them. Instead, her gaze locked with Steve's, and she hoped to God he knew just how close she was to finally hating him.

Kathy tugged on her sleeve again, and this time Anna wasn't stupid enough to ignore it. She turned, headed down the stairs, and tried to stay as cool as she possibly could. They didn't need to know how badly she needed to be away from them - how much it hurt to be near them.

She didn't make it halfway across the parking lot before Steve called out to her. Damn him. Kathy cursed under her breath, and Anna sighed as he caught up. He captured her wrist in his hand and spun her around. Wrenching herself free, she hoped her disgust showed on her face. He didn't get to touch her anymore - not after what he had done and definitely not when she had just caught him touching Evie.

"You're back with her?" she asked, before she could stop herself.

"Anna -"

"How long?" she asked. "How long have you been back together?"

Steve fidgeted. "It just happened today."

"Were you planning on telling me?"

"Yes." He avoided her eyes and Anna knew he was lying.

She remembered when she and Steve had gotten together; she'd made a point of wanting to tell Evie as soon as she could, and avoiding going out in public with Steve until then. She'd thought that putting it off was pointless and mean. She hadn't wanted to keep something like that from her own cousin.

"Well, I had to find out somehow, right? I mean, catching the two of you kissing at Buck's is much better than if you'd had the decency to actually come and tell me yourselves."

"We didn't want to hurt you …"

She ignored that bullshit. "How can you do that? How can you just go from one of us to the next, without giving it a second thought?"

"I don't."

She scoffed. "Yes, you do. Look at you right now; you've left her up there alone to come after me, and once we're done here, you'll go right back to her … just like you always do."

Steve frowned. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I don't get it! If you really wanted a new girlfriend, why choose Evie? Why not go for someone completely new? Y'know, you get a bit of variety in your life."

"It's not like that," he said, sounding desperate to make her believe him.

"You're right; it's not like that. You and Evie are always getting back together; I ain't even surprised." She shrugged, not knowing where her words were coming from. She had never planned to speak to him the next time she saw him, but she was having trouble keeping her trap shut and the spite out of her voice. "You two can't seem to get over each other … it was only a matter of time before you got back together."

"That's not fair." He had an angry glint in his eyes as he stepped forward, and his voice was low.

"Screw you and your it's not fair bullshit. How can you be okay with this? How can you be okay with treating someone like you have?"

"I'm not okay with it!"

"Yeah, well. You're also a cheating bastard so I don't believe a word you say."

Steve scowled and Anna knew he was angry. Part of the reason they never used to get along was because she had an uncanny ability to make him angry. She didn't care, though. He could be as pissed off as he wanted. He stepped forward again, but Two-Bit turned up at his side before he could say anything.

"Hey, buddy. How 'bout that party we were thinkin' about?"

"Actually, I'm quite happy here," he spat.

Anna crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the ground. She wanted to leave - desperately so - but she was just as stubborn as Steve and she wasn't the one in the wrong. He should be the one to leave … even if she planned on leaving as soon as he was gone anyway.

"I really think we oughtta go," Soda said, coming to stand with them.

Steve sneered. "Yeah? Well I really think -"

Kathy cut him off. "Don't you think you've done enough?"

Anna had never been more glad that Kathy was her best friend. She glanced around the group; Steve still looked pissed, Soda looked surprised, and Two-Bit actually looked impressed by his girlfriend's loyalty. Evie was still on the steps, watching silently. Steve's gaze flickered back to Anna, and she looked away again.

"What're you talking about?" he asked.

Kathy scoffed. "Think about it, Steve. You're not stupid; I'm sure you'll figure it out." She fidgeted, grabbing Anna's hand and standing as tall as her short form would allow. "Now, we're goin' back inside; you lot might as well leave … you're not wanted here."

With one last glance at Steve who was still staring at her intently, Anna quickly followed Kathy inside. She hoped like hell she wasn't about to ruin her night even more by sticking around.

Ain't nobody got the blues like me,
Ain't nobody got the blues like me

A/N: Thanks to Rileysmomma for beta-reading. All comments and concrit are appreciated.