"So the twerp is right, you're dating my kid brother?" Tim's wicked grin made me just about jump out of my skin as I reached the bottom step and he interrupted the silent household from his place on the couch. "A hello would've been nice" I started, walking past him to the kitchen and putting the tea kettle on. "Oh but Avery Jane, you know that's just not how I roll" he grinned. I shook my head and took down two mugs. "You want some tea?" "Nah" he shook his head. "I actually came here to talk." I nodded, pulling a peppermint tea bag out from the drawer.
"Well you'll be waiting a little while. Darry, Soda, even Ponyboy, they're out at-" "At Buck's, yeah I know" he interrupted. I paused, giving him a look, and putting a hand on my hip. "Okay, then why are you here?"
He walked forward and leaned on the countertop next to me. "I need to talk to you" he said softly, making me scoff. "You wanna talk to the little girl you chastised last night for not being able to hold her liquor?" I questioned, making him roll his eyes. "Obviously, I'm here!" He spat back, and i realized he was serious. There's one thing to know about Timothy Shepard, he doesn't play. His temper is at the same level of Dally's, if not worse.
The kettle started whistling so I pulled it off and poured myself a cup. He sighed, pushing his hair back. "Listen kid, things are getting heated again." I nodded, climbing onto the counter and taking a sip from my mug. "I could've told you that," I said, swinging my legs back and forth. "Things have been warm Tim, and now they're hot. Why are you surprised?" "I'm not," he said, shaking his head. "Then why are you telling me?" I questioned, opening up the cookie jar and taking one out. "Look Avery, after what's been happening-" "you mean that little joyride of yours?" I raised my eyebrows. I probably shouldn't have egged him on. In fact, I know I shouldn't have, but I guess I was kind of hoping the temper that was so close to my dead brother's would appear, and I'd get to fight with it one more time.
"No actually," Tim started, leaning next to me and glancing down at his hands before staring into my face. "It's about what happened to your brother today, and what happened to you and the kids at the diner on Sunday" my face reddened and I looked away from him. "You know about all that?" I asked. He nodded. "Yeah Avery, I do. Now thank God Ponyboy is okay, the guys showed up just in time, and a little cut on his neck was all they were able to do. But think about this, you were at a restaurant, minding your business, with children, Avery."
"But nothing happened," I mumbled. "Curly-" "I know, I know. Curly was there. But Avery, what if he wasn't there, then what?" He looked at me pointedly, waiting for an answer. "They think they can just harrass a greaser girl and some innocent children"- "They were harassing us because we were with Curly!" I snapped. "So don't even start-"
"No, Avery." Tim shook his head. "They were harassing you because of who you are. Look at what they said to that little girl. Look at what happened when you tried to shoo them away. Can you imagine the next time? Do you think it's fair to expect Hud to be able to stand up to a bunch of guys three times his size? How about one day when you have kids, Avery? You want them growing up with that fear-"
"Okay!" I shouted, turning away from him to wipe the tears that had started rolling down my cheeks. "I get it" I whispered, sniffling. "I do, I just-" I looked out the front door, and could see five figures walking down the street. "I hate fighting" I whispered. "And that's what you went to talk to them about, huh? And Darry said no, didn't he?" Tim nodded. "You know that big brother of yours pretty well. Listen, just get him to think-" "I knew Dal pretty well too" I drifted off, looking into my mug. "And look what happened to him after the last rumble. I can't lose anyone else."
I jumped off the counter and walked towards the kitchen, blushing as I looked down and realized I had been in a pair of soda's boxers and one of Darry's old t shirts the entire time we had been talking.
"Now if you don't mind Tim, I think it's time for you to leave. Anyways, it looks like "that big brother" of mine is coming up the walkway, and I'm sure you're the last person he wants to see." Tim nodded, and walked to the door. "Avery?" He said, turning to face me. "For the record, a cop killed Dally, not the rumble."
He opened the door. "Tim?" He looked back at me one last time. "For the record, I don't want the same thing to happen to you." He smiled at me. "I'll tell my kid brother you said hello. Goodnight Winston"