*I don't own The Outsiders.

(PPOV)

"Finally, you're ready, let's go," I said, grabbing Lyn's hand and my wallet.

"What do you mean 'let's go?'" She stalled, tugging me back.

"I have to go to the store and pick some stuff up. You heard Darry this morning, I got to get everything on this list and nothing more, nothing less, so please don't try to persuade me to get you anything else, I'd prefer to keep my head. Now come on," I sighed in exasperation, the last thing I wanted was to spend my afternoon grocery shopping.

I was so tired after last night. Of course, after the conversation with my brothers I wasn't able to get to sleep. All I could think about was what I could've done differently that night, and how disappointing I must be to my parents. I always promised my Mom that I'd look after Lyn, but it's proving to me more difficult than I thought it'd be.

"I'm not going anywhere," Lyn nearly shouted at me, efficiently stopping me digging her feet into the floor.

I stopped and stared at her in disbelief, "Lyn, this isn't the time for games, now please, I'm too tired for this," I grumbled, low on patience.

Not her fault, not her fault, patience, Ponyboy…great now I'm talking to myself.

"I am NOT going out there," Lyn said, sternly, ripping out of my grip and running towards her room.

Three words: What the hell?

"Lyn! Come on, please let's just get this over and we can come right back!" I yelled after her, jogging after her. She slammed the door into my face, causing my annoyance to spike. I twisted the knob to find it locked.

"This isn't funny, open up now," I demanded, in my don't-give-me-shit tone.

"Leave me here, I'm not going," Lyn's voice was muffled by the wooden door between us.

"I'm not leaving you here, now get your butt out here before I drag you out myself," I growled, jiggling the knob in frustration. She didn't even answer me, "Lyn! I'm not kidding!" I banged my palm against her door.

"Neither am I!" She screamed back.

I sighed, and ran a hand through my hair. After taking a few deep breaths, I decided to take a different approach. "I'll buy you chocolate ice cream, if you open the door, come to the store, and act like a good girl," I bargained. Yeah, I know, you're not supposed to bribe kids, but I didn't want to deal with this right now. I waited, but didn't get an answer.

"Lyn, please," I murmured, softly. "Let's just get the errands done for Darry; don't you want to help him?" I know that was going low, she'd do anything to help anyone of us. I try not to pull this card out, but I was desperate and didn't feel like sitting here and waiting for her to come to her senses.

Still no answer, I shifted uncomfortably as I crouched in front of her door. "Lyn," I pleaded.

Nothing. I stood up and shook my head. What the hell do I have to do? Can nothing go right? I stalked out the front door and went around back to her window. The curtains and blinds were closed, so she couldn't see me out here. I pushed up on the window and cursed loudly when I realized it was locked.

"Come the fuck on," I hissed to myself. What do I do now? I could find a screw driver and take knob off and get in that way. I doubted that was a good idea, it seemed like a bigger pain in the ass than it was worth, but at the same time I didn't feel like dealing with Darry's wrath later on when we didn't have anything for dinner.

I headed back inside and leaned against the door, "Evelyn Curtis, you listen to me right now and open this door or I swear you won't see one of those dolls for the rest of your life," I threatened.

"I will not leave this house!" She screamed at me. "And you can't make me either!"

"Why won't you leave?" I asked. She was silent once more. Why is she loud when I want her to shut up and quiet when I want her to talk? Girls are impossible.

But now, I was started to get a little nervous on top of the annoyance. This was strange behavior for Lyn. I'm not saying she's never thrown a temper tantrum before, because she has. Hell, they're infamous around here, but she never locked herself in her room and didn't come out.

Not knowing what to do, I went to the phone to call Soda. "DX, how can I help you?" Mr. Robinson, the manager of the DX and Soda's boss, drawled.

"Hello, Mr. Robinson, I was wondering if I could speak to Sodapop."

"And this is?"

"Ponyboy, his brother, sir," I responded.

"Hold on, son." I could hear shuffling and yelling in the background. I sighed, impatiently.

"Hello?" I could hear the laughter in Soda's voice.

"Soda, it's Pone, I need you to come home and talk to Lyn," I sat down in the chair next to the phone and rubbed my head, feeling the onset of a headache.

"What do you mean I need to talk to her? What's the matter?" Soda asked, confused, usually it was him asking me to talk her into something.

"She locked herself into her room and won't come out. She refuses to leave the house so I can get those errands done for Darry; I've been doing everything I can for the last hour to get her to come out. All I've gotten is a headache," I groaned.

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Soda sighed.

"Thanks, even if you can't get her to come out, will you stay here with her so I can get that stuff Darry wanted me to get…Soda, I'm worried, this ain't like her," I mumbled.

"I know, I was thinking the same thing. I'll try to get there soon; I'm not supposed to get off until three, though…"

"I'll just wait, not much else I can do. I'll keep trying to get her to talk to me, she isn't even acknowledging me anymore, I don't know what else to do," I confessed.

"I don't know either," Soda sounded worried.

We were both silent for a moment, "Just get here right after work."

"I will, call me if you need me, alright?"

"Yeah, talk to you soon, Soda." I hung up, debating my next move.

I found a piece of thin card board and a screwdriver, and decided to see if I could jimmy the lock myself. I had only done it once before and even then it'd taken me a good while. That day had been long and frustration since I wasn't very good at breaking and entering, when I asked Dallas why I would need to know this, he merely responded with 'you never know where you'll find yourself, Pone.'

If this works, I swear I'll have to thank Dallas somehow. I fumbled with the lock but eventually I heard the best sound in the whole world: a soft click. "Yes!" I hissed, pushing the door open. Lyn was on her bed brushing the red hair on a china doll that used to be my Mom's.

I was already to give her a piece of my mind, until I saw the tear tracks running down her face. She didn't look up at me, just sighed shakily. She sure knew how to pick the day to have a breakdown.

"Lyn," I sighed, walking over to her and hugging her. She burrowed into my shoulder and started sobbing and chanting not to make her leave the house. I was momentarily flabbergasted, rubbing soothing circles into her back. "I won't make you leave, but will you tell me why you don't want to leave?"

She pulled back and looked at me with wide eyes full of fear, "They might be out there somewhere," she whimpered.

Everything clicked into place and I couldn't believe how stupid I had been. God, how could I've been so oblivious? I was too caught up in my own shit, again. Evelyn was scared of the Socs; scared they'd come back and hurt her. "They're not going to hurt you again," I murmured.

"They might hurt you though, or Johnny," she bawled.

"They won't in broad daylight," I told her, even though that was somewhat of a lie. They just might be big enough assholes to jump us in daylight on our side of town, but I don't think they'd jump Lyn again after last time…at least I really hope they aren't low enough to do that again, it's becoming evident that they've done enough damage already.

"I still don't want to go outside, at least not without Dally and Darry," she said with conviction. I felt a sting to my heart, she felt like I couldn't keep her safe and I'd be damned if I said that didn't hurt.

"I'm sorry," I kissed the crown of her head.

"I already told you, it wasn't you or Johnny's fault," she choked out.

"I still should've protected you better," before she could say anything I pulled back and looked her in the eyes, "Honey, you can't let them scare you into staying in the house forever. You still have to go to school, and if you didn't go outside, how would you ever go get ice cream, see Soda at the DX, or go to your friends' house," I murmured, gently.

Lyn bite her lip nervously, fiddling with the frayed edge of her shirt. Thankfully, the tears had stopped, but her eyes were still puffy and red. "But, I'm scared," she looked at me with a torn expression.

I kissed her forehead again, "Don't worry, darling, we'll take it one step at a time. If you want Darry and Dally with you when you go outside, I'm sure they'll come with you until you realize there isn't anything to be scared about."

Evelyn looked doubtful still, wringing her hands together. If there are two things Lyn shares with me and my brother, it's our temper and, unfortunately, stubbornness.

This was going to be more difficult than I thought…God, I need an aspirin.

Aw, poor Lyn is really suffering. Please, please review!!