Hi. My name is Brooke Winston. Chances are, you've heard of my older brother Dally. He's infamous around these parts. He's known as the toughest greaser around and his reputation, though it has benefits, makes it very hard for me to get a date.

"Hurry up if you want a ride to school!" a deep voice yelled from downstairs. I rolled my eyes. That would be Dallas. With one last look in the mirror, I decided that it would have to do. I had light brown hair, which I got from my mother, and dark eyes. In truth, I had the same color eyes as Dally, but his seemed to be much, much colder.

I rushed down the stairs and out of the house, hoping into the passenger seat of my brother's waiting car. "One day," I said, shaking my head at him. "You're out of the cooler one day and you're already telling me what to do."

"Hey!' Dally cried, pulling the car over and putting it in park. "I was in that hellhole for seven months. I come home and you're not even happy to see me."

"Well forgive me Dallas, if I'm not part of your warm welcoming committee. But while you were away for nearly a year, I was at home. With our father. Alone."

Dally looked over at me. Ever since our mom died, we had both gotten punched more than a few times by our drunken dad. That hadn't changed just because he was in jail. The only difference was, for the past seven months, Dally hasn't been there to comfort me.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," Dally said getting angry, "but I wasn't exactly on vacation in Paris. I know that you needed me but-"

I cut him off. "No, see that's where you're wrong. I've changed…a lot. I don't need you anymore. I don't need anyone. I opened the car door and got out, slamming it shut behind me. "I'll walk."

"Dammit!" Dally yelled, pounding his fists down onto the steering wheel. He sighed as he pulled back onto the street and floored the gas, hoping to cool off some.

I didn't feel bad about what I had said to Dally. The old me might have, but like I said, I've changed. I neared the school and then stopped in front of it. Did I really want to go to school today? Nope. Having decided that, I changed my direction and headed over to find Tim Shepard.

Tim answered the door a few moments after I rang the bell. He came downstairs in just a pair of jeans, so I assumed I'd woken him up. He didn't seem to mind however. Pulling me inside he gave me a passionate kiss on the lips before shutting the door and sitting down on the couch. "What day is it?" he asked me.

"Thursday."

"Shit girl," he turned to me. "When was the last time you actually went to school for a full week? Or hell, even two days in a row?"

"About seven months ago," I replied with a smirk before turning on the television set.

"Speaking of that, didn't Dal get out of the cooler yesterday?" When I didn't answer his question, he dropped the subject. "Hey Brooke….it's nine o'clock in the morning," Tim said yawning. "No offense, but I just went to bed about two hours ago. I need some more sleep. You can either join me or stay down here. Angel is at school at Curly is..,well, wherever he goes everyday." I thought it over for a moment and then followed Tim upstairs.

"Do you have the stuff for later?" I asked him as we both laid down on the bed.

"Don't I always?"

My last thought before drifting off to sleep is how good I'd be feeling this evening.