Here's another chapter, right on time. This was an entirely new situation that seemed to work.
I do not own The Outsiders.
The air was cool as Andromeda and her aunt walked to aunt Christy's house. Aunt Marge took in a deep breath of air before she smiled and said, "Andromeda dear, I would love to have a little chat with you." Andromeda blinked in surprise at her aunts unexpected question before she replied, "Sure."
Andromeda remained quiet as she waited for her aunt to speak. A minute trickled by before Aunt Marge finally said, "First of all, are you alright? That's a nasty scratch you have."
Andromeda reached up to brush her fingertips against the bruise on her cheek as she said, "I'm fine. Sylvia didn't do much damage anyway." Her aunt sighed and massage her forehead as she said, "I can't believe I have to say this to you of all people." Her hand dropped as she said firmly, "You wouldn't have been slapped if you hadn't been flirting with her boyfriend."
As much as she tried, Andromeda couldn't help bristling at her aunts words despite knowing they were more or less correct. "I wasn't technically flirting with Dallas. We were just talking. He wasn't interested in any case." The words were bitter in her mouth and brought up the conflicted emotions she'd gone through shortly before.
Aunt Marge's eyes got wide as she said sharply, "Antoinette Lenore Brewster!" Andromeda flinched and looked away as her aunt said her birth name in full, "Don't try to wiggle out of it! You may have been 'only talking' but you intended to lead that boy away from his girlfriend. I'm deeply ashamed of you."
Andromeda winced and crossed her arms in front of herself.
Another sigh came from her Aunt just before she said, "I didn't want to have this conversation now, but it seems like I have to."
Andromeda's head snapped up as she blurted one, "Conversation? What sort of a conversation would that be?" A unexpected grimness appeared on her Aunt's face as she replied, "I'm bringing you back to California."
For a second the world seemed to freeze. Andromeda could only stand there as her mouth opened and closed uselessly. Leave Tulsa? The idea was nearly inconceivable. She could hardly even get herself to think about the idea of leaving her friends, her 'temporary' home. It hurt to even try.
"No!" Andromeda spat out, "I-I won't go back! I refuse." Her hands balled into fists, and she glared bitterly at her aunt.
The display of defiance only angered her aunt who replied, "Don't you talk back to me!" Andromeda opened her mouth to object but shut it a moment later. Her aunt's eyes continued to bore into as she said more softly, "I know you've been doing well here, but those friends of yours are dangerous!"
Andromeda's mouth dropped as she stuttering out, "But I-I didn't say anything about ... 'that'. Aunt Marge looked faintly disappointed as she said, "You didn't really think I wouldn't look into the people who you spent all your time with?"
A sense of uncertainty came over Andromeda as she looked at her aunt. She should have expected her friends to have been looked into, but she'd never allowed herself to think about that. She swallowed and licked her lips before she said, "Okay, so most of them can't be accused of being paragons, or ordinary citizens really. But they're not as bad as you think they are."
Andromeda held her breath, a small flicker of hope remained despite everything.
"Perhaps. But I can't take that chance." Her aunt's face was gentler as she said, "Trust me Andromeda, you are already friends with good, honest people at home. The people you know there might not be the greatest, but at least they aren't criminals."
The words burned into Andromeda's mind and she began to tremble from anger. She her voice was sharp as she snapped back, "Aren't criminals?" A sharp laugh slipped out, "For years all I've had were shitty, kiss-ass bitches as my 'closest friends'." Aunt Marge opened her mouth but Andromeda interrupted, "I know you're going to complain about that trifecta of curses, but please don't."
The nervousness returned as she pleaded, "Auntie ... these people have been the best friends I've had for years, and I know they're not the greatest sort, but you can trust me when I say I wouldn't trade them for anything. Not even for ... " her voice faded off and she stared at her feet, unable to finish her sentence.
An uncomfortable silence filled the air between them before Aunt Marge said, " How about this: I'll let you stay until I'm done with my business like I planned on before. That way you can say goodbye to your friends."
Andromeda shrugged, "Fine. But I'm planning on changing your mind before we get to that." Aunt Marge didn't seem to give the idea much thought before she said, "In any case, it's late and we've arrived at your aunts house. I should leave."
Andromeda couldn't bring herself to say goodbye as her aunt walked away.
Yep, that just happened. I realized it didn't make sense for her aunt to just accept her friends or behavior considering how she's used to Andromeda acting. So this happened.
The next chapter will most likely be up in a week. (I haven't been able to make much progress due to being busy)