I quietly open the screen door, unsure of exactly what is going to greet me. I know I've been gone for more than a while, so there's no telling how Danny will react.
"Thank all things good, Sylvia, do you have any idea what time it is? What happened?" Danny near shouts at me when I walk into the living room. I can tell he's not sure whether to be relieved or angry.
"I'm so sorry Danny, it's just that-"I pause when I see Tim laid out on the couch, his injuries are much worse than when I last saw him.
It's like the world is going slow, and I can feel the thump of my heart in my throat.
I darn near sprint to Tim's side, my hands fluttering over his body. He's shirtless, his ribs and stomach are covered in ugly black and red cuts and bruises, and his nose has definitely seen better days.
"How…what?" I cry, knowing that he probably took worse of a beating on my account.
"The Brumly boys dragged him back here after the brawl at Buck's place. They said he's been out cold since." I can hear the worry in his voice at the state of his leader.
"Go on to bed Dan, there's no sense in you wearing yourself out over something you can't fix." I look up into my sweet brother's eyes. He looks flat exhausted.
"Yeah. I will." He yawns, coming over to pat me on the head "remind me to thank whoever got you home safe."
He doesn't wait for a response, and walks off and up the stairs. I run to the kitchen, grabbing a second bowl of water and more rags. The poor boy has blood all over every visible part of himself.
"My God, Tim." I find myself holding back tears, the weight of the night has finally hit me in full.
I start on his face, mopping away the caked blood as gentle as I can. Every often he winces or groans, and I sit still for a few moments each time, scared to hurt him further. Eventually he breaks out into a sweat and I start to fret more.
Tears still roll down my cheeks as I wipe down his chest. I do my best to avoid pressing too hard on his pale skin. It seems like the more blood I wash away, the worse he seems to look. By the time I finish with him, I can barely see from all my tears.
Placing a wet cloth over his forehead I lay my cheek on the sofa next to his head. With drooping eyes I curl up to wait for him to wake.
A rustling startles me and my head flies up, my eyes move like a hawk over Tim's body. I silently curse myself for falling asleep. My gaze finally rests on Tim's handsome features, and I gasp in surprise when I see his eyes staring up at me.
He clenches his teeth and moves to push some hair out of my face.
"Damn I was so worried they'd gotten you." He rasps, running his hand gently over my arm like he's checking me over for wounds.
I look at him adoringly, the boy who I grew up with, the one who used to run off bullies for me, and I swear I could break because he's okay.
"Hey now, pretty girl, don't go crying on me now."
"I'm sorry." I quickly apologize, looking to the floor.
"Come here." He opens his arms to me, grimacing when he rolls to his side.
"I ain't trying to hurt you more tonight Tim." I warn, looking to him with strict eyes.
"And I ain't askin'. I'm not letting a girl as sweet as you sleep on the floor. Now get." He commands, leaving no room for argument.
I shimmy my way up next to him, honest I'm still scared I'll hurt him, but when he puts his arms around me, pulling us tight, I stop worrying.
"You know you're real good for protecting me." I whisper, looking up at him with my chin pressed gently against his chest.
"Shit, I can't picture it any other way," he's silent for a moment "hey, who's flannel you got on?" his blue eyes meet mine.
"When that Soc started after me, I ran upstairs and into the first room I could see. The boy told me my uniform stuck out, and made me put on this flannel." I whisper, wishing I could just forget this night.
"Well, you ain't gonna have to do that again. I'm gonna keep you safe. You ain't gotta worry when I'm around"
"I know that."
"Good, now don't you go forgetting it on me." He rests his chin on the top of my head, still holding me tight.
When I wake up in the morning, I'm completely disoriented. My heart starts to pound in my chest when I feel a heavy arm draped over me and trapping me down. My mind starts to go faster than I can catch it, and I start to panic.
"Aw shit, Sylvia, Sylvia. Hey girl, you're okay." The arms around me move to stroke my hair.
Last evening hits me like a damn train, and I can feel my body slowly calming. I look up at Tim, cringing when I see the dark wounds scattered on his handsome face.
"Why are you so scared?" he asks like it must be the most absurd thing he's ever seen, but I can hear the worry, knowing he wants to fix whatever may be scaring me. I wish I could tell him that he can't beat it out with his fists.
"I…" I stop, trembling slightly and nervously looking at the ceiling.
Thank heavens I'm saved by Danny stumbling down the stairs, a sleepy Charlie in tow.
"Shit, y'all are gonna have to do this kind of thing somewhere else. Sylvia, get off that couch before I come over there and make ya." His normal cheerful spirit is gone, and he stares at me with steely eyes.
"I'm sorry Danny." I reckon I move faster off the couch than I ever have before.
I rush to Charlie to avoid the brewing fight in the living room and herd him into the kitchen. I hurry to make breakfast, trying to make everything perfect before Danny comes in before work.
"Sylvia, are you and Tim goin steady, are you his girl?" Charlie asks, running his little toy car around on the floor while I stir the porridge and fry what must be a pound of bacon for the boys.
"Shoot, I don't know Charlie, it's nothing you need to be poking your head into. Mind your own." I sigh sternly, honestly I don't even know what the answer to that question could be.
"Okay." He shrugs, not at all bothered by my reply.
"Come here and eat." I put his plate up on the table fixing to do his hair while he eats.
He holds still while I grease back his hair and run a comb through his blonde curls.
"There, now you look like a proper grease." I smile down at him.
He looks proud of himself as he finishes breakfast and I start plating up food for Danny and Tim.
"Well now, I've never seen a kid as tuff as the one sitting at that table. Sylv, you reckon he could take me?" Tim pretends to whisper to me, knowing full well that Charlie can hear him.
"I'd say he could take anyone." I kid, patting the seat next to Charlie at the table for him to come sit at.
As he lumbers past me, I admire how tuff he is, all black and blue but still up and going. The grimace on his face does not go unnoticed though.
"You gonna beat the tar out of some Socs today Charl?"
"Danny!" I scold, giving him a look as he chuckles, grabbing a bowl and shoving it into his mouth disgustingly.
I watch my boys eat, looking down and realizing I'm still in the skirt and flannel from last night.
"Sylvia, I can give you a lift to the dingo when you're ready." Tim leans back in his chair, the food in front of him long gone. He looks a bit better with a little food in his system.
"I have to get changed, can you give me just a second. Thank god you have your car here, I'd be late if you didn't"
I rush around, taking care of the dishes while the boys talk about something happening later in the week. Grabbing Charlie's bag I put it on his shoulder, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, I send him with Danny and out the back door.
"Bye Sylvie." He calls, running to Danny's old truck.
"You be good today, don't listen to a word your brother says." I yell after him, locking the backdoor and looking to Tim.
"I think your brother might have had a heart attack when he saw us this morning." Tim smirks, and I can tell he's real proud of himself.
I roll my eyes, heading up the stairs to change into my uniform. I nearly have a fit when I see the ugly brown stain still on my stomach.
I know I can't do anything about it now, and instead I focus on making myself look presentable, putting on my face as quick as I can. Tips don't come as easy without it.
I rush down the stairs, hurrying to Tim.
He waits by the door as I grab my bag and a sweater despite the heat.
"I don't know how you're always so cold." Tim jokes, putting his arm around me and leading me out to the car.
He drives us quick, and I keep trying to smooth down my hair, wishing I had a brush.
"You look perfect, Sylvia, stop worrying." He sighs, grabbing my hand out of my hair and setting them together in the middle of us.
He pulls up to the Dingo shortly, and I hop out of the car, making my way over to his side.
"Thank you, Tim." He nods, and I know he's trying to be tuff in front of the greasers smoking outside.
I opt to just kiss him on the cheek, trying not to embarrass him.
"Bye, doll." He smirks, and I walk in to the Dingo so he doesn't see my blush, the bell jingling as I do.
"Hi Bev." I call, clocking in on the sheet.
I barely listen as she tells me my section, it's my usual one, and the biggest in the diner. Thankfully I find an apron to cover up the milk, and I tie it around my waist.
"Well, look who it is, Mrs. Soc Shepard." I freeze when I hear the voice, rolling my eyes.
"Hello, Dallas." I sigh, walking over to the only occupied table in my section.
"Well, is that any way to greet your hero?" he chuckles, making eye contact with the timid boy across from him. He has a nasty bruise on his face and I frown at him, wondering who he could have gotten into it with.
"I suppose not, how would you like me to greet you." I quickly realize that that was not the correct thing to say when I see the glint in his eyes.
"Hey, cut it out Dal, I'm hungry and I don't want you getting us kicked out of the one place open at this hour."
I can tell the sweet boy is as nervous as I am standing up to Dallas.
"Right, what can I get you boys?" I cut them off before they can get into it, not wanting a fight to break out at my table.
I jot down their orders, taking them into the back, where the bored cooks get working real quick like.
I try to avoid their table and the unnerving stare Dallas Winston is giving me as he waits for his food. It's like he knows me, and I don't like it.
Wishing Tim was here, I get back to work.