Disclaimer- I told you before, honey. I don't own them, okay? Stop with the goddamn interrogation!

A/N: lol since you guys asked so nicely, i figured that i could post the next chapter since it was already written.


Randy had still tried to toy with my mouth and when I didn't reciprocate it, he went down to my neck again. He obviously hadn't noticed that anything had happened as he came back for my mouth, smiling. "What's the matter? Don't stop, baby… God, Jaime, don't stop…" When he didn't feel me respond to his plea, he looked up and followed my gaze, glaring fiercely at what he saw.

Two-Bittook a long drag on his cigarette. "Jaime, git outta tha car, now."

"But Two-B-"

He let the smoke slide from between his lips, flipping his collar up. "I said git outta tha damn car, Jaime!"

"Fuck off, grease-ball," Randy seethed at Two-Bit, turning around to taste my neck again and yanked up the edge of my skirt.

I backed away slowly, feeling blood rush beneath the skin where his mouth had just been, knowing I had been marked. "Randy, I'd better go."

Randy gazed at me, anger, confusion, and shock gingerly etched over his face. "Jaime, what-"

"Just call me later, Randy," I said as I pulled my shirt back over my head.

Randy cleared his throat, saying softly, "Okay."

I kissed him delicately, wanting to back away, but his hands on my hips made me go to him again and again, more passionately than before. Randy worked his palms over me and-

"Jaime Theresa-Lynn, I said now!" Two-Bit was now furious.

I pushed the shotgun seat forward and walked out, shutting the door behind me. I saw Randy lean back, exasperated, slamming his fist down on the seat beside him.

"What was that for, Two-Bit?" I growled, outraged, as we walked past the concession stand to the theatre exit.

Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow and bit his lower lip to keep from exploding. "We'll talk about it at Darry, Pony, and Soda's."

I snapped around. "No, Two-Bit, we'll talk about it now! Why did you do that to me? In front of him!"

He threw his cigarette to the ground and stomped on it. "What the hell were you thinking, Jaime? He's a Goddamn Soc for Christ's sake!"

"Two-Bit, how long had you been standing there?"

"Kid, let's just say that it was long enough to know that you'd be coming home late and I wouldn't be able to joke about your virginity in the morning."

I knew he was right, but wouldn't dare say it. "You didn't need to embarrass me like that! I'm sixteen, Two-Bit! I can take care of myself."

He started screaming, and I had never heard him sound so much like an over-protective brother than he did just then. "That's my point, Jaime! You're only sixteen! You wanna prove you're mature? You think you're going to prove that to anyone by spending the night in the backseat of a Mustang with Randy Adderson? Mr. Super-Soc! Are you out of your mind?"

"What the hell is wrong with you, Two-Bit?" I asked, annoyed by now. "You've never been so 'concerned for my well-being,'" and I shrugged my two fingers to emphasize the quote. "I mean, you've never been this serious, or this angry."

His eyes were hateful. "I think I have a fucking right to be angry, JT! You were taking off his pants, for Christ's sake! I don't want to even think about what would've happened if I hadn't come along!" He stared at me furiously for a moment and I was about to question it until I realized that he was looking at the branding Randy'd made on my neck.

I snapped back. "What I do with my boyfriend is none-"

He stopped short. "Boyfriend? Boyfriend! Do you mean to tell me that you're 'going steady,'" he said, having difficulty with the term, having used it so little himself, "with Randy Adderson? Baby girl, I think you've lost it."

"Yeah, so what? I don't give a hang about you and the way you bed your blondes, so just lay off with this, okay, Two-Bit? Why do you care so much anyway?" I turned around and continued down the block.

"Because he's a Soc, Jay!"

I rolled my eyes. "Just shut up, Two-Bit. I don't want to talk about it anymore. It ain't none of your damned business."

"Oh, so you demand to know the causes for my actions, but when it comes to me knowing yours, it's none of my damned business? You got some nerve, kid." He began walking again, repeatedly smacking his palm into his forehead. "What the hell has possessed you? What were you thinking? What's your brother gonna say?"

We were both silent for a moment.

He couldn't tell Steve. Steve would go ballistic.

So would Darry.

Maybe even Ponyboy.

Sodapop…

My voice was creaky when I actually spoke. "Two-Bit, please don't tell anyone," I begged.

He chuckled sarcastically. "Oh, so it's not an issue if I've got a problem with this, but it is when your brother enters the picture? Oh, I get it now." He continued to chuckle and shake his head. "You really do have some nerve, baby girl. You're a piece of work."

I grasped onto a leather strap on the sleeve of his jacket. "Two-Bit, you can't tell him. Come on- please."

He chuckled again. "Are you shittin' me? If I don't tell him and he finds out, I won't be able to walk for weeks! He'll break both my legs- and crack open my skull for kicks if I'm lucky!"

"If you don't tell him, he won't find out!"

"Like that'll work! Last time I tried that idea, Ponyboy was sick and delirious for half a week!" Knowing he was right, I didn't want to say anything, so Two-Bit just walked on, contemplating the situation. Then he shook his head. "I can tell you that I ain't itchin' to tell your big brother this and get the living tar beat out of me."

"What would he do to you? You didn't do nothing."

Two-Bit sighed cheaply. "Yeah, but knowing your brother, I probably could have done something to stop you." Then he lit up again and muttered, "I need to talk to Darry."

"Okay, Two-Bit, let me put it this way- if you tell anybody, I will insure that you will never have children."

By the expression on his face, I knew he was about to laugh if it were not so serious. "Take it easy, sweetheart," he said with all the sarcasm he could muster. "Y'know, you're such a Randle- tough, stubborn, and angry."

I grinned and cocked up an eyebrow as he had taught me. "Thanks."

"Not necessarily a compliment this time, sweet cheeks. But I still don't get it, Jaime. He's Randy Adderson!"

"So?" I continued to walk, even as he stopped.

"So?" he repeated incredulously, nearly growling. He grabbed my wrist to stop me too. "Jaime, he's the reason Johnny and Dally are-"

That was a far as he had gotten. The complex emotions rushing through my veins shot my arm out and my hand made an imprint across his face.

We were both frozen and speechless. I stared at his cheek, then at my hand, then back at his cheek. The wound he had touched was still fresh- I wasn't ready for that. I still had a hard time admitting that they had died. Yet what he said made me think- based on what Pony had eventually told us about him and Johnny getting jumped, what Two-Bit had just said was true. But then again, Two-Bit should have known that I had been close with all the boys, especially Johnny, and I still had a hard time coming to grips with his death.

But he always does things impulsively. He's kind of scatterbrained. Guess he can't help it.

With shock I realized that his lip had begun to bleed. I fell into his arms, sobbing into the leather of his jacket. "I'm sorry, Two-Bit. I'm so sorry."

He ran his hand over my hair, whispering softly to stop my tears, while still rubbing his cheek where I had hit him. "It is okay, Jaime. I know. It's my fault. I'm sorry. Just don't cry now, okay kid?"

There was a honk behind us, forcing me to turn around.

"You two need a ride?"

I wiped my eye dry, recognizing the voice. "Hey Darry."

Two-Bit swung his arm over my neck protectively, but at that moment I wanted noting more than to roll my shoulders back and get him off of me I was so angry. "Yeah, we were just heading over to your place."

He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. "Hop in the back. Pony called and asked me to pick him up from the diner, though. Y'all mind?"

I sniffed and wiped my other eye. "Nope."

Darry pointed at Two-Bit's hand as he pulled back onto the street. "Toss the cancer stick, Two-Bit." Two-Bit complied and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Have you seen Steve, Dar?"

"No, Jaime. He said he's working a little late at the DX with Soda."

Two-Bit let out a taut sigh. "You're really lucky, Jaime. If your brother-"

I widened my eyes, indicating Darry and running the flat line of my hand across my throat, mouthing silently, 'Forget about it.'

"No, Jaime, I ain't gonna forget it! I can't believe-"

"Two-Bit Matthews, you said you wouldn't tell him!"

"I never said I wouldn't-"

"You wouldn't tell Steve what?" Darry asked, looking at us in the reflection of the rearview mirror.

Two-Bit and I both turned and screamed, "Nothing!"

Darry put his hand up in defense, as if to say, 'I was only asking!'

"I still can't believe you did that, Jaime. Are you drunk or something?"

"Two-Bit, I don't want to talk about it anymore, okay?"

I saw he was opening his mouth to respond, but Darry pulled the car to the curb and Pony hopped in next to Darry, and the ride was silent until he parked and the screen door slammed shut behind him.

"Jaime, we're gonna talk about it whether you like it or not. You can't avoid this anymore," Two-Bit exclaimed.

I slammed Two-Bit in the shoulder and we both toppled onto the couch, trying to wrestle the other to the ground. I had Two-Bit in a neck lock, demanding he holler uncle, when Darry threw his bag of tools off and down the hall as he stormed in. "Okay, both of you, lay off!"

We released each other, but both began screaming.

I yelled, "He spied on me at the Nightly Double and is gonna tell Steve-"

He hollered, "She threatened to tear my Johnson off if I told Steve that-"

"And I said I would tear his balls off- there's a difference!"

"No there ain't!"

"I'm gonna shove my foot so far up your ass that you'll be able to tie my laces with your tongue, fucker!"

"Is that a threat, Jaime-Theresa Lynn Randle? My, oh my, you've sure as hell got me shaking in my boots!"

"Just shut your pie-hole, Keith Daniel Matthews!"

"Why don't you just-"

"SHUT IT!" Darry's muscles were so tightly clenched that he looked about to pop. Two-Bit froze and I didn't dare move. "What the hell is going on?" Two-Bit and I both opened our mouths at once, about to start over again, but Darry put both his hands up for silence. "Calmly and rationally. Jaime, go ahead."

"Well I went to the Nightly Double and Two-Bit decided to spy on me, embarrassing me in front of who I was with, and he had no right to do that," I hissed, turning to the side so my back was to him.

Darry folded his arms over his chest and furrowed his eyebrows, saying sternly, "You told me you were going by yourself."

I wrung my hands. I had forgotten that I lied. "I met some friends at the concession stand and they invited me into their car."

Darry gave an approving nod.

"That's bullshit, Jaime, and you know it," Two-Bit nearly growled. "You want to tell Darry who it was that you were with?"

I shook my head, tears welling up in my eyes.

"You want me to tell him?" he asked.

I shook my head more violently.

"Well then what do you want?"

I sniffed and shrugged.

Pony sat down beside me and patted my back soothingly and I leaned my head on his shoulder.

Sodapop then loped in the front door without really glancing at us. "Hey y'all. Steve and me are gonna go down to the drag race at Pine Avenue. He went to go pick up Evie and I'm gonna just change and take a shower. I should be back by twelve, Dar." With that he was about to sprint down the hall to the bathroom but saw us all out of the corner of his eye and stopped short. "What's goin' on?"

Oh fuck.

"It can't be that bad, JT," Pony said consolingly. "Just tell us. What's wrong?"

Soda sat on the couch arm, looking at Pony and me.

"I's in da buck oaf a must stink wit Ruddy Andy-ton," I mumbled so softly that I was sure no one had heard me, and it hurt twice as much to have to repeat it when Darry said he couldn't understand me and to speak up. I exploded. I threw my fists onto the cushion in front of me, knocking Pony slightly backwards. "I was in the back of a Mustang with Randy Adderson!"

Darry fell backwards into his recliner, his eyes dangerously wide and his jaw hung open. Soda simply sat there, his eyes wide and his jaw hung open as well, falling forward from the couch arm onto the cushion next to Pony. Seeing him like that drew a tear out of my eye and Pony brought me closer. Two-Bit's face was still impassible and stern. I could almost see Dally raging forward, some of the guys holding him back, screaming "You what?"

I realized that the way I worded it sounded like I had slept with him, but what would correcting myself do? Change their thoughts? Probably. Save my virgin reputation? Definitely. Yup, I ought to-

Two-Bit shoved his hands into his pockets. "She was making out with him like no tomorrow, and had her hands where they shouldn't have been, so I yelled at her to get out of the goddamn car before she did something she'd regret in the morning."

Soda held such a stricken and shocked expression that I wanted to jump into his arms, apologize, and never leave the comfort of having him next to me.

I could see by the look on Darry's face that he wasn't exactly thrilled with this news. Pony must have thought the same thing because he said, "It's her choice. Maybe he was real sweet to her or maybe she sees him differently than you guys do. I know him and he ain't a bad guy."

Their expressions had lightened, but I lifted my face out of my hands again and whispered to him, "What about Steve?"

Pony just shushed me, kissing my forehead and forcing my head back against his shoulder.

Just then, knowing my luck, Steve slammed his car door and opened the gate, Evie on his arm.

Two-Bit just grabbed the remote and put on whatever cartoon was left on. Darry followed his lead, sitting in his armchair and taking out the newspaper. Sodapop took a second to take their hinting, but he ran into the bathroom and began taking a shower. Ponyboy had me lay my head on his lap and shut my eyelids with his fingers so Steve wouldn't see my red, puffy eyes.

Steve then opened the door and started screaming for Soda to get a move on and get out the door. Steve then walked over to where I was laying and ruffled my hair. "Hey, Jamie, are you okay?" I nearly bolted upright at the realization that Steve was concerned, but he just patted my hair down. "Is the kid drunk?"

Ponyboy shook his head. "No. Just dozed off."

Steve shrugged and walked into the hallway, clapping his hands loudly. "C'mon, Sodapop!"

Soda ran out of the bathroom in a mad dash to get to his room. "I'm coming!"

"Yeah, so is Christmas!" Steve replied, going back over to where Evie was standing. I rolled onto Pony's knee.

Sodapop raced back into the living room, slipping quickly into his sneakers. "Bye, y'all," he said as he came over to me and Ponyboy. "Bye, Jamie," he said softly, kissing me on the cheek.

I stirred and sat up, but Steve was already out the door and Evie had slid into the car. I sighed and leaned against Ponyboy. The engine revved slightly before the tires squealed against the pavement. Soda was obviously driving.

Once the sound of screeching rubber faded under the barking dogs, Darry had apparently regained his grip on reality. "Have you lost your mind?" He screamed, looking directly at me. "I can't believe you would do something like that, Jamie."

Pony chuckled and pressed his palms to the sofa, making to get up. "Dar, if you're gonna give her the safe sex talk, I'm so out of here right now."

Darry was getting impatient. "Would you just shut your wise-crackin mouth for two seconds, Ponyboy?" Two-Bit, who usually stuck up for Ponyboy in Sodapop's absence, kept his mouth shut, tapping his fingers against his chest. Ponyboy sat back and I nestled my head into the nape of his neck, whimpering softly. Darry continued, "You would think that you'd have more sense than that, Jamie. I don't believe this." His head sunk into his hands.

"Darry, I'm sorry," I whispered.

He was angrier than I had ever seen him. "Well, you know what, kiddo? Sorry might not be able to cut it this time."

It took me a moment to notice that he too was glaring at the hickey on my throat. Another tear streamed down my cheek.

"Why did you lie to me, Jamie? Over that scumbag Soc, no less!" By the expression on his face, I couldn't tell whether he was upset or angry.

"Darry, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen."

"What a familiar phrase- 'I didn't mean it,'" he said sarcastically, shooting a glare at Ponyboy. "What would have happened if Two-Bit hadn't found you, Jamie? Would you have just said 'Oh, Darry, I didn't mean it,' and expect everything to just be okay?"

I lowered my head. "No. Darry, I'm really sorry."

Darry slammed his hand so harshly on the coffee table that I jumped. "Sorry? I swear, between you and Ponyboy-"

I finished his sentence. "You don't know who uses their head less. You've told me ten million times, Darry."

"Well that was ten million and one, guess what? You still haven't gotten it yet! What the hell is wrong with you?" he hollered, kicking the leg of the coffee table in aggravation. He picked a book off the floor and threw it against the wall by the doorway. I shook, not used to Darry displaying such anger towards me. Ponyboy's eyes grew wide. Two-Bit did not seem phased in the slightest.

"Darry," Ponyboy murmured. "She apologized. What more do you want?"

Darry's jaw jutted out and he gritted his teeth, apparently ignoring or not heeding Ponyboy. "I don't know what the hell to do with you Jamie. How could you even think of having sex at all, being so young, much less having sex with that- that-"

Two-Bit held his hand up for silence. "Darry, I gave her this whole speech already." Then they both looked at me and saw how frightened I was. I shrunk into Pony's embrace and began to weep silently into his shirt. Two-Bit looked guiltily at Darry. "I think she's had enough for one night."

Darry pointed to Ponyboy and Soda's room. "Jamie, get to bed. I- I can't even look at you right now."

I got up to leave, and Ponyboy stood up to follow me. "Darry, I-" I began, but he held up his hand, falling back into his armchair. My eyes welled up with tears. I looked to Two-Bit, whose face remained unbelievably impassive. Ponyboy wrapped his arm around my shoulder and he pushed me onto the bed.

I let my tears out as my head hit the pillow. Hearing my quiet sobs, Ponyboy crawled up beside me, holding me tight. I shook my head repeatedly. "I'm sorry, Ponyboy. I'm so sorry, Pone."

He put a finger to my lips and stroked my back softly to calm me down, slinging his other arm around my waist, cradling me from behind. I was still crying, shaking awfully. Pony moved his hand from my waist and wiped my tears away. It still didn't stop my sobbing.

As Ponyboy switched off the light, I listened to Darry and Two-Bit talking in the living room.

Darry sounded awfully angry. "What is wrong with her?"

Two-Bit sounded bashful, a harsh contrast to his normal self. "Look, Dar, I didn't mean to get you mad. I just- when I found her I knew I had to do something, but didn't know what. I needed your help. Just don't be mad at her."

Darry scoffed, "How can I not be? She nearly slept with the Soc who-"

Two-Bit shushed him. "Darry, I know, it's just…" He trailed off.

"Sodapop?" Darry questioned.

"Yeah," Two-Bit replied after a moment.

Darry sighed heavily. "You did the right thing, Two-Bit." There was a long, thoughtful silence. "I just don't know what to do anymore."

They spoke more, but it all became soft murmurs to my ears, and my exhaustion from crying took over.

Once Pony heard my labored breathing and realized that I was indeed asleep, he stormed into the living room. "What the hell do you two think you're doing?" he hissed.

Darry and Two-Bit looked affronted.

"You've made her feel bad enough. She just cried herself to sleep because of you. You think you could cut her a bit of slack?"

Darry said evenly, "Ponyboy, do you understand what she's done? She's involved with the boy who nearly killed you. He's the reason why Johnny-"

Ponyboy cut Darry off. "I don't need to be reminded of the Dar. Neither does she. She got hit as bad as the rest of us with that, and you-"

"Ponyboy, she-" Two-Bit interrupted.

"This is such bullshit," Ponyboy said, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling.

"Watch your mouth, Pone," Darry said sternly.

Pony continued, "Look, it ain't none of our business, and as long as she's happy with what she's doing, you shouldn't care. She got what you said before so just don't you two dare bring it up again, got it?"

Darry and Two-Bit exchanged glances, not used to being threatened by a fifteen year old.


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