A/N: On the bright side, I haven't been reported yet, which is always a good thing. Yay for being not reported!

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own nothing you recognize.

"I really do, and it's nice when you believe me, if you leave me…" Alicia wailed along with the Beatles song wafting out of her record player. It had been an hour and a half after Breakfast at Tiffany's had gotten over. Then she'd watched some of Charade and half of The Misfits, that horrible movie with Marilyn Monroe. Now, she was sitting on the floor, reading a magazine and listening to the new Beatles record, while Tim sat in the chair next to her and tried not to scream at her. Alicia did not have a very good singing voice.

Sometimes he wondered why he was landed with sisters like her and Angela and a brother like Curly. Alicia was loud and overly-dramatic, with a horrible temper, Angela was selfish and catty and Curly was just stupid. Tim rubbed his temples, trying to think, but the pounding of the music felt like someone was slamming a sledgehammer against his skull. "Turn it the fuck down!" He shouted.

"Can't hear you, the music's too loud!" Alicia yelled back, and smirked. Tim scowled at her, and she grinned and turned the knob. He started toward the kitchen, before he turned and looked at her. "Look, I'm getting a beer. Want one?"

She leapt to her feet and followed him into the kitchen. "So, what's goin' on with you and Dallas? I never see him over here anymore," Alicia asked. She cracked it open, took a long drink, belched and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Nothing's going on with us. Why?"

She rolled her eyes. "Tim, I saw you guys, like, having sex on our living room floor." When he opened his mouth to protest, she cut him off, "and don't tell me you weren't enjoying it."

"Alicia, why do you care so much about it? Why aren't you like everyone else who'd pretty much shun me or beat me to a bloody pulp after that? Why the fuck do you care about me?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Tim, unlike you, I'm pretty tolerant of different people. As long as they don't bug me or broadcast that they're 'different,' and they deserve 'special treatment' because of that, I don't go around and shout racial slurs at black people and I don't call gay people fags, 'cause you know what that is? That's fucking stupid. And I can't stand stupidity."

Tim studied his sister with a critical eye. To other people, she and Angela were more or less the same person, only with a different name. And they were pretty much right, because the two looked alike and acted the same. Except Alicia was more open with her feelings, while Angela was more closed off. Alicia was like fire, she had an inner energy and a blazing temper. Angela was ice: cold, calculating and bitter.

If it would have been Angela, she would have laughed and told him to get a new guy to fuck. That would have been fine with him, because Tim didn't like to tell people what he was feeling. But it was, unfortunately, Alicia, who liked everyone to lay their cards on the table. She loved hearing other people's problems, for some unfathomable reason, because she wasn't nice by nature.

She reached in her pocket and pulled out a pack of crumpled cigarettes. "Want one?" She asked, propping one up in between her teeth. Tim nodded, miserably. Alicia pulled another one out and lit it for him, carefully noting Tim's face. His dark skin was pale, except the bags that hung under his eyes. Lines creased his forehead, and his eyes lacked their normal spark. Poor kid had it bad, she thought. She reached out and touched his arm. "Hey, Tim, there's only one thing you can do. You've gotta talk to him."

"I can't…"

Alicia cocked a dark eyebrow. "And why not?"

He took a long drink of beer. "It'd kill him."

Now Alicia burst out laughing. "Tim, do you of know anything that's able to kill Dallas Winston? No. Tim, the guy's like, a fucking immortal. Nothing can kill him." She said this in a no-bullshit, matter-of-fact voice.

"Well, that doesn't matter anymore. I'm over him. Me and Dally never had a relationship."

"Well, you screwed each other multiple times. That must count for something. And you were kinda sweet to each other. Or a least the way you looked at each other was kinda sweet."

"So?"

"So, you must've had some kind of relationship. Two guys just shouldn't screw each other for no reason. That's like, being a slut with another guy. And that's just fucking wrong."

"We didn't have a relationship. Not a romantic one, at least."

Alicia rolled her eyes. If there was one thing she hated, it was when people went into denial. "Fine then. We'll have a test." She grabbed Tim by the hand and led him to the living room. "Sit down and close your eyes," she commanded, pointing to an armchair. Tim raised an eyebrow, but Alicia said, "don't worry, I won't do anything to you." When he, reluctantly, agreed, she pulled another chair closer to him.

"Now, imagine this… you and Dally are alone, together. You're both just fucking around, having some booze and cigarettes. Then he kisses you." Tim was imagining this, and he was getting a damn good vision in his head. He loved how Dally looked after they kissed, his pale cheeks flushed and blue eyes bright. Alicia's voice was soft and warm as she went on. "He tastes good, like beer and cigarettes, and he smells like pine and smoke. You keep on kissing, and then he pulls you closer. He's got a major hard-on, and that turns you on. His hands go down to your belt, and he takes it off. Now he's sticking his hand inside your pants and..."

Tim wasn't listening to her anymore. He was perfectly fine with imagining the last part, thanks. But it was getting rather difficult by the fact that he was getting aroused by this. Just to prove his point, Alicia crowed with delight. "I was so fucking right, Tim!" His eyes snapped open. His sister was cackling and looking very triumphant. It was obvious was happened.

"Shut up," he muttered, trying, and failing, to cover his crotch.

She shrugged. "Hey, it ain't my fault that you like- or should I say love? - Dally. I just wanted to prove to you that it's true." She looked down and smirked. "And I see that I did a pretty damn good job, too." Sighing, she collapsed into the chair next to him. "And what's happening with Cassie? Are you, like, going out?" Then her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands. "Oh, my God! You're not bisexual, are you?"

Tim shrugged. "Hell if I know." He took another swig of beer. " Even if we were in a 'romantic relationship' it wouldn't last 'cause Dally's goin' out with some Soc."

Alicia snorted, and beer spewed out the corners of her thin mouth. "What?" She asked, and lapsed into giggles.

"Yeah, her name's Allison. She was in your play. Blonde, kinda tall…"

Alicia wrinkled her nose. "Ew, her? She's a whore," she said, matter-of-factly.

"What?"

"I swear to God. She's worse than Angela."

Tim rolled his eyes. "How do you know?"

"First, I saw her with some guy, Kenneth, at rehearsal. He was all grabbin' her ass and stuff and they started making out backstage. Then I saw her with another guy, Jeffrey, the next day. And then, like, an hour later, she was with some other guy."

"Doesn't mean she's a whore."

Alicia snorted, "I would think that, since this chick is going out with Dally, you'd be against her."

"Why would I? I don't even know her. Besides, I'm not in love with Dallas."

"Then why'd you get a hard-on?"

"I didn't!"

Alicia laughed. "Tim, stop denying it. You know that you totally love him."

"I don't," Tim mumbled.

"I saw you having sex on our floor, Tim! That means something!"

"Yeah, it means that you're a snooping bitch that likes to-"

"Tim, it was the living room floor. You do realize that the living room is a public room, and I suffered a hell of a lot of embarrassment seeing it. And someone else saw it. And if it were mom or dad that saw, your head would be mounted on the wall."

Tim rolled his eyes and took another puff on his cigarette. "Alicia, how 'bout you go away?"

She laughed and punched his arm. "You're just bitter because you're being deported soon." When she saw her brother's face fall, her laughter faded, and her eyes expanded into two, black discs, like they always did when she realized that she did something stupid or wrong. "It's okay, Tim," her normally loud, obnoxious voice softened, and she sat on the floor next to him. "I know you're pissed about it now, but it'll be okay. You'll write to us, won't you?"

He laughed. "No. I'll probably be glad that I'm gone, once I'm there." He eyed her. "I'll be glad I'm away from you and mom and dad and Angela."

"What about Curly?"

He blew smoke out of his mouth. "No, I like Curly."

"Just because he's a miniature you."

"Don't care. He's not obnoxious like you, or selfish like Angela."

Alicia stood up. "Tim, obviously you're mad about going to war or something, but you're pissed about Dallas, too. When you two were friends,-see, I said friends, not together or anything- you were actually happy. You actually got along with Angela and me. And now, since you're not hanging out with him anymore, you're back to being yourself."

"I thought you liked it when people were themselves."

"I do, but not you, Tim. 'Cause, no offense, but you're a bastard."

Tim laughed again. "And I'm not supposed to take offense to that? Fine, no offense, Alicia, but you're a bitch. And your boyfriend looks like a rat."

She shrugged. "Your boyfriend looks like a weasel."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Yeah, he is. He's a guy, who happens to be your friend, and you happen to be sexually attracted to."

Tim jumped to his feet. "I am not sexually attracted to Dally!" He shouted, so loud Alicia was sure that the neighbors were going to call the cops on them-again-for "disturbing the peace."

Alicia laughed, delighted. "Denial can be fun," then she stopped her laughter and her face became serious. "But, honestly, just tell me how you feel. I can help. See, I know this stuff, because Angel and Curly and me have been to the school counselor, like, twenty times. So I know all this 'I-can-help-you-type shit."

He cocked an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Sorry, but, no. I don't have any feelings other than hatred right now for Dallas, yes, Cassie and me are dating, and I would like it if you'd fuck off."

She rolled her eyes, sensing defeat. She'd come thisclose to getting Tim's secret out, and failed. "Fine, I'll go upstairs to my room and hide so that you can do whatever you want."

"Good. Now leave me the fuck alone."

"Well, if you need to talk to someone-"

"Which I won't-"

"I'm just saying-"

"Maybe you could just be quiet for once."

"Fine. I'll be up in my room."

Tim grunted in response.

The moment Alicia was out of the room, Tim picked up the phone and began to dial a number. He got past the first three numbers, then stopped and put the phone back down. No, he couldn't call Dally. First, he was most likely way too pissed to talk, and would resort to extreme swearing and yelling through Tim's explanation, and second, he probably wasn't home. Actually, the latter was just an excuse not to call, because Dally most likely was home, considering, if Tim knew Dally the way he thought he did, when Dally was pissed, he cut himself off from everyone. So he was probably at home, drowning his sorrow in booze.

Unconsciously, he picked up the phone again, and began to dial Dally's home phone again. It rang twice before Tim realized what he was doing. He slammed the phone down and let his fall back onto the couch. Closing his eyes, he tried to envision war, but it didn't really work. There was an old guy that frequented the Dingo, who fought in World War II, and said that "war was the scariest damn thing in the world." Tim tried to remember what he thought the scariest thing in the world was, but he could only think of the time Angela came face-to-face with a rattler when she was five. He'd never heard anyone scream so loud.

He heard a car pull up, and then he heard Curly's voice and some girl. There was a bang, as Curly slammed the door open and it hit the wall. Curly tromped in, looking drunk, with some pretty blond on his arm. "Hey," he slurred and gave a crooked grin. "We're goin' upstairs, 'kay?" He gave Tim an exaggerated wink and they walked, or rather, tripped, upstairs.

Tim stood. The last thing he wanted was to be in the house with Curly and Curly's new girlfriend. Alicia could fend for herself. He strode to the door and pulled it open, loving the feel of the cool night air as it washed over him.

Buck's house looked like it was glowing in the darkness. Dark silhouettes wandered around it, yelling, cursing and throwing bottles. Tim parked his truck and walked in, greeted by garish lights and sweaty bodies. He grabbed a beer before getting to the wall where there was an empty chair.

"Tim!" He looked up.

"Oh, hey, Mitch," Tim said, barely looking up. Then he looked again.

Mitch Hawk was a friend of Tim's. He tall and skinny and had shaggy blond hair that covered his eyes and some of his handsome, strong featured face. Tim often heard Alicia talking about how "cute" he was, but now that she had a boyfriend, Mitch wasn't talked about as much. And, as much as Tim hated to admit it, even to himself, he understood why Alicia had been attracted to him. Mitch pulled up a chair and fell into it. "What's up?"

Tim took another drink of his beer before answering. God, Mitch is good-looking. He thought, before mentally smacking himself. "Nothing much. You?"

"Eh, not much. Eliza broke up with me, 'cause-" Mitch cut himself off.

"'Cause of what?" Tim asked. Alicia was rubbing off on him. He used to be fine with just letting people have their own business, but now he wanted to know. Or maybe he was just drunk.

"Nothing. She didn't like the way I dressed. And she told me to quit smoking."

Tim laughed drunkenly. "Bullshit. No chick breaks up with a guy 'cause of that." Absentmindedly, Tim let his hand drift to Mitch's thigh, and he rested it there for a moment. Oh, yeah, he was seriously drunk. Mitch didn't seem to mind. Quite the opposite, actually. He took it as an invitation to kiss Tim. Full on the mouth. In a room full of people.

Luckily, no one saw. And even if they would have, neither of them would have cared. They were both too busy enjoying it. Tim pulled away first. "Come with me," he whispered. Mitch gave him a crooked grin and followed. Tim led him upstairs, to the very room where he and Dally had been, not a long time ago. Tim didn't know why he picked this room, he just did. But he didn't mind.

Mitch pushed him against the wall, and kissed him soundly. Tim liked the feeling of the other boy's full, warm lips against his own thin ones, almost as much as he liked Dally's. He opened his mouth a little, allowing Mitch more access, feeling a little guilty. He didn't really know why; after all, it wasn't like he and Dallas were together anymore. But something wasn't quite right. He tried to relax and just live in the moment. And the moment was nice.

Tim hadn't expected Mitch to be so fierce. When they were in grade school, Mitch was a soft-spoken kid, but still good in a fight. Now he was kissing Tim in a bruising way. Not that Tim cared. He actually liked it. As wrapped his arms around Mitch and pulled him closer, he tried to picture it was Dally he was kissing. It worked.

Afterwards, they rested next to each other, stark naked, smoking and watching the way the smoke curled in the air and vanished. Tim turned his head and looked at Mitch. He had a very nice profile, just not as nice as Dally's. Tim was starting to think that no one would be able to compete with Dally. "So, why did Eliza dump you?" Tim asked, lazily.

Mitch grinned and said, "I told her I was gay," and they both laughed.

In a way, Tim did like Mitch in that way, but not like he did Dally. And Mitch was good in bed, but not as good as Dally. Mitch was very good-looking, but not as good as Dally. Mitch didn't fill him with the same kind of electric feeling Dally did. No one was as good as Dally. And Tim knew it.

When he staggered inside his house at three the next morning, he was so confused. Did he do the right thing? Did he like Mitch? Was Cassie right? With his head filled with questions, he collapsed on his bed and fell into a deep, restless sleep.
A/N: Ooh, the plot thickens! Sorry, y'all that that was SUCH a sucky chapter! I promise the next one will be better! Adios!

Next chapter teaser: Dally finds out about Tim and Mitch and Tim and Cassie!