Trying hard not to hear

But they talk so loud

Their peircing sounds fill my ears

Try to fill me with doubt

-Leona Lewis

Dally shook his head. He glared at me for a bit, and as each second passed he seemed to get more and more intimidating. After what seemed like centuries, he said: "Why are you hanging 'round these people?" His voice was dripping with hatred. Honestly, I was more scared than not, but I wouldn't let it show. I don't want Dally to know.

"Because they're my friends," I shot back. I glared back at him, but I knew I wasn't near as intimidating as he was. No one is. Some people like to pretend they are, but no one can compare to my brother. No one.

"Friends?" He asked annoyed and shocked. "Friends? You say they're your friends? Candie, I can promise you, they are not your friends! They are socs. Heartless socs that like to jump greasers like you! They're gonna pretend to be your friend, and then they're gonna kill you. I don't even understand why you would ever trust a soc, or why you'd even consider being friends with one," Dally grew more angry with each word and if he was a cartoon character, smoke would be coming out of his ears. His face already was pretty red, which only made him seem scarier.

I backed up so I was standing beside Bob. I knew he could tell I was scared, and there was a good chance Randy and David could too, but I didn't care. As long as Dally couldn't tell, that's all that mattered.

"The only problem with your little theory there," I started. "Is that they probably would have killed me by now. Seeing as I've been friends with them since grade one, and I trust them more than you,"

That was a wrong move. And if I had of thought about it, I probably wouldn't have said that. But what came next was completely unexpected. I expected Dally to yell at me and tell me to never trust a soc, blah blah blah. He didn't do that though. He was quiet. I think that scared me most. Dally's never quiet, so I knew something bad was going to happen. And I was right. Dally hit me. Somewhat hard, too. He slapped me across the face, and you better believe it hurt! I winced a bit. I knew Bob was glaring at Dally, and Bob can be real intimidating when he wants to be, but it wasn't going to have any affect on Dally. It will make him angrier, if anything. I looked over at Randy and David and they just looked shocked. I don't really blame them, though. Even Dally wouldn't hit a girl, let alone his sister, but there's a first for everything.

"What the hell!" Bob hissed. It was more of a statement than a question.

"What do you care? You might have her fooled but you're not fooling me," Dally looked at me and shook his head. "Don't say I didn't warn ya'," And with that, he left. I expected a lot worse so I was glad when he left.

VvVvV

News travels fast. I don't know who Dally told, but it felt like the whole school knew who I was. On the bright side I didn't need to pretend to hate the socs. I walked to my locker after second period with Cherry and she kept rambling on about something I didn't care about. Even if I did care I wouldn't have been able to pay attention to what she was saying; the looks the greasers gave me were too distracting, to say the least.

"Hey Cherry," I heard a familial voice say. I knew I heard the voice somewhere before, but it was a while ago so I didn't know who it was off the top of my head, so I turned around to look at the voice. "Candie? So the rumor's are true,"

Two-Bit Mathews. We were friends for a bit, even though we both knew Dally would be annoyed with us. So, like me and the socs, we kept if from everyone. After about a year or so we stopped hanging out, I can't really remember why though.

"Hey Two-Bit," I smirked. "Long time no see,"

-Flashback-

It was recess and I was walking around bored. I was in the straight grade four class and Bob was in the split five/six, and his class was on a field trip.

I was walking around the soccer field and I glanced over at my brother. Him and some of his friends were picking on some little kid in grade one. I rolled my eyes. That's all Dally usually does. Pick on kids younger than him and try to run away at lunch. But something seemed different. I looked carefully to see if I could see what was different, but I couldn't. I kept looking for a few more minutes until I realized the only thing different different was that one of his friends were missing. It was his friend I liked most. I think his name was Two-Bit, but I wasn't too sure.

I walked over to the monkey bars and I hung upside down. Everything looked funny and seemed more confusing upside down. When I looked at the people that were playing soccer, I got dizzy whenever someone kicked the ball.

"Are you Candie?" A voice interupted my thoughts.

I didn't move or turn to look at who was speaking to me, I just kept hanging upside down. "It depends on who's asking,"

"I'm Two-Bit," The voice said.

I got down from the monkey bars and grinned at Two-Bit. He was real cute. He had the nicest grey eyes I had probaby ever seen. "Yeah, I'm Candie. You must be a friend of my brother?"

He nodded. "Why don't you ever hang around with your brother?"

"Because I'm not aloud," I grinned and shook my head. "Haven't you ever heard of sibling rivarly?"

"I have," He answered. "I have a sister, too. But I would never tell her she isn't aloud to hang out with me. Actually, I rather she would so I can watch out for her in case the socs jump her," I tried to keep from glaring and was sucsessful. "Why don't you at least talk to Dal? Maybe you can talk him into letting you hang with us,"

"Maybe," I rolled my eyes. "Actually, I know I could, but I don't want to," I told Two-Bit honestly. "I have friends,"

Two-Bit looked around. "I don't see anyone. Are they imaginary?"

I rolled my eyes again. Two-Bit was such a smart-alec! "No, they're a grade ahead of me in the split class. They're on a feild trip,"

"Well maybe they could hang out with us too," He suggested.

I laughed and shook my head. "You're a piece maker," I sighed. "There's no way they'd hang around you guys," I informed him.

"And why might that be?" He asked curiously. I smiled because he didn't sound suspicious at all. He seemed like he was actually just curious.

"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," I said with a smirk. I had meant it as a joke, but I sounded serious when I said it. Two-Bit gave me a weird look and I laughed. "I'm kidding!"

"Okay," He chuckled but gave me a weird look. "But really, who are they?" I didn't say anything so Two-Bit added: "Candie, I don't care. You can trust me,"

I sighed. "Socs.. Bob and Randy, mostly,"

I had a real problem with trusting people. I just met the guy, yet I felt comfortable with telling him I was friends with the people he hates. He could beat me up for it. He could tell my brother or the whole school! I didn't know this guy. He could be some greasy hood like Tim Shepard, my brother's pal, for all I know! But for some reason, I felt safe telling him.

The smile Two-Bit gave me re-assured me that I would not regret telling him. He looked like he thought it was funny, but he looked a little concerned. "Does your brother know?" I shook my head slowly. "Do you have any idea how mad he'd be if he found out?"

"Yeah," I sighed. "Just don't tell him. Please?" I begged.

"Why would I do that?" He laughed. "Of course I won't tell Dally! Unless I gotta' for some reason,"

I grinned. "Thanks Two-Bit," I grinned more. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Two-Bit merrily shrugged. "I'm a nice I guy,"

I laughed. "I can tell!"

For the rest of the recess I hung around Two-Bit. We walked, talked and avoided my brother. Two-Bit and I hung out a lot, actually, after that. No one knew though. We kept it a secret. If it got back to Dally, he'd be pissed at us, and who knows what would happen if it got back to the socs! And that's something I wasn't itching to find out.

-End of flashback-

"Aw hell Two-Bit," I gave him a goofy grin. "You already knew they were true,"

Two-Bit rolled his eyes but grinned back. "Yeah but, I never thought it'd spread around the entire school,"

"No one did," I muttered. I think I heard Cherry say something, but I was too busy thinking of when me and Two-Bit use to hang around. Boy did I use to have a big crush on him.

I looked at Two-Bit and he was staring at me smiling. "You grew up on me Candie," He shook his head. "You were never gonna grow up. You were always gonna be my little Candie,"

I grinned more. When we were little, all Two-Bit wanted was to grow up. I hear stories about him now and it's hard to believe he's the same Two-Bit. Me, on the other hand, I never wanted to grow up. I didn't want to ever have to deal with grown-up stuff. I wanted to stay the same little girl I was back then.

"I still am your little Candie," I told him. "I just got a bit taller,"

"And you died your hair," He pointed out. "Blonde. I like it," He smirked and put his arm around my shoulders. I rolled my eyes. Every girl knew Two-Bit had a thing for blondes. I heard some girls died their hair just so they'd stand a chance with him. But I knew Two-Bit was just teasing me. He was my "big brother".

It couldn't have been a minute after Two-Bit put his arm around me I heard a voice growl from behind us. "Hands to yourself greaser!"

It was Bob. I didn't need to look to figure that out. No one had the same voice as Bob. His was just, perfect.

Annoyed, Two-Bit took his arm off my shoulders and rolled his eyes. I rolled my eyes, equally annoyed. Bob knows that if I didn't want his arm around me I could deal with him myself. Bob babied me a lot and it was kind of annoying. He said it was because he thought of me as a little sister, and Dally wasn't much of a big brother so he would take Dally's place. Whenever he says that though David and Randy laugh and say it's a bunch of bullshit.

Bob walked over to Cherry and wrapped his arm around her and glared at me and Two-Bit. "Who's this greaser and why you letting him put his arm around you?"

I rolled my eyes. "He's a person," I told Bob. "And I'm letting him put his arm around me because he's a friend,"

Bob glared a bit more at Two-Bit. "What's his name?! He must have a name!"

I don't know what Bob was looking for, but I could tell he wasn't just curious. If you're just curious you don't get this upset. Then again, it could just be because Two-Bit was a greaser, and I don't like many greasers. And Bob doesn't like any greasers, with the exception of me.

"Two-Bit,"

I totally forgot Two-Bit was there. I looked over at him and he was just kind of standing there, not sure what to do. He looked annoyed and confused. I'd be annoyed and confused if I were him too.

"Bob, please don't start a fight!" Cherry pleaded. "You get in too many fights," Cherry was right. Bob did get in too many fights, though I'd never say I thought so. Bob knew he got in too many fights too, but that's a fact he'd never admit.

Bob ignored Cherry and looked confused. "Two-Bit... Where have I heard that name before?"

I coughed and looked down. I knew where he heard that name before. You see, since Two-Bit and I stopped hanging out I've seen him twice. Actually, we were dating. He asked me out one day, then two days later he kind of just disappeared. He avoided me at school too, up until now.

"I don't know Bob," What he doesn't know won't kill him.

"Just leave it Bob," Cherry knew where Bob heard that name, too, and she knows just as well as I do that Bob would most likely beat Two-Bit's brain in if he knew.

Bob gave Cherry a half grin and shook his head. "No promises Cher',"

"Bob," David's voice spoke. I just noticed he was here and boy was I glad! "Look, you know I hate agreeing with the chicks," He smirked a bit. "Especially Cherry, but maybe you should leave it alone. I mean, when does Candie ever keep stuff from us?"

Bob grinned more and shook his head. I sighed knowing Bob was defiantly not gonna leave it alone.

"Wanna come to the movies with me Randy an' Marcia?" Bob asked Cherry, raising an eyebrow like Two-Bit. I looked over at Two-Bit and laughed. He looked somewhat annoyed, mad even, at Bob for doing that but he was standing awkwardly with a group of socs. Over all he just looked real uncomfortable.

"Sure!" Cherry replied happily. "See ya' then. Bye Candie," Then she walked off to her next class.

Marcia looked at us and grinned. "We have the same class so I'm gonna go catch up," And then she ran off too, leaving me, Bob, Randy, David and Two-Bit.

Randy and Bob walked off smirking and David stood beside me watching them. I was surpised no one attempted to jump Two-Bit yet, and I was also surprised Two-Bit was still here and he didn't take off.

"I hope you said a good goodbye to Cherry and Marcia," David whispered. "'Cause you won't be seeing them anymore. Bob and Randy are going to break up with them tonight," David was grinning, but he looked at Two-Bit and his expression changed. He was giving Two-Bit a look as if to warn him about something."If Bob remembers you than even Candie can't stop him from killing you," In responce, Two-Bit nodded and David jogged off.

I had a bad feeling about something. Something was going to happen at the movies, I could sence it. But I didn't know what.