Chapter 2

That night, we had taken Ashling to Tim's place, where he was holding another party. No surprise there. Since her arrival, Ashling had warmed up to Soda. I cursed myself for not making more of an effort with her. It dawned on me then that I actually liked this girl.. more than I'd liked any girl for a long time. It scared me. Love was just another reason to get yourself hurt. But there was something about this girl that made me want to forget all about my fears and jump and fall. As we walked the short distance from our Curtis residence to Tim's place, I watched as Soda laughed and let his arm lay around Ashling's shoulders. Ashling stiffened for a moment at his touch, but soon enough relaxed and laughed along with him, allowing his arm to stay around her shoulders. I wasn't the only one who looked on at the scene in distaste, Dally was glaring at the back of Soda's head.

"You like her." a voice to my right said, amused. Ponyboy, of course it was. He missed nothing.

I tried to shrug it off acting as if I knew he was behind me the whole time. I peeled my eyes away from Soda and Ash, letting them fall to Pony's level. "Sure," I murmured, looking straight ahead now. "She's nice. Don't you think?"

"She is," he agreed but he was chuckling. I frowned as he pulled out a box of matches and pack of cigarettes. A nasty habit he'd promise he'd quite soon. "But ya know.. I didn't mean it like that."

I thought of asking what did he mean but I knew and he knew I knew. I sighed, pusing the broken gate that was half off it's hinges to Tim's front door. I held it open for the others but Ponyboy stayed behind. "I guess. It doesn't matter though. She and Sodapop are obviously interested in eachother and it's not like she'd ever go for me anyway. I'll get over it, it's just a little first glance crush, after all."

"I don't know," he dropped his cigarette and stubbed it out with his toe, crushing it to ash. "Ashling is different."

Damn right, she was.

Inside, I was surprised to see that Soda had teared himself away from Ashling, who I found upstairs in a quiet room running her hands over dusty old books as if they meant something to her more than anyone could understand. Sodapop was deep in conversation with his almost-ex Sandy so I decided to give that drama a miss and hide upstairs. I wasn't enjoying myself at all.

I dived into Tim's room - at least, I think it was Tim's anyway - and there she was. Ashling. Crouch with a drink in one hand and her free hand dancing over the spines of books. I didn't make a noise and she didn't acknowledge my presence. She pulled out a book, flipping it over in her hands. "Have you ever read this, Darry?"

I sauntered ver nad sat cross-legged beside her, taking the book from her hands. To Kill A Mockingbird. "Yes," I swallowed. "Have you?"

"It's one of my favourite's."

"Do you read a lot?"

Ashling looked at me, her green eyes serious. Biting her lip for a moment, she tilted her head in thought. Pursing her lips, she raised an eyebrow, saring off into the distance. "I have to."

"Why?" I frowned, putting the book back into it's appropriate slot.

"To save me from reality." Ashling stood up and gently placed her half empty glass on a table. "You know how life is."

I did.

I really did, more than anyone.

Life wasn't fair and sometimes all someone needed was a little fiction to get them through it.

I grabbed her wrist before she could leave the room. For a moment we looked into eachother's eyes as if we shared some hidden secret that no one else would ever know or understand. Ashling flexed her hand and I tightened my grip, swallowing hard. I shook my head, clearing the cobwebs from my brain. "Do you like Sodapop?"

Ashling tilted her head to the side, her eyes wide and curious. "No." she finally said, bringing a smile to her face. "Not like that."

I let go of her hand and, with a final wink, let her dance off into the dark hall.

Dally was drunk, Soda was drunk, Steve was drunk. Ponyoy had gone home already leaving Ashling and Ithe only sober(ish) people to help the other home. No matter how strong Ashling may be, there was no way we were geting these three home in a oner. Ashlign convinced Tim - with more flirting than I cared to see - to allow Steve to crash the night. Our only problems were our brother's now. They were both double the size of Ashling and I could on thank the Lord's that they were both concious. Would that make it any easier?

"C'mon, big guy." I murmured, pulling Soda up off the sofa as Ashling urge Dally to get up. "Time to go home, you two."

Daly wrapped his arm around Ashling's neck, allowing her to pull him up with little effort on his part. "You know, sis.." he slurred into her hair. I laughed as she winced. "I really missed you."

"I missed you, too, sis." Sodapop chimed in. I struggle to keep him up as he stumbled all over the treet. Ash was having more luck than I was. "No- We're not realted, are ya? I like you really lots."

"Hey!" Dally shouted, drooling over his chin and down onto Ashling's hair, making her shriek but she didn't let go of him. "That'sa my sis, you're like you lots really."

Ashling giggled and mouthed "Help" in my direction. I shook my head, mouthing back an apology as I gesture towards my own lump of a brother, who was shaking his head at Dally, trying to stand up on his own and make his way towards Dally. Ashling fixed a cold look on him, so cold that he froze in his tracks, dazing him enough that I could grab him and drag him toards the house. Nearly there. Ashling murmured something to Dally and he gave her an exasperted reply. I didn't know what they were talking about.

"Darry! Hey, Superman." Dally howled, I turned my head to see waht he was doing. "You look after her, you hear? I know.. I know that you like her. Anna don't blame ya! But just after look her, okay?"

"Okay?" I replied, skeptical. "I guess we're sleeping together tonight then, eh Ash?"

Oops. Everyone's head snapped in my direction. Soda and Dally started cussing every bad word under the sun as Ashling lost herself in a fit of giggles, I couldn't help but join her.

"I didn't mean it like that," I growled through my chuckles. "Oh, Ash knew what I meant! Grow up, you two."

When we had dropped Dally off on our couch and Soda in his bed. I grabbed Ashling's hand, relieved she didn't pull away, and led her up to my bedroom. I didn't know if sharing a bed with me would be awkward, but Ashling had a way of dispelling awkward air away anyway and I hoped it would be alright. I prayed it would be. Ashling leaned against the wall and smiled at me as I pulled my sirt up over my head. Her eyes sparkled deviously and I wondered if she was as sober as I had first thought. "Can I have that?" sh murmured, pushing herself up from the wal and coming towards me, gesturing to my grey shirt.

"S-Sure.." I handed over the shirt and I swear my jaw near enough dropped to the floor as she smirked, winked and then pulled her dress up over her head, leting it drop to the floor before replacing it swiftly wth my shirt. Damn, she had a good body. "S-sorr-ry-ry."

"For what?" she asked, leaning down and taking off her shoes. Ashling shook out her hair as I took of my jeans, pulling them off until I was just in my boxers and she was just in my shirt. I shook my head and she smirked, crawling under my covers.

I turned the light off and jumped into bed beside her, where she had curled up on her side. I lay on my back with my arms behind my head. I wasn't sure if she was just being quiet and leaving me to my thoughts or if she was sleeping.

"Darry."

I turned around to face her, only to have her arms wrap around my neck. My own hands instinctively went to her hips to pull her towards me. Ashling ducked her head under my chin and I pressed my lips softly against her temple. "Sweet dreams," I said, smiling as I rested my chin on her head.

Ashling's arms tightened around my neck and my hands slipped to her waist. "Sweet dreams, Darry."

I hoped to God she wasn't drunker than I thought.