Authors note: Okay don't wanna blab lots. But thanks for the reviews, everyone keep reviewing. PLEASE! And hope you like this chapter. I wanted some action and excitement to start happenin so here's a little bit. The next chapter might have a bit of Two-bits point of view in it. But if there is any changes in that I'll tell you. Okay enjoy the story. Keep readin and reviewing tho because it makes me all bubbly inside. Maybe it's the reviews that are doing that or maybe its just gas, but wutever. I love the reviews.

Thanks goes out to:

Volleyballlover: Thanks so much for reviewing. I really appreciate all the support for my first fic. Grrr that someone gave you a bad review. Want me to pelt them with donuts for you? LOL.

Not-that-kinda-gurl: Keep updating your story too. LOL! Really liked it. Okay, and thanks for reviewing mine I love it when I get reviews.

Chapter 6

During the time that half the gang was at work and the other half was at school and then Dally who just bummed around town, I'd decided to look for a job. I know, it was crazy and far from my usual lazy attitude but that's the honest truth. I'd picked up the Tulsa Times (AN/ I made that up not original forgive me.) and scanned through it over a coke at the Dingo. There were a few interesting places that were looking to hire, most of which were on the other side of town and I couldn't really be bothered to walk around that neighborhood. In the end I found a waitressing job for this little coffee shop. It sounded okay enough and was just before the tracks, so I wouldn't be right in the middle of Soc territory. The only problem I had left was the interview. I'd handed in a resume and all but the interview was going to be hard. I wasn't much of a people person, unless they were hoods and my manners weren't the greatest. I'd manage somehow. I always did.

The needle ticked slowly on my wrist watch, reading only two thirty which meant I'd be waiting around fifteen minutes for Two-bit to get out. I walked around the school yard, kicking pebbles around and flipping off any Soc's who looked my way. I really hated being there, at school that is. It didn't dig me and I didn't dig it and even if I wasn't IN school I was still near it enough for it to give me a bad feel.

"Hey Doe!"

I don't know why I looked back when I did. The voice, I mean, it didn't sound anything like Two-bits or anyone else from the gang, so why did I acknowledge them. That's what kept repeating in my head over and over when I realized that Tim Shepard was jogging towards me. I was standing in an empty school parking lot, no one would save me. I could feel the blood in my face beginning to drain and my palms grew clammy. I whipped them against the side of my jeans and then shoved them into my pockets, hopping they wouldn't start shaking. I put up that cool look like everything was okay and nodded to Tim.

"What do you want? I don't really feel like getting jumped, but…"

"You the one who got Angela all busted up?"

Shit, he knew about it. Well, he was the girls oldest brother and he knew almost everything she did. He may have been a sleazy guy and all but he was one hell of a brother. Still, why was he asking me if I'd been the one to do it. Maybe he didn't know, maybe I could lie and not get my face remodeled.

"Yeah, I did it." The words came out of my mouth so fast my head was spinning. Tim didn't say anything for a minute, just pretended to let his brain absorb the information. Almost like a sponge. Course I knew better. He wasn't really taking it in and if he was it would just leak out again because sponges eventually all get squeezed dry. Just like his head.

"Figured that much."

"Than I had you figured all wrong" I started to let the sarcasm take over my street smarts and curled a smirk on my dry lips.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I thought you couldn't figure out your head from your ass. But NO! Here you are, proving me wrong again Shepard." His face scrunched together in a mix of surprise and pure animalistic rage.

"Watch it!" he yelled than relaxed his face again. Off in the distance I heard the faint ringing of the school bell. "Listen, I didn't come here to exchange insults with you."

"Than why did you come here?"

He sighed. "I wanna call a truce."

"Truce? What's the catch?"

"None. Just want to end this." Tim lit a cigarette and took a long drag on it. "I know I jumped you and you jumped Angela over at Buck's so I figure were about even."

"Guess so." Two-bit was running towards Shepard and me, horror etched across his face and on the faces of the two younger greasers behind him. "So, I guess I'll see ya around than?"

"Seems so. You just tell Winston…"

"Yeah, yeah. You'll do worst next time, I know. Now get outta here. You'll ruin your image by being caught in a school yard."

Tim shocked me by smirking and ran back to his truck. Two-bit's large hand rested on my shoulder and turned me to face him.

"What was that all about?" he asked, still watching Tim's truck pull back onto the road.

"Just a greaser wanting to talk is all. Nothing important" I shrugged like always and headed for the street. The others quickly did the same.

"So, what? Does he know you were the one who beat up Angela?"

"You beat up Angela?" Pony sounded worried. "Angela Shepard?"

"Was nothing honey and yeah he does know. I told him."

"Why'd you do that for?"

"Cause he asked. Sides, he ain't coming after me or nothing for it. We made a truce."

"You sure he'll keep it?" Johnny whispered. I grinned and pulled the dark greaser into a tight hug.

"Nawe, knowing Shepard he'll prolly jump me again, but not over what happened with Angela. Not this time anyway."

"Hey Doe?"

"Yeah, JC?" He smiled with a contorted face.

"Your kinda crushing me."

I pulled away suddenly, letting the thin body unravel form the pretzel form it had been in while in my grasp. Two-bit laughed at the sight of me. I was always careful around Johnny but I didn't want to seem too careful around the kid.

"Sorry kiddo."

"Its' okay, I'm not hurt or nothing."

"Yeah, she just pressed you real hard is all" Two- bit laughed even more. I punched him in the shoulder. "Doe!"

"Two-shits" I snapped playfully. "Lets go."

Together Two-bit and I dropped off Johnny and Pony back at the Curtis house so we wouldn't be responsible for anything that happened to them and then headed for the Dingo. We stayed there for a few hours until it started to get dark and Two-bit was at least a little drunk and then left. We spent another two hours stumbling around the streets of Tulsa, because Two-bit couldn't control his big mouth and like his name says had to add his two cents worth to everything he saw.

We'd walked past these blonde greasy girls who were standing outside a house smoking when Two-bit for no reason started screaming at them. Just plain hollerin at them, sayin stuff like "Hey, you girls sure are greasy. How many of you you think it takes to grease my car? Anyone? Anyone one at all wanna guess?" Than he laughs and says "Depends on how many I hit!"

The girls shot us these dirty glares and all I could do was apologize and dragged the drunk back down the road with me.

"Two-bit" I warned him. "Your loaded and annoying, head on over to the Curtis'"

"Hey, aren't ya gonna walk me?" he hiccupped. I rolled my eyes.

"Are you that much of a child. The house is two minutes awake."

"Awe, pweaze?"

"Fine lets go. I need to head home."

"Why you going to that dump?"

"Because, I forgot to pack a jacket the other night. So, I might as well grab one now and not have to worry about freezing later."

We stopped on the Curtis' doorstep and I pushed open the door.

"We'll here we are sweetheart. Safe and sound."

The drunk glaze in Two-bits eyes seemed to disappear for a minute, just a split second and he smiled a real genuine grin at me. Not the ones he used when he was being funny or trying to be nice, it was just there. It was strange. He pulled off his bulky leather coat and tossed it over at me.

"You walk around like that you're gonna catch a cold or something."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah? At least I think that's how you catch a cold? I'm no doctor but I'm sure that's how it works" he cocked an eyebrow and I laughed.

"Thanks" I whispered. He nodded and went inside.

I stood there; watching as the wooden door closed and the heat and light was sucked back into the house. Inside there was laughing and things crashing to the floor, never to be in the same whole shape they were before. I hated to leave the house, to leave the guys but my own house waited. It was the last place I wanted to visit; because I feared that my ol' man would be there, sitting around drinking and praying that I would stumble in so that he could vent his anger out on me. I never wanted to go to my house, and even though I'd sometimes mention what took place inside those grimy walls to the gang, they never really knew just how bad it was. Sure, we all knew how bad Johnny had it and how Steve's dad could be a real ass but they didn't know my dad beat me as bad as he did. They didn't know that I was afraid to go home, just that I didn't bother to go there. I was scared to tell them, not only because it would jeopardize my reputation but also it would start to make me soft and I couldn't turn into one of those girls. Not ever. Dally always told us that if you were tough than nothing could touch you and even if it was a stupid thing to quote, I believed it. With all my heart I believed it. Course, I guess when he said it he'd never of thought that my ol man would do the complete opposite, no matter how tough I was.

On the walk home, I tried not to think about what might be waiting inside for me. Just enjoyed the crisp June air and the warmth of Two-bits coat. When I saw the red T-bird in my driveway however and caught sight of the lights on in the house that was when I felt the fear take hold of me completely. Shuffling my feet up the steps, I had just reached for the doorknob when the door was suddenly jerked open from the other side. There was my ol' man, beer belly, grey stubble and harsh eyes peering into mine. He wreaked of cheap booze and cigarettes. I coughed on the stench and looked up at him. 'I wish I had a smoke' I thought, before his hand grabbed up Two-its coat and pulled me inside.

"Where the hell were you?"