The Party

Love Pov

Many hours of begging later I was pleased as Pony, Ang, and I made our way to Buck's with Soda, and Steve in tow having promised Dar they'd keep a close eye on us. Which was a load of crap, cause we both knew they'd be too drunk to car in an hour.

"You ready to have some fun little brother?" I asked taking a swig from the bottle of JD Ang and me were all ready passing back and forth.

"Hell yea," He said making me laugh as he grabbed the bottle from my grasp.

"The boys going to be there?" I asked Ang knowing Tim, and Curly would never miss an opportunity to get plastered.

"Yeah, said they had something to "take care of" first," She said rolling her eyes.

Sometimes I thought she hated being a greaser even more than I did. Hell she was the queen of the greaser girls, being as her brothers were the toughest hoods in Tulsa next to Dallas Winston.

Smiling as I stepped in to the smoky room that was Buck's I let the music wash over me. Man did I dig this scene. I had always loved to dance, and being here reminded me of better times with Dally, and Johnny. Shaking my head I took anther chug from the bottle. I was going to forget about him, for at least one night if it killed me.

"Whoa, pace yourself killer," Two Bit said making me laugh as he appeared out of nowhere.

"Come on Ang, dance with me," I said grabbing her hand as a fast song came on.

Laughing as we spun on the floor and the alcohol began to kick in at the same time, I grabbed Pony boy pulling him in to the circle. Smiling slyly at Ang when a slow song came on , I quickly made my escape laughing at the blush that spread across my little brothers face. If he didn't like her he wouldn't have cared so much. Nursing a cup of beer I grabbed from the keg I smiled. The kid needed to let loose and have a little fun, he was only fifteen, and he seemed so much older. Shaking my head as he pulled her in closer I headed deeper in to the room. He was in good hands.

" Hey love," Buck said handing me another cup of beer as I nodded my head in greeting.

"Nice shin dig you threw for me."

"Well, you know, anything to have a party," He said honestly as I laughed.

" Always were honest weren't ya," I said draining the cup quickly and getting another refill before glancing towards the stairs I almost expected Dallas to come bounding down.

Damn I missed that kid. I thought shaking my head, he'd understand how I was feeling he loves Johnny just as much and he'd been in the cooler a million times. Sure they'd call the building I'd stayed in a Girl's home, but I knew a jail when I saw one; and he was right, it did make you hard. Shivering I pulled the leather jacket I wore closer, knowing that the chill I felt had nothing to do with temperature. Leaning against the bar I laughed at the sight of Steve getting shot down by a pretty dark haired greaser girl. I guess his on and of again relationship with Evie was "Off" right now. Soda was beside him grinning like a fool, and I couldn't help put laugh out loud when Steve reluctantly handed him a five dollar bill a few seconds later.

" Damn, you should know better than to make bets with Soda Stevo, he's got the best luck of any one I've ever met," I said laughing as I leaned on my brother.

" I guess so," He said shaking his head as he scouted the floor for his next choice.

" I'm looking to get some action tonight," He said making me gag at the visual.

" Too much info there Stevo," I said laughing as Soda grinned at me with his dancing eyes.

It was the love of life on the inside that made him seem so irresistible to the ladies.

"Enjoying your homecoming?" He asked me smiling as he took in my slurred speech.

" I sure am Soda Pop Curtis," Said giggling as I lived in the moment.

Some would say it was shameful carrying on like we were with Johnny barley in the ground, but we Greasers knew better than most that no one was promised a tomorrow in this world. So we had to get out kicks and take our happiness when and where we could.

"Where's Pony?" He asked noticing my "twin" was not attached to my hip.

" With Ang," I said content to lie my head on his chest, I missed this closeness with they boys while I was gone.

"Well hell, no need to worry about him, she's tougher than most of the guys in here," Steve said making me laugh.

"Aint that the truth," Two Bit said walking up with a blonde on his arm. I would never believe he was a ladies man if I didn't see it first hand every time we had a party.

"This is Jeanie guys," He said winking at the guys who were giving her the once over and smiling in approval.

"Nice to meet you Jeanie," I said patting Soda on the back before waving to the others.

"I'm gonna to see what trouble I can get in to guys," I said moving deeper in to the crowd as I talked to people I hadn't seen in a year, and drank.

"Aren't you a pretty little thing?" Asked a gruff voice that made me look up from the beer I had been nursing. Taking in the plaid shirt, and the dingy cowboy hat I placed him as one of Buck's regulars.

"What's it to you?" I asked swaying as I took a hasty step back.

" Thought we could get to know each other a little better," he said leering at me suggestively before reaching out to grab my wrist.

" I wouldn't touch her if I was you," Tim said by my side before I could even attempt to pull my blade.

"She don't seem to mind…do you honey?" He asked making me stumble as he tugged on my wrist pulling me forward.

" I warned you," Tim said coldly, quickly pulling out a blade, and tearing my arm away from the man twice his side.

"You keep your filthy hands to yourself, you dig?" He hissed holding the blade to the man's throat.

"Hey man, I was just having some fun," he said suddenly nervous as he took in the unforgiving black gaze that was pure Shepard.

"Get your ass out of here," he said pulling his blade away as he gave him a kick in the ass forcing him towards the door.

"Thanks Tim," I slurred giggling as I steadied myself against his well built chest.

"Glory you're drunk Lovey," He said smiling as I grinned up at him like a child.

"Guess I'm your keeper for the night Curtis, cause Dally will kill me if anything happens to you while I'm around," he said shaking his head as he placed an arm around my waist and lead me over to where Pony, and Ang were.

" I think I should be getting home, its almost two, and Darry will flip if I miss the time he set."

" I'm not ready to go home yet," I slurred not eager to go back to the home that still held so many painful memories.

"Hey you and Ang grab Curly, and head on to the house, I got her," Tim said starring Pony down when he glanced at him doubtfully.

"You sure Gloria?" He asked making me smile.

" I thought I was the older siser," I slurred smiling when he shook his head.

"You're going to have a rough time tomorrow," He said supporting my weight as Tim went to hunt Curly down.

"Take care of my sister all right?" Pony said giving me one last look before disappearing in to the sea of bodies with Ang to his left, and Curly on his right.

"Let's dance," I said laughing at the look of astonishment that crossed his features.

"Come on Tim, I know you can," I said pulling him on to the floor.

Losing myself in the oblivion the alcohol gave me from the pain I continued to dance through the night, until Tim decided he'd had enough.

"Come on Lovey, let's get you home," He said leading me to the car slowly.

"I don't want to go home Timmy," I said, my voice sounding small even to myself as I used the childhood nickname.

"Okay love, you can stay at my place," he said making me sigh.

Groaning I winced against the bright light that came through the window. The body next to me was too thick and muscular to be Pony or Soda, and my foggy recollection of the night before made me nervous. Turning my head quickly I smiled at the sight of the toughest hood in the neighborhood drooling slightly, face relaxed in sleep. I had crashed here at Tim's place. Stretching slowly I rolled back on to my side breathing deeply until I drifted off.

Tim's Pov

I woke before Love, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight of the tiny red head sleeping peacefully beside me. No matter what trouble I had gotten in to over the years she had never been afraid of me .To her I'd always be Ang's older brother who she had grown up with. She was right in a way, I could never do a thing to hurt her, and I'd kill any one who tried. Love was like family to me that way. She looked more like she had growing up now, with her hair loose and wavy, spilling over the pillow in a bright splash of color, and her face relaxed in sleep.

She'd wore a tougher look now since she got back, those laughing eyes she had shared with Soda, guarded and cold. The cooler, and reformatory would do that to a person, and I knew she had to be dealing with the death of Johnny. Those two had been an item for the longest; I thought they were going to make and get married one day; something that didn't happen to often in this neighborhood. Frowning at the thought of Gloria Curtis becoming like Dallas and me I hoped the kid would pull out of it now that she was home. Love had always been a sweet thing, just like her Mother, and I didn't want to see another thing spoiled by life as a Greaser.

"Ugh… Tim?" She croaked making me smile.

"Yea Love."

" I don't feel so good," She replied making me laugh as I rushed her to the bathroom to puke.

" Now Aint that tuff?" She asked making me laugh as she kneeled in front of the toilet with me holding her hair.

Pony

" She's with Tim," I said turning to Darry, and Soda as I hung up the phone.

"He said she's sick as a dog, but she crashed at his place last night."

"What the hell was that fool thinking?" Dary asked making me wince.

The last thing he needed to do right now was lay into Love.

"Look Darry, she's having a real hard time right now, and she didn't even get to say goodbye like I did," I said standing up for her like she always had for me in the past.

" That don't mean she can – "

"Come on Dar, it was her first night back really, the party was for her, she just lost the love of her life, and you know how close she and Dal were, this last year was hard, we don't even know what she went through exactly at that girl's school," Soda said not willing to sit by and say nothing like he normally did.

" You know Shep always looks out for love, he's got a soft spot, same as you do for Ang," He said more worried about the fact that his sister who rarely smoked or drank now went through half a pack a day, and was acting more like Dallas Winston than her old self.

" I know Soda, I'm just worried, she's changed," he said shaking his head.

"We can't lose another one of use," He whispered.

"Come on y'all it was just one night," I said wrapping my arm around Soda's shoulder.

"We'll talk to her."

"Me, and Soda we'll get to the bottom of it," I said with a confidence I didn't really feel.