Author's Note: Okay, thanks for all the reviews as usual and to tell you guys I didn't feel at all like writing tonight but because I promised heres a chapter. Mite be short, mite be bad I don't know. I hope it isn't tho but I'm tired and so enjoy. Oh, and I'll be starting another story sometime and I still have no idea where this one is going but ya.

Thank goes out to :

ScarlettFugitive- Thanks lots for the review. I mean that truthfully too not in anyway sarcastic. I gotta admit I was kinda sad/mad what you wrote but ya it seriously is true. I appreciate the critism and I know a lot of people hate the Mary-Sue stuff but I checked out that website and LOL ya it is Mary-Sue, only some things tho. I'm still taking your advice tho when I do my next story and I hope I achieve something a lil better. I don't mind Mary-Sue stories just as long as their not really corny and this one seem like it could turn down that road but I'll stop it. I am trying to make this character different than the others. But I thank you for what you wrote. I hope you come back to see this so you know that I am in fact thankful for it.

Not-that-kinda-gurl- Im SUPER glad you aren't crying anymore. Thanks for all the reviews you've given me, hope this chapter is good too.

Loree- Ya, poor Doe. I'm so mean to her, letting her get beat up all the time but oh well. I don't think she's too mad at me . Thanks for the review.

Tigressinthemis- Awe, I'm glad you thought he was sweet. I thought he was too. Glad you enjoyed the chapters. Keep Reading :D

Dreamer4lyf718- WHAT? As if you got a snow day. Jeez, I never get snow days, well, I do but not lots. Happy to know that I made it better, but I don't think a snow day can really be topped. LOL

Banana4422- Thanks for the review. I'll try my best to get them together but I don't know where I'm going with this and I don't know if they will :(. But who knows, it could happen. :D

Volleyballlover0- Okay, here's the chapter I promised you guys. Bleh, I didn't want to write but can't break that promise. Hope you like this one, bit shorted but ya its okay. You won't need a Kleenex, or at least I didn't need one. Enjoy and thanks bunches.

Chapter 10

I was sweating and uncomfortable underneath the heavy blanket tucked beneath me. Hot humid air filled in the only empty corners of the room where clothes hadn't been thrown about carelessly. For a moment I was confused with my new surroundings, but I heard a loud voice coming from outside the room and that familiar crashing sound to follow and recognized immediately that I was laying in Darrel Curtis' bed.

"Damn him" I muttered, shoving the covers off my battered form. I hadn't been much of a looker in the beginning but now I was sure whatever beauty I had possessed had been flushed down the toilet. My legs shook dangerously as I got to my feet and let my full weight come down. There was pain everywhere around me. I took small quick intakes of breath, fighting back the heavy push on my chest that seemed to occur when I did this.

I stumbled/limped into the kitchen and then quickly forced myself to walk properly when I saw a few greasey heads in the living room. Dally was asleep on the couch, while Johnny and Ponyboy talked in low voices. Two-bit was on the hard wood floor, volume on the television turned up high and loud. I was glad he wasn't fussing over nothing, or at least acting a little considerate like Ponyboy and Johnny. I'd have said the same thing for Dally who was unconscious but I don't think he meant to be polite like that, I think if he realized he was he would have woken up.

"Two-bit turn that shit off."

Two-bit smiled and looked over in my direction. He cocked an eyebrow and turned it up louder. I sighed, shook my head and rolled my eyes.

"Come and turn it off yourself."

"That's okay, I have to leave anyway" I said and headed back through the kitchen and into the bathroom. I went over my face first, shutting my eyes until I could muster up enough courage to look. I was still standing there when Pony walked by. He stuck his head in for just a moment and chuckled quietly to himself. "What?"

"Nothin, you just look funny is all." I raised my eyes. "No, not like that. I mean…"

"Get lost" I laughed and closed the door.

In the mirror a cut up and purple face stared back at me. My face wasn't what had taken most of the beatings from the night before but what Tim and the ol' man had done had created a montage of blood and pain. A lot of water and makeup would fix it a bit but wouldn't hide everything and makeup dried out my skin and faded away into a bad color. Course with an interview ahead of me that day I had no other option.

I walked into Pony's room and grabbed my duffel bag I'd left there a few nightsealier and headed back into the washroom. Clean warm water rinsed off most of the dried blood that had caked on my skin overnight and I had begun to pile on some powered to my face when someone knocked at the door.

"Scram!"

"Hey, Doe I gotta pee" Two- bit whined.

"Go find a bucket er something. I'm doing my makeup."

There was a laugh and then another knock. "What?" I pulled open the door and stared back at Two-bit sullenly.

"I said I'm doing my makeup. Now come in, go pee and get the hell out. Okay?"

"Fine." He walked past me into the bathroom and lifted up the lid. I'd only been watching for a second and then I was back to doing my makeup. I was coating my face in it, trying my best to hide anything but in the end it didn't work, just made me look trashier than I was.

Tinkling sounds made their way from a foot beside me and I smiled, knowing Two-bit probably didn'tcare that he was going to the bathroom all open in front of me. When he was done, I felt a slight shove and moved for him to wash his hands.

"Jeez, I've never seen water actually touch yourskin before. Like to clean it."

"Well, that's because I ain't never had a lady to worry about. But now I've got you here and I gotta keep clean with the ladies present."

"What? I ain't know lady. I'm a broad. Besides, I doubt those ladies your talking about would ever want you anyway." He frowned and gave me a short hug.

"You okay?" he asked when he finally pulled away.

"What are you talking about?"

I didn't feel likechatting about what had happened. Not with the gang, not even Dally who I knew had gone through tougher things. It was strange but I still loved my ol' man but only because he was family. The same blood that ran through his veins ran through mine and that still meant something to me even though I'd been treated so bad. I may have been standing there, barely able to hold my ground because of him and I'd stilldefend the guy. I just felt ashamed of how I'd broken and I was going to do my best to repair that and the first thing was going to be ignoring all the pain, all the feelings I was having.

"Doe," Two-bit took my arm and pulled me further into the bathroom, closing the door behind us. I was starting to get scared. He never called me by my real name, never. I was always Mac, but why was this time different? I only remembered some stuff from the night before, the breaking down, the parts where I cried into the pillow and Two-bit sayin something to me before I passed out. I must have let him in while I was hurt. That's it. That's why he was staring at me with concern in his voice and eyes still wide. I'd let him come to close. "Look at you, you think this is nothing?"

"I don't feel like arguing" I responded through clenched teeth. I went to reach for the door but Two-bit slapped my hand away. "What are you doing?"

"You ain't going back there. Not after what happened."

"My stuffs there. It's my home. Why shouldn't I go back?"

"Maybe because when you came back from there last time your ribs were sticking out your side and your head was leaking red."

"That's life. Deal with it, I have."

"Please," he stepped forward and wrapped his hands around mine, raising my head so I was looking him in the eyes. This wasn't going to happen, was all I could think off. Sorry Two-bit, but I can't let you get close to me. "Just relax and sit okay, your just a little worked up. We can talk about this later."

I took a deep breath, shook my head and pulled my hands out from his.

"Listen, whatever happened last night won't happen again. I'll think of something okay? But, this." I gestured to our hands. "I mean you acting this way. I don't want it. I can take care of myself well enough, I don't need someone to worry about me. Thanks for being there last night, but its over. I'm fine."

"Doe, your not fine. Look at the way your acting…"

"I have to go to an interview."

With that, I walked past him and opened the door. The three boys were still in their original positions but this time Dally was snoring, instead of breathing peacefully. I pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of jeans from Pony's dresser and changed into them because we were almost the same size. Two-bit just watched me from the hall, eyes lowered in disagreement.

"Lighten up" I yelled, and threw Pony's shirt on. "I'll come back later if I don't find anything else to do."

I left the house, praying that I did find something else. I'd search the entire town, East Side and West Side if I had to. Two-bit was taking everything too serious. I knew it was more than a few scratches and busted up ribs, but I didn't want it to be more. I needed to be tough and to be tough I needed him to not act like I was eleven again andunable to defend myself. He'd helped me then but I didn't need his help now.

Flashback (POV 3d person) Just to clarify this is when Doe was 11

A short redhead girl raised her fists and then leapt at the two older kids. They were clean cut boys, while she had her hair in different lengths with dirt smudged across her face. She was a chubby thing, with round cheeks and a tiny nose.

"Get off me you dirty greaser" one of the boys shouted and jumped to his feet. The girl tumbled from the body and hit the ground. She cursed and tried to get back up to defend herself but the two kids were already looming over her, their own fists now raised. A small whimper fell from the little girls lips as she felt the painful thrust of someone's knuckles cut into her skin.

"Hey, you!" A tear rolled down her face and she whipped it away out of embarrassment. Looking up, she realized the boys were running away from her, while another boy a few years older than herself stopped and kneeled down on sidewalk. He took her in to make sure she was fine then roughly hauled her to her feet. "You ain't crying are you?" he asked puzzled.

The girl stiffened and shook her head with a cold expression washing over her face. "No, I'm not. Sides, what's it to you?"

He laughed. "Glory, I was only joshing you." He grinned and cocked an eyebrow. "What's that cut on your shoulder?"

"It's just a scratch. From my cat."

"How's your face?"

"Fine, how's yours" she snapped. The boy only smiled wider and threw an arm around her shoulder.

"Your weird" he mumbled.

"Your ugly." The two looked at each other and laughed.

End of Flashback.

I stopped, standing just outside the Curtis house, wondering if leaving Two-bit like i had was the right thing to do. He was a great guy and could make me smile even when i felt like punching his head in, but there i was, debating whether or not i cared enough about him to talk about the truth. About what really went on when the ol' man was home.

My hand tightened on the railing, knuckles slowly turning white. I shivered, even though it was hot out. I wanted to scream, to fall onto my knees. I wanted so badly to talk to someone about howIfelt, butI couldn't. It just wasn't possible.

Someone shouted inside the house and a few lower yells followed.

"I'm sorry" i whispered looking at my feet and pausing.I stepped off the porch and back into reality, not bothering to take a second glance at the house while I disappeared into the distance.