Thanks for all of you who have been reviewing, I'm glad you like this story. I'm running out of ideas so I might end this story soon. If any of you reading this have an idea, please tell me.

Chapter 11



When Taylor woke the next morning she sat up, unsure of where she was. Then the memory of last night came flowing back. Of celebrating June, of complaining about the civil war, of seeing Johnny's limp body, of the fear she felt, of her father's confrontation and accusations, of running away and finding Two-Bit; it all came back to her in that moment. She lied back down, hoping it would all go away but she knew it wouldn't. Last night would never go away. Someone knocked lightly on the door and she got up and opened it. Two-Bit stood in the hallway, his hair damp and smelling like he'd just got out of the shower.

"Hi," she said.

"Hey," he replied, "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, surprisingly."

"That's good." Neither of them knew what to say. So they just stood there, looking like idiots.

"You want breakfast?" Two-Bit asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Sure."

"I would cook but my little sister says she'd rather starve than eat my cooking so I would suggest going out for breakfast."

Taylor smiled, "Okay, just let me get dressed and stuff."

"I'm not in a hurry."

"Well in that case, can I take a shower too?"

"Sure, bathroom's the third door down the hall."

"Thanks."

After a quick shower, Taylor put on what she had on last night, because she had nothing else to wear, and pulled her hair into a ponytail. She walked downstairs and saw Two-Bit sitting on the couch, reading the paper.

"Is Mickey Mouse not on right now?" she asked, jokingly.

Two-Bit grinned his famous grin, "Nope. You ready?"

"Yup."

They drove down to Jay's and walked in. Not many people were there, it was kinda early. They found a booth and sat down and ordered their food. a little while later the door opened and Soda walked in.

"Hey Soda!" Two-Bit called. Soda spotted them and walked over.

"Hey, what are you guys doing here?"

"Long story," Taylor said.

"I got time," Soda said. Taylor glanced at Two-Bit then began to tell Soda about last night. She told him about her dad yelling at her and her running out and Two-Bit finding her.

"And so I stayed at Two-Bit's last night," she concluded.

"Well it's good Two-Bit found you when he did," Soda said, "I mean, I wouldn't have wanted you to stay home but it's dangerous going out in the middle of the night like that."

"I kinda figured that out." Taylor said bluntly, "How's Johnny?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Not too good. He's got a lot of cuts and the one from his temple to his cheekbone will probably leave a scar."

Two-Bit cursed.

"Those creeps who did it were following Taylor last night. I got to her first though." Two-Bit said.

"Those bastards," Soda said, "What do they have against us?"

"I don't know, but I hate them," Two-Bit remarked.

Their food came but Taylor wasn't hungry anymore.

"You can have some of mine Soda. I'm not all that hungry."

"Okay," he said

After paying, they left Jay's and walked out into the parking lot.

"I'll see you guys later, I gotta go to work," Soda said.

"Okay, see ya," Two-Bit said, as Soda got into a Ford. He drove off, leaving Taylor and Two-Bit standing there.

"You can stay at my house as long as you need to," Two-Bit began.

"Thanks Two-Bit for the offer but I think I'm gonna head home. I have some things I need to tell my father."

"Okay. You want a ride?"

"Nah. It's a nice day. I think I'll walk. It's probably better anyway."

"Okay. Hey let me know how it turns out."

"No problem. And thanks for everything."

Two-Bit got into his car and drove off and Taylor walked slowly towards her house. When she finally got there, she began to think again about going in. She had no intention of staying; she just wanted to tell her father how wrong he was about her. Slowly she walked up the steps and knocked on the door. Her mother opened it.

"Taylor!" she cried, hugging her tightly, "You had me so worried, don't ever do that again!"

"You're telling me this?" she asked. Her mother stopped hugging her.

"What do you mean?"

Taylor was shocked, "Dad didn't tell you what he said to me?"

"No sweetie. He just said that he was talking to you and you just ran away all of a sudden."

Taylor couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"That bastard," she said angrily.

"Taylor, what is this about?"

"Mom, a lot more happened than what Dad said."

"What do you mean?"

"Well first he told me that Travis being in jail was all my fault, that I should have stopped him from going out."

"Honey, you know it wasn't your fault, your father was just angry."

"How can you say that? Being angry doesn't excuse him from saying what he said. Would you like to know more of the conversation he didn't tell you about?"

"Yes."

"Well aside from that he accused me of being a whore. He didn't believe me when I told him that Johnny had gotten jumped and almost died. That's why I was late Mom; I was helping a friend."

"Taylor, I understand where your father gets his beliefs, I-"

"No way. You agree with him?"

"Taylor you have to admit, you come home awful late sometimes. And you're talking back to us like you never used to. A parent can only think that when their daughter is changing and all her friends are boys that-"

"Oh my God!" Taylor cried, "I can't believe I'm hearing this! How can you say that about me Mom? How can you stand there and tell me such lies?"

"Honey I'm not saying that that's the truth, what I'm saying is-"

"I don't want to hear what you're saying!" Taylor yelled, "I don't want to hear anything from you. I can't believe you would think that about me. You feeling that way could have gotten me killed last night."

"Why? What happened?"

"Every think about what happened when I left? Those same people who jumped Johnny were trailing me in their car. If it wasn't for Two-Bit I'd probably be dead."

"What did Two-Bit do?"

"He was in his car and he saw me and brought me to his house."

She saw that look in her mother's eyes again.

"What happened?" her mother asked.

Taylor rolled her eyes, "Nothing! Have you listened to a word I've said? I stayed there for the night; then I came here. Which I can see was a big mistake," she added. She turned on her heel but her mother grabbed her arm.

"Taylor please, don't leave again. Just talk to your father."

"Why?" she asked bluntly, "It won't help."

"For God sakes Taylor, you're just as stubborn as he is."

"Don't you ever compare me to him!" she hissed, "I never want to be called his daughter again."

Her mother's voice suddenly became sharp and angry.

"Don't you ever say such a thing. Go talk to your father and be grateful I don't drag you in there by your hair."

"Go ahead and try," Taylor warned, her eyes burning. She walked past her mother and into her house. Her father walked in from the kitchen. He gestured for her to sit down.

"No. I won't be staying long," she said.

"Taylor I don't want to hear such things. You need to face the facts."

"No you do!" she screamed suddenly, "You want the facts? I'll give you the facts. One fact is that I am not a whore, and I don't really care what you think. Another is that you know nothing about me, you never did."

Her father opened his mouth to say something but Taylor cut him off.

"You want more? Fine. The most important fact is that I won't stay here anymore. And you can't keep me here."

Her father's eyes burned with the same hatred Taylor's held. He stood up and walked over to her until his face was an inch away from hers.

"You will not walk out that door again," he told her, "You have no right to tell us what to do. I will not tolerate it!"

"I don't really care," she hissed back at him, "You can't stop me. No one can, and you need to get over yourself and accept the fact that you don't control me."

Taylor saw his eyes burn even more, and she felt a spark of fear, but she wasn't going to back down now.

"You will take back everything you have said and go straight to your room."

"No, I won't."

That was the last straw for him. He grabbed Taylor by the shoulders and threw her backwards. She sprawled onto the floor. Her mother screamed. He advanced on her.

"How dare you speak to me that way!" he raised a hand to hit her but she was not helpless. She lashed out with her legs, sending a hard blow to his stomach. The diversion was all she needed to get up and move away from him. With one hand he clutched his stomach, with the other he grabbed her wrist.

"Let go!" she shrieked. But he didn't, Taylor felt the blow connect as he slapped her across the face. She crumpled to the ground, holding her left cheek. He towered over her, and she awaited another blow. She raised her arm in front of her face to shield herself, but she did not cry. She would not give him that satisfaction. But nothing came. She looked up and her mother was standing in front of her.

"George, stop this. She's only a child,"

"No she's not," he fumed, "As she reminded me. She can take care of herself."

For once, Taylor didn't care that they were talking as if she wasn't there. She was busy cursing herself for coming back.

"Leave her alone George."

"Get out of my way!" he yelled, shoving her away. Taylor scrambled back. She got up and ran for the door but he grabbed her arm again. She was able to twist away but not before he hit her again. She threw the door open and ran out. She could hear him yelling at her but he didn't chase her.

When she was finally far enough away, she slowed down to a walk. Where she was going she had no idea, but this time, she would not go back home.

"Taylor?" a voice said. She jumped.

"It's okay, it's just me," Soda walked out from the trees, and Taylor realized she was near the park. She turned her back to him so he couldn't see her face.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Nothing, I'm just taking a walk."

"Turn around."

"Why?"

"Because I like to see a person's face when I talk to them."

Slowly she did, and she saw Soda's eyes widen.

"What happened?"

Taylor said nothing.

"You went home didn't you?" how did he always know?

She looked at the ground. Suddenly Soda exploded.

"Taylor how could you do something so stupid!"

"What?"

"You could have gotten really hurt. Why did you do that?"

"I don't know," she said quietly.

"Taylor I can't believe you would put yourself in that position."

"Look I'm sorry okay? It won't happen again. I'm never going back."

Soda's voice softened, "What happened?"

"I went home and he yelled at me so I yelled back and then he hit me."

"Come back to my house. Your eye is starting to swell."

"Great," she said sarcastically.



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