Thanks to all the reviews I got yesterday, I felt really inspired. Therefore, I can't wait a week to post this chapter.
For those who read my other version of the story, this chapter will be very familiar, but also different. to be honest, I liked the essence of my previos first chapter, but I feel I didn't portray the characters well enough. So I reworked it and I feel this version is a lot better. At least it seems to make more sense.
I do not own the outsiders.
Andromeda tapped her fingernails gently against the windowsill of the bus she was on. For some inconceivable reason, it had been decided that Andromeda would ride a bus all the way to Tulsa instead of going in a plane. As a result, she had been a bundle of nerves every time she had to change a bus, and staying alone in that hotel alone had been downright terrifying.
She thought back to when she had left, both Andrew and Mrs. Williams had given her pleasant goodbyes as they tried their best to encourage her and give her strength for the journey. Andromeda's parents however, had been as cold as usual.
Andromeda sighed, she honestly had no idea what sort of a place Tulsa would be. She had asked both her parents, but neither had said anything and her Aunt Cristy had said testily, "You'll see for yourself when you get here." After she said that, Andromeda decided it wouldn't be wise to question her further and said goodbye before hanging up.
She tugged slightly at the hem of her belted blue silk gingham dress which she wore under her lacy white cardigan. She had decided to wear the dress as it reminded her of one of her favorite childhood characters, Dorothy of OZ. And as silly as it seemed, wearing that dress did seem to calm her slightly.
Her head turned toward toward the bus door as the bus slowed down. Andromeda had arrived in Tulsa. She stood slowly, and gripped her bag as she slowly exited the bus. Her brows furrowed as she looked around herself. This part of Tulsa was more rundown than she had expected. But what was more unnerving was the fact that her Aunt was not there.
Andromeda bit her lip, her aunt had said she would be here to pick her up but ... After about half a minute of panicking she pulled out a cell phone and checked it, no batteries. Apparently it hadn't turned off like she thought it did, and ran out. Sighing she checked the other one to see the same result. After replacing the phone, she gave a self-deprecating little laugh. How often was it for a person to have two cell phones and not be able to use either of them. Although, considering how many times she had forgotten to deactivate the first, it wasn't fully unbelievable.
After a minute of looking around, she mercifully found a payphone and quickly called her Aunt. The phone rang twice before she heard her Aunt's voice say, "Who is it?" Andromeda swallowed before she said, "Hello Aunt Cristy, this is Andromeda. I am calling because I arrived at the bus stop in Tulsa, and I noticed that you were not here. I thought we had agreed that you would pick me up at the bus stop."
Her Aunt snorted on the other side of the line before she said, "I said I 'might' pick you up at the bus station, not that I would. But if you're going to be a brat and bother me about it, go to the DX. I'll pick you you there shortly." Andromeda bit her lip nervously before she said as politely as possible, "Thank you Aunt Cristy, but how will I find this 'DX' if I do not even know where I am?"
There was a few moments of silence before Aunt Cristy's bitter voice said, "And this is what I get for expecting an intelligent answer from you. You will have to ask someone where it is. That is if you have enough brain cells to know how to do that." Andromeda flinched from shame and embarrassment. Asking for directions was such a obvious solution that she felt silly for not realizing that on her own. Pushing away that thought she said, "Thank you Aunt Cristy, I am in your debt." Her Aunt snorted once again and muttered 'idiot' under her breath before she hang up abruptly.
Andromeda hung up the phone and asked the most trustworthy looking person around, a business man, for directions to the Dx. To her relief he gave her the directions and wished her luck. Feeling a bit more confidant than before, she began to make her way to the Dx.
She had gone a few blocks or so when a silver Corvair drove by with a red-head in the drivers seat. The red-head looked out of his window just as he passed her, and smirked. He then promptly parked the car, and got out. Andromeda eyed him suspiciously, then began to walk quicker. Between his actions and the look in his eye, she had no doubt that he didn't have anything good in mind.
However, the red-head easily caught up with her and matched her pace. She studied him carefully through the corner of her eyes. With his short-cropped red hair, hazel eyes, rugged face, and perfectly straight nose, he was certainly handsome enough. And the fine Linen shirt, slacks, and dress shoes he wore along with the proud posture he had give him a sense of wealth. But the leer on his face, and the heavy smell of alcohol on his breath was enough to put disregard the first two points. Not that looking wealthy particularly mattered to her.
The red-head leaned closer as he said, "Hey there sweetheart, you new here? I've never seen you around before." Andromeda smiled politely as she said, "I might be new." She knew she sounded dismissive, but he was making her feel uncomfortable. The boy grinned as he said, "I thought so. I'm Marcus Jameson, and you are?"
Andromeda looked at is outstretched hand as a internal battle raged in her head. She naturally didn't want to be rude, but he was making her feel distinctly uncomfortable. After a minute, the deeply ingrained sense of propriety that she had lived with took over and she delicately shook his hand as she said, "My name is Andromeda Campbell." Ordinarily though, she would have said that she was pleased to meet him or such, but that would be a lie so she left that portion of the greeting off.
However, Marcus showed no sigh of noticing that detail as he said, "How about we go somewhere, just you and me?" Andromeda pursed her lips as she said, "I am terribly sorry, but I have somewhere I have to be." Marcus chortled as he said, "Is that so? Well, you can do whatever it is later." He reached a hand sluggishly in her direction as Andromeda easily avoided it as she said, "Do you always hit on girls how you have just met?"
Marcus shrugged as he said, "If their cute, why not?" Andromeda tried to prevent the way her lip curled in disgust. He was clearly very inebriated, and if Andrew was here, he'd say he was as drunk as a skunk. Andromeda sped up again, if she didn't get away quickly, something terrible could happen. And with no one around, she doubted anyone could come to her rescue. The smile slipped from his face as Marcus said, "Come on, stop if you stop acting rude for a minute, you might actually enjoy yourself!"
Andromeda barely avoided the and that tried to grab her before she blindly ran away. She had never once thought that she might get assaulted on her first day in Tulsa and she was terrified. She could hear Marcus begin to catch up and began to panic as she turned a couple corners before she ran right into something solid. She stumbled back, and barely kept her balance as she watched a boy take a step or two in the opposite direction before he snapped, "Watch where you're going, idiot!"
Andromeda quickly bowed as she said, "I'm terribly sorry, sir! You aren't hurt are you?" She quickly studied the tall boy, who wore dirty sneakers, faded denim jeans, a dark blue shirt, and a worn leather jacket. He had semi-long white-blond hair that curled around his lynx like ears. He also had a wide mouth, long straight nose, and tanned skin. Along with his narrow face and high cheekbones, he had a definite elvish quality to his face. However, his eyes were by far the most interesting part of him. They were narrow, pale blue, and hard with an icy hatred. Andromeda shivered as he glared at her, he certainly could play the part of a dark elf rather well.
The boy continued to glare as he said, "Who the hell do you think you're calling 'sir? Do I look like a 'sir' to you?" Andromeda flinched at the cold tone of his voice and started to respond on to jump slightly as she heard Marcus calling from not far behind her and impulsively jumped behind the glaring boy. The boy turned to look at her as he snapped, "What are you doing?" Andromeda smiled weakly as she whispered, "I am hiding. If you let me stay her for a minute or two and ignore me, then Marcus should be drunk enough not to notice my presence.
The boy snorted and stepped away as he said, "Hell no! I ain't gonna help a soc hide from her boyfriend." Andromeda felt confused for a second at his words, but she didn't have time to ask what the word 'soc' meant when Marcus rounded the corner and spotted her as he said, "There you are." Andromeda gave the boy next to her a pleading look but her turned away with an indifferent look on his face as he started to walk away.
Andromeda felt her hope begin to slip away Marcus slung an arm around her as he chuckled and said, "What did you expect, he's just a weak little greaser." The boy stopped in his tracks at Marcus' words and turned around slowly. Andromeda shivered at the dangerous look on his face as he said darkly, "Just a 'weak and little' huh? Do you know who I am?" Marcus smirked drunkenly and he stumbled away from Andromeda as he said, "Yeah, you look like the guy I'm gonna beat up."
The tall boy chuckled darkly, then suddenly slugged Marcus's cheek hard enough to send him reeling back. Marcus righted himself and muttered something to himself before rushing over to punch the other boy who easily blocked the hit and drove his other fist into Marcus' gut making him sputter and hunch over before striking him brutally in the nose with a tightly clenched fist. Andromeda winced at the sound of breaking cartilage. Marcus's hands moved to cover his no longer straight nose before he hurried away cursing loudly.
The boy chucked as he called to Marcus' retreating form, "Were are ya going? I thought you wanted a fight!" Andromeda shivered at the look on his face before she put a fake smile on her face and said, "Thank you for you're help." The boy glanced over at her boredly as he said, "Don't bother, I didn't do it for you. I just wanted a fight."
Andromeda shivered at his words and held out her hand as she said, "My name is Andromeda Campbell." She again decided to forgo say that it was nice to meet him as she was certain it would only cause a snide retort. The boy stared at her hand until she dropped it and then finally said, "Dallas Winston." He started to leave when a thought popped into Andromeda's head and she said, "Um ... excuse me, but ..."
Dallas turned to her with an expression that clearly said 'what do you want, idiot' and Andromeda forced another smile as she said, "You wouldn't know the way to the DX would you?" Dallas looked at her coldly as he said, "And if I did?" Andromeda's smile wavered as she said, "Would you show me the way, please?"
She wasn't at all surprised though, as Dallas looked away and said swiftly, "Nope." She sighed lightly, then dug out her wallet and winced when she looked inside. So that was all she had, huh? She forced the smile back on her face as she said, "Well, will this convince you?" Dallas turned to look at her then raised an eye at the fifty dollar bill she held in her hand.
Dallas' tongue swiped over his lips and she began to reach over to grab the money until Andromeda slightly withdrew her hand and said, "After you bring me to the DX. If I pay you now, then there is no incentive for you to help me." Andromeda shivered at the frown on his face. Dallas Winston was strong enough that if he really wanted to, re could just gram the money and leave.
Dallas scoffed lightly as he said, "Fine, but only this once, and only cause you're gonna pay me. So don't get used to it." After he said this he turned abruptly and began to walk away. Andromeda put the money in her pocket as she muttered to herself, "Oh you won't have to worry about that at all." Once she was away from Dallas Winston, Andromeda had no intention of seeing Dallas again.
Ah, I really liked writing this chapter. I think I did a better portrayal of how Dallas and Andromeda would react to each other.
Also, after writing this chapter, I wish I had named her something other than Andromeda. I kept having to go back and either capitalizing the first letter of her name or adding a letter that I skipped. -_-;
Anyway, please review, I really enjoy the reviews and it does speed up how fast I ad chapters.
