Disclaimer: I do not, and never will, own The Outsiders
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10. Answer the Phone
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Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Dallas phone!"
She pressed the pillow over her head harder hoping to block out the ring of the phone until it stopped.
It didn't.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Just ignore it the machine will pick up." She told herself.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
There was a click as the machine picked up then a beep.
"Sam."
She froze.
"I know you're there Sammy, so you should pick up the phone next time I call."
He hung up and Sam sat there staring at the phone.
She hugged her knees and worried.
He knew where she was. He knew she was in Tulsa. He had Dal's phone number.
What else did he know?
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Mentally she was trying to tally up how many days she'd worked.
Every time she got distracted by the reason she was trying to tally the days in the first place.
If I hear one more word out of their mouths I swear I'm gonna…
"Hey Baby…"
And then she snapped.
Like a mad woman she dropped every plate she was holding and every dish shattered. She ripped off the nametag she had been wearing and threw it on the ground. She quietly walked toward the door leaving the customers and staff stunned.
The 'fun blonde' sat scared behind the register.
"You can't leave yet."
Sam paused at the door before a wicked grin formed on her lips.
"I can leave because I quit and there's not a damn thing any of you can say to change my mind."
She gave them all one last look of displeasure and disgust before walking out the door. And straight into someone.
Sam took a step back and looked up at Two-Bit.
"What are you doing here?"
"Aren't I usually here when your shift ends?"
"I don't get off for another hour."
He smiled. "I never said I get here when your shift ends."
She searched his face for a hint he was joking but didn't find any.
"Why are you here?"
"I was wondering when you'd come to your senses and leave that place."
She didn't say anything so he continued.
"I would have gone in but I heard your act of rebellion and decided it would be easier to wait until you vented."
He peaked in through the glass door.
"Looks like we have company."
Sam's hand went directly to a fist skipping any steps of aggravation.
"Well hello there-"
She didn't let him finish his words. One punch and all four Socs were off and running. Two-Bit looked from her to the group of scared Soc's and laughed.
"Ha! I thought the only way you could scare off that many Socs was with a cop."
Sam wasn't nearly as amused. "I'm good at scaring off men."
"Not as good as you think."
"What's that supposed to mean!"
"Well I'm still here aren't I?"
"If you're smart you wont be much longer."
"You know I never did understand your way of thinking."
"I'm dangerous, a hazard to your health…"
Two-Bit just tilted his head in a confused puppy sort of way. Sam hit her forehead in an aggravated sort of way.
"Two-Bit stay away from me okay, just for your own sake."
She walked into the house and shut the door before she could see or hear his answer. He just sighed inwardly and stuck his hands in his pockets as he walked away.
"For you I think I'll take my chances."
She shut the door behind her, she had no idea what Two-Bit had said, but she had seen that look on his face.
The serious one that she'd only seen on a few occasions.
The one that always worried her when she saw it.
But she didn't try to pick it apart; instead she put all of her focus into convincing herself that Dal would be fine.
That when she left he wouldn't be in anymore danger.
None of them would be.
Because she knew she'd have to go home sooner than she'd wanted to.
He wanted to smack herself for being so stupid.
She knew how it was going to end.
She'd known her time was limited.
Yet she still did it.
She let herself get too involved.
And now she was putting them all in danger.
Whether she had wanted to or not.
She let go of a breath she'd been holding.
She knew what she had to do.
She grabbed her bag and started shoving things into it.
The sooner she could leave the better.
She stopped for a second.
"Its for the best."
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She wanted to say goodbye to Dal at least. He wouldn't try and tell her to stay. He'd think it, but he would never say it.
She couldn't be so sure about any of the others.
Besides, Dallas could tell them she had to leave on short notice. That she didn't have time to say goodbye to them.
She took a deep breath.
Then she growled angrily.
Where the hell was Dal.
It was almost six, he should be back already.
She reached for the phone thinking he might be at the Curtis' when it rang.
She pulled her hand away like the phone would bite her.
She looked at it for a minute, debating answering it.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
She took a deep breath.
Worse case scenario it was him.
She could handle him.
Didn't she want it to be him?
Then she could tell him she was coming home.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
She reached for the receiver and stopped the ringing.
"Hello."
There was a pause then a chuckle.
"Sammy, I'm so glad you answered this time."