Author's Note: So check out the twist in the second half of this chapter. Shocked me when I wrote it, for sure. Of course, maybe it isn't as shocking as I thought it was, in which case you all will simply be staring at the chapter, wondering what I thought was so interesting. If that should happen, ignore this.

Anyway, I'm probably going to be going back through these chapters and fixing them with some edits and such. Nothing should be big enough that you would need to know what changes I'm making though, it's mostly just little things, but I thought I'd mention it because I'm not sure if you'll get an e-mail if you have this on story alert. So anyway, if your inbox gets clogged and keeps telling you that I'm adding new chapters when I'm not, well, sorry.

As for review replies, Marsonfire let me know that you're not actually supposed to reply in the chapter and people have been getting their stories taken down for doing so. So, to the fanfiction... uhh... people: Sorry, I'll stop. That means that I'll be replying to all the logged in users with the "review reply" option, and as for the anonymous ones, I'll just keep putting yours in the chapter (unless you have an objection to that) because I would feel awful not saying anything back. So that's what's going on there.

Previous Chapter: Annabelle sneaked out of the Curtis house and returned to her own, where Tim showed up a few hours later. A lot of emotions and previously undiscovered feelings came out.

Disclaimer: I do not own any familiar characters, situations, or places. The lyrics are from Slip Out The Back by Fort Minor.

Itsallaboutme: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. And yes, it was a bit of a different direction. But I'm having fun writing it, so oh well. And no, there shouldn't be any problem with giving Anna a scene or two in your story. Thank you for the review!

"forget perfect / i'm just trying not to be worthless"

I musta laid there for a good two hours, wide awake, jus' lettin' Tim sleep beside me, before he woke up. He tightened his grip around my waist, kissing the back of my neck.

God, when did Shepard get a heart? When the hell had he started learnin' how to be a sweet guy?

But he ain't, I reminded myself, he's just givin' you what you want so you'll keep givin' him what he wants.

He could tell my mind was other places, not in that bed with him, and he got it back real quick, turning me over so I was facing him and running his hand down my naked body. I moaned a little, and he smirked again, like a lazy tomcat.

But then I heard a car door slam from the street, and I leapt from bed real quick. "Shit!" I ran around my room in a panic, pulling on clothes so fast I didn't even pay attention to if they were on inside-out or not, and I turned to Tim when I had my bra on and was yanking on a shirt.

He was still lying in that bed, watching me with an amused twitch of his lips. "Get the fuck out of that damn bed! Do you want my ma or Two-Bit to catch you there?" I'd never brought a boy to my house before; we'd always done the deed at Buck's or at his place or somewhere else, never in my own bed. Ole Timmy was the first, and I doubted anyone would be too happy about that.

I'd rather my mom walk in that front door 'cause at least she wouldn't beat Tim up, but I wasn't really lookin' for either option. I was really startin' to flip though as Tim lazily crawled out of bed and slooowly pulled on his jeans.

"Now you're just doin' that to piss me off!" I hissed, and he only grinned, leaning over and catching my breath in a kiss that sent my heart jumping into my throat. Damn, he was good at that.

But then the front door swung open and I shoved him away, taking a quick look in the mirror and yanking off my shirt to put it on forwards instead of backwards like it was with a muttered curse. Footsteps were walkin' toward my room, and from the heavy sound, it wasn't my mom.

Faster 'an a cat, I leapt to the door and opened it just a crack, enough for me to slip through and then slammed it shut behind me, finding myself face to face with my brother.

He gave me a nervous smile, like he wasn't sure what to say to me, but then he noticed my off-center shirt and, damn it, my unbuttoned jeans.

I watched him take it in, praying to whatever God there was that Tim had the sense to hide somewhere and wasn't just gonna lay on my bed and wait for a fight to come to him. Two-Bit wasn't gonna like knowing what I'd done anyway, but if he found out I'd done it with Tim Shepard, he'd be flat-out furious.

Pushing me aside, my brother opened the bedroom door and stalked inside, and I bit my pinky fingernail, stepping in after him and peering around his bulky frame to see what sight was awaiting him. But Tim wasn't on my bed, or under it, or in my closet, like Two-Bit checked for.

I about near died when I saw his white tee shirt lying in plain sight on my dresser, but Two-Bit didn't notice it. He was too busy staring out the open window that Tim musta escaped out of.

"Annabelle," he turned back to me with a stern tone, and I rolled my eyes. "Who was here?"

"I don't know what you're talkin' about," I said haughtily, flopping onto my unmade bed and letting Tim's scent surround me. Glory I wanted him all over again…

"Stop bullshitting me."

I turned over onto my side and closed my eyes, "Get out, Two-Bit," I said tiredly, wanting only to fall into a good dream until that night. I guess he complied or else I just tuned him out 'cause I fell straight to sleep.

When I woke up a few hours later, I stretched lazily and propped myself up against the wall, kicking my sheets down around my feet. It was a little muggy, and I rolled my eyes in annoyance. That's Oklahoma weather for ya, chilly one week and humid the next.

Last March, it had snowed in the middle of the month but then the sun came out and the next day, it was hot enough that people was wearin' shorts. I walked past the Curtis' and Darry was out washin' his truck, and there was a big ole patch of icy snow right next to him. I ain't even kidding.

Lightin' up a cigarette, I leaned back and held the smoke in before slowly letting it out the side of my mouth. I had learned all sorts of tricks, and could blow smoke rings an' even make it come out my nose like a dragon, if I tried hard enough.

But I didn't have any intentions of showing off right then. It was a Sunday night and I was feelin' content, for once in my life. And I wasn't even high or drunk either.

I heard a knock on my door and after a minute, I called out a lazy "s'open." Instead of Two-Bit like I thought it'd be, it was my mom.

"Put out that cigarette," she said, trying to be stern and failing miserably.

I just took another puff and looked at her, "Whadya need?"

To tell the truth, I kind of like my mom. She ain't on my case all the time and she lets me do like I want to. At least, after Dad left. Before he took off, we were all a pretty close family, and she always had to know where my brother and I were gonna be and with who. Ironic, since before he left she didn't need to keep an eye on me 'cause I was pretty much an angel of a daughter, but after he split was when I started screwing up.

I think after Dad left she just kinda fell apart, and then she didn't have time to look after me and Two-Bit 'cause she was too busy taking care of herself. I feel a little bad for her, 'cause I still hear her crying over that bastard sometimes. I think she really misses the guy, and probably still loves him.

"I made dinner."

At this I raised my eyebrow. My ma was cooking now? She used to like to get tips from Mrs. Curtis and she'd spend her time off over there cooking with her, but she was never any good. Mrs. Curtis even had to pat down a little fire with a couple rags once.

"Two-Bit said he had somethin' he wanted to talk to you an' me about, so I figured we'd have a family dinner." She smiled at me and then told me to be out there in five minutes, but I stayed frozen to my bed.

What the hell did Two-Bit want to talk about? If he was plannin' on telling my mom about me and all, maybe I oughta skip dinner. She's a tolerant person, but I ain't ready to see how far I can push her, and I'd bet that Two-Bit tellin' her that I do drugs and spent a few hours in my bed with a boy that day would be goin' a bit overboard.

I finally dragged myself up though, heart pounding, and put out my cigarette, tossing it out the window as I slid it shut. I made my way to the kitchen, tryin' to slink along as nonchalantly as I could, but I was scared silly.

When I got to the table, he and my ma were sitting down spooning out mashed potatoes that looked surprisingly edible. He refused to look at me for the first half of dinner, and only once it began to slow down did he open his mouth to talk. Staring at my mom and not sparing me a glance, he started.

"I've got somethin' I need to tell you." Oh God, this is it... Can I deny it? Say that he's lying? "An' I want you to just listen 'fore you start talkin', okay?" Maybe I oughta pretend to pass out, just fall down on the ground right now.

My mom nodded, looking grave, and he cleared his throat to start again. I shut my eyes, wincing a little in preparation for the bomb that I was sure'd blow up in my face with my brother's words.

"I think I'm gonna ask Kathy to marry me." It was dead silent for a few seconds.

Oh Lord, she's too shocked to scream at me, or too disappointed or too mad—wait, what?

"Oh, Keith, that's wonderful!" My mom clasped her hands together and she stood from the table to give my brother a tight hug. I took a look at his glowing face and sat back in my chair, stunned to the bone. I mean, shit, I'd known he and Kathy had been dating—they'd been on and off since he was my age—but marriage? My brother? The guy who had once actually taken three girls to the same dance and ran himself silly trying to make sure none of 'em found out about his other dates?

And Kathy? I mean, damn, how much more of a fucking bimbo can you get? She's blonde and wears candy pink lipstick and keeps her nails long—long enough to be classified weapons and believe me, I oughta know; I watched Two-Bit clean the blood off his face after she'd slapped him when she found him with another girl three years ago. She ain't anything special, that's for damn sure.

I watched my mom and brother smiling, happy, glowing, and I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling my bitchy side kick in like it always did. "What, she pregnant?"

My mom gave me "the look" as best as she could pull it off, "Stop talking like that, Annabelle, and congratulate your brother."

But I was too busy staring at Two-Bit, who looked down at the floor real quick after I said that—a little too quick, maybe. My jaw dropped open, "she is, isn't she? Shit, Two-Bit, great job." The sarcasm was dripping from my voice and he whipped his eyes up to meet mine with a furious glare.

"No, she ain't. She jus' thought she was for a little bit there, but she said she ain't. It just got me thinkin' about it and I really do wanna marry her," he had shifted his focus to my mom in the middle of what he was saying, and he was looking at her with that bashful smile that keeps everyone from getting mad at him. Everyone but me, anyway. I nearly threw up in my mouth a little.

Shoving my chair back, I stood and stalked straight past my family to my room, closing the door firmly and falling on top of my bed covers, thoughts of my brother clogging my mind.

So he wanted to get hitched, did I really give a fuck? No. Of course I didn't. He could do whatever the hell he wanted. In fact, this'd be even better cause once he's tied down with Kathy he'll be too busy to get on my case. He'll leave me completely alone, finally. It'll be like he was never my brother. He won't give a shit what I do.

Which is a good thing, damn it. I wiped the single tear from my cheek with an angry shake of my head.

I didn't know why I was misting up—I was happy that I'd finally be rid of him.