Here's the next chapter. This is sort of a follow up to the last chapter, so naturally you won't really find anything like it in the old version.

I do not own the outsiders.


The Curtis House was unusually quiet that day, but somehow that didn't make it easier for Andromeda to work on her homework. She fought back a sigh and massaged her throbbing temples. In order for her Aunt to even consider letting her stay in Tulsa or see her friends, she had to get far better grades than she previously had been.

She scribbled down a few more answers and set the paper away as she resolved to ask Darry for help later.

With that finished, she took a look around the room. Steve and Soda were at work and Two-Bit was off doing something. Pony was reading and Johnny was taking a nap since his parents had screamed at, and beaten him all night.

Telling everyone about her Aunts ultimatum had been hard, and they took the new more or less like she expected they would.

In other words, they took it badly.

A long argument had ensued on how her aunt had no right to judge them or the authority to force Andromeda to come back.

Some like Evie, Soda, and Two-Bit had been incredibly vocal about their positions and others like Steve and Dallas stewed in relative silence. Pony had been quick to point out the unfairness of the situation as Johnny nodded in agreement.

It had been Darry who had ended the conversation with the words, "I don't like what she's doing but I understand why it's happening. Since she came here, Andromeda's grades have rapidly dropped, she's making morally questionable decisions, and half the people she spends time with have long criminal records varying from theft to assault. As someone who cares for her as much as her aunt does, pulling her out of the situation is the only thing that makes sense."

The explanation was reluctantly accepted, and Andromeda made sure to assure them again that she had no intention of leaving Tulsa with her aunt.

Andromeda stretched, and a look at the clock told her that it was lunch time. She grabbed her back and whispered a quick goodbye to Pony before she headed off to Jay's for lunch.

A couple people gave her strange looks as she entered the diner, undoubtedly thinking she ought to be at Rusty's or The Way Out like other 'Soc's', but nobody said anything. They knew she was friendly with Dallas and the others, and that kept her safe.

Regardless of those looks, she sat in a corner booth and ordered her food.

A waitress handed her a cup of coffee and she slowly sipped it as she thought over her relationship with Dallas. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say her lack of a relationship with Dallas. While she hadn't avoid him for the last few days, she hadn't expressly searched him out either. Her arguments with both Sylvia and her aunt had been more than enough for her to reconsider her actions. While she still loved him and wanted to date him, the lengths she was willing to go to unnerved her.

The food arrived and she was about to dig in when another person slipped into the seat across from her.

Andromeda was about to more or less politely ask them to move when she realized the person wasn't a stranger, but Dallas himself. He motioned the waitress for a cup of coffee and leaned back casually in his seat. Neither of them said anything for a while until Dallas finally commented, "Looks like your cheek healed."

Andromeda nodded in response as she refrained from touching the place where the scratch had been. "It wasn't that bad to begin with." she said.

Dallas looked skeptical as he asked, "Are you gonna tell me what actually happened that day?" Andromeda bit her lip as her hands briefly clenched. Despite that she replied, "I already told you what happened. I smacked myself accidentally."

"So you're gonna stick with that story."

Dallas' question was more of a statement. Andromeda met his stare as she lied, "It was the truth after all."

They stayed like that for a while with neither of them conceding. The only thing that broke their staring contest was the arrival of Andromeda's food. Dallas leaned back as Andromeda took a bite of her burger. She set it down a minute later as she found herself unable to enjoy it. "So," Dallas said, "You're leaving." Andromeda glanced up, her mouth full, mildly exasperated.

Once she had finished chewing, she explained, "Just because my aunt is telling me that I have to leave, doesn't mean that I intend to. I love my Aunt Marge, but I won't give up my life here just because she said I have to." She picked her burger up again as she mumbled, "Pretty sure I said 'that' before ... but oh well."

Dallas almost smiled as he leaned back and said, "If that's the case, then I guess I'll try to be on my best for a while."

Andromeda looked up, mouth once again filled with food as she stared at him. Dallas crossed his arms as he said, "What's with that look? C'mon Andy, you're one of the gang remember? You know what we do for each other. I don't want to change anything, but if you're trying your best to stay around, the rest of us are going to stick with you."

Andromeda swallowed and set down her food before she mumbled, "Thank you."

Dallas grinned slightly before he said, "I'm gonna jet. I got stuff to do." With those words, he got up and left. Andromeda chuckled slightly. It was strange that by doing something as that, he could put a smile onto her face.

The smile faded after a moment, interactions like that had nearly ceased when she stared her flirtation with him. It had been frustrating to know why he'd put up a divide between them, but she couldn't stop her efforts at the time.

Once she'd eaten and paid, Andromeda left the cafe with the resolution to give up her pursuit of Dallas for at least the time being.

She smiled and hummed to herself as she headed back towards the Curtis house having also resolved to have another, more peaceful, conversation with her aunt in regards to her friends.

"So the saint continues to be a boyfriend stealing bitch."

Andromeda stopped and barely managed to refrain from rolling her eyes as she muttered, "Sylvia." She turned to see the girl in question standing behind her, coffee cup in hand, as she chewed a piece of gum and demanded, "Do you really think your scheme will work?"

Andromeda scoffed and replied, "Listen. Dallas is yours, alright? I'm not going to pursue him any further." She let out a slow breath and got ready to leave when Sylvia smirked and said, "I'm not stupid you know, I saw the way you looked at Dally." Sylvia's words stopped Andromeda mid-turn, and she glared as she snapped, "Just because I decided not to pursue my feelings, doesn't mean they stopped existing."

She forced herself to speak gentler as she explained, "I'm just tired of pretending I don't mind sacrificing what I think is right for what I want. I'd ... rather just be Dallas' friend if it comes down to that."

Silence encompassed the area.

Andromeda hatred making herself vulnerable like that to Sylvia, but she'd had enough of fighting her. So she tried her best to appear calm and hide her worries.

Sylvia stared back, her expression shrewd as she took a few steps forward. A lukewarm coffee spilled over Andromeda's head a second later. Sylvia stepped back and lowered her hand as she said, "And that's the punishment what liars get. And as long as you keep going, things like 'this' will keep happening, 'kay?

She walked away as snickers could be heard from onlookers.

Andromeda glanced around, the people around her whispered among themselves. Humiliation welled up inside as she vaguely recognized the groups as greasers with a few socs in the distance. It was times like that when she remembered that she was an outsider. Someone who was tolerated, but not actually accepted by the majority.

She took a few steps towards the Curtis house before she stopped and turned around. She had too much pride to go back in the condition she was in. So instead, she walked back to her aunt's and hoped she could sneak in.


Yep, Sylvia is a jerk.

The next chapter will solely focus on interactions between Andromeda and her Aunt and shed a little light on Aunt Marge herself.