Wow. Sorry people! I SWEAR I had a good reason fo rnot updating for FOREVER and a day...yeah, its called a month of finals that isn't even over yet. You're lucky you get it now, not in two weeks. An update will hopefully follow in about 2 –3 weeks but I cant promise anything. I cant wait for summer, let me tell ya. Anyway, here we go. Sorry its short, there is two reasons, lack of time to write and lack of time to write, and lack of time to thin, and lack of math skills. HAHA. See ya later then!

Thanks To:

Fudge : Steve and Evie will be back together later on, they are just talking a short "break". But in the book they are together, and this is before the book, so don't worry, I'll stay true to it. LOL. Steve had quite a concussion, you got that right, and you better love him! LOL. Here's your update...not so soon, but you know that story, so I'll leave it at that. See ya round!

Captain Cookie, world's hottest guy: LOL. You rock, hottie! Yes, you are inspiring, but don't get TOO full of yourself..wait, to late! JK. Anyway, yeah, someone should beat Steve's dad to hell, Steve rocks, he's got to be my favorite character, or close to it anyway. Thanks for the support my bro! Have a good day!

Erunyauve: Thanks you sooo much! I was hoping that everyone would feel that way, and I really appreciate your support. I hope that you will enjoy this next chapter. Keep reviewing, you rock...seriously!

Oblivious Misconception: This would be Alli. Sorry, we practically think as one so I didn't think about that part. Thank you soooo much! Your opinion means a ton to me now, and if you say it is good written, it muct be. Thanks you. I was literally screaming. LOL. I hope that you like this next chapter. It was much harder to write, and I hope that it is as realistic. Let me know what you think. Thanks again!

CrazeLilDreamer: You crack me up...and that's a good thing in case you were wondering. I m really glad that you enjoy this story! Keep reading. Thanks for the support.

steves-girl: Haha, yeah I caught on thata you were a steve fan, go figure. I've never been known to be one, except by a few close friends, but I am now, and you all know it. LOL. Thanks! Keep reading.

Julie: Sorry to let you down. I usually update much faster, but things happen. This is one of your favorite stories? WOAH! I feel soo honored! Well, here is an update. Thanks soo much!

angelface04: Well, I sure am glad that you see Steve a bit differently here. Keep reading and maybe it will come out even more. It took my awhile. To address the Yo thing...I don't know for sure, but I always thought of Yo as a word that is timeless, my parents and theirs used it and shoot, they lived in that time. I don't know, I guess it's a personal opinion. No hard feelings, right? Thanks so much for your review and suggestions, even if I don't completely agree with it, I still appreciate knowing these things. Thanks again.

DaNNi BaBezZz: 300%? WOW....that's a lot! Thanks! I've always thought that Steve was great, and in the last year I caught on to his character, or at least how I see him better, so I HAD to write it. I am overjoyed that you love it. Keep reading. Thanks!

TeacherTam: I'm on your author list? I have to say that is one of the best things I've ever read in a review. Your whole review was great, it made my night. Anyway, thanks, sorry it took me soo long to update for you. Thanks and keep reading and enjoying.

Stephanie: Thanks! I was apprehensive about how people might take my view and how I wrote Steve. Thanks for all your support. Sorry this took FOREVER. HAHA, I was just getting on here to update this when I got your second review. You put me over the edge! Thanks again.

Okay, on to the much anticipated Story!

Oh, and my dedication: This chapter goes out to Tens, who loves to torture me all the time by giving me tid bits of info... and then making me wait; but I deserve it. It also goes out to Kiera who puts up with all my shit ALL the time. Thanks girlies!

I walked into the house feeling particularly bad by that time, hanging my head and stumbling for the couch. The pain was intense, not only from my stomach, but from the mere pounding of my head. I wondered how it would be so bad now, and not before, but never thought on the answer because that wasn't going to help anything. It had sure been a long walk home, and I wanted so bad to just lay down and sleep until the world dissolved from the sight of my eyes.

Sitting down on one of the sofas in the front room of the Curtis's, I realized how quiet it was in there with no one but Darry around. He was sitting in his famous armchair, doing what looked to be bills, or had been till I walked in. Now he was just looking at me strangely, curiously. Why? I don't know.

"Hey, Steve. Shouldn't you be...at work?" He asked quietly, looking in my direction.

I sighed and slipped down into the folds of the couch cushions until my head was resting comfortably near the arm of the couch and my body was stretched out, "Well...Soda said I should come over."

His face went weird, but I didn't have time to analyze it before I shut my eyes, trying hard to relax a little.

"Right...why?"

I shrugged him off, not wanting to answer the question. I didn't need to answer it, I was there and it wasn't changing, so why should I care to answer him?

I heard him move, shuffling some papers around and then getting up. At first he seemed to come near me, then he stopped for a minute and left, going into the kitchen. I didn't care, he could do whatever he wanted, but I was staying right there in the warmth of the welcoming couch. For the first time since the evening before, I was able to truly relax.

He came back a few minutes later and nudged me, "Here, take an aspirin, you ain't looking to great."

I sat up slightly, taking a glass of water from him and chugging the aspirin down. I was actually grateful for it, knowing then maybe my head would stop pounding long enough for me to fall asleep. Darry waited for me to give him back the glass, eyed me a bit weird and left.

I don't know how long it took me to fall asleep, but I did eventually. Darry didn't ask anymore questions, just sat quietly completing his little project. The only problem was that every little sound seemed to wake me up. Well, I guess that wore off too as time went on because I was suddenly being nudged on the shoulder to wake up.

"Hey, Steve." Darry was saying.

I groaned, not feeling great and not wanting to be woken up.

"Steve...lunch is ready. How about you come and eat?"

I opened my eyes, rubbing them and trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about.

"Huh?"

"You hungry? Lunch is waiting. C'mon" He jerked his head towards the kitchen.

"Uh...alright." I was real dazed. I slowly made my body move till I was sitting up, then standing, wondering how it was that I hadn't hit the floor yet. I took a step and decided I had better go wash my face with some cold water or I really would fall on it.

After washing my face, which was surprisingly unrefreshing, I went into the dining room to find food on the table. I was happy about the food, considering my stomach was completely empty and growling insesintly.

Pony was sitting across the table from where I sat, and then there was Darry right in between us already dishing out food. He handed me a bowl of soup first, and as I dug in gave one to Pony also. I sure was hungry, more so than I had thought. I mean, the main reason I got up in the first place was that I didn't care to contradict Darry at that point, I didn't care that much. But Now I was sure happy I hadn't had the heart, because the more I ate the more I wanted.

I spotted some rolls across the table, "Darry, you hand me a roll?"

Darry picked it up just as Pony was reaching in, but he didn't seem to notice or care, or something, and he brought it over to me. I thanked him, but wished dearly that the kid would shut his mouth. I was assuming by then that he was sick. Not only did he look like shit, he always got whiny when he was sick.

Darry handed him back a roll, "You can wait, Pony. Relax." He didn't seem mad, not even annoyed to tell the truth, but he said it to get Pony to shut up.

Pony sighed heavily and took a roll while glaring needles at Darry. I almost started laughing at his childish attempt that Darry noticed but completely ignored, but decided I didn't want to hear him whine anymore.

"Felling any better, Steve?"

"Huh?" I was in my own little world and only heard him say my name.

"You feeling any better?"

"Uh...yeah. Im fine." I said half convincingly, trying to make it sound like there was never anything wrong, and there wasn't still.

Darry didn't say anything to that, but he didn't believe me. He just went on.

"Well, how was work this morning?"

I swallowed hard. Did he half to bring that up? That wasn't something I wanted to think over then. My head hurt enough without having to think over things. "It was great. I fixed some old guys belts. His model is the fun kind. Good thing I got these muscles."

I tried to put up a front for him. If Darry didn't believe that, he wouldn't believe anything. Then again, he wasn't ever going to bother me about it even though he knew as well as I that I was lying flat out to him. I guess I was doing it more for Pony. He had to be wondering what I was doing at their house during my shift, but it was none of his business. He wasn't finding out squat if I had a choice.

Darry chuckled at me, shook his head and said that that was good or something like that. I wasn't all there and didn't really care to put all my concentration to him. I doubted he said anything important though. Instead I was busy being amused by the look on Pony's face.

He was looking around the table confused like.

"You need something, Pony?" Darry interrupted.

"Where's the mustard?"

"In the kitchen. Where else?" I asked in the most obvious voice.

Pony glared nails at me as I sat in triumph. He always gave me exactly what I wanted.

He slid back his chair and went behind me into the kitchen, finally finding the mustard. He came back but just as he was sitting down I thought of something. The soup was a bit bland, it needed Pepper.

"You guys got Pepper around here?" I half mumbled to Darry.

"Sure. Pony, go get some pepper."

He looked up severely annoyed, "He can get it himself."

Darry exchanged a stern look to Pony's pouty face, "Pony, just go get it, you're already up, just go get it. It ain't gonna kill ya."

Pony stalked off into the kitchen, and came back in in just a second, throwing the glass pepper shaker at my head but missing by a mile. It landed right in my soup, shattering and splashing me. I'll tell you it was scalding hot.

I stood up quick. Too quick for my own good, considering the room was spinning after that, but I didn't care. "You little fuckin' brat! What the hell was that for?" I pulled his arm around as I said it so he couldn't continue to his seat. Little kid grease was pissing me off, he wasn't going to get away with it that day. I didn't need to deal with him to.

"Don't touch me!" he screeched. God that hurt. Really. Then he pushed me, a weak one but enough to flare my temper. He was asking for it, the little...

"I touch who ever I want, but don't you DARE touch me." I warned.

"Yeah, well....I get to touch whoever I want." He got a little up in my face. Then he proceeded to slightly push my arm to prove his bravery. It wasn't working.

"I can touch whoever I want...and I'll punch whoever I want!" Well, he had asked for it.

I swung my arm back as Pony gave me a look that said, no-you-wouldn't- Darry's-here. But I was fully planning on it. And the follow through went much better than I originally thought it might with my balance and aim being off.

Pony hit the table, and that's when I heard Darry start yelling. I wouldn't have cared, and I didn't, aside from the fact that it felt like it ripped my skull apart. Due to that I lost my concentration long enough for Pony to get up and charge into me.

I started laughing even as I lost my balance and fell to the floor behind me. A grease kid trying to prove himself against me? You gotta admit it was funny.

I got in a few more hits and had fun dodging Pony till Darry came over and picked the kid up from me. The weakling was still trying to punch me as Darry shoved him out of the room. I sat there on the floor, willing my dizziness to go away before I got up. I let my head rest on the floor and closed my eyes.

Soon Darry was back in the kitchen with a rag, "You need a hand getting up?" he asked in a joking manor.

I held out my hand, hoping I didn't pass out when I stood. My head hurt pretty bad right then.

He helped me up and I sat down in the nearest chair, rubbing my temples a bit.

Darry sighed and started cleaning up around the dining room, "You really don't feel to hot today, huh?"

"No. Why?" I snapped at him a little more than I intended.

"Ya know...you didn't have to do that. I mean, you snapped a bit fast. He's thirteen, he's a kid, cut him a little slack, huh?"

I nodded a bit. No really caring. I didn't need Darry lecturing me right then. I just felt like shit, and the last day and a half had been enough for me.

"Well...oh well. I don't want to se it again though."

He stopped cleaning then and looked up at me, "You want more soup?"

I shook my head, "Nah, I'll just puke it up now."

"Uh-huh...how about you go lay down on my bed before you pass out in here."

I slowly got up and did as he asked. I wasn't going to turn down a bed.