Disclaimer : I do not own the outsiders...

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James was in a bad mood for the rest of the day. He didn't like the way these guys looked at Velma and acted toward her. And he especially didn't like the face that Two-Bit kept putting his arm around her, and she was letting him do so.

Two-Bit didn't like James. He didn't like the fact that he was with Velma. If he got his way, she'd dump James. She'd be alittle upset afterward, probably. But she'd probably be even more hurt if he dumped her. So he was going to have to make some scheme to make James look like a jerk. Easy. He thought.

At supper time, Velma had taken a seat beside Ponyboy, and when James went to sit beside her, Two-Bit sat in the chair instead, giving James a smirk. James sighed and sat next to him. Then Dally sat on James's other side.

"What brings you two ta town?" Ponyboy asked.

"Oh," Velma smiled abit, " James wanted to visit some of his old friends and he asked me to come with him..."

"So, James." Two-Bit said, not even looking at him, " When do you two met?"

"Uh..8 months ago..We were at - "

"How long have you been dating?" Two-Bit actually looked over at him this time.

"Um..6 months...After we -"

"You got a criminal record, James?" Dally asked.

"Uh..." James wanted to change the subject, " Why are the potatoes purple with yellow dots?"

While everyone else was laughing at the comment, Dally checked to make sure Velma wasn't looking, then smacked James in the back of the head, " Don't change the subject."

"Well...I did get arrested this...one time..." James said with a sigh.

Up to that point, Darry tried to stay out of the conversation. But now he wanted to know more. " What for?" He asked.

"I'd...rather not talk about it." James said, shifting uncomfortable.

"No. Come on, tell us." Johnny asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Come on guys..leave him alone..." Velma said , looking around at them all.

"No, no. I think he should really answer this one.. I mean...Velma, did you know he was arrested before?" Two-Bit asked her.

"Well...No...I...I didn't...But.."

"But nothing! James. Why were you arrested?" Two-Bit asked.

"Look, I just got into a fight with some guy at a bar one night...he was the aggressor, I was just protecting myself..but the cops took us both..."

"Can you fight?" Dally asked.

"What?"

"You know, fight. You know how to?"

"Well..I don't have any need to fight..." James shrugged.

"Nobody needs to fight..." Johnny said, " But there is always someone who wants to."

It kinda got quiet after that. James was the only one who didn't know why.

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All night, Two-Bit kept trying to get James to blow his lid. Piss him off. Make him get violent. No such luck. But he got a plan when they were about to leave..

"No, why don't ya's stay for a little longer? Steve and Soda got a movie..."

"Oh? What movie?" Velma asked. It was clear by the look on James's face that he didn't want to stay any longer.

"Dunno...but they say it's a good one."

"Love to, But we should really get going." James said.

"Oh, Please, James. Can we stay?" She tilted her head to the side and James sighed," Fine.."

Velma kissed him, then went to sit down. She sat down on the couch by Two-Bit, and James quickly took the empty seat beside her.

At first, the movie was good.But after while, Velma realized it was a horror movie! She couldn't believe she fell for this again! " Two-Bit..." She whined and covered her eyes.

"What? Not like I knew it was going to be a horror flick..." He lied." hey, would I ask you to watch a movie like this when I know you don't like them?"

"No..."

Two-Bit put his arm around her and pulled her in close.

"Alright! Thats it!" James stood up, "Velma, we're leaving." He grabbed her arm and yanked her off of the couch and started dragging her toward the door.. " James...James, you're hurting me.." she complained. " Shut up. We'll talk when we get back to the Hotel.." James muttered.

"She aint going back to that hotel with you." Two-Bit stood up and went over to them.

"Look, you don't have a say in this, Ok?" James was really pissed off at him.

"Like hell I don't." Two-Bit tryed to pull Velma away from James, only to get a punch in the face. He stumbled backwards, tripping over a stool.. That was what he was waiting for. Velma hurried over and knelt down beside him,"Oh, my god, Two-Bit, are you ok?"

" Velma. Come on. We're leaving." James started to walk toward her, only to be shoved back by Darry. " Get the hell out of my house."

James looked at Velma helping Two-Bit up. There was just a long moment of silence, then James left, uttering a large variety of curses. Two-Bit smiled. His plan worked.

"This is all my fault..." Velma said suddenly, she was almost crying.

"What? No..Velma.." He hugged her, " What would ever make you think that?"

"I should of just left when he wanted to earlier..."

" No..you shouldn't have...look, that guys an ass hole. You can do much better than him." He smiled, wiping away her tears.

"I always seem to go for the wrong people..."

"Just because you only seem to see the good in people.." That made her smile abit. she looked around the room and noticed Darry, Sodapop, and the rest of them standing around awkwardly while she and Two-Bit had that little moment.

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It took some convincing, but she ended up staying there that night. She could of easily just have gotten another hotel room, but the guys wouldn't hear of it. Darry let her sleep in his room. Ponyboy even gave her something to sleep in. Both the top and pants were way to big. The pants wouldn't even stay up. But the shirt was big enough to cover her...just barely. It was loose at the neck and the bottom of the shirt didn't even cover half of her thigh. Supposedly, this was the smallest thing he brought back with him from collage for the summer..

After she had woken up, she headed down the hall and into the kitchen. Ponyboy and Darry were up and making breakfast. She kind of figured that. She smiled, " Good morning."

"Mornin'" Ponyboy smiled," Sleep well?"

She nodded, " Just fine, thank you...So. Can I help with anything?" She asked them.

"uh..sure. Could you get some plates?"

"Sure." She went over to the cupboard and opened it up. She noticed they were on the top shelf inside of the cupboard. She had to stand up on her tip-toes to reach them. Darry had looked over at her and noticed that the shirt was rising up and he also noticed she had white lace panties. He began to blush and went over and got the plates out himself, " Uh, why don't you go wake up Soda?"

Velma just looked at him for a moment, then said, 'ok'.

She went down the hall and knocked on Sodapops door, " Soda?..." She waited a moment and there was no answer. So, she opened the door and stepped inside, " Soda?" He wasn't there. She stepped in farther, then suddenly, Soda jumped out at her from behind the door. She screamed. Soda laughed, and Darry and Ponyboy came to see what happened.