The Night After

Love's Pov

Sitting on the back of Tim's motorcycle I sighed as we pulled up to my house. Darry was going to rip me a new asshole, and I had no desire to sit through a long lecture with my head aching.

"Might as well get it over with Love," Tim said smiling sympathetically.

"It wouldn't be so bad if he just yelled and let it go, but he lectures and rambles on and on about responsibility," I said rolling my eyes as I slid off the bike.

"Keep your head your head up kiddo," He said smiling before tucking me under the chin.

"Thanks for last night Tim," I said kissing him on the cheek before making my way to the house.

Smiling when his cheeks turned red I rushed in to the front door. Who'd have thought I could make the toughest hood in the neighborhood blush with just one kiss.

I was still grinning when I walked in the door, and when no one exploded I considered it my lucky day.

"Have a good time this morning?" Ang asked making me raise my middle finger in a salute.

" I heard her puking her guts up all the way down the hall," She said making everyone laugh.

Her and Curly stayed at Tim's place whenever they could, cause home wasn't a safe place to be.

" Yea, Yea," I said waving off there heckling as I searched the room.

"Where's Dar?" I asked Pony knowing Soda, and Steve would be at work, leaving Him Two Bit, and Ang to hang out.

" Working another double shift," He said sighing.

" Damn," I said knowing I needed to pick up a job to help pick up the slack.

School wasn't a place I planned on going back to so I knew my only other option was to pound the pavement.

" I'm taking the shower, then I'm gonna pound the pavement for a job," I said taking in how Ang sat next to Pony leaning against his shoulder while he and Two Bit played cards.

" I'm coming too," Ang said ignoring the rolled eyes as she followed me in to the bathroom. It was no different then Steve being glued to Soda's side, hell I'd seen him walk right in to the bathroom, and pull him out of the shower before.

"You know Darry's going to make you go back to school," Pony yelled snorting when I ignored him, and continued walking as I waved him off.

"What did I miss," I said tossing my clothes in the hamper the second the door closed.

" Not much really, Stevo left with some random brunette, Two – Bit actually has a date with that blonde girl tonight, andmeandPony kissed on the way home," She said musing the sentence together.

"What! You and my brother kissed!" I hissed sticking my head around the shower curtain to look at her beaming face as she nodded.

" I knew it, I knew he liked you too," I said glad my plan had worked.

"So, you two an item or what?" I asked rinsing the soap out of my hair before turning off the water.

"We're more of an, or what," She said handing me a towel.

"He's been real sweet to me since, but I don't know, I don't Savvy Darry really liking him dating me," She said looking down at the tile.

"If Pony's happy, he'll be happy," I said knowing I'd raise enough hell to keep Darry's mouth shut if I needed to.

Pony deserved to be happy, and I thought Ang would do that, and she sure as hell would get him to loosen up, and have some fun for once. Summer was coming quick, and I couldn't think of anything better than to have my best friend, and my brother dating.

Making my way to the room I now shared with Soda and Pony I rummaged through my suitcases, looking for something half way decent to wear. Wrinkling my nosed I opted for a white short sleeves T, paired with a black skirt that stopped just above my knees. Not too Socy, and yet not quite greaser. Just right for job hunting.

"You coming or you gonnna hang around here?"

" I'll come with you, it aint safe out here alone any more," She said looping her arms through mine with a silly grin.

"Be back later guys," I said quickly ushering Ang out before they could comment on my attire.

Hitting up the local burger joints, and grocery stores, I was psyched when I scored a job at the pharmacy. The bad part of the job was that it was on the outskirts of the neutral turf, pretty much Soc territory. I'd have to bum rides to get to, and fro, because walking every day would just be asking for trouble.

Pony

Looking up as Love walked in with Ang I smiled. She must have been successful or she wouldn't be smiling.

" What did you find?"

"Got hired at RX," She said referring to the drug store that stayed open until nine.

" When do you start?"

" I dunno, I got training tomorrow at nine."

" Training where?" Darry asked looking tired as he came in from a long day at work.

" At the Rx."

" I want you to finish school Love, you're too damn smart not to."

"With me being back we need the money more than I need a diploma," She said making him growl.

"One drop out in this family is enough."

" Why do you always have to dictate everything!" She screamed stalking off.

"I'm not finished talking to you," Darry said following her in to the room we shared.

"You think he'll let her work?" Ang asked coming to sit next to me on the couch.

"You know Lovey, she always manages to get her way some how," I said wincing as the yelling continued to come from the room.

"So, you going to the dance next week?" I asked struggling to stop the blush I knew was creeping up on my cheeks.

" Don't know, I haven't been asked yet," She said pointedly making me laugh. Yea, things with Angela would always be simple, cause she didn't bite her tongue about what she wanted.

"So, you want to go to the dance next week Ang?" I asked slipping my arm around her shoulders like I'd seen Soda do a million times before.

"I'd love to Pony," She said making me smile when she laid her head on my shoulder and we both turned to watch the t.v.

I was glad she had said yes, but I was not looking forward to Tim's reaction. Sneaking glances at the dark haired girl beside me I took in the changes the years had brought. She was still slender, but her hips and backside had curves I admired, her hair was long and wavy now, reaching just below her shoulders, and her lips were full, and pouty.

Love POV

Scowling at my older brother I admitted to defeat. We had finally come to an agreement, I could work full time as long as I went to summer school to finish the little bit of schooling I had left to graduate. I'd be there for four weeks at the most, but I was still annoyed. I'd be eighteen soon, but Darry still treated me like I was sixteen and still innocent and green. Lying back on the bed I put my hands beneath my head as I studied the family pictured that lined the walls. My parents had been huge on family photos and I could see one for every year, starting with the two of them on their wedding day.

My dad had looked so tuff in the picture with his greasy hair and a defiant gleam in his eyes. Mom had told me he had been little more than a hood when they started dating, but he'd cleaned up his act. Not a day went by that I didn't think of them and thank god that I had my brothers.

"You okay sis?" Soda asked pausing on his way to the dresser for a change of clothes.

"Yea, just thinking bout mom and Dad," I said smiling as our eyes met.

" I still miss them too," he said coming to sit on the bed next to me.

"Remember that day," he said pointing to the last picture we had all taken before the accident.

"Yea," I said smiling as I looked at the whole Curtis Clan sitting on a red and black-checkered blanket. We had all gone for a trip to the country that day. My folks had loves it out there, and we did weekend trips a lot. Sometimes we would fish, play a game of football, anything to get us away from the day to day living as a Greaser. Lying my head on Soda's lap I let sleep take over, smiling as he stroked my hair gently, the way he always had when I needed to be comforted.