Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders by S.E Hinton, nor do I own "Believe Me I'm Lying" by Forever The Sickest Kids.
Wednesday, April 4th, 1965
Anna was adding the finishing touches of her three page assigned essay. She had decided to write about the music legend, Elvis Presley. She skimmed through it a few times before deciding that is was presentable to give to Miss Hill. She was damn tired - she had worked all day on it.
She started to tap her pencil on the table, while quickly reading the last paragraph. Setting the paper down, she got up and deciding to fill her growling stomach with food. It was a late on a Wednesday night, and Anna was home alone. She didn't like being home alone, but the radio had been blasting, and she had been so occupied in writing her essay, her fear had been gone. She opened the fridge and looked through it. Though it was full of food, nothing looked appealing enough to eat.
Thinking her Mom and Dan were home, she looked over at the door. But instead, her sister Katie came in. She slowly shut the door, and turned around with her head down. Even with all of the hair curtaining her face, the big bruise stuck out. Anna slammed the fridge shut and walked over to her injured sister.
Katie didn't budge. She just sat down on the coach, and curled up in the blanket Anna had left from taking a nap earlier. Anna watched as Katie slowly rested her head on the pillow, and shut her eyes. Anna walked over to sit on the edge of the coach, and looked down at Katie, who looked pained.
"Katie?" she said softly, but got no response. Katie wasn't one to cry, or to come home and sleep. She was always doing something. Anna wondered if she should just go make supper and leave Katie alone, but she decided that, as a good sister, it was her responsibility to make sure Katie was okay.
"Katie..." she shook her shoulders, and bit her lip as Katie winced. "What happened?"
Katie let out a hushed breath, and tears started to silently pour down her cheeks. They stained her face, but Katie made no effort to rub them away. Maybe all those years of holding in tears, she wanted them to come out now.
Anna stroked her sisters hair, and tried to reassure her. But even she knew things were obviously not okay, but that didn't mean Katie had to know that. "You gonna tell me what's wrong?" she asked after a few moments.
Anna's hand was still on Katie's shoulder. She felt Katie shrug. "Don't worry 'bout it, kid," she said hoarsely.
"I ain't a kid!" Anna said hotly, annoyed that her sister thought she was just some sixteen year old who knew nothing about reality.
Katie paused. She looked, and sounded, exhausted. "You're right. I think it's about time I gave ya more credit. You're almost seventeen."
Anna sure was confused. Why was Katie suddenly acting so ... Hollywood? Her sister was no saint, that was for sure. But she was no Plain Jane who gave reassuring speeches like she was now. Katie's eyes watered up again, and Anna felt her heart twist. Seeing her sister cry, afer holding it in for years, hurt her deeply.
"Please...tell me what's wrong," she pleaded, not being able to stand seeing her cry any longer.
Katie sat up a bit, and put her arm around Anna. The two cuddled together in a sisterly way. Katie rested her cheek on the top of Anna's head. "Bryan Coleman," was all she said. Anna wanted to look up at her sister, but she didn't want to ruin the moment. Their conversation had stopped suddenly, because Dan had come in the room with Caroline behind him.
Dan passed Caroline a bag, and she held them up in the air as if they were pom-poms. "We got your dresses!" she squealed.
Dan sighed, showing no sign of any emotion other than irritation. He had, clearly, been dragged all over town, for he did nothing but go to the fridge to get a beer.
"Kate, yours in pink. Anna yours is blue. Perfect blue," Caroline sat on the seperate chair that could only fit one person.
"What do you mean perfect blue?" Anna asked, looking into Caroline's sky blue eyes.
"You're eyes. There like...dark. An ocean, or somethin' of the sort. We got ya shoes too," Caroline seemed to be more excited about the dance then Anna was.
"I ain't goin'," Katie snapped, getting up and dragged the blanket along with her. She looked frightened. Bryan Coleman? Anna couldn't put the pieces together. She needed more than just that to work with.
Caroline's face dropped. "Sweety, what happened to your face?" she crossed her arms and looked at both of her daughter. "Did you and Anna get in another fight over that boy?"
When Anna was seven, and Katie was ten, they had both had a crush on the same boy. That boy had been Steve Randle, unfortunately. Though the girls vowed to never speak of it again, they still remembered it. Of course, Anna and Katie had still been in the stage where they thought cooties were real. Steve was still the same as he used to be; bitter. Steve lived pretty close to Soda, so he went there all the time. At least enough for his old man to never really have the opportunity to kick him out. Even when he was home, his Mom had still been alive and his dad had been happy. Mr & Mrs Curtis had still been alive too ... before they died.
"No," Katie growled, "I just had some problems with my date and I ain't goin' anymore. I'm droppin' out of school and leavin' this god damn town! I'm so sick of all these bastards and bitches that live here!" she raged, and started for the stairs that led upstairs.
Anna, Caroline and even Dan, were all shocked at Katie's behavior. Anna had her mouth open in shock, and found herself not being able to shut it. Caroline had sadness in her eyes, but her mouth was pressed in a straight line. Dan just looked emotionless, just like he always did. Dan would never change.
"I want you to find out what happened," Dan broke the silence and looked at Anna with heated brown eyes.
Anna rolled her eyes. "S'none of my business," she muttered.
Even before Dan had demanded her to find out, she had been planning on finding out anyways. Katie was her sister, her full sister, and her only sister. She would do whatever it took to protect her. Even though it should be vice versa, but Anna knew Katie watched out for her. Just not in the same way.
"Yes it is, Anna. I'm with you're father on this —" Caroline began, but was shortened by the way Anna stared at her.
Anna laughed a grim laugh, "Oh..." she laughed again, as if not believing what her mother had just said. "My father, huh?"
"Anna...I didn't...I didn't mean it like that..." she tried to explain, but Anna waved her hand in her face. She really wasn't in the mood to put up with whatever argument Dan and Caroline would try and pick out with her.
She ran up the stairs, and headed down the hall to her sisters room. Katie was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring into space, but she blinked and looked over at Anna as the door loudly creeked open.
"We need to talk," Anna said, not blinking as she stared at Katie.
Katie nodded and sniffed back her tears. "Yeah. I think we have some things to clear up, huh?"
"Yeah, we do," Anna agreed and sat beside her sister on the bed.
XXXXX
Two-Bit let his arm lazily rest on Kathy's shoulders, as she looked up at the movie screen. Kathy had finally agreed to go out with him, though it didn't take as much convincing as he thought it would. All day he had skipped out on school, really feeling no need to go. So today for him was pretty much a lazy day. He didn't mind Wednesday's at all, but he just didn't feel the urge to go to school. It's not like he learned anything anyways.
The movie was halfway finished, but it still had a while to go. Any other girl that came with him, he would have his hand up her shirt the moment the movie started. But Kathy wasn't like that. She was way different for what he took her for. He had thought that, foolishly, she was easy. When he had met her at Buck's, she sure was easy ... but not now. She definitely was playing hard to get, but Two-Bit liked that. He liked to have something to chase. But now he knew not to judge a book by it's cover.
"So," he whispered in her ear, pulling her closer to him. She took her fixed eyes off of the movie screen and looked over at Two-Bit.
"Watch the movie," she said ruefully.
He knew that she wasn't really watching the movie - or maybe she was - but he sure as hell knew he wasn't. He had probably yawned a total of twenty times through out the whole thing. He had got up to leave and go to the food stand a total of ten times. He even considered ditching a total of twelve times. All of that in a matter of thirty minutes. Every greaser that had passed him and Kathy, would laugh and make smart-ass comments about how he was 'losing his ways'. Two-Bit had just give them the finger, while Kathy rolled her eyes. Every greaser that came to the Nightly Double had been utterly confused as to why Two-Bit hadn't ditched with his blonde to make-out near the lake.
"Come on, baby," he stroked a piece of blonde hair behind her ear, "Do you really think I'm going to buy that you're watchin' the movie?" he whispered seductively.
"I am," she insisted, and looked down at her hands.
"No you ain't," he grinned at her.
"Alright," she sighed in defeat, "I'm not."
He winked at her, "I knew it. Now can we ditch?"
She turned to face him and gave him her undivided attention, "Two-Bit Mathews, if you expect me to go to prom with you on Friday, you seriously better be able to commit to us."
Two-Bit just grinned wider, "I think I can make an exception for you, babe."
She looked away from him and up at the screen, leaning back on his arm. "Good."
Kathy sure could be a fiesty one.
"So did ya pick yer dress out?" he asked, hoping that being nice to her would get him lucky tonight.
She sighed and looked over at him, irritated. "Yeah, I did."
"What color?" he asked, sipping on his Coke. He watched her answer, trying to look as if it was interesting.
She bit her lip. He knew that she didn't want to tell him, "Pink."
"That'd look beautiful on ya, baby," he kissed her cheek, jawline, and everywhere else but her mouth. He knew that it drove any girl crazy when he kissed every inch of the girls face, excluding her mouth.
He smiled to himself in satisfaction as he heard her moan at the back of her throat. With the sudden change in mood, she wrapped her arms around his neck, cupping her palms on both sides of his neck. He was shocked at first, but then remembered that Kathy was pretty easy to get in bed. It wouldn't be long until he'd be getting lucky every night.
The movie was coming to an end. Two-Bit knew that because when he had broke the kiss, everybody had been getting up to leave. There were mostly fancy dressed Socs and their girls that were at the Double, but the occasional greaser and his girl would come on a weekday. He got up before her, and held his hand down. "Do ya wanna head down to the Curtis'?"
She took his hand, and looked at him with suspicion. "I guess..."
They walked hand-in-hand to Two-Bit's Plymouth, which he had to get fixed soon, and he held the door open for her as she got in the car. He turned the key, waiting for the car to start. With a few more tries, it finally came to life.
"Actually...I should head back. It's late,'' she murmured.
The movie had started at nine, and it had to be ten. If not, around there. Of course she wanted to get back soon. It was a school night. "Alrighty, just tell me where I'm drivin' ya."
She told him. They drove, chatting about stupid things, like cartoons. Turns out the chick liked the Looney Tunes better then Mickey Mouse. He was surprised at that, of course, but agreed that it was alright. It also turned out that the girl lived pretty close to the Nightly Double, which baffled him. Before she was about to get out, he pulled her in for a long and passionate kiss.
He didn't miss the way her cheeks turned pink in the moonlight, as he kissed her hand. "Bye, Two-Bit."
He nodded at her, "I'll see ya tomorrow. Maybe."
She stopped dead in her tracks and looked at him, "Maybe?" he grinned at the sadness in her eyes.
"Yeah. Don't know if I'm up for goin' tomorrow, but I might."
She nodded, "Okay. See you later."
Two-Bit drove, not sure of what to think. He drove to the Curtis house, which lived a decent length away. Surely the gang would still be up and at'em at this time of night. Greasers never really went for going to bed early anyways. He pulled up beside the curb, and saw all of the lights on. He grinned to himself and hopped out of the car, slamming the door shut.
"Well, well! The owl's are still awake, I see," he exclaimed while entering the house. Anna, Katie, Darry and Ponyboy were all sitting down in the kitchen. Steve and Sodapop were playing poker in the living room. They all looked up and over to Two-Bit, who had his fists jammed in his leather jacket.
"Hey, Two-Bit," Soda grinned and continued to play poker.
Two-Bit decided to see what was up, and walked over to where they were all huddled together. Darry and Katie were having a deep, serious conversation. He noticed the giant bruise that had formed on her pretty face and was confused as to what happened. Did Darry do that?
"What's up?" he asked, straddling the chair backwards.
Anna looked to Ponyboy, and nodded. "The leader of Brumly hit Katie," Pony said slowly. Two-Bit may have been stupid, but he knew there was so much more to the story than just that.
It suddenly hit him. "Bryan Coleman?" Two-Bit had never been fond of that Bryan kid, but he had nothing against him either. Bryan was one of those hoods that would grow up to be an old hood.
Bryan was a lot like Ricky and Matt - he wouldn't get better over the years, he would get worse. It was plain fact.
"Yeah," Pony said, frowning.
Anna stayed silent and frowned. It was as if Darry and Katie hadn't even noticed his presence, as they suddenly linked hands and pressed their foreheads together. Katie's eyes were red from crying and her tears had dried up on her cheeks.
"Did I miss somethin'?" Two-Bit asked, a grin etched on his face.
Anna smiled herself, and Two-Bit couldn't help but notice when she grinned, it lit up the whole room. He shook his head mentally.
Anna and Two-Bit stared at each other for a moment, a silent message passing through them. Anna signaled over to Darry and Katie, who still had their eyes closed, then looked back at Two-Bit.
"Ah..." he said out loud. So Katie and Darry were going out. Two-Bit had somehow seen it coming at one point or another. Hard working Katie Mercer, who was turning twenty soon, was somehow destined to be with hard working Darry Curtis, who was already twenty. Saying they were 'going out' didn't feel right. They were both far to mature for that.
Anna snapped her fingers, and soundlessly told Two-Bit to follow her outside. They both walked out the Curtis' front door, and slammed the big door and the screen door behind them. They walked down on the grass and sat down.
"Apparently," she began, "From what Katie told me, she had been tryna tell Bryan she didn't wanna go with him to the dance anymore. Pretty much tellin' him she had a 'thing'," — she made air quotes around thing, — "for Darry."
Not something you're supposed to tell Bryan Coleman, he thought.
"...and Bryan took it upon himself to hit her," she continued.
"That all makes sense," he nodded slowly, keeping his eyes fixated on the dark grass.
"Where were you all night?" she asked quietly, biting her lip and looking down at the dry, short grass.
"Been at home, than went on a date with Kathy," he leaned back on his hands, "You?"
She chuckled, "At home. I finished my essay, finally."
He laughed himself, "Oh yeah? Good for you, kid."
He looked at her closely, and couldn't help but realise Anna was heartbreakingly beautiful. Kathy was damn cute, and so was Katie. But Anna was beautiful, that was the only right word to describe her. She had presence, and integrity. Something Katie didn't have. He smacked himself upside the head for thinking the way he was. He had a girlfriend - technically - and Anna was his best girl friend.
"So you excited `bout Friday?" he asked, deciding to try and distract himself from thinking.
She pursed her lips and thought for a moment, "Yeah...I guess...I don't really know anymore. Ricky doesn't talk to me much at all."
"What a bastard," Two-Bit blurted, but said mostly to himself.
Anna smirked at him. Her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, "Keith Mathews, are you jealous?"
Two-Bit snapped his neck up and cocked an eyebrow. "Huh?" he was taken off guard.
There went everybody thinking he was jealous again.
She couldn't wipe the smile off of her face, "Soda told me that you didn't want me goin' with Ricky. To the dance."
"He did?" Two-Bit was confused. Soda wasn't one to just blurt out that sort of stuff.
"Well, not exactly," she admitted, her smile starting to decrease. "But I kinda manipulated him into sayin' it."
"Really ..." Two-Bit trailed off, and glanced up at her. Though her grin had lightened a bit, she was still smiling like a fool.
"So, are ya jealous?" she asked quietly, her dirty blonde curls beginning to twirl by the light April wind.
"No, why would I be jealous? Ain't none-a my business who ya go with," he said, trying not to grin.
By the look on Anna's face, he knew that even lying wouldn't get himself out of the position he was in now. He wondered just how much she knew.
Every once in a while, people step up, they rise above themselves. Sometimes they surprise you, and sometimes they fall short. Life is funny sometimes, it can push pretty hard, but if you look close enough you find hope in the words of children, in the bars of a song, and in the eyes of someone you love. And if you're lucky, the luckiest person on this entire planet, the person you love, decides to love you back.
A/N: I'm a bit iffy on this chapter. I have noticed a few typo's in the past chapters, and I will be fixing them soon. Only mild changes will be made, nothing big. Review if you're reading, please :)