Sixteen Candles
Chapter 11

Author's Note: Well, no one reviewed the last chapter, so that's really depressing. I don't know if you guys realize it, but it really, truly does motivate me to continue this story when you guys review. So, can we change that for this chapter? Can you guys please review and leave feedback? I really do appreciate when you all do. :)

Also, I found a mistake in the previous chapter, but that's been fixed. It doesn't require to go back and reread the whole chapter, but if you want, feel free to.

I want to break free. I want to scream. I can't handle this anymore. I cannot handle two more hours in a fairly small car with my older brother. He's stinking up the car, and he's talking my ear off.

He's making me want to open the car door and dive onto the pavement.

"Douglas, please," Mom cries. "Can you stop talking for 10 minutes? You're driving me insane!" He shuts his mouth instantly; I'm sure he's as surprised as we are that Mom basically told him to shut up.

I turn my head, directing my attention out the window. My eyes focus on the passing cars and scenery, but it doesn't stop my mind from wandering – wandering back to last night.

Steve initiated the kiss; I had nothing to do with it. I didn't provoke him in anyway – it was all him, but where did it put us? Are we still friends but closer? Are we officially dating? Does Steve consider us a couple?

Not long into my daze, Imogene nudges me. I snap out of my thoughts before turning towards her. "Are you okay?" She asks quietly, attempting to keep our impending conversation away from the ears of our parents and Douglas.

I strongly consider telling her everything is fine, but she sees through lies easily.

"I don't know." I grumble, shrugging my shoulders.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I shoot her a look in which she rolls her eyes. "I didn't mean right here and now, Stupid. I was referring to later when everyone is asleep."

Again, I shrug my shoulders.

I would like to think I'm close to Imogene. I'd like to think that we have a close relationship, but I don't know if I can trust her with everything that's going on. I don't know how she'll react when I tell her that I've been hanging around the greasers – specifically Steve – and I have absolutely no idea how she'll react when I tell her that Steve and I are a little more than friends.

"Too bad," Imogene whispers, bringing me back to reality once again. "Once everyone goes to sleep, you're telling me everything that's on your mind. It's obvious something is bothering you, Eileen. You have that faraway look in your eyes, and it's hard to keep your attention."

"Imogene, I'll be fine." She shakes her head, looking forward. Without saying a word, she continues shaking her head; otherwise telling me that our conversation is over, and that no amount of pleading and persuading will get her to change her mind.

In other words, the chances of my life being over tomorrow are incredibly high.

Goodbye, Steve.

XxXxXxX

Aunt Evelyn welcomes us with open arms, repeating her greetings several times. She wraps each member of my family up in a big hug – except Douglas who had managed to slip past her without her realizing this.

She looks exactly like my mother. Her dark brown eyes are nearly identical to my mother's, and although she had more than enough wrinkles, she shares the same face shape, nose, mouth, everything with my mom.

It really catches me off guard.

Imogene grins, hugging our great aunt tightly. "Aunt Evelyn, it's so wonderful to see you again. I've missed you so much!" She repeats Imogene's word back to her in a similar fashion with a few different words, and when she gets to me, her eyes nearly fall out of her head.

"My goodness, Child," she says breathlessly. "I can't believe how big you've gotten. I can't believe how gorgeous you are too; you look exactly like your momma." She steps towards me, opening her arms.

"Has Mark told you anything about the nursing home?" Dad inquires, ultimately stealing the show. Aunt Evelyn pulls away fast, narrowing her eyes in my father's direction.

"What did I tell you?" She asks in response. Her tone has gone from cheerful and happy to cold and bitter in a matter of seconds. "I told everyone multiple times that I don't need a damn nursing home. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. John has been gone for 25 years now, and I'm still in the best shape a woman my age can be." Mom sighs, gently pushing on my shoulders.

Her silent way of telling me to go find my brother and sister.

XxXxXxX

My family calls it a night around 10:00, and the moment I've been dreading all day is about to arrive.

Imogene climbs into the double bed with me, settling into the mattress before attempting to make herself comfortable. It appears to be a never ending process, and I'm thankful for when she finally settles down.

Moments of silence pass, and I'm starting to believe she forgot about our conversation in the car.

Then, she proves me wrong.

"So, what was bothering you in the car?" She asks, rolling onto her left side. Her eyes stare into me, and it succeeds in making the whole conversation more uncomfortable than it already is. "Don't you dare lie to me either because I'll call you out on it." Seeing no other way out of the situation, I sigh heavily in defeat.

"Do you promise you won't tell anyone?" In the dark, I can barely see her nodding her head. "That means you can't tell anyone. You can't tell Douglas, Mom or Dad. This has to stay in between us."

"Eileen, knock it off. I know what it means to keep a secret."

"Well," I sigh again, desperately thinking of another way out of what's about to happen. In seconds, I give up again. "Remember when Mom and Dad told me to stay away from those greasers after you and Douglas told them what they were like?" Imogene nods again. "Well, I've been sneaking around with them behind their back." I wait for a reaction, but when one doesn't come, I continue. "Lately, I've been close to Steve Randle, and I really like him, Imogene. I know he likes me too. His best friend told me. Last night, I went out on a date with him, and before he dropped me off, he full out kissed me. I didn't do anything to provoke it, and it came without warning. Now, I don't know where that puts us. Are we still friends but closer? Are we officially dating? I don't know, and it's been bothering me all day. I'm really confused, Imogene."

She remains silent for a minute. With each passing second, I start to regret my decision to even tell her what's been going on for the past month or so.

"Wow," she finally answers. "If Mom and Dad ever find out, they're going to kill you, Eileen. They've made it clear several times that they don't want you around those boys, but don't worry. I promised you I wouldn't tell anyone, and I'm going to keep my promise." A smile slips onto my lips. "If I were you, I would ask him where you guys stand. It would be bad to assume you're dating only to find out he doesn't think you guys are a couple. Yeah, that's what I'd do."

We both lay in silence, and for a bit, I think she's fallen asleep. "How is he?" Imogene asks quietly. "Is he as bad as everyone says?" I stare at the dark ceiling for a big, thinking of how to respond.

"No, I don't think so," I reply slowly. "Imogene, he's been through way too much. His dad is always screaming at him, and sometimes his dad actually hits him. His mom isn't around anymore. He has a temper, but can you blame him? He's been to hell and back."

"Can I meet him someday?" Imogene asks, rolling onto her side. She props her head up with her right hand and looks down at me. "I've seen him around school, and he scares me, but will you introduce me to him?"

"If you want me to, but Imogene, please don't tell him anything I told you. His best friend told me his life story once, and I don't think he knows, but meet me at my locker Monday morning. He always walks me to first hour."

"I'll be there."

XxXxXxX

With the help of Uncle Mark and his boys, Joseph and Louis, we load her things up pretty quickly. Aunt Evelyn is still very much against the idea of living in a nursing home, but my parents and uncle spend most of the car ride reassuring her it'll be the best thing to ever happen to her.

She doesn't believe them, and for the most part, I don't blame her.

Douglas and Joseph screw around in the middle section of Uncle Mark's van while Imogene, Louis and I squeeze together in the back. "So, how old are you, Louis?" Imogene asks, leaning forward. She looks past me and at our cousin.

"I turned 16 back in May," he answers. Imogene begins to smile. "Joseph is going to turn 18 in a couple weeks."

"Eileen turned 16 last month." She shares. I roll my eyes, leaning my head back against the head rest.

This ride can't end soon enough.

XxXxXxX

Our family gathers around the back of Uncle Mark's van; all of us are waiting for a box or suitcase. "Goodness, is she moving in or what?" Douglas asks, pushing past Imogene. Joseph snorts loudly and accepts a box from his dad.

"I really hope we're leaving after this." Imogene mutters to me, stepping forward to grab a box. I follow her lead, and Uncle Mark hands me a suitcase. Imogene waits for me, and once I've reached her, we head off to find Aunt Evelyn's room.

"I'm ready to go home, but I don't know if I can handle another four hours in a car with Douglas." Imogene groans loudly, earning a few glares from some of the residents.

"At least you get to sit by the window. I'm stuck sitting next to the pig." I do my best to stifle my giggles wanting to slip out. Thankfully, before another word can be said, we find our aunt's room. Inside, several boxes and suitcases are thrown about – a clear indication that Douglas and Joseph are responsible.

"Mom is going to be so mad at Douglas." I state, setting my item gently on her bed.

"Should we stay in here and start putting her clothes away? I bet Mom will really appreciate that, and it'll make Douglas looking even worse." Imogene winks at me before opening the brown, leather suitcase.

"Let's do it."

Once the room is all set up, Dad and Uncle Mark step into the hall to retrieve Aunt Evelyn. Dad, attempting to be funny, tells her to close her eyes, and after protesting for a few minutes, she finally complies. Mom, with a big grin on her face, pulls the door open, and both men lead her inside.

Douglas and Joseph claim her bed while Imogene, Louis and I stand off to the side. Dad starts to grin, and within a few steps of entering the room, all three of them. "Okay, Evelyn, you can open your eyes now." She does so slowly, and upon seeing her room, she doesn't look very thrilled – not that I blame her.

"I don't like it," she grumbles, crossing her arms over her chest. Mom tells the boys to get off the bed; they mutter a few sarcastic and rude things under their breath before following her orders. "I told you guys that I was perfectly capable of remaining in my house, and I still think I am." Dad merely shakes his head, leading her towards her new bed.

"Aunt Evelyn, you're going to love this place." Uncle Mark tells her. "People are going to wait on you, and you're going to be able to make some new friends."

"I don't need these old hags." Behind us, Doug and Joseph start to giggle. Imogene shifts her weight to one side, crosses her arms and rolls her eyes.

"They're so immature." She mutters, looking towards our aunt. I nod my head in agreement, finding it amazing that an 18-year-old boy could be so immature while his twin sister has the mental age of someone well into their 20s.

Aunt Evelyn falls onto her bed lazily, making the springs cry out loudly at the force of her body. "I can't believe you guys teamed up on me like this." She groans, falling back slowly. Dad steps towards Mom, leaning forward to whisper in her ear. After he pulls away, they both look at Dad's watch. Mom's face falls; her mouth hangs open.

"I didn't realize it was already that time!" She cries. "Aunt Evelyn, I hate to rush off like this, but we have to get going if we want these hooligans in bed at a decent time." Both of my parents step towards her, ready to give her a farewell hug.

"Kids, come give Aunt Evelyn a hug goodbye." Dad suggests. Imogene and I walk towards them without a fight, but Douglas is another story. He complains quietly to Joseph, and to be honest, it sort of upsets me.

We never visit her, and when we do, it's to move her to a nursing home. For the most part, she seems nice, and her comments amuse me to no end, and already, I like her a lot. To me, Douglas has a lot of nerve to complain about a simple, friendly gesture.

In the end, he obeys Dad, and once we've all given her a hug, we say goodbye to Uncle Mark, Joseph and Louis before heading on our way.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little sad to leave.

XxXxXxX

Bright and early Monday morning, Steve approaches my locker. "How was your weekend in Idabel?" He sticks his hands into the front pockets of his jeans as his body falls against the locker next to mind.

"I had to spend a whole day with my obnoxious cousin and brother, so it wasn't too fun. If they wouldn't have been there, it would've been fun. It turns out that my aunt is actually really cool. How was your weekend?" I dial in my combination, messing up halfway through. "Dang it." I frown, trying again.

"Nothin' special," he mutters. "Got kicked out Saturday so I spent it with Soda and his brothers. You wanna come with Soda, Sandy and me at lunch? We're goin' down to The Dingo." I bite my tongue, internally debating with myself over whether I should voice my next question.

Before I can think twice, I open my mouth.

"Is this a date or are we going out as friends?" Once the words leave my mouth, I begin to regret my decision. Nervously, I look towards Steve. He's merely smirks.

"Sure sounds like a lunch date to me." He winks. "S'long as you don't mind me re-introducin' you to Soda and Sandy as my girl." I nod my head, struggling to hide the blush creeping into my cheeks.

From this moment on, Steve and I are officially a couple.

Steve reaches forward, grabbing a hold of my chin and pulling my face towards his. In the middle of the hallway, the two of us engage in a kiss, and suddenly, PDA doesn't seem quite as bothersome as the other day.

Within moments of our affection, someone clears their throat behind us. Steve pulls back slowly, reluctantly, and his light colored eyes flicker to whomever is standing behind me. I follow his gaze, and to be completely honest, I'm a little surprised to Imogene standing with us.

Despite the fact that this is what we initially planned for her to do this morning.

She stares back at us with a growing smirk on her face. Silently, she crosses her arms, and as the seconds pass, I'm starting to believe no one is going to say a word.

Then, Steve asks the only thing logical to him right now: "Who's this?"

Imogene eases up; her smirk softens to a small smile. "I'm Eileen's sister, Imogene," she opens her arms – indicating she wants a hug. Steve stares at her weirdly, and he doesn't step forward until I give him a little nudge. "I'm guessing you're Eileen's boyfriend now?" She inquires, wrapping her arms around Steve's shoulders.

"Yeah, I'm Steve." He replies awkwardly, gingerly wrapping his arms around her waist. He pats her back a couple times before she starts to pull away from him.

"I know who you are," Imogene shares. "I've heard a lot about you too, and if you don't treat my baby sister right, I'll sick my twin brother on you." She points a finger at him, but he isn't fazed; Imogene's threat doesn't intimidate him in the least. "But you two are really cute, and don't worry, Steve. I'm sure Eileen's told you how much our parents don't like her hanging around with your gang, but your secret is safe with me."

"Thanks, I guess." Steve mumbles quietly, retreating to my side. Imogene continues to smile, and as one of her friends pass, it catches her eye.

"I have to run now. I'll see you back at home. I'll see you around, Steve." She waves quickly to us before hurrying off after Carolyn. Steve recognizes her, and in response, his face scrunches up in disgust.

"She hangs around Evie's older sister?"

XxXxXxX

Halfway through fourth period, the bell rings, signaling lunchtime. My class expresses their relief from the insanely hard test in various ways before racing for the door.

Mr Barnes doesn't even bother to try stopping them.

Soda waits for me across the hallway with a smile as big as Texas on his face. I smooth my skirt in the back while returning his smile. "Are ya ready to go find Steve and Sandy?" He asks happily. I nod my head, and together, we head off to find our other half.

Once we step into The Dingo, a blonde waitress is at our side, ready to lead us to our table. Soda and Sandy step in front of us; they grab each other's hands and follow behind the blonde girl. "You wanna tell 'em here? Or do you wanna wait?" I shrug my shoulders in response.

"I think we should tell them. If we don't, Sandy will probably kill me."

Sandy and Soda claim one side of the booth leaving Steve and I with the opposite. Our little, blonde leader announces the name of our waiter while distributing our menus. I feel bad. No one is really paying attention to her except me.

Steve is busy staring blankly at the table while the other two busy themselves in a conversation that I don't think I'd want to take part in. I give her a slight nod, offering her a small smile. She doesn't seem offended by our lack of interest, and with a smile of her own, she heads on her way.

My mind starts to wander, and I can't help but think back to Evie. Did I just ruin our growing friendship? Will she hate me after this stunt? Am I worrying myself for no reason?

Before I can think twice, I bring Steve into my thoughts.

"Do you think Evie's going to be mad about us?" Steve breaks free of his trance and looks at me. I can see he doesn't follow what I'm asking, leaving me with no choice but to explain my inner thoughts. "She's one of my friends, Steve, and now we're together. Do you think she's going to hate me after this?"

In response, he merely rolls his eyes.

"It don't matter what she thinks," he reasons. "She don't mean a thing, and I don't get why you're worryin' 'bout her so much. Evie broke up with me, so if she don't like us together, that's her own damn fault."

I can see his point as clear as the day, but it doesn't ease my thoughts any. Deep down, I still feel a bit guilty for dating my friend's ex-boyfriend.

"What're you two goin' on 'bout?" Soda asks curiously, breaking his attention from Sandy. Steve rolls his eyes and sighs heavily before explaining my concern to his best friend.

"She don't want to make Evie mad cause she said yes when I asked her to be my girl." Soda doesn't answer right away. Instead, he turns towards Sandy with a growing smile; she mirrors his face, and it's starting to freak me out. Slowly, Soda returns his attention to Steve.

"It's about damn time, Steve."

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