Where Have You Been All My Life?
AN: Hi everybody! Here's chapter 2! I hope you like it! Thank you to Izziecakes and TheAngryPrincess13 for the lovely reviews! And thanks, Maddiecake, for the CONSTRUCTIVE critisism. And to everybody else who is like Here's What I Think!, guess what? I don't really give a damn what you think! Surprise, surprise! Flames are just a big waste of time, not only for me, but for the people who write them too. Why would you spend time typing something that won't do any good for anyone and just be ignored? So, NO flames please! And if you really think that my story "sucks" so much, I'm fine with that. It's your opinion. Don't read my story if ya don't like it! You're wasting your time with that if you are just going to read my story and them critisize it because you don't like it. Well, that's too damn bad for you, if you don't like it. So, with parting words to all the people who read stories just to leave flames in the end: Get a life and "do us a favor" and take that stick outa your ass. Thank you! D (And one more thing: Have you heard of "love at first sight"? Guess not. Well, it happens. And I write because that's what I like to do. Not because I want to pretend that some fictional characters are in love with me. And If ya don't like romances, why are you reading stories in this section? Hmm? Romances can be dramatic, or fluffy, oir whatever. So why read a ROMANCE, which it says clearly, just to make fun of romances? Guess what, this story will be as mushy-gushy, lovey-dovey as I want it to be. And the characters will fall in love or whatever whenever I decide I want them to. So fuck off and go waste your time and energy somewhere else.) And that's enogh ranting for me! Sorry, ranting gets all the bad energy out of me, and I'm a pretty fluent ranter. Makes me feel better and write happily! xDDD Well, time to get to ch. 2!
Disclaimer: If I owned the Outsiders, do you think I would be writing this? I hope you don't think so.
I CAN BE TUFF
Ann woke up the next morning to find Soda sleeping on the far side of the bed. Ann carefully crept out of bed and out of the bedroom. In the living room, Ann saw that the clock read 7:06. In the kitchen, Ponyboy was getting some eggs and a package of baccon out of the fridge. Darry was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the paper and drinking coffee.
"G' morning," Ann said.
"Good mornin'," Darry and Ponyboy said in unison.
"Let me cook breakfast for y'all. It's really the least I can do," Ann told the two brothers as she grabbed the frying pan from Pony's hand and started frying the eggs. Pony had already put the baccon in another frying pan. After a few minutes, Darry spoke.
"Ann, I'm really sorry, but you can't stay here with us. There's just not enough room and money for another person in this house. But we will help ya try to get your life started again. Help ya find a place to stay and stuff like that. I wish we could help ya out more, but we really can't."
Ponyboy looked like he wanted to protest, but Ann didn't let him get a chance to.
"I understand. I wasn't expecting to be welcomed with open arms or anything, 'cause I know how people on our side of town got it. I'm just grateful y'all let me stay here last night, and everything. And thank you for caring enough to try to help me the best you can. Not alot of people 'round hear have as big hearts as you Curtis' do," Ann said with a smile. She meant all that she said. She wasn't expecting anything from them. They barely know her. Ann had just come barging through their front door. Well, really, she had been invited... but that was besides the point. She would be a horrible person if she took over these kind peoples' lives.
"Well, you're gunna need a job and a place to stay. And you're gunna need some clothes and other stuff too. You have any idea where you would like to work or stay?" Darry asked.
"Um, well, I guess the only place I can stay is at Buck's, isn't it? And I'm not sure 'bout the job part. No waitressing jobs. I hate how waitresses get treated." Ann had a cousin who used to be a waitress. All the guys hit on her and tried to touch her and mess with her. The boss told her if she ever said anything to 'upset' a costumer, she'd get fired. So Franny, Ann's cousin, was forced to deal with all the shit she got with a forced smile on her face.
"Okay, what kind of things are you intrested in?" Darry asked.
"I know! Cars! I know a whole lot about cars. My brother Todd taught me almost everything there is to know about cars. He had a real mean Mustang. Bright blue. A real beauty. Ya think they need an extra mechanic at the DX?" Ann asked excitedly. That would be a great job for her.
"You could ask Steve about any job openings there. Him and Soda work at the DX. Steve's a mechanic and Soda basically pumps gas," Darry told Ann.
"And attracts girls," Ponyboy added.
That's when the front door opened. Ann peered into the living room and saw that it was Two-Bit, Steve, and another boy that looked very tuff and cold. He was strikingly handsome and his blue eyes were stunning. Emotionless, but stunning.
"Hey Ann! Get in 'ere!" Two-Bit shouted, which probably woke Sodapop up.
"Geez, I'm comin'," Ann said. She walked into the living room, only to have Two-Bit put his arm around her shoulder again.
"You didn't get to meet this fella yesterday, since ya were out cold when he came 'round. We told him what happened to you yesterday, so you wouldn't have to say iot over again," Steve explained, with sympathy in his voice.
"Thanks," Ann said, as she slid Two-Bit's arm off of her. She turned to the boy she hadn't been introduced to yet.
"I'm Ann. Ann Mele."
"Yeah, I'm Dallas Winston," He said cooly. He took a long look at Ann, which made her nervous, but she tried not to let it show. He looked at her just-above-the-shoulder length, dark-brown hair. Then he looked at her many freckles and pale skin and full lips. Dallas looked the rest of her body up and down then took a long look at her green eyes. Ann's eyes showed the littlest amount of pain, and no fear. They were happy eyes. Like Soda's.
"I've heard about you," Ann finally said. Dallas kept looking her straight in the eyes. Ann looked right back into his peircing blue ones.
Dallas smirked and said, "Oh really? Whadya hear?"
"I've heard that you're a real tuff guy who's gotta pretty mean record and a is with taht slut, Sylvia," Ann said. She might not get out much, but she hears things. A lot of things.
"You know Sylvie, huh?" Dallas asked.
"No. I don't know her. I just know about her. I hear that she's slept with almost all the greasers in Tulsa. I wouldn't doubt that one bit."
Dally chuckled, "Yeah. I believe that. She's a two-timin' bitch. She ain't my girl no more. I got rid of her for good yesterday. Sylvia's just a whiny slut."
That's when Sodapop stumbled out of the bedroom, sleepily.
"Hey, Dal. Ya meet Ann already?" He asked.
"Yeah. I did," Dally answered. Soda yawned and went into the bathroom.
After breakfast, Dally left, Darry went to work, and Steve was helping Soda find his shoe. Two-Bit went into the living room and, out of nowhere, doubled over in hysterical laughter. Everyone stared at Two-Bit as if he were a lunatic. Two-Bit pointed his shaking finger to the shelf on the wall. Ann looked at the shelf and saw what Two-Bit was laughing at. Right next to a football trophy was nothing other than Sodapop's missing shoe. Ann looked at Soda questioningly as he reached up and grabbed the shoe. He just shrugged at put on the shoe.
While they had been eating breakfast, Ann had asked Steve about the DX and he said that he would ask the manager about it today. As Soda and Steve raced out the door, Soda yelled back, "See y'all later!"
About 5 minutes later, Johnny came through the door. "Hey guys," he said quietly.
"Hey Johnny. Ann's gunna be stayin' at Bucks, probably. And she might get a job at the DX with Steve and Soda," said Ponyboy.
Johnny smiled and said, "That's cool."
"What do ya bone-heads wanna do this cheerful Saturday afternoon?" Two-Bit asked with a wild grin.
"How about we take a walk somewhere? Maybe to the park or something," Ponyboy suggested.
"That sounds good to me," Ann said. "Are you fellas up to it?"
"Sure."
"Lets go," and then the four greasers were out the door and walking in the warm June sunshine.
After going to the park for awhile, they decided to go to the Dingo, Two-Bit's treat. Inside was cooler than outside. It wasn't very rowdy in the Dingo, but it was only 11:00. In about a half hour or so, it would be noisy and crowded. They got a booth, and Johnny and Ponyboy sat on one side, while Ann and Two-Bit sat on the other. A crabby waitress came and took their orders. They all got burgers and fries and milkshakes, except for Ann, who got a Coke instead.
After they finished eating, the four of them walked around town aimlessly, just talking and laughing.
"Okay, so Two-Bit is the jokester, Steve's the motor-head, Soda is the sweet-heart, Darry's the mustles, Pony's the dreamer, Dally is the hood, and Johnny, you're the quiet one?" Ann asked, smiling at Johnny, who blushed a bit.
"Yeah," he said. "That's pretty much how it is."
So what kinda person are you, Ann?" asked Two-Bit. He put his arm around Ann for what seemed like the umpteenth time in the past 2 hours. Instead of sliding Two-Bit's arm off her shoulder, Ann let it rest there.
"Well," Ann started, "I don't know. I'm loving and caring for others. I'm quick-witted at times. I love to read novels. And I can be real tuff when I need to be."
"Oh yeah? Just how tuff are ya?" Two-Bit asked ginning like a mad-man. He obviously didn't believe Ann could be any tuffer than a cute and cuddly kitten.
"Believe me, I'm tuff," Ann told him, getting a bit irritated that he didn't think she, a girl, could be tuff.
"Well, I bet ya wouldn't knock over a fly. Matter of fact, I don't thing you would be able to knock over a fly!" Two-Bit said, smiling and getting a kick out of how oh-so-clever he was. Two-bit had continued walking, but Ann waited back for a second, just to get a good distance. Then, while Two-Bit was laughing about the fly thing, Ann ran and leaped onto his back, with such force that she knocked him flat on his face. Ann smiled triumphantly.
"Why, shoot Two-Bit. You sure don't look like a fly to me," she said, while Ponyboy and Johnny doubled over in laughter.
"She sure showed you, Two-Bit," Johnny said, still laughing alot.
Two-Bit got a goofy looking grin on his face and said, "Well, I don't mind being takled if it means her on top of me."
With that said, Ann stood up, lightly kicked Two-Bit in the side and kept on walking. Johnny and Ponyboy still laughing a little at Two-Bit.
It was around 12:30 when a real mean red Mustang started following them. Johnny and Pony looked a bit frightened. Two-bit looked ready to punch a Soc's face if needed. Ann just walked on, head high, as if there were no Socs following them.
"Hey baby," one called,"Want to have the ride of your life?" The others laughed. Stupid, drunken, rich, spoiled assholes. That's what these so called Socs were.
Another one said, "Hey honey, why are you hanging around with a bunch of trash when you could be with us?" They laughed again, and howled.
Ann stopped walking and said, "If you're calling these guys trash, then what do you consider yourselves? 'Cause I'd say you're lower than dirt, ya pieces of shit!"
"What did you say to us, bitch?" That's when the Socs started to get out of the car, a bit wobbly from being drunk. There were 6 Socs against 4 Greasers.
Two-bit filpped open his switchblade. "I'd leave us alone if I were you," he said, looking as if he had escaped from the loony-bin.
With a shaky voice, one Soc said, "Yeah, well, it's a good thing you aren't us."
That's when the fighting broke out. Two-Bit already had one Soc down withing a minute. Ponyboy was fighting one, and Johnny was knocked down by a Soc, but quickly got up and gave the Soc a black eye. One big Soc with a hungry look in his eyes. He grabbed Ann's left arm and started dragging her to the car. "I don't think so," Ann said, before knocking the guy out with a punch that took all her strength. Ann's whole right arm hurt from punching the guy so hard. Now there were 4 Socs out and 2 to go. Two-Bit and Ponyboy were working on the biggest Soc, while Johnny was on the ground, holding his head. Ann was about to go check on him, when the other Soc grabbed a fist full of her hair and put a blade to Ann's neck. He told Ann not to say anything, or he would cut her throat.
All Ann could think was, Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! None of the guys noticed what was going on, they were all occupied. Then, suddenly, the Soc, who had been pulling Ann to the car, was pulled off of her. Ann turned around to see what had happened. She saw Dally had come to the rescue and was currently punching the living day lights out of the Soc. Ann tapped on the Soc's shoulder. When the Soc turned around, Ann said," Don't you ever fucking touch me again." Then she punched him as hard as she could, even harder than she had the other Soc, and he fell to the ground, with a scream of pain. By then, the biggest Soc was out too. The Socs ran to their car and sped off. Dally turned to Ann and smirked.
"Man, you're a pretty tuff chick, considering your size," he told her.
"Yeah, Two-Bit learned that earlier, didn't ya Bits?" Ann asked, with a sly smile planted on her face. Ponyboy and Johnny clued Dally in on the day's events. Dally seemed to think that Ann was an okay person, which Ann was happy about. To be approved of by Dallas Winston, one of the toughest hoods in Tulsa, was a pretty big thing to Ann.
Ann was having a really good day (not counting the part with the Socs, that is), considering that only yesterday her life was changed completely. Ann was in a really good mood alright. She jumped on Two-Bit's back for a piggy-back ride. When he started running fast, Ann started yellingt for him to let her down. When Two-Bit finally did let her down, they were near the Curtis house. They walked in and got a few drinks. Two-Bit got a beer and sat in front of the television. Ann sat down next to Dally on the couch, with Johnny sitting on her other side. Ponyboy sat on the floor and they all sipped their drinks and watched Mickey Mouse.
After a while, Ann got the idea to write a letter to her brother Todd and tell him what had happened. Ann sat down in the kitchen and wrote:
Dear Todd,
Alot has happened and I wish you were here to be with me. I miss you alot, especially now, when I need your support. On Friday, Mom and Dad died in a fire at our house. Dad must have fallen asleep with a cancer-stick again, only this time Mom was asleep too, and nobody was there to wake up Dad or anything. The whole house burned down, and all I have are my school books and what I was wearing.
The cop wanted to take me to a girls home, but I started running. Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade found me in the park and Ponyboy offered for me to calm down at his house. He has two older brothers: Darry (the oldest) and Sodapop. The other guys in the gang are Steve Randle, Two-Bit Mathews, and Dallas Winston. Now, I know what you're thinking, 'My baby sister hangin' around a hood like Dallas Winston?' Dally and the others are cool, though. I'm being treated nicely, even though they don't know me so well yet.
I am going to be staying at Bucks and I might get a job at the DX. Aren't ya proud of your little sis, a possible mechanic? You taught me a whole lot of stuff about cars, and I'm thankful for it. I just wanted to let you in on what happened and tell you that I'm okay. I miss you so much. I wish you hadn't left me with the folks, but I know that you couldn't take me to New York with you. You are the only thing I have left now, and you are so far away. I love you so much. Please remember to write back.
Your Baby Girl,
Ann
When Soda and Steve came through the door Ann learned that, indeed, there was a use of another good mechanic at the DX. Ann would have to go see the manager tomarrow so he could see if Ann would be good for the job. Ann was pretty excited. It would be so cool to have a job that she would enjoy so much.
AN: Okay, there it was. I hope you enjoyed it. Please review. NO FLAMES! Constructive critisism is welcomed. I like advice, it is helpful. Unlike..coughflamescough... you get the point! D
