A/N: I am so, so, so sorry for the late update! I've been trying to work on this, but my speech class was rather taxing, and then writers block and all that. But I'm on vacation now, so I'm gonna try and crank this out as much as I can.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone or anything except for Kat, Drew, and Kyle.
Chapter Eight
I walked into my house and Mom didn't even look up. I sat in the kitchen, working on my homework, desperately trying to pretend nothing happened. It seemed Mom wanted to pretend I had never existed in the first place.
Finally, it became too much. I slammed my book shut, and saw Mom jump a little.
Good, I thought to myself.
"I'm going out," I said, standing at the entrance of the kitchen. She didn't react. "I don't know when I'll be home. Late, probably." Still, nothing. "Maybe I'll go get drunk at some party." It was a bluff, but she met it with silence. I sighed, and slammed the door behind me as I headed out. I almost went over to the Curtis', but I didn't really feel like being around people. I hurried down the sidewalk, headed towards the park, or maybe the lot, I wasn't sure yet.
My feet ended up taking me to the park, and I sat down by the fountain, remembering the night I helped Johnny and Ponyboy.
What would have happened if I hadn't been there to help them? I wondered. Ponyboy would probably be dead. Johnny, too. I guessed. But I guess I would never know, and it was probably better that way.
I sighed, and looked around, realizing the sun was setting. I stood up, ready to head home. Or maybe I'd go find Drew.
Yeah, I liked that idea. I'd rather be with Drew than at home.
I left the park and walked around, suddenly realizing I didn't know where he lived.
The sun had set, and it was dark. I always talked brave to the boys about how I could take care of myself, which I could, but now that I was alone, and in the dark, I was scared out of my mind. I took a deep breath and thought. Maybe I would go to the Curtis'.
No, that won't work, Kyle's there, and they already had a full house, I reminded myself. Maybe Steve would be able to help, or Two-Bit. I really wish I was still in New York. But if I was there, then none of this would be happening. Man, what-
My train of thought was interrupted by a car horn. My head snapped up and I was blinded by a car's headlights. I squinted and shielded my eyes with my hand as the car came to a stop and a couple people got out.
My heart started pounding faster than it already was when I saw who it was.
Bob and Randy - as the Gang had told me - and two more guys.
"Well, well, well, look who we found, boys," Bob slurred. He was drunk. Again. "The little Greasy girl who had the nerve to hit me. Who made me hit her back. You know, I really don't like hitting girls." He walked closer to me, and leaned in. His face was so close I could smell the alcohol on it. "On top of that, I really don't like it when girls hit me and act like they're tougher than me. I think maybe we need to teach you a lesson, little girl."
"I don't want no trouble," I said, stepping back.
"Shoulda thought about that before you jumped in the middle of that fight," he slurred. He was really drunk, which would make this ten times worse. I took another step back.
"Don't do something you're gonna regret," I said, holding my hands up in a sign of peace. Bob grabbed my wrists with one hand and pulled me towards him, punching me in the gut with the other hand. I gasped as the air rushed out of me. He let my hands go and I feel to the ground, coughing, trying to catch my breath. He kicked my side, sending me rolling off the sidewalk and into his car. My head slammed hard against it. My vision went blurry for a moment, and I felt dizzy as I struggled to stand up, but I knew I couldn't just lay there. I blinked hard, trying to get my vision back. As my vision cleared, I saw Bob coming towards me, blade in hand. I stepped to the side and tired to hurry away from the car, but, of course, he was faster then me. He grabbed my wrist and turned me around, and completely on instinct, I swung my free hand around and slapped him in the face. I didn't think I slapped him that hard, but he let go of my wrist none the less, probably out of shock.
I took my chance and started to run, but as I turned I saw someone across the street. Looking closer, I realized it was Drew. I looked behind me and saw Bob was snapping out of his daze, so I darted across the street to Drew. I was still a little dizzy, though, so I kind of zig-zagged across the road.
"Drew!" I called as I approached him. "I'm so glad to see you. Where's your-"
"Not so fast, girl!" Bob called after me. I looked back to see him crossing the street.
"Drew, we've gotta get out of here. They're drunk, and still mad about the night they jumped Pony and Johnny. Come on, let's go!" But he wouldn't move. I looked at him questioningly. "Drew?" Just then, Bob grabbed my wrist and pulled him back towards me. As I was spun around, I saw the conflicted look on Drew's face.
"There's nothing to see here, Drew," Bob said. "Come on, man, just get out of here."
Drew hesitated.
"Drew, you can't-"
"Shut up!" Bob yelled, slapping me. He looked up at Drew again. "Get outta here, man, it's better that way. She ain't your type anyways."
Drew opened his mouth, and closed it again. Opening it again, he said, "Sorry, Katherine," and he turned and left.
My eyes widened, and I had to fight the urge to cry. That wasn't too hard, though, because Bob quickly had my attention again, slamming me up against a wall. My vision went blurry again from my head hitting the wall, and as I blinked, stars danced in front of my eyes.
I thought it was over, but I was quickly reminded of the knife he had earlier when I felt a stabbing pain in my side as the knife was plunged into my body and dragged down through my skin a couple of inches.
I cried out in pain as Bob let go of me, letting me fall to the ground. "Let that be a lesson, girl. Don't get in my way again."
They left me there, laying on the ground, fighting tears and fighting to stay conscious. My head hurt, my hand clutched at my throbbing side, and I just wanted to sleep.
"Kat!" I wasn't sure how long I had been lying on the ground. It was still dark out, but I was pretty sure I had passed out, even if only for a moment.
I groaned, and opened my eyes at the sound of footsteps. In a matter of seconds, an all too familiar face was above me.
"What the hell happened to you?" Dally asked.
I groaned again, and managed to get out, "Bob… drunk… jumped me…"
"Bob did this to you? I swear, I'm gonna beat his sorry ass the next time I see him," Dally promised. "What'd he do to you?"
I sat up, even though the world spun around me, and my whole body protested. I should have listened to my body, though, because seconds later my vision was black.
When my eyes opened, I was in a bed and alone in a room with Dally. I sat up, a little too quickly, and the room spun around me and my head and side throbbed. I let out an involuntary groan.
"Lay down, stupid," Dally said.
"What time is it, and what am I doing here? With you, that is," I asked, then added after looking around, "And where is here?"
"It's only been a couple of hours sine I brought you here, and we're at Buck's, he usually lets me crash here," he explained, pushing me back down onto the bed. "And you're here with me 'cause I was the only one around to save your sorry ass."
"Gee, thanks," I said sarcastically. "Ever heard of being nice to the sick?"
"You ain't sick, Princess," he sneered. "And I'm never nice."
"Of all the people to find me…" I muttered.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" He asked, cupping his ear with his hand. "Did you just says 'thanks, Dallas Winston, you just saved my life'?"
"I had it all under control," I shot back at him.
"Really? So if someone came by to start something with you, were you going to deal with it unconsciously? Because you were totally out when I found you," Dally said.
I opened my mouth, and realized I had nothing witty to say. Not this time. My shoulders slumped and I sighed. "Thanks, then," I muttered.
"What was that? Still can't hear you, Princess," Dally said mockingly.
"I said thanks!" I shouted. "Not get out and let me sleep!"
Dally just sneered, but it quickly disappeared. "Yeah, sure thing." He closed the door quietly behind him as he left.
My very last thought before sleep took me was of Drew and how betrayed I felt by him. I didn't have time to cry before I passed out, but I knew I'd be doing plenty of that later.
A/N: Sorry if this is on the short side, I felt this was a good stopping point. I'm hoping Dally is starting to get a little OOC, I'm trying to ease his character into something new, so it's not so sudden and what not.
Anyways, again, sorry for the late update, I was really busy, and I really wanted to do well in this speech class. I got a 3.1, which isn't bad, but it isn't great either. Review please! Hope you enjoyed!
