Gang Violence

Chapter Ten

Disclaimer - I do not own the Outsiders.

"How could you have let this happen?!" Darry bellowed. I can't believe Soda ratted me out. And in front of the whole gang, no-less.

"Would you calm down Darry? It's no big deal," I pleaded. Wrong thing to say.

"No big deal?!" he yelled, getting louder. "No big deal?! You slept with Tim Shepard, Candy! That's about as big a deal as they come!"

I looked down at my feet for a moment. I was trying to hide the tears in my eyes. I took a deep breath and looked back up at my brother. "Why are you bothering to yell at my, Darry? Why are you bothering to ask 'how I could have let this happen'?" I screamed back at him. "No answer I give you is going to be good enough! You're just going to yell at me more!"

And with that I turned and left. Walked right out the front door and down the street. I didn't really know where I was going, I didn't think I was going anywhere. I ended up on Evie's front doorstep.

I knocked, she answered. "What's wrong?" she asked right away.

I sighed, "Darry found out about Tim."

She lead me inside, and up to her room. "So, how did it all happen?" she questioned as she seated herself on her bed.

"Well, I told Soda about everything, and then he went out into the living room and told Darry in front of everyone," I answered.

"Well, that was kind of a jerk thing to do," Evie muttered. I laughed a bit.

"Yeah," I agreed. "I can't believe he did that to me."

"It's probably for the best, though," she said.

"What do you mean?" I looked up at her.

"Well, he was gonna find out sometime, might as well get it over with," she reasoned.

"He wasn't gonna find out," I replied. "Darry doesn't know half the guys I've slept with."

"Yeah, but you were datin' all those guys," she answered. "He must have figured something was going on. You ain't datin' Shep."

"Alright, alright," I said, seeing her point.

"So, what are you gonna do about this whole Tim fiasco?" she questioned, playing with a loose thread on her bedspread.

"I don't know," I replied.

I left not long after, I just needed to clear my head. I was walking around our neighbourhood, again. I ended up at the park this time. I sat down on one of the many benches that could be found around the park, and lit a cigarette.

Tim, Tim, Tim, Tim, Tim, Tim, I thought as I sat and stared at all the little kids running around, and having fun. What am I gonna do?

My thoughts were interrupted by a voice asking, "Is this seat taken?" I turned to see who was talking to me. Speak of the Devil, I thought. Tim Shepard himself stood behind the bench, waiting for my reply. I motioned for him to sit.

"So, where you been?" he asked as he sat down next to me.

"Anywhere you're not," I answered, not looking at him. I was trying to keep my cool. It was hard, I was completely powerless to him. I just couldn't let him find that out.

"You shouldn't be walkin' by yourself," he said, lighting a weed and taking a drag. "Remember what happened the last time?"

"Mmhmm," I mumbled, wondering why he cared. "Wasn't stayin' in my house, though."

"How come?" Tim asked, giving me a sideways glance while blowing his smoke towards the sky.

"My brother found out what we did," I had given trying to place the blame solely on him.

"Which brother?" he asked, concerned for his own well-being.

"All of them," I sighed. "And my entire gang."

"Shit, kid," he mumbled.

"Yup," I sighed, again.

I looked over at him, and he stared back. I had the overwhelming urge to kiss him. I didn't have to move, though, because he did.

After he'd pulled away from me, I sat, stunned. He laughed at the look on my face. "I figured if we're goin' down for this, we might as well make it worth our while," he explained. I smiled.

"You want me, you got me," I replied.

In kept telling myself I was doing this to make Darry mad. But, in reality, I knew it was so much more than that.

Yay! March Break!! I get a whole week off school!! That means you can expect more updates!! Thanks to all who read and review! Keep it up!!

Rachel