Finally got the chapter finished, I've bee busy so it took longer to finish than I'd hoped. On another note I am rather pleased with the way this chapter wound up. It really does seem superior to the first version, especially the introduction I mentioned before.

In any case, I do not own the Outsiders.


Andromeda smiled as she sprawled on her bed, phone in hand and said, "Aunt Marge, I really do intend to stay in Tulsa for the rest of high school. If mom and dad really do want me to come home, they'll have to do more than grumble about it." Her Aunt sighed on the other end of the phone and replied, "I know dear, but your parents nagging that I convince you to get home is wearing on my nerves. Perhaps if you got your grades up to b+ average they'd be more willing." Andromeda sighed in agreement as she stared at the math book she was supposed to be studying. Her Aunt had called to pass on a message from her parents when her grades dropped to the low 'b' to 'c' range.

Andromeda shifted into a more comfortable position before she said, "I'll see what I can do."

She could hear the acceptance in her Aunt's voice as she said, "Alright then. On a more pleasant subject, how are things in Tulsa, are you having fun?" A smile spread across Andromeda face as she replied, "I'm having tons of fun. Recently I had a friend over and she actually managed to get Aunt Christy to like her!"

Andromeda could barely keep from laughing as Evie acted like the perfect socially elite friend Andromeda's aunt expected her friends to be. That task got even harder when Evie explained that her outfit was part of a birthday gift from her mother. Andromeda was certain the outfit had been stolen. In the end, Andromeda's aunt had been satisfied with what she'd seen but warned Andromeda not to invite too many people over. Naturally, Andromeda had agreed.

Aunt Marge chuckled on the other side of the phone as she said, "That's good, It makes me happy to know you have friends over there. Actually, that reminds me, I'll be in Tulsa for work in a few weeks. I won't have too much free time but I will have enough to visit my favorite niece."

Andromeda shot of into a seated positing, a smile spread across her face as she exclaimed, "Really!? That's amazing!" I cant wait to see you, and there's some people I want to introduce you to." Another chuckled came across the phoneline before her Aunt said, "I'll have to call you back with further details because I have to get back to work, but I'd be happy to meet these friends of yours." Andromeda quickly said her goodies before the call end and she flopped back down with a wide smile across her face. She'd never really considered the possibility of her Aunt Marge coming over, but now that it was, she couldn't help feeling overjoyed.

A moment later Andromeda turned to glance at the clock. She knew that her homework was important, but there was something else that she had to do first.

A few minutes later, she tiptoed down the hall with her shoes in hand. Recently Two-Bit had give her some tips on getting around her aunt. Specific ones where how to sneak out and how to slip back in. She quickly put on her shoes and slipped out of the house and hurried down the street. When she was two blocks away from the Curtis house she smirked to herself. She'd left a note saying she'd be in the library studying which would likely convince Aunt Christy.

The door swung shut behind her, and Andromeda glanced at Soda and Steve who were deep in conversation. She took a moment to wave to Evie who was draped over Steve before she sat down next to Two-Bit who raised a hand in greeting while he swallowed a mouthful of beer. Andy smiled in response and asked, "How'd it go?" Two-Bit shrugged as he replied, "Not bad. Dally'll be here later." Andy nodded and reached into her bag to pull out a vintage mickey mouse t-shirt. Two-Bit grinned and cocked an eyebrow as he pulled the shirt over his head as he said, "You know I was pulling your leg when I mentioned the shirt." Andy's leaned back into the couch as she replied, "Yes, but fair is fair so ..."

Two-Bit took another swallow from his can as he said, "You're more peeved by him ignoring you than I thought."

Andromeda's gaze dropped and she began to toy with the end of her sleeve. She wasn't surprised that Two-Bit had noticed Dallas ignoring her, Everyone had likely noticed it for quite a while, maybe even longer than she had.

She lifted her head again as she replied, "I guess so."

Two-Bit stared at her for a few seconds before before a wide grin spread across his face. Andromeda edged away slightly as she asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Two-Bit didn't reply before he lunged toward her and tickled her side. Andromeda shrieked and tried to batt away his hands. Two-Bit wasn't deterred at all as he continued his barrage until Andromeda held up her hands and gasped, "Stop, stop! I'm swear I'm going to wet myself!"

There were snickers from nearby parties and Two-Bit raised his hands, a smirk on his face as he said, "Alright, alright, no need to make threats." Andromeda crossed her arms and huffed in mock rage unable to hide the smile that followed.

She was still chuckling when the front door swung open and Andromeda looked over to see Dallas step inside. He glanced around as he shut the door behind himself. He immediately tensed up as his eyes swept past Andromeda. Andromeda felt her smile waver until she felt an elbow nudge her side. She glanced over to see Two-Bit wink at her before he gestured toward Dallas with his head.

Andromeda took a deep breath and stood before she walked over to Dallas and said, "There's something I need to talk to you about. Dallas crossed his arm and replied, "Is there?" Andromeda nodded and gestured toward the kitchen as she said, "Why don't we talk in there?"

One corner of Dallas' mouth lifted as he asked, "Got somethin' fun planned?" Andromeda felt her cheeks turn red before she said, "Sorry sweetheart, but I can't today, too tired from the last time."

Dallas' eyebrows shot skyward as the sound of partly muffled snickers filled the room. Andromeda tried to pull herself together as she replied, "I just want a short conversation, that's all." Dallas opened his mouth before he nodded and followed Andromeda into the kitchen. The door swung shut behind them and Andromeda turned around and asked, "Why are you ignoring me?" Dallas scoffed as he replied, "I'm not ignoring you. If I was, we wouldn't be talking right now."

Andromeda exhaled before she said, "I'm not talking about this particular moment, I'm talking about the last couple of weeks." Dallas nodded, his eyes strayed from her face as he said, "Is that so?"

Andromeda's hands rested on her hips as she said, "Every time you see me, you try to get away! Whenever I approach you, you always find a way to get yourself out of it." Dallas nodded boredly as he muttered,"Mhm." Andromeda swatted his arm as she protested, "You're doing it right now! I'm not oblivious you know, I can see you staring at the door!"

Dallas turned to glare at Andromeda and she swallowed as her body shivered slightly. She breathed out slowly before she said, "If I've done something that's bothered you, or if I offended you, you can tell me that. But I don't read minds, I ... I won't know unless you tell me."

Dallas scoffed as he looked away. He stayed like that, how's clenched and head turned away for a few minutes before he muttered, "You didn't do anything." Andromeda blinked rapidly and stepped back. Before she asked, "Then what is wrong?" There was a shrug as a response before Dallas said, "It's complicated." Frustration bubbled up inside Andromeda, 'it's complicated' wasn't an adequate answer in her mind. She looked up and said, "I've got time." She paused before she added, "Listen ... " her sentence was cut off the muted sound of the front door. Both Dallas and Andromeda turned to look as a unfamiliar female voice drifted through the the kitchen door.

Andromeda glanced over at Dallas who frowned at the door. She opened her mouth to ask Dallas about it when the kitchen door opened to reveal a teenage girl with a slight smirk on her face. Her gaze turned straight toward Dallas as she said, "There you are Dally, you hiding or somethin'?" That smile faded off the girls face as she caught sight of Andromeda.

Andromeda blinked as the girl looked her up and down. She she was shorter than Andy, although not by much, and her figure was much better developed. A hand with red painted nails tousled thick, sandy brown hair. Her narrow green eyes regarded Andy with an expression somewhere between suspicion and disinterest.

The girl looked back at Dallas and asked, "Who's she Dally?" Her voice didn't sound overtly suspicious, but her expression made it clear she didn't trust Andromeda.

Dallas stared directly at the girl as he replied, "She's a friend of the Curtis', her names Andromeda."

Andromeda couldn't help staring at Dallas for a minute. Her full name seemed foreign coming from his mouth after hearing him calling her Andy for so long. She brushed off her surprise and plastered on a smile as she said, "Hi."

The girl stared at her hand for a minute before her hand before she shook it briefly.

Andromeda glanced at Dallas who stared directly at the other girl as he said, "Andromeda, this is my girlfriend, Sylvia." The polite half-smile froze on her face as a sickening feeling welled up inside. A girlfriend, Dallas had a girlfriend. No wonder why he was ignoring her. Andromeda forced herself to relax as she said, "Oh, I see! Dallas mentioned you before."

Dallas gave her a strange look and Andromeda said quickly, "It was back a couple weeks ago, I was gripping about my ex bugging me." She quickly turned toward Sylvia and added, "It's good to have a face to go with the name." Her lips pulled into the same smile she used on her aunt when she was lying. Thankfully, it seemed to convince Sylvia who smirked at her and said, "That so?" She turned toward Dallas and added, "Come on Dally, let's go."

Dallas nodded and took one look at Andromeda before he turned and walked away.

Andromeda huffed and dropped into a nearby chair. The kitchen door opened and shut before Evie said, "I see you met Dally's bitch of a girlfriend." A harsh laugh forced itself through Andromeda's lips as she said, "No one mentioned her before."

Evie shrugged as she sat in another chair and said, "I thought Dally would mention her to you and I'd rather not think of her. I mean, no one likes her. She's just this girl who has an on again off again thing with Dally."

Andromeda looked away before she asked, "You ... aren't trying to convince me to pursue Dallas are you?" She glanced back to see Evie shrug as she replied, "Don't see why not."

Andromeda gaped at her friend before she said, "But trying steal another girls boyfriend? That's not ... It's not ..."

Andromeda sighed and looked away a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was still wrestling with the question when Evie said, "So? It's not like she's this nice girl who deserves him. Sylvia cheats on him all the time." Andromeda bit her lip. She knew coaxing away another girls boyfriend was wrong, she had it happen to herself after all. But that didn't stop her from wanting to be with Dallas, and is small, nasty voice whispered that Sylvia didn't deserve him.

Andromeda stood and stretched before she said, "I ... think I'll start small. Just talk to him and see how things go."

Evie smiled at Andromeda who return the smile reluctantly.


The pot thickens and Andy really has some issues to think over doesn't she? Next chapter will finally let us see Aunt Marge in person rather than over the phone like before, and we'll see more of Sylvia too.

If were lucky the next chapter will be up in a week, hopefully it won't be longer than a week and a half at most.