Give this story a chance, give Sylvia a chance.
Tim stays quiet for most of the ride, making me squirm when he places his cool hand on my knee. It doesn't seem to bother him, so I stay still.
"Stick with me when we get inside, you understand? There's gonna be a whole drove of people there, and I can't have what happened to Karen repeatin'. Your brother would try to kill me." He throws a look at me as he drives, all kidding lost in his stern features.
"Yes, Tim." I say softly, giving his hand a small squeeze like that could take away his worry.
What seems hours later, we pull into a crowded lot but I know it's only been long minutes.
"If something starts happenin' in there, you get gone. Can't have that pretty face get roughed up on my account." His hand cups my cheek, and I swear I can barely breathe.
"Tim Shepard, what are you doing with me?" I lean into his hand, breath catching in my throat, unsure of what he's fixing to do.
"Ain't it clear?"
He gets out of the car quick after, and I silently follow, trying to stay as close to him as I can.
There's a mess of people on the lawn, and when Tim throws open the door, smoke and the smell of liquor gag me. I almost feel out of place, most girls here look like they're prepared for anything a man could throw their way. I'm still wearing my damn uniform dress, and I curse myself for not thinking to change right at home.
Soc's and hoods alike are mixing, but not without some stern looks thrown about.
Tim starts talking to a few boys that look like they could scare the devil himself, and I shrink close to him, watching as one boy's eyes run me over.
I try to move behind Tim, but he throws his arm around my waist carelessly, not minding me. I feel a bit safer, and do my best to look impressed by everything Tim says, hoping he will pay me a lick of attention.
"And who is this?" one of the boys croons, he's not the one who has been eyeing me, but it still gives me a chill. I try to cover it up with a cough.
"This is Danny Winters' kid sister, Sylvia. She's off the table, Jack." Tim growls the last part, holding me closer.
I'd like to remind him that I'm really not something to claim, but knowing how that would embarrass him I stay quiet. They all stop looking at me like hungry animals, and I relax a little bit, fumbling with my hands as they continue their conversation.
Across the room, I spot Mara, a gal I work with. Her makeup goes clear past her eye brows, and she's laughing animatedly at something with a group of girls and guys alike. When she catches my eye she waves at me shortly, tilting her head and waving me over.
I look to Tim, waiting for him to pay me a look.
"Tim, I see a friend from work, can I go talk to her?" I ask when he finally looks down at me.
"Sure ya can," He digs in his coat pocket, pulling out a few bills and putting them in my hand "get yourself something to drink from Buck, we need to loosen you up a bit." He chuckles like he's said something real funny.
His comment bothers me, but still I walk towards Buck. He notices me over the crowd of people and gives me a sly smile that makes my skin crawl. Once again I feel incredibly out of place. I try to shove the bills at him, but he just shakes his head.
"On the house, enjoy." He hands me a cup of something, and I test it, nearly gagging at the amount of alcohol in just my small swig.
I push through the people, finding Mara in the same spot she was in. She raises a painted eyebrow at my uniform.
"Why you still dressed like you're ready to serve us a coke?" she giggles, rolling her eyes at me. The people around her laugh as well and I fix a smile on my face.
"Tim practically dragged me here."
"I heard he got into it with Jon and Mike's crowd." She points the question at me.
"Yeah, he came back with quite the amount of wounds, but I don't wanna picture what those guys look like." I twiddle my fingers nervously, hoping I don't embarrass Tim with my comments, even though he's halfway across the room.
"Well you can now, they were about here earlier. I think they went to the other room." I shiver nervously at her comments, glancing at Tim.
He looks fine so I pretend to be involved deeply in the conversation Mara and her friends are having. I lean on the wall, laughing when everyone else does, they all are far too loud for my liking. Eventually I get tired of their banter, and I start to make my way back to Tim, he makes eye contact with me and nods towards his side.
Suddenly it's like the room has erupted and I get shoved roughly as some boys start to gang up on Tim and the hoods he's standing with. I realize a second too late that these must be the Soc kids that Tim and Danny beat the tar out of earlier tonight.
Tim makes eye contact with me for a second and my heart near stops. Everything is like a slow motion picture in a movie.
One of the boys with a nasty black eye and recently broken nose spots me. A smirk appears, and I remember Tim's words from earlier in the night. They hit me like a train goin full speed, and I drop my cup.
I don't know where I'm trying to get to, but I make it to some stairs, praying silently that Tim will hold them off without the help of the others.
When I reach the top of the stairs I'm met by doors, some empty and open and others closed. I can hear someone lumbering up the stairs and I don't take my chances, choosing to bang on the first door I see.
It flies open and a startled boy throws it open, smirking when he sees my appearance. He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off, not at all interested in what he has to say.
"Please, it's the Soc's. They're after me." I choke on my words and he pulls me into the room, rolling his eyes.
When he slams the door, he looks at me again and rolls his eyes.
"They ain't after a gal like you. You aint their type of broad, man." He smirks "You may be mine though."
I catch my breath and study him. He looks familiar, but I can't place it and I'm not too willing to try.
"Tim, Tim and his gang beat them up earlier, and they found me." I try not to look too scared, remembering that my mother told me 'men like that breed on discomfort'.
"You Tim's broad then?" he sits on the bed, watching me with precision.
I don't respond, unsure of what to say, and what Tim would say.
Suddenly, there's pounding on the door, and my heart could leap out of my chest.
"Get in my bed." My eyes widen at his command.
"Damn it I'm not gonna make a move on ya." He grabs me and puts me in the bed, covering my uniform with the scratchy sheet atop it.
He throws off his shirt, yelling at whoever is pounding to stop before he beats the tar out of them.
I move around as he opens the door, trying to look like I belong. I'm sure I just look like a right mess instead.
"Man, what the fuck do you want?" the Soc looks back and forth between the boy and me, smirking at both of us. I try to look irritated, because Danny is always mad when someone interrupts anything he does with a female.
"Your kind disgusts me, dirty greasers."
The boy slams the door, turning the lock.
"Damn, why you gotta look so scared. I aint doing nothing to ya. Come here." He rolls his eyes again, and I try to hide my irritation, still scared that he may try something.
I get out of the bed and make my way towards him.
"Here, put this on. You stick out like a sore thumb in that thing" he looks at me like it's the worst thing he's ever seen.
He's handed me a rather large flannel, and some kind of skirt that looks like it could fit a small child. I look at him in disgust, wrinkling my nose when I think about why he has this skirt.
"Well," he looks at me like I'm stupid "what are you waiting on? I aint got all night."
When I just keep staring at him, he raises his arms and turns to face the wall.
Slowly I turn around, wondering what the hell I'm doing. Danny would have a right fit if he knew what I am doing right now. I shimmy out of the dirty uniform, stepping out of it as fast as I can. I have a bit of trouble with the skirt, and can't figure out how it works.
"Damn you have one fine ass." I'm mortified at his comment, pulling up the skirt as fast as I can, still scared that he's going to pull a move on me.
I pull the flannel on even faster, my chest heaving out of anger and fear and every other emotion I have pent up from today.
"God, are you a mute or something?" he finally asks when I turn around after staring at me for what feels like eternity.
"No." I respond quickly, looking down to smooth my dress out.
"You know they're just gonna push you around. You gotta stand up for yourself, ya know. Be independent, you're a greaser, you gotta be tuff." He starts puffing on a cigarette.
"Who the hell are you?" his speech gives me a little courage and I stand up a little straighter.
"See now that's better, man stop looking at me like I'm going to kill you."
I narrow my eyes at him, fixing my face into a glare.
"Geez, alright, alright. Dallas, Dallas Winston."
"I'm Sylvia Winters." I relax, leaning against his dresser.
"As in Daniel Winters?" he drags on his cig, looking up at me.
"Yeah, he's my older brother." I smile.
"You got a beautiful smile, Sylvia Winters." He grins, and I look down, hiding my blush.
"Thank you."
"Why don't you let me walk you home, unless you want to stay here?" He smirks and my eyes widen like saucers "God, I was kidding with you. Here, put this on."
He hands me a leather jacket. It's warm, and I'm real thankful for it.
We make our way down the stairs, and he tosses an arm around my shoulders, guiding me out before anyone can even see the both of us.
"Dal, you headed out?" Buck calls as we get close to the door. Dallas pulls me tight to him and shouts something out to him.
When we get outside again he lights up another cigarette and holds the pack out to me, offering me one.
"I've never done that before." I look at my shoes.
"What are you, a Soc? Here." He lights one and hands it to me, chuckling when I choke right away.
"You need to get out more."
I don't respond, instead staying quiet until we turn onto my street.
"Thank you, for everything you did tonight. You got me out of a real mess." I look up into his eyes. They look hard and cold, but they warm a bit at my sentiment.
"No need for thanks, see you around Sylvia Winters." He plants a kiss right on my lips, pulling back and laughing loudly as he jogs into the night.
I stand stunned on my porch, damn flirt.
"Yeah, see ya around, Dallas Winston." I whisper.