Disclaimer: I don't own 'The Outsiders'

Chapter 7:


I walked around the tiny little house. "Wow," I marvelled, very impressed by the progress made within the week. "It's really nice."

David smile widely, a glow on his face I had never seen before. "Isn't it?"

It wasn't really, but just seeing how happy David was made the whole space seem a little bit bigger.

"It sucks."

I turned to Paul, smacking him hard on the arm. "It does not!"

David chuckled, putting his arm around both of us. "Oh, I love you guys."

I smiled matched my brothers. "We love you too, David."

Paul shrugged. "Yeah, you're all right."

David pushed me away and brought Paul into headlock and started to rub his hair.

"Hey, no roughhousing in the living room!" Molly came into the living room, pushing them apart.

Paul laughed loudly, putting his arm around me, looking at Molly. "I bet you love saying that, Molly."

Molly smiled her beautiful smile. "I most certainly do."

David watched her as he put his arm around her. "No roughhousing in our living room, hey?"

Molly looked up at him and poked his chest. "Yes."

"Whatever you want, baby," David told her and they kissed.

"Get a room!" Paul yelled at them.

Molly pulled away, punching Paul in the shoulder. "Oh, hush. Don't you have a girl of your own?"

"He's too ugly to get one," I commented.

Paul sent me a glare. "I could get any girl, I just don't want one right now, all right?"

"What about you, Jane?"

I shook my head. "No in particular."

Paul snorted and I elbowed him. "Ow, Janey." I tried to give him a look that said, don't you dare, but Paul didn't seem to catch it as he continued to say, "What about Tim?"

"Tim?" David asked, earning my attention as he crossed his arms. "Shepard? What're you doin' with him?"

"They've got a thing," Paul answered for me.

I hit him again. "Paul!"

Paul tried to seem innocent, not succeeding. "What?"

"Jane." David snapped his fingers at me. "Focus. What you got with Tim Shepard?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, holding up my hands. "We had a thing for a minute there, but not anymore."

"And Ray?"

I shook my head. "Never again."

David started to smile. "Little Janey's growing up."

I laughed, though I didn't want to encourage his teasing tone. "Shut up."

Molly clapped her hands, backing into the kitchen. "Doesn't anyone want a coke from our fridge from our kitchen - the kitchen we just had our first family dinner in?"

I chuckled at her excitement, nodding. "Thanks, Mol."

When she left, Paul stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at David. "You ready for the rumble?"

David nodded stiffly. "Are the boys ready?"

"They're always ready." Paul looked over at me. "I would ask you to ask Shep, but -" My hard stare cut him off and he stumbled with the last of his sentence. "But...you know - it doesn't matter, it's - it - whatever."

I sighed, grabbing my jacket. "I think I'm gonna cut out."

"Why?" David asked.

"I was gonna go hang out with Pony."

"Molly's gonna be disappointed," Paul tried.

I smirked at the comment. "She'll be fine."

"All right, kid," David said, walking over to me and hugging me. "Visit soon, okay?"

I nodded when I pulled away. "I will." And then I turned around and walked out of the house, making a five minute walk over to the Curtis household - how convenient.

Pony and I were soon walking in the back alley, talking and laughing and having a nice time when Pony suddenly stopped.

"Shit."

I turned and looked at him. "You okay?"

Pony looked at me, a very guilty look on his face. "I promised Curly I would hang with him."

I shrugged, pretending that my heart didn't stop in my chest. "That's cool. Should we go grab him now?"

Pony's brows furrowed, walking closer to me slowly. "You sure?"

I sighed. "Pony, I don't need this, all right? Tim isn't gonna rule my life."

Pony nodded quickly, picking up the pace beside me and we walked over to the Shepard's. Pony knocked on the door, obviously noting the absence of Tim's car in the driveway, much to my relief.

"Hey!" Curly opened the door and yelled. He hopped out, smacking my backside and Pony's shoulder, walking ahead of us.

"Curly," I groaned, watching his stride away. "Why are you in such a good mood right now?"

Curly spun around, smile on his face. "Guess who got some last night?"

Pony chuckled. "I don't know, you?"

"Yes," Curly answered, smile widening. "Me. I did. Macy Lone."

"Congrats," I said unenthusiastically, managing to catch up to him.

"I'm feelin' good," Curly said quite loudly.

"That's good," Pony said and looked toward me. "Where are we goin'?"

"Bucks," Curly said quickly. "Macy's gonna be there tonight, so we're going."

I resisted the urge to say my real feelings, instead saying, "Sure. Let's go."

Curly's smile still hadn't left his face and he put his arms around the two of us. "Are you guys ready to watch the master work his magic?"

I scoffed. "Magic."

Pony laughed.


Pony and I sat beside each other, watching Curly desperately attempt to get Macy to kiss him and I had to laugh.

"Does Curly really have the moves?"

Pony glanced at me, giving me a mischievous look. "You'd be surprised."

Not a second later, Macy had thrown her arms around the younger Shepard and she was making out with him. Curly kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close as he leant against the wall.

I shook my head, raising my beer to my lips. "Well, god damn."

Pony laughed, doing the same thing. "I know." He took a sip, scanning the space, blushing after he caught the eyes of a pretty brunette. "Oh, god."

I chuckled, watching the girl say something to her friend. "She's about to walk over here."

"Is she?" Pony said nervously, only looking at me.

I smiled at him, looking him in his sweet eyes. "You can either make out with me to get her to leave or I can leave."

Pony smiled too, laughing a little. "Thanks, Jane."

I hit his arm. "Show her a good time, won't you?" I walked away just before the brunette walked up and I could hear them in the distance.

"Hi," the girl said, very flirtatious.

I'm sure Pony was blushing when he said, "Hi. Uh, can I get you drink?"

That was all I heard before I was out the door and walking around the back. I walked past all the really drunk kids and turned the two corners before I got to the ladder. I looked around to make sure no one was following before I climbed up.

I half expected Tim to be there, but he wasn't.

I sat on the edge of the building for a good hour. Just an hour by myself, listening to the people below and watching some of them. The clumsy first kisses and the drunk boys whistling at scantily dressed chicks.

I was sitting there in my own world, my own silence when I heard boots on the gravelled roof behind me. "This is my spot," I said loudly, not willing to share my time or silence with anyone at that moment.

"This is my spot, actually."

I stiffened, not able to move as Tim sat himself beside me. I didn't look at him, I just smoked my cigarette.

"I thought you quit, kid."

"I changed my mind."

Tim was looking at me. I knew he was. "Where have you been?"

I still didn't look at him. "What do you mean?"

"I've been callin' you and you haven't answered," Tim said to me in his rough voice, giving me the impression that he didn't really care. "Wanna come over later?"

"No."

"You all right, kid?"

"Fine."

Tim grabbed my chin, turning my face toward his, now angry. "Will you look me in the damn eyes?" His own eyes widened slightly. He was looking at my cheek. "What the hell happened?"

I pushed his hand away, putting my cigarette between my lips as I went to tie my hair back. "I got jumped."

"By Ray?" Tim asked and I had no idea why he was getting so worked up.

I took the cigarette out of my mouth, glancing at him. "Some kid from his gang," I answered.

Tim sighed lightly and quickly, patting my arm. "Hey." He stopped once I looked at him. "What the hell is goin' on with you?"

I narrowed my eyes at the same time I gave him a confused look. "Why do you care?"

"What are you talkin' about?" Tim acted as if it was a ridiculous question. "I want to know."

"It's none of your damn business," I said angrily, standing quickly, realizing just then how drunk I was.

Tim caught my arm, making sure I didn't fall over. "Why'd you say that?"

"I don't know," I said stubbornly, on my way to being petty. "Ask Amy."

Tim seemed genuinely confused. "Wha - Amy? Amy who?"

"The girl you make out with!"

Tim opened his mouth to yell, but closed it and seemed to be going through his brain. His eyes widened and then he sighed, looking me in the eyes. "She was comin' onto me. We only kissed the one time."

"It doesn't matter," I told him, pushing him away from me. "We're not together."

Tim shifted on his feet, his hands on his hips as he said, "I thought that's what you wanted."

I stared at him. "It is."

"You don't want to be my chick?"

I stepped back, shaking my head at him. "You're a character, Tim, for sure." I took another step back, the ball of my foot hitting air, not roof and I tipped back, waving my hands in the air and I started screaming.

"Jane!" Tim ran forward, catching my hand, making my body slam against the front of the building harshly.

I groaned, looking down at the ground.

It would've have been that far of a drop. Would I have died? Probably. Would I have broken any bones? Definitely.

"Jesus, are you crazy?!" Tim yelled at me, angrier than before. He groaned loudly, slowly yanking me up and pulling me over the edge.

I rolled onto the gravel, sighing at the stars. "Holy shit." My eyes started to water and my hands started to shake as I realized that I could've died within those short seconds. "Holy shit," I repeated.

"Jane." Tim's angry tone was gone. I looked over at him, breathing quickly, causing him to walk over to me and sit down beside me. He wrapped one arm around my back and pulled me into him, the other grasping my head and pushing my face into his shoulder. "You're fine."

I enjoyed the feeling of his body against mine. He was warm and inviting and I clutched onto his jacket, feeling comforted by his presence. "I know," I said once I calmed down, still holding onto him.

Tim rubbed my back and then pushed me away from him slightly. "You good, kid?"

I nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine."

His thumb touched my cut, making me seethe and he apologized, pushing my hair out of my face. "Which guy got you?"

"Why?"

"So I can kick his ass."

I smiled a little, pushing his shoulder. "You're not doing a damn thing."

Tim shrugged, starting to smirk. "I'll get 'im back at the rumble."

I sighed, looking at the ground before returning to his face. "You're really gonna fight?"

"I owe your brother a favour," Tim replied, pulling me a little closer. "And I'm gonna love repayin' it."

I hated how close we were. Being that close, I had to kiss him, and I did. I wrapped my arms around him, missing his lips so much that I was a little too eager. I pushed my body on his and we rolled onto the gravel. My back hit the roof, Tim floating over my, kissing me as his hands roamed under my t-shirt. I used all my momentum to roll us over so that I was sitting on top of him. I started kissing his neck, his big hand gripping my bottom tightly.

I moaned, quickly leaning away and putting my hands on his chest. "Shit." I breathed out, looking up at the stars.

Tim started to sit up. "Wha -"

My hands still on his chest, I pushed him down. "Are you with Amy?" I asked him intensely, not wanting to be apart of any fight with Amy.

Tim shook his head. "No. It was just the one kiss. One -" He leaned up, hands on my waist. "Sloppy and stupid kiss."

I pulled his face toward mine, kissing him again. "Take me home," I said to him between kisses.


"I didn't get to that question," I told Pony, walking out of the school doors. "Why are we even talking about this? School is over for the day, let's do something fun."

Pony smiled my way. "Didn't you say Tim was gonna pick you up after school?"

I looked around the parking lot, not seeing Tim's car. "I think he might've ditched me."

"I don't know," Pony said unsurely. "You guys seem pretty serious."

"We're not," I said surely, looking at him. "I'm not his chick. I'm not anybodies chick." I watched the bouncing, brown ponytail come towards us over. "Speaking of chicks."

"Pony!" Tammy chirped, looping her arm through his and smiling at him.

Pony smiled back. "Hey, Tam."

She kissed his cheek and then glanced at me. "Hi, Jane!"

"Hi."

Tammy wasn't a bad person. I had encouraged their meeting at Bucks, but she was so perky and pretty. She was decent for Pony, but way too much for me. Maybe I was a little jealous - not because I wanted Pony to kiss me, not her, but because she was taking up all his time recently.

I knew the breakup was coming though and I couldn't wait for that day.

Tammy was so into Pony and he was mildly into her. He thought she was pretty, but she talked a whole lot and Pony found it hard to get a word in. Whenever we hung out, Pony would burst and talk my damn ear off.

Like I said, I couldn't wait for the breakup.

"So -" Tammy started up. "I was in biology and I just couldn't believe that -"

"Tim," I involuntarily said, spotting Tim's car roll up.

Pony gave me a somewhat desperate look. "Uh, Jane -"

I smiled his way, trying not to smirk. "Seeya, Pone." I looked at Tammy. "Later, Tammy." I quickly ran towards the car, bumping shoulders with someone. "Oh -"

Amy stared at me, looking me up and down. "Oh, Jane."

I nodded to her. "What's up?"

She sighed, looking at her nails briefly. "Nothing much." She looked up, her eyes on Tim's car. "Is that Tim?" She looked back at me. "He's here for you?"

"I'd think so."

Amy licked her lips and then started to smile. "He's a catch."

I tried to ignore the hotness my body started to feel. "I know. We're going together," I lied straight up, just to see the stupid look on her face.

And it was stupid. She was glaring and her jaw turned. "Congrats. I haven't seen him tied down since we were just kids."

I smirked. "Like you said, he's a catch."

"And a good kisser," she tried, smirking as well.

I just smiled widely, knowing that I had something she didn't. "And a good lay." I enjoyed her face once more before I waved and started walking away. "I'll see you around, Amy!" I laughed to myself, getting into Tim's car, which was much closer than I thought.

We kissed and then he started his car, nodding toward Amy on the benches. "What was that about?"

I sighed. "Just..." I looked at him. "Will you go steady with me?"

Tim chuckled, glancing over at me. "Don't you want me to ask you?"

"Come on," I said, giving him a tired look. "Just say you will."

Tim's lip upturned, glancing at me again. "Sure, kid."

I scooted closer, rubbing his chest and kissing his neck. "Great."

"Hey, Jane?"

"What?"

"Am I really that good of a lay?"

I laughed, grabbing his face to kiss his lips.