I got another chapter ready, and not at a bad speed really. And judging by the lack of reviews, I'll guess that the decision I posted in my first chapter was accepted. I'm really relieved about that as I was worried when I first put it up.
Anyways, in this chapter Andromeda meets the last member of the gang.
I do not own The Outsiders.
Dallas slumped back on the couch as the Curtis family tidied up their house. He heard Two-Bit chuckle as a smirk slid across his own face. Up until some minutes before, Two-Bit had been hollering out 'helpful' advice until Darry had told him in no uncertain terms that he was to be quiet or be made to help out. Naturally, Two-Bit had chosen to be quiet. Well ... mostly quiet.
Dallas glanced over at Johnny who once again mumbled that the was certain Andy wouldn't mind if the house wasn't absolutely perfect. Dallas agreed with him, although he wouldn't say so.
Some hours ago: he, Two-Bit, and Steve had walked in to see the Curtis' hurrying about trying to clean up as Darry scolded Pony for inviting Andromeda over that week instead of the next week like he'd said. Dallas had considered leaving at the time before he shrugged and sat down next to Two-Bit who seemed to be enjoying the chaos. Dallas glanced over at Steve who sat some some distance away as he eyed the events around him with a unimpressed expression. Dallas couldn't really figure out why Steve hadn't left yet. Steve didn't seem all that interested in meeting Andy, but somehow he'd allowed Soda to convince him to stay.
It was just when Darry had decided that they'd done enough that they heard three polite-sounding raps on the door.
Soda sprung up from where he'd sat down and hurried to open the door to reveal a nicely-dressed Andy standing on the other side. A grin spread easily across his face as he said, "Hey there! Come on in." A smile spread across Andy's face as she replied, "Thank you. I'm not late, am I?" Pony boy shook his head as he said, "Naw, you're just on time."
Darry cleared his throat as he said, "Andromeda, hello. You didn't have any trouble getting here, did you?" Andy shook her head as she answered, "No, I thought I would, but your directions were incredibly helpful."
Once she'd stopped speaking there was the sound of a soft snort and everyone turned to glance at Steve who sat casually on his chair. Soda nudged Andy slightly as he said, "Nearly forgot, that's Steve Randle over there. He's a friend of ours. Steve, this is Andromeda Campbell." Andromeda waved politely as she greeted Steve with a simple, "Hello." Steve nodded in greeting before he glanced away and Andy looked around with an uncomfortable look on her face.
Pony shuffled to to his feet as he said, "You can sit down if you wanna." Andy smiled again and murmured a 'thank you' as she took a seat next to Pony and naturally crossed her legs.
Soda leaned against the other side of the couch as he joked, "Sorry it took so long inviting you, Pony kept dragging his feet about it." Pony mumbled something awkwardly under his breath as Andromeda blushed while she stated, "Oh, I didn't mind the wait." Soda grinned in response. Two-Bit leaned forward a bit as he called, "Hey A.C., are the rumors true?" A wry smile crossed Andy's face as she said, "About my gain of wealth? Yes, they are." Two-Bit chuckled as he said, "Must be nice, havin' all that money." Andy shrugged as she said, "I suppose so. I don't give it much thought." There was still a smile on her face, but her tone told them that she wanted to change the subject.
There was another snort and Dallas glanced over to see that Steve had slumped in his seat some and partially covered his face with his hand. Andy looked uncomfortable again before she asked Darry, "Have you always lived here?" Darry nodded as he said, "Our parents had it before we were born." Andy nodded as she stated, "It's nice."
Judging by the smile which was on her face, Dallas was certain that she was telling the truth. In fact, he was certain that she seemed more relaxed than when she'd been in her aunt's house.
Pony had opened his mouth to respond when they heard the sound of a match being struck and the smell of a cigarette. Dallas turned toward Steve who now sat smoking before he spoke with an edge in his voice, "You mind?" Andy blinked rapidly as she realized the question was being aimed at her. Her head shook as she promptly replied, "Oh. Of course not."
Steve glanced away indifferently as an awkward silence encompassed the room.
The silence broke a minute later when Andy stated, "Speaking of living places, I think I've convinced my Aunt to let me stay at her house for a while longer. I'm sure I'll have to pay rent to do so, and she'd probably have more rules for me to follow, but those things won't be a problem." A hopeful smile spread across Johnny's face as he asked, "How did you convince her?" A proud expression appeared on Andy's face as she explained, "I told it it would be simpler to finish my schooling for this year if I didn't have to move again. Also, I said that living away from home for long periods would give me more real world experience. I'm not sure if she believed the last part, but at least she said that she'd give it some thought."
Dallas chuckled slightly at her words. It honestly amused him that Andy had convinced the old bat into letting her stay despite doing it to spend time with people her Aunt wouldn't approve of.
Just as grins began appearing on several faces a voice rang out, "In other words, we're stuck with you." Dallas looked to the origin of the bitter sounding words to see Steve finally outright glaring at Andy. The recipient of said glare flinched noticeably and leaned back as though she could feel the foul emotions he was expressing."
Andy clenched her fists as drew in a shaky breath and said, " I wouldn't describe it that way, but I- I ... suppose so?"
Steve's expression became fouler as he said, "You suppose? Are you stupid? You're either here or you're not. And if you staying here, you need to hang with your own kind."
Andy froze momentarily before she her lips pursed as she replied, "Ex-excuse me, but if you mean the Socials by 'my own kind', then you should know that I am not one of them." There was yet another snort from Steve as he snapped back, "You know you're not gonna convince anyone, right?" Andy swallowed before she started, "I'm not-" "Will you shut up!" Andy's mouth snapped shut as Steve finally shouted. "If they look like a soc and talk like a soc, then they're a damn Soc. So you can take your prissy words and get the hell outta here!"
Everyone in the room seemed freeze as Andy sat there as her mouth opened and shut before she swallowed and said, "Alright." Several of the others in the room opened their mouths to protest, but Andy held up her hand as she said, "It'it's fine, I'll go. Besides, I-I think that I forgot to do ... something." Her lips tried to pull upwards as she muttered to pony and Johnny, "I'll see you later.", before she hurried out the door.
Dallas looked around to see stunned expressions that reflected the confusion that even he felt until he heard Steve mutter, "Good riddance." Dallas looked at him with a disgusted expression on his face as he opened his mouth, "I-I think you're wrong." Surprise welled up from withing Dallas as his head turned towards Johnny. Johnny looked more nervous than usual as he added, "An-Andromeda isn't what you think she's like." The entire gang looked at Johnny in wide-eyed surprise. Dallas couldn't remember a time where Johnny had objected to something someone had said like that. Steve glanced a way, irritation clear in his voice as he asked, "Why not?"
Johnny swallowed and it was Pony who answered, "Because she's just not. Yeah she's rich and all, but she's not a soc. She never wanted to be one."
Steve glared at Pony as he retaliated, "And what about her attitude huh?" Dallas groaned finally, and he felt everyone's eyes on him as he said, "Andy's just absurdly nice to people. Why else would she call me 'sir' when we met?" Dallas made a face and glanced away. He only half listened to the other talking as he glared at a wall. Andy wasn't his friend, but it didn't seem right to let other treat her like that. He was only half-aware of when Steve reluctantly got up and mumbled something about an apology before he left the room.
Probably could have been a better chapter, but I still like it. When I was working out how this chapter would work, it seemed natural that not everyone in the gang would like her and I thought Steve would be the proper choice.
Next chapter will be up hopefully in a week, and it'll be about Amber and the gang.
Please leave a review.
