A/N: Not my best by far but once I get more

"That's still better than what you do to your sister." My rescuer answered grimly. "Why don't you take a hike while you still can? I'd hate to mess up your Purdy little face… not that your rich old daddy don't have the money to fix it up."

"Don't act like a bitch just because you're poorer than shit and can't afford to sleep in a cardboard box! Why don't you get a job you fucking bum?"

It was like watching a Tennis match, I could get whiplash from watching them take their obvious hatred for each other and turn it into verbal insults. Coming back from my thoughts I saw the Shepard charge the 'Purdy' one and tackle him to the ground and as the 'socs' were surrounding him out of nowhere came about 6 guys all dressed like greasers these guys weren't at the dance! Shepard let out a laugh - he was really enjoying this, just like Tony would have…. I stood there in shock as Shepard's friends beat them to a pulp adding in a kick of my own for good measure If I hadn't been so confused I would have laughed at the looks on their faces when I kicked the guy who had called me 'sleeping beauty' right between his legs.

After Tim -he had told me his name once the beating was over- and I watched his friends leave we started walking. It took me a minute to realize he was talking to me.

"Huh? You say something'?"

WHAT'S…..YOUR…..NAME!" He yelled right in my ear.

"Um ow… What the hell's your problem!"

"I asked you that question 3 times already, Jesus the least you could do after I saved you from who knows what is answer my damn question."

"Oh, really? That's what you were asking I thought it was a little mosquito buzzing in my ear. See you have this voice that… fine I'll tell you stop glaring at me." He had this smoldering look to him that was pretty hot. "It's Michaela but..."

"That doesn't…"

"I know it doesn't sound like me that's what I was gonna tell you to call me Mikey because I hate my name." The only person I had ever allowed to call me by my full name was my brother.

Tim suddenly stopped walking and stared at me. "What? Do I have something in my teeth?" I tried to make a joke out of it but I knew what he was looking at.

"Who did that? Was it the Socs?"

"Don't worry about it." I muttered not able to look him in the face. He was so much like Tony. "It's nothing." Yep, nothing. A little voice in my head agreed sarcastically. And 'nothing' had been going on everyday since your mom started going out with Roger. I shook my head to get rid of the voice and the truth in it. "Wait, Socs? Where am I? And where are we going?"

If he thought my question was odd he didn't say anything. "We're in Tulsa… on the Greaser side and we're going to the only place that I know of that'll take in strangers.. The Curtis's."

Suddenly it all clicked. That bum, the stupid little rhyme, the charm the socs… Tim Shepard. Holy Mother of Hell I was in a book! Maybe Roger knocked me out and I was dreaming… hmm worth a shot. "Hey, Tim? I need you to do me a really really big favor…"

"What? You mean besides saving your life?"

"Pinch me."

"Why?"

"Because I think I'm going insane this isn't possible.. Just… pinch m- OWW! What the hell? Not that hard!" Damnit I wasn't dreaming.

"Here we go, ladies first." he gestured up the cracked cement path.

"nope."

"Why the hell not? You obviously don't got anywhere else to go." When he told me his name I had told him that I ran away from home because of problems at home.

"I didn't mean I wasn't going I just meant I wasn't going first."

"And when did I give you the impression that I'll do whatever you want?"

"Look I don't know these people." Except for what I read in the book and I'm sure Tim wouldn't enjoy being informed that he was a mere character in a book. "This is my hallucination or whatever so just do it."

"Fucking crazy broads." But he pushed open the door anyway. " Darry! You got room for a friend of mine for a few days?"

"Yeah as long as he doesn't end up acting like your last 'friend' it'll be fine."

"The windows were replaced and we got you a new radio." he informed him. "oh yeah, an' he's a she."

The collective response was "what?"

Tim pulled me from behind him where I was frozen in shock. How was he here?"

There was a soft "Kid?" from my brother. But everyone else was silent. Probably from the look on our faces but I was too distracted to tell.

I was suddenly angry "ANTHONY DALLAS WINSTON! HOW THE HELL COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME? YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T!" With that I turned bolted out the door . My heartbeat throbbing in my ears almost kept me from hearing the front door slam open again and with the knowledge that I was being followed I just ran harder.