"When did you become so stupid Nora? I always thought you were smart…" Darry was hollering at me while slicing the beef on his plate forcefully, the end of the sentence ebbing away. I immediately knew he was talking about Tim and I glared at Pony sitting across from me wanting to know if he had told him. Pony shook his head, his eyes big.

"I didn't…" he didn't get any further before Darry found his words again.

"He didn't have to, Steve saw you drive away in his car" his voice was cold, just a slight trace of irritation and anger evident in it. Soda turned to me, his eyes showing both curiosity and worry. I felt undermined by Darry talking about me like that, especially in front of Soda and Pony. I was only happy Two bit and Steve wasn't there. Thinking of Steve pissed me of, why the hell had he told Darry anyway!

"Nora, use your head…" Darry said sighing "…he's going to hurt you" his eyes was boring into mine, worried and defeated. I felt defeated to, I had been so happy when I'd come home and now all I felt like doing was crying.

"Maybe he's not" Soda said in a weak voice and I could hear he himself didn't even believe it. He only said it to make me feel better. I didn't feel better because I knew they were right, I didn't trust Tim, I probably never would. But still I liked him, I just couldn't help it. He had somehow managed to get under my skin and now I couldn't get him out even if I wanted to. Darry had begun to clear the table and Pony excused himself going to his room, Soda got up from his place right after giving me a quick hug as he walked past me to the living room. I just sat there for a while and when I finally looked up Darry was watching me with soft eyes. I stood up and he walked to me pulling me to him, hugging me tightly whispering trough my hair;

"I'm sorry sis, I didn't mean it" That was the first time since mom and dad died that I'd heard him apologise for such a small matter and it was also the first time in a long while he didn't call me by my name. I leaned my head against his chest, taking comfort in his heartbeats.

Some hours later Two bit walked in and threw himself on the couch between me and Soda, throwing his arms around our shoulders.

"In the mood to party?" he asked grinning "Buck's throwing one hell of a party, at least that's what Curly said"

Soda chuckled shaking his head.

"Me, Pony, Darry and Steve are going to the movie" he said. I already knew they were, they had told me at diner before Darry snapped. I hadn't felt like going, I'd never cared much for movies I liked books better. Pony loved movies, especially if he could watch them alone, but I just didn't get it. In movies everything was given to you, the characters were already made, I liked the fantasy better. I looked over at Darry silently asking him if I could go. I really didn't have to ask him but I wanted to be ok with him.

"I guess it's alright if you go, just be home by 1.30" he said giving Two bit a look.

"Don't worry Darry, she's with me" Two bit said getting up and pulling me to my feet.

"That's what I worry about" Darry added chuckling. I felt myself smile widely as I heard his soft laughter.

We walked all the way to Bucks, which was a couple of blocks away, while talking and joking. As soon as we walked in the doors Two bit was gone, I just smiled shaking my head as I snickered. Typically Two bit, telling Darry he'll look after me and then dump me the first chance he had. He's funny.

I stood at the bar scanning the crowd for familiar faces. I saw some guys from school sitting at a table and I waved to them when they noticed me. They were classmates I had known since I was seven but they weren't really my friends. Steve and Soda knew them better.

I suddenly froze in my place as my eyes fixed on Tim walking down the stairs; his clothes were wrinkled, his shirt hanging loosely over his jeans. My insides turned to ice when I saw a girl hanging on his arm, her arm was sneaking around his waist and he drew her to him and kissed her. All I could see was her hair as it bobbed gently from the kisses. Her hair was red. My heart contracted painfully as I recognised her as that girl from the Dingo, the one who had asked Tim to light her cigarette. I wanted to run or scream or do anything but I couldn't move, my eyes were fixed on Tim's hands as they grasped her hair. I felt crushed, not so much by what he was doing, more from being so goddamned stupid. I had never believed he wouldn't do other girls but seeing it was different. Watching him kiss her was killing me but still I didn't turn my gaze away.

Suddenly Tim saw me over her shoulder and the spell was broken, I ran out of there and into a smaller room, so fast that I never even saw his reaction to seeing me watching him. I sat down at the barstool furthest from the door safely hidden behind a large man in case anyone would be looking for me. The room was dark, in one corner a small bar and on the floor there were some pool tables. Some guys were in the middle of a game, swearing at each other.

I sighed as I recognised Curly with a cue in one hand and a beer in his other cursing loudly at his opponent. I sank down in my seat hoping he wouldn't notice me. I ordered a beer and after I had finished it I ordered another and another and another…

I was quite drunk when I walked up to Curly tapping him on his shoulder. I was swaying and my vision was blurry, but still I knew what I was doing the problem was I just couldn't control it. It had always been like that, when I got too drunk I was kind off trapped inside myself watching myself do all kinds of stupid things not being able to do one thing about it. That was why I tried not to drink that much. Curly turned to me his face grinning as he looked at me. Chuckling he said;

"You're plastered" I couldn't do anything but laugh at that, it was true, I was pissed.

"So?" I said smiling widely at him, grabbing onto his arm as I swayed back and forth uncontrollably. Curly laughed at me putting an arm around my waist as he began to lead me out to the big room.

"Where're your bros´" he asked and I just shook my head and felt my brain wobble inside my skull. We were at the big bar and he led me to a stool and helped me up on it. He placed my hands on the counter for support and smiled at me stroking my arm gently.

"Just wait here, I'll be right back" he said and walked of.

I sat there feeling the stool rocking violently, my head tilted to my chest and I didn't have the energy to raise it. Suddenly there was a blurry man's hand putting a glass in front of me.

"You look like you could use a drink" I heard someone say and when I turned my head up to look next to me there was a guy standing there, a cowboy type of man, blonde with a weathered face. He was smiling as his eyes wandered over my body and I felt sick as he put his arm around my shoulder. I tried to get away from him but as I got of the stool I stumbled on my own feet and fell against his chest. He put his arms around me and held me to him and I started to hit him as hard as I could but he only chuckled, his grip tightening.

"Let her go" I heard a voice behind the man say and I felt his grip on me loosen as he turned around to face the voice. I took a step back from the cowboy and I didn't see what happened in my hazy state of mind but suddenly the cowboy was on his back on the floor. I looked up to see Tim standing there his fists clenched at his sides as he watched the man on the floor. He looked up at me reaching a hand out to me motioning for me to take it and I did. I was still shocked as I walked carefully over the man's legs and stood by Tim's side. His hand clasped mine tightly and I felt him breath raggedly.

"What the fuck's going on?" Curly hissed as he came up to us, he looked at me his eyes worried.

"Are you ok?" he asked and when I nodded he added "didn't I tell you to stay until I came back…" I felt Tim's grip on my hand tighten at that and when I looked up at him I saw him stare cunningly at his younger brother. Curly glared right back at him.

"What the hell is going on here Shepard?" Two bit was rushing over to us and grabbed me by the arm, tearing me form Tim's grip and pulling me to him, throwing a protective arm around me. My head was spinning like crazy and it felt like the floor was moving under me.

"What's your bag man!" Tim snarled at him and Curly stood next to him frowning. Their eyes were shooting daggers at Two bit.

"He was helping her you fucking ditz!" Curly yelled.

Two bit didn't answer them he just dragged me out of there.

A bit more action in this one! Tim's an ass, he he... Read and review! tack