Disclaimer: I don't own 'The Outsiders'
Chapter 3:
"Jane."
My eyes popped open, though they so badly wanted to be closed. "What?"
"My house…after school?"
I nodded, yawning. "Sure. For what?"
Pony laughed. "The project we're supposed to be working on."
"Oh, right." I nodded like I knew. "Your house after school. Got it."
"Soda said he met you last night at Bucks."
"Huh?" I asked, very interested then. "When?"
"Said you bumped into him."
I tried to think.
"Whoa!"
I looked down at his shirt, some beer plastered over the front. "Oh, I'm sorry."
He smiled and it looked like he wasn't trying to be charming or handsome...but he was. "That's alright."
I stuck out my hand, almost having no control. "Jane King."
"Jane." He shook it, smile still on his face. "Sodapop Curtis. My brother knows ya."
I nodded. "Pony. Good kid."
I looked at Pony - still a good kid. "Yeah, I kind of remember that."
"He also said, uh..." He looked down, a small smile making way to his face before it disappeared and then he covered his mouth. "Uh.."
My eyes narrowed, tilting my head back. "What?"
Pony's cheeks started to glow red. "You think I'm sharp?"
I reached over and smacked the back of his head just as the bell rang. I grabbed my books, Pony still teasing me about what I hadn't remembered saying, but probably said. He did that all the way to his house, right up until the moment we walked inside and sat down at his kitchen table.
"Jane King."
I turned in the chair in Pony's kitchen to see Sodapop Curtis. "Hi." I turned back around and I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"How you feelin' today?"
I looked back at him awkwardly. "Fine. Thanks."
He nodded, taking a big bite out of the sandwich he had in his hand and walked away.
My eyes slowly shifted back to Pony. "Nice guy."
Pony laughed, opening up his book.
"Hey." I greeted my brothers as I kicked the door closed.
"Hey."
"Hey, where were you?"
"Pony's."
"Who's that again?" David asked.
"Ponyboy Curtis. Just a friend from school."
"Curtis? I know his brother Darrell."
I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, cool."
"He's just a friend?" David asked, and both brothers stared at me from the couch.
I laughed, stopping to answer but laughing even more. "Yeah, he's just a friend. You guys are so funny." I took off my shoes, walking down the hallway and almost making it, but my mom called me.
"Jane! Jane, come here, please!"
I groaned, turning and going back into the kitchen. "Yeah, ma?"
"I need you to run to the store to get some milk."
I turned around. "I went yesterday."
"Jane," my mom said, looking desperate. "Please, go to the store."
I stepped back into the kitchen. "What's goin' on?"
My mom sighed. "Your father's going to be home soon and - and we can't pay - but we'll figure it out. It's just that your father will be a little upset, so I think you should go to the store."
I stepped forward and grabbed her hands. "I got a job. I can start working after school everyday and start payin' with you."
"No, no." My mom shook her head. "You won't have to do that, honey. You'll have homework and -"
"I'll get it done, ma. I know it's my fault and I wanna help."
"You can work, but you're saving the money for yourself."
I nodded hesitantly, knowing that I would figure out a way to sneak the money in there somehow. "Okay, ma." I nodded and walked out of the room, to the living and grabbed David's hand, dragging him to my room. "I need your help."
"What is it?"
I sighed. "I'm gonna start working more instead of only once a week and -"
"No," David said loudly and laughed. "No, I'm not helping sneak money into mom's money jar."
"David, please?" I pouted. "Please?"
David considered. "Fine, but I want you to put away half that you make for yourself, or else I'm not doin' it."
I smiled, punching his shoulder lovingly. "This is why you're my favourite."
"Hey!"
I groaned, opening the door to my room, causing Paul to come tumbling through it. "Paul!"
I grabbed the milk and started to walk to the register before someone appeared from one of the aisles, grabbing the carton of milk from my hand.
"Hey!"
Ray laughed, slipping an arm around me and continuing to walk to the register. "It's been a while, baby."
"You haven't called," I challenged him, knocking his arm off when we got to the register.
Ray set the milk down on the counter. "C'mon, Jane. Don't be like that."
I pulled money out of my pocket and put it on the counter. "Thanks."
The clerk nodded, pushing the milk closer to me.
I took and and turned, moving quickly out of the store. Ray followed behind me, taking the milk again.
"If you expect me to call, this won't work out," Ray joked.
I took it as an out.
I was done with Ray. A couple months ago, I could've gone on about how strong and handsome he was. I used to love his long, black hair - loving the way it flicked up at his shoulders. His eyes on me used to make me red, but not anymore. He stupid smile and tall stature didn't do much for me anymore, and I was finally done with all of his baggage, including a bunch of whores, no contact for weeks at a time, and being an asshole.
"Okay."
Ray chuckled. "What?"
"It's not gonna work out." I looked at him, grabbing my milk from his hands.
"What the hell'd you just say to me?" Ray stopped, but I continued walking. He grabbed my arm ton stop me. "What'd you just say?"
I rolled my eyes. "You heard me."
Ray scoffed, looking me in my eyes. "No one breaks up with me, Jane."
"Fine." I sighed, shifting my weight on my feet. "You can tell everyone that you broke it off."
"But I didn't, and that's the funnest part."
"Then do it."
"What?"
"Break up with me."
Ray smiled slightly. "You're joking."
"Listen, Ray -" I started. "I've got to get home soon 'cause I've got shit to do, so can we hurry this up."
"Fine." Ray stomped his foot, looking me up and down. "Jane, I found someone else."
"Not surprised."
Ray ignored me. "And she's foxier than you, so I don't think we can see each other anymore." Ray slowly walked over to me and leaned in close to my face. "Unless you want to."
I laughed, leaning away. "Do people actually fall for that?"
Ray shrugged. "More than you'd expect."
"Alright, Ray." I nodded. "We're done now, so I'm gonna go."
Ray sighed, looping his thumb in his jeans. "Let me know if you're lonely, Jane."
"Will do," I said, turning the other way to my bike that was leaning against the wall, putting the milk in the basket and riding home.
I got back to the house a couple minutes too soon. I knew when I heard the yelling from inside, the yelling getting louder when I opened the door.
"Where is she?"
"I'm here."
Both my parents appeared in the living room, one worried and one angry. Guess which one's which.
"Jane!"
I felt the stinging a second later and I held my cheek, looking down at the ground. I raised my head bravely, looking him in his cold, dark eyes. "You're such a bastard."
"Jane!" my mom gasped.
He gripped the back of my hair and pushed my down to the floor. "What'd you just say?"
I kneeled uncomfortably. "I said that you're a no-good bastard with a drinking problem. Jesus, dad, you're so fucked up, I'm surprised you're still alive!"
He slapped me again, kicking my side and his heavy footsteps stomped passed me and I heard the door slam.
My mom rushed to my side. "Honey, are you okay?"
I could feel my eyes grow wet. "No."
"Oh, Jane, you-"
"Don't touch me." I stood up, pushing her away, feeling bad the instant I did it, but I didn't back down. "You never do anything to stop him. Why?"
"I..."
I ran to my room, only to sneak out the window. I wasn't gonna stick around that damn house any longer. I took my bike off of the side of the house and kicked off, sliding on the gravel clumsily before hitting the road.
I just pedalled for a while, a long while until I was riding past the Shepard's and a ton of people were hanging around outside, some music coming from somewhere deep in the house.
I stopped, throwing my bike to the side and running up the porch. I opened the door and it was exactly a type of party I'd expect to be at the Shepard's.
There were a lot of people rubbing shoulders and rubbing other things. Beer bottles were everywhere and music was playing. It was like a second Bucks.
"Jane!"
"Curly," I greeted, still looking around. "Quite a spread you've got here."
He put a heavy arm around me. "It's all Angela."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Some bigger guy grabbed the back of Curly's shirt and yanked him back, exposing his face to me. He looked just like Curly, but without the goofiness and with all the toughness. "What the hell is this?"
"I just invited some people over," Curly said quickly.
"Where the hell is Angela? I'm sure she's rilin' people up." The guy looked around his eyes landing on me. "Who are you?"
"This is Jane," Curly introduced.
"Yeah, I'm Jane," I said, knowing that voice.
"Tim." He nodded to me and a split second after I knew that he knew we had already done this. "This is my house and I want everyone out, Curly, now. Dad's comin' home in -"
Curly smirked and shook his head. "I don't know how to get all of these people out."
Awe. He thought there was a way out. I had a brother. Tim seemed like a David.
Tim took a step back, standing on the coffee table. "Alright! Everyone get the hell out of my house! Now! Go!"
He was exactly like a David.
Every person in the room didn't even glance up, and I could only assume they couldn't hear what Tim had just yelled. They continued to dance and laugh and kiss.
Curly laughed triumphantly. "Ha!"
Tim growled, reaching for Curly, who ran away before he could. When Tim realized there was no catching that curly-headed kid, he sighed and stepped down from the coffee table. "Shit."
"That's rough." I smiled, picking up a nearby beer. "Points for trying, though."
Tim looked over at me and his uneven nose pointed up as he crossed his arms. "Do I know you?"
I considered saying something and I decided that I didn't want to. "I don't think so."
He shrugged ever so slightly, uncrossing his arms and running his big hand over his greasy brown hair. "Alright, kid, I -"
"King," I said quickly, hating the other word.
"What?"
"King," I repeated, turning and starting toward the door, hearing his steps behind me over the loud music. "Not kid. Never kid."
"King as in the River Kings?" Tim asked once we were outside.
I nodded, my beer swinging at my side as we sat down on a bench on the Shepard porch. "You got a cig?"
He nodded, taking out a pack and shaking it, and then holding the cigarette out to my lips. I took the cig between my lips and waited for him to light it, glancing up at his content face. Once it was lit, I took a long drag, blowing the smoke into the dark night.
Tim lit a cigarette of his own. "How's your brother doin' these days?"
"Which one?"
"David."
I shrugged, tapping my cigarette. "He's alright. He's got a nice girl and a nice job. I'm sure he's workin' on a house." I looked over at him, watching his profile carefully. "You know 'im?"
"Everyone knows the River Kings."
My eyebrows rose at Tim. "Just like every knows the Shepard gang?"
He looked over at me, our eyes meeting. "Your folks know where you are?"
I smirked. "Tryna get rid of me?"
Tim merely scoffed. "Tryna get rid of everyone." He sighed, shaking his head. "Curly's such a pain in my ass."
"Can't be worse than Paul," I tried to offer, chuckling a little, looking over at him again, not being able to keep my eyes off of him. I didn't know what, but there was something about Tim Shepard that was fascinating. "How old are you these days, Tim?"
He just glanced at me. "Twenty."
I nodded, my brain not processing what I was doing when I leaned forward, putting my hand on the side of his surprisingly soft cheek and turning his face toward me. I leaned real damn close and pressed my lips against his gently.
Tim didn't even lean away - he actually had kissed me back for a second or two before he mumbled against my lips, "How old you are, kid?"
"King," I corrected, wrapping my arm around his shoulder and sliding into his lap. "And old enough."
"My sweater!"
My rolled over in the comfortable bed, covering my ears with the pillow.
"Tim! Where is my sweater?!"
"What sweater?"
"The pink one!"
"You have a million pink sweaters, Ang!"
My eyes opened wide, sitting up quickly and looking around the room - one I didn't recognize as my own. I looked down to see my bare chest and I yanked the covers around me quickly, unsure of what to do.
"Just help me find it!" a shrill voice yelled outside of the door. "Is it in your room?"
"Why would it be in my room?"
The door to the room I was in opened and a pretty brunette rushed in, barely glancing at me, rummaging through clothes on the ground, a couple of which were mine. She sighed heavily, looking up at me. "Have you seen a really cute pink sweater?"
I shook my head.
She rolled her eyes, stalking out of the room, leaving the door wide open, a clear view for anyone that walked by, including Curly.
"Jane, hey!"
I stared at him. "Hi."
He smirked, licking his lips and looking me over. "Tim won this round." He stared at me as he walked away.
"Curly!"
His head popped back in. "Yeah?"
"Could you close the door please?" I asked quite politely.
"What's in it for me?"
I groaned. "Curly, please."
"Alright, alright..." He closed the door.
I waited a couple of seconds to make sure it was legitimate before crawling out of bed and putting on my clothes from the night before. I looked in the mirror, smoothing my hair out as best I could and gathering any sense of dignity I had left to walk out of the room.
Tim was in the kitchen, newspaper in his hands, coffee in front of him. "Mornin'."
I sent him a nod. "Morning." I stood there awkwardly for a second, tapping my foot against the uneven floor and pulling my jacket tighter around me. "Well...seeya." I turned quickly, walking out of the Shepard household.
What the living hell had I done? We were just talking and then I went and kissed the guy. Don't get me wrong, I didn't regret it. It was nice. But I wish I had remembered more detail and had planned more carefully than I did.
Due to my nudeness when I woke up, we had obviously had sex. Tim didn't seem thrilled when he had seen me, though. Maybe it was one of those things that happened once and then no one spoke of it again.
Ray and I had been casual, but he always came back for something else.
I had no idea where Tim and I were at.
I tried not to think too much about it. I knew if I went home and hid in my room, that was all I was going to do, so I decided to ride out the time I had and I rode my bike over to the Curtis's.
I got there quickly, leaning my bike up against the side of the Curtis household. I walked up to the door and knocked.
Thankfully, Pony opened the door with a smile on his face. "Hey."
"Hey, I just came to ask if you wanted to hangout, maybe go to the movie house or somethin'."
"If it get's me out of calculus, I'm all for it."
I laughed, waiting for Pony to grab his jacket before we were off.
"Night of the Living Dead is playing, so we could -"
"Yeah, that sounds good."
"Hey, you okay?" Pony asked
I shrugged. "Uh, yeah, I'm good. It's just my asshole dad."
"Huh." Pony crossed his arms, looking at me like he usually did. "You never talk about your dad."
"Because he's an asshole."
Pony laughed lightly. "Really, though, Jane. What's he like?"
I sighed, moving forward in the line. "He's not home a whole lot. Him and my mom are still married, but I never see them together, and he's got an anger problem that goes with his drinking problem. How's that?" I glanced at him, catching his look of sympathy.
He continued to give me that look and he touched my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Jane."
Pony's parents were dead. I knew that. But when they were alive, they sounded like to coolest parents ever - not to mention loving, both things my parents weren't.
My mom could try to be loving, but ultimately failed. And my dad, do I even have to explain.
"It's chill," I said, smiling at him and nudging him. "I got my brother's and you." I felt uncomfortable saying it, but I felt the need to continue. "You're kind of my only friend, Pony, but you're the only one I need."
Pony blushed. "Thanks, Jane. You're one of the most interesting person that I've ever met, and it's a privilege to be your friend."
I rolled my eyes. "Now, don't get all mushy on me."
Pony laughed. "Sorry."
I laughed too. "Whatever. Let's just see this movie."
