Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders or the song Ever-Changing.

There's nothing simple when it comes to you and I. Always something in this ever-changing life. And there probably always will. Now that time is getting harder to come by. The same arguments are always on our mind. We've killed this slowly fading light.

The night was winding down. I sat by myself in the kitchen drinking a coke and waiting until someone came in who'd take me home. I knew I was a party-popper. Right now though, I wasn't in the mood to be thinking about partying.

It smelled like sex...everywhere. On the sofa were four people who may or may not have their bottom layers on, a girl on the kitchen counter without a shirt, and the people up stairs...we all knew what they were up to.

The conversation Soda, Pony, and I had last night stuck in my head. By just looking at Pony when he talked about Cherry, you knew his feelings were pure, the same going for her. They fought just like everyone else. They had their fair share of problems and issues but the look still remained through the whole relationship. They'd been together longer than Dally and I and for that amount of time, they were in love and it didn't look like anything would step in the way any time soon.

But something did.

It makes you wonder what was going through Cherry's head. All of us had our own theories but in the end, only she knew what she was thinking. It happened so fast that Pony didn't even see it coming nor have time to react. One minute they are madly in love, the next they're crying and wishing the other person dead.

It happens to the best of people. Look at Soda. Madly in love with the woman of his dreams - the woman he planned to marry. She shows up pregnant one day and leaves him flat on his face the same way Cherry did Pony. The happy couple, who were once going places, was no more. It was over just like that.

The world is funny that way. It's like one minute it's spinning, life is great, and the next it stops and you're left only with a feeling that only lasted a short amount of time...one you may or not ever get back again. Things end like that.

"Well who shit in your corn flakes?"

The smell of sex and sweat overwhelmed my nose. "Well how'd that go?"

He took a seat next to me and opened a fresh beer. "Same." He winked. "How's it goin'?"

"Same," I answered back. "Do you have your car? I just don't think tonight I really want to be-"

"Tim!" A young black headed boy came running toward us. His eyes were lit up so big and his smile looked like it could break his jaw at any minute. He rushed over to us and cupped Tim's shoulder. "Hey buddy!"

Tim rubbed his face in aggravation. He let out a deep sigh. "Hey, Jac."

I studied the young guy. His accent was thick. He wasn't from these parts for sure. He was a beauty though. His whole body practically sparkled. "Hey."

Tim hid his face but Jac stuck out a friendly hand. "Hello there! Who are you, pretty lady?"

"Danni," I told him with a smile.

His eyes got wider as did his grin. "Danni? As in Angela's Danni? Oh my, my, it must be you!"

Tim's face slumped down closer to the table. Confused, I let go of his hand. How did he know Angela or even that I was once her friend? "Um-"

"Oh my!" He said, quickly backing up his tracks. "Is it too soon? I heard what happened to the sweetie. I was so devastated when I heard the horrid news. How are you holding up, dear?"

I tried to catch Tim's hiding eyes only getting the side of his hand. "Um...fine. What did you say your name was again?"

"Jacques," he beamed. "But call me Jac."

Tim continued to shuffle in his seat the more this guy talked. I turned back to the boy. "How did you know Ang?"

"I come here every once in a while to visit my dear grandmother," he went on. "I met her a while ago, about last year really, and we had a sort of...what do you call it? Fling? Yes a fling!"

My jaw flew open, everything piecing together now. The accent, the hair, the eyes, the way he presented himself, the glimmer in his eyes. It was all over his face. They were identical. He was-

Tim rose his head up for the first time. "Jac can you go grab me another beer? Just go out back."

Jac jumped up. "Sure thing buddy!"

Once out of sight, Tim turned back around and rubbed his hand down his face. He caught my eye and then rubbed his hand through his hair.

"Is he..."

He slowly nodded. "Met up with him a few weeks ago. Knew it the minute I looked at the motherfucker's eyes."

I never met Angela's lover. I only heard the fairy tales I thought she made up about him. Everything she had said matched. He was French. He lived in New Jersey. He came here to visit relatives and once Angela saw him she had to have him. It was only for one night but she always said it was the best night of her life. She even wasn't shocked about ending up pregnant afterwards.

When she found out she was pregnant she was despite to find him. She called a bunch of homes up North but without a last name, she came up with nothing. She never thought she'd see him again.

"I thought his name was Jake?" I asked. "That's why she named the baby Jake."

Tim spun his bottle around, splashing the beer inside. "She was drunk. That's what she thought he was saying all night."

"How can you get Jake and Jac mixed up?"

Tim leaned back and finished off his beer with a shrug. "Bets me."

All this time...and she wasn't even here to see it herself. I always wanted to meet the miraculous "Jake Tyler". "Does he know...I mean about Jake?"

There was a silence that answered my question.

"How could you not tell him?" I asked, annoyed with the thought. "He deserves to know. Hell, she wanted him to know! You know how badly she wanted to find him, Tim."

Tim grumbled and pushed his bottle across the table. "Yeah well she ain't here so what does it matter, huh?"

I grinded my teeth together. "Don't use that as an excuse. You have to tell him. It's what she wanted."

He looked at me, his eyes fiery. I couldn't tell if it was from the obscene amount of smoke in the room or from anger. "This isn't your business. Keep your nose out of it!"

"Tim-"

He stood up, causing some bottles to rattle and fall. He towered over me, making me remember the rules Tim Shepard had set for himself. "I'm not going to tell you again. Stay. Out. Of. It."

He walked away and my body filled with anger. I pushed the sweaty hair out of my face and watched him walk through the crowd. This was something I couldn't control and I knew it. Tim set the rule. Jac is not to find out.

Tim's rules are the rules. You don't dare to break them. We've all learned that the hard way...one way or another.

"Dan!" Evie hurried over to my side, her hands in fists and hair in knots. "Are you leaving?"

"Yeah," I answered, looking her over. "You ok?"

She grabbed her coat and purse and pushed through the doors. "If I don't get out of here someone might not be!"

I followed her out into the freezing cold. Small snow flurries were dancing under the street lights as we walked down the sidewalk. Evie's heels clicked as she quickly tiptoed through the cold wind.

I caught up to her and walked by her side. "Something happen?"

She tightened her coat around her tiny waist. "Steve is an ass. He's drunk. As if spilling beer all over this new outfit wasn't enough, when I called him out on it he got mad about the money I spent on it. MY money! He embaressed me in front of everyone."

I pressed my lips together and pictured somewhere warm. The cold was freezing my face. "Where is he at now?"

She threw her hands up in the air. "Still in there I guess. I really don't care at this point. He can sleep there for the night. See how he likes it after hours!"

Evie being hot-headed and Steve being...tough to handle, always made people question their relationship. The two personalities never went together but they somehow did. Steve tells Soda just how many fights they've had just being married for a few months. Yet every word that came from Evie's mouth just expressed how much she actually wanted Steve to crawl home tonight.

"How was your night?" she asked.

I breathed warm air into my hands. "Eh, it was alright. It wasn't really my scene."

"I saw Soda and Jennie. Are they going together?"

It made me breathe a little knowing that Soda did stay with Jennie. It made a small smile appear on my face. "Not yet...you like her?"

Evie flipped her hair back. "She's really pretty. Seems nice enough. Yeah, I like her."

The rule of the land was unwritten but everyone knew it was there. Soda and Steve were best friends. They've double dated ever since they both found an interest in the girl race. The rule started then. Evie and Sandy were best friends. They followed the rule and set a foundation for every girl to copy and try and crawl into.

Evie and Soda's girl had to get along. No one says it, but it's there. Of course Soda has the final say and would override the rule if he felt the need to. He himself didn't even realize it was really there. Everyone else has noticed it though. Evie has had girls trying to be her best friend ever since Sandy went south. Jennie getting the A-Okay was in her best interest.

"Are you going down for Sandy's wedding?" I asked.

Evie shivered. "No. Sandy doesn't really get my approval for the wedding...besides, I wasn't invited."

This was a surprise. Sandy and Evie were the girl versions of Soda and Steve. Never apart. "Why is that?"

"Sandy just doesn't know what she's getting into," she said. "The guy has totally brain washed her. That's how she got pregnant. He's a charmer. Can convince her to jump off a bridge if need be."

The wind started to pick up speed, causing Evie and I both to shake and bundle up in our clothes.

Evie cleared her throat. "How's Soda taking the news?"

"He doesn't know," I said. "The time isn't really right to break it down for him. He's just now putting everything back together again."

Evie nodded. "I know. Jennie will be good for him. I hope it works out for him."

The moon was gone tonight. If it wasn't for the street lights everything would be dark. Some cars that passed would light up the path for us but only for a few seconds. I didn't notice the change of brightness until Evie spoke up.

"Is that car following us?"

I turned to see the light blue Mustang's bright headlights blinding us. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't see it pull off and come to a stop. "Hey, ladies."

Evie huffed and straightened up her jacket and turned around. "Just what I fucking need."

"What do you want?" I asked, becoming more annoyed. "Randy."

The two walked towards us casually. Michael spotted Evie and winked at her for which she rolled her eyes and turned back around the other way. "Who's you're friend?"

I didn't speak to him. I kept my focus on Randy. "What are you doing?"

Randy took the flask Michael was holding and took sip. "Can we talk to you for a minute?"

"About what?"

Michael continued to make kissy faces at Evie who had lit a cigarette and leaned against a light pole. Her eyes were riddled with annoyance and a slight pinch of fear once she saw the near empty flask.

I faced back to Randy. "So?"

Randy handed the flash back and coughed. "You hear about the rumble?"

"Sorta. Not many details though. What makes you think there is going to be one anyway?"

Michael smirked and turned to look down at me. "Oh there is going to be rumble."

I ignored him again. His breath was making me throw-up a little in my mouth. "Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

"Danielle," Michael slurred. "I heard Dally is in Texas. All the way in Texas. Must be hard on you. We were concerned about your wellbeing. There are some not so nice people in this town. It'd be a shame for Dally to hear about you being hurt."

His feet inched toward mine where our toes touched each other through our shoes. I stared only at them. "Yeah. It'd be really bad for the person who did it though. You know how hard Dally can hit."

Michael whistled at Evie. "Sweetheart! Hey, why don't you come down here? You look lonely!"

Evie refused to look in his direction.

I watched Michael's toes leave mine and head over to her. "Wanna sip?" Randy asked, holding out the flask.

"Just leave," I said. "Please just get him away."

Randy clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth and looked over at Michael. I could hear Evie struggle as Michael leaned in on her. "She wants us to leave!"

"That isn't very nice!" Michael yelled back. "It's actually quite rude!"

Randy giggled and looked back at me. "Hey, we're just having some fun with you." He playfully hit my arm. "C'mon! Lighten up!"

I scowled. "It's not fun anymore and you know it."

"Stop acting that way," he said. "You know he's just playing around. You know he wouldn't really hurt anyone. He's all bark and no bite. You know that."

I shook my head. "I do? I remember things differently, Randy. Please get him out of here before he does somthing stupid."

"I said don't touch me!" Evie hollered, still fighting off Michael's body. "Just leave us alone!"

Randy watched the two go at it. "He just wants to scare ya'll. You know, rattle you up before the big show down. That's all it's about. Don't be such a hard ass about it."

"Danni!" Evie squealed out. "Get him away from me!"

I turned my head to see Michael's hands tightly around hers, backing her up into the light post and pushing himself on her, laughing. I quickly spun back to Randy. "Get him away from her!"

"He's just playin' around!" he defended. "God, just lighten up! You take everything too damn seriously. You really think Mike and I are a threat. C'mon. You know us for God's sake Danni!"

Evie continued to fight against Michael. "I did know you," I told him. "This isn't funny anymore."

Randy spun me around to watch the two. "See! He's just playing!"

I turned just to see Evie growl and the spit fly from her face once he got in close to her. I saw his hands go up and shove her right to the ground. I heard him cuss and stand over her, anger in his voice.

"That isn't playing!"

"Mike!" Randy yelled. "Hey, that's enough. Let's get outta here!"

Michael didn't answer. He hovered over Evie's curled up body on the cold ground. Randy was nervously laughing at the whole thing while at the same time, trying to get him away.

I tried to go to her, feeling something pull me back. "What are you doing? Let me go!"

"It's in your best intrest not to go over there," he whispered, then retracting to a louder voice, "He's not being serious. Are ya Mike?" The nervous laugh again. "Just messing with you guys."

I struggled against his hold. "You're both drunk! Go home and just let us go."

"You think I'm serious now!" Mike screamed down at the ground that Evie lied. "You think you can just spit in my face?" He grabbed her and lifted her off the ground. "Huh?"

"Randy!"

"Mike!"

"Evie!"

He came out of nowhere, racing over to the two and pulling her away from Michael's grasp. Evie broke free and trembled by the brick wall and watched the two go at it, shoving and pushing each other against walls and going over into the road.

The tight hand on my arm was released and a loud grunt came soon after.

I didn't turn around to see who else was beside me. I ran towards Evie, her arms embracing me. We stood, shivering and watching Steve tackle the beast on the ground. We held each other.

"What are you trying to do, man?" Two-Bit's voice came from where Randy was.

Randy quickly shoved Two-Bit off and hurried to his car. "What are you doing? You don't just go punching a guy out!"

"You don't just go after two young girls in the middle of the night either monkey shit!"

"We weren't doing anything!" Randy hollered. "We were just kidding!"

Two-Bit's eyes widened. "You've got a lot of nerve pal! After what happened to your friend-"

"Don't bring him up, grease! It'll be the last thing you'll ever do!"

Evie's eyes didn't break from Steve. His face was bloody...or it was Mike's. We couldn't see anything. It was so dark out. We were both cold and shaking and wanting to go home.

Randy got into his car and rolled the window down. "Don't try and act like we're the monsters. We all know what you greasers are all about."

"Now I know our hair may be pretty BA but that ain't all we're about, bristle pad."

Randy started the car up and honked the horn at Mike and Steve. "We're not murders."

"Neither are we," Two-Bit said sternly. "Don't go throwin' stones when you've got a glass house."

Randy flickered the lights and pressed down on the horn again. "Glass houses? This makes two on yawl's hands, buddy boy. Who have we killed? You can throw your stones all day. The blood is still on your hands."

There were no more words. Mike broke free from Steve's hold and limped to the passenger side of the Mustang. Steve lied on the ground, holding his side, trying to catch his breath, and watching the two.

He grunted and coughed loudly. "This isn't over!"

Two-Bit nodded, agreeing. "Not by a long shot."

Randy saluted off to the both of them and put the car into drive leaving them with parting words: "See you soon fellows. See you soon."

Now the lines are drawn. Is this feeling gone? The best parts of this have come and gone. And now that is all this is. With the reasons clear. We'll spend another year. Without direction, full of fear. And now things will be different.

A/N: Please excuse mistakes.

So Jac is reveled. Surprised? What do you think the point of the plan "Part 2" was?