Hey, good ol' chaps! It's been a while! Sorry about that.

I hope this chapter was worth the wait. It's full of drama, and I've been sooo excited to write it since I started the story. I have to admit, I'm proud of this chapter...it just poured out of me naturally. Sooo hopefully it's good.

Enjoy poor Gary and all the torture I put him through! :)

It had been a couple weeks since the night Evelyn and Gary slept together, and it seemed as if Evelyn had completely forgotten about it. Gary sat with the couple at lunch, watching them make googly eyes at each other and whisper flirty things into each other's ears. He didn't much care for all the giggling between the two of them, especially when they were in between kisses.

This particular day was frustrating for Gary because it was almost the Halloween dance and Evelyn had dragged him along to pick out costumes. Of course, she would be going to the dance with Ricky. Gary didn't mind, as he figured he could stay in his room and take a break from seeing the two of them together. Evelyn, however, had other plans.

She had begged him to go, and although he could easily resist her, her constant whining easily got to Gary. He figured he could talk Petey into coming along, so he didn't have to be the third wheel. Hell, maybe he'd even bring some eggs with him and pelt Hopkins with them when no one was looking. Hopkins probably wouldn't even feel it under all his blubber anyway.

Gary sat outside the dressing room at the Halloween shop, looking a complete fucking idiot holding onto Evelyn's purse and coat for her. She had even draped her purple scarf around his neck, which was itchy and irritating, but not worth the fight. Also, he quickly admitted to himself that he liked having her scent on him, close enough to breathe her in. His stomach turned, both at the memory of the two of them wrapped up in each other and how sickened he was that he had actually missed her.

"Alright, Gary," Evey's voice came from the dressing room, pulling him from his thoughts. "How's this?"

She opened the door and he poked his head in. He looked her up and down and bit his lip.

"What do you think?"

"A sexy nurse, huh?" he asked. "Cliche."

Evelyn grinned and rolled her eyes. "I'm going to throw some blood on it, make it into a Silent Hill look."

"Still lame," he said in a monotone, though he couldn't stop himself from checking her out, dirty thoughts flying through his head.

"You think Ricky will like it?"

Gary shrugged. "I don't know. It is pretty short. Try not to bend over, or you'll flash the whole gymnasium."

Evelyn grinned. "What are you going to be?"

"I don't know."

"Oh, come on, Gary. I thought you liked Halloween."

"I do," Gary said with another shrug. "But I have to be on good behavior this year. Takes the fun out of it."

Evelyn smiled. "You and I can still have fun."

"Yeah," Gary replied, hiding his eye roll from her.

The dance was exactly what Gary pictured it would be. Stupid music, stupid costumes, stupid decorations. He and Petey looked at each other, neither of them really wanting to be there.

"We just have to make a small appearance to get Evelyn off my back, then you can leave," Gary promised.

Pete nodded. He stared at Gary's fireman costume. "Evelyn's going to like your costume. It looks good on you."

"Calm down there, Petey. We're here as friends, not a date."

Pete rolled his eyes. He was only trying to be nice.

"Petey!"

Pete swiveled, looking behind him. He was tackled into a hug by Evelyn.

"Wow," she said, studying her friend's costume. "A whoopie cushion?"

"Gary picked it," Pete said. "At least it's not a pink bunny again."

Evelyn laughed. "Where is Gary anyway?"

Pete shrugged. "Probably by the food. You know how Gary is."

Gary leaned against the table with the appetizers on it, watching everyone as he picked out pigs in a blanket, eating the hot dogs out of them and throwing the blanket part back into the serving tray. He ignored the dirty looks he got from other students.

He rolled his eyes when he saw Ricky walk up, Peanut and Johnny Vincent not far behind him. He looked down at the two plates Ricky had in his hand, knowing one of them was for Evelyn.

Gary noticed Johnny nudge Ricky and mutter something to him before the group of greasers looked over to him.

"Smith," Ricky said, feining politeness.

"Greaseball," Gary replied, not in the least bit trying to be civil.

"I didn't think you were going to be here," Ricky confessed, flashing Gary a disgusted look.

"I didn't want to come, but Evey wouldn't shut up until I agreed to go."

Ricky's eyes narrowed at the sound of his girlfriend's name coming from Gary's mouth. "You're not going to try to dance with her, are you?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you like her."

Gary snarled at him. "I don't dance. And I definitely don't like anyone."

"Good," Johnny spoke up from behind Ricky, "because if you mess with my boy's girlfriend, I might have to beat your face in."

Peanut laughed, joining in. "And you can't even fight back or you'll get suspended."

The greasers all laughed and Gary balled his fingers into his palm, making fists.

"Oh, Ricky, we're getting your friend here angry."

Ricky looked from Gary to Johnny, who was only egging him on. He looked back to Gary. "That's right, Smith. Stay away from my girl."

Gary rolled his eyes as he watched the greasers walk away. He scoffed when he saw Ricky sit down next to Evelyn, still giving Gary dirty looks from across the room.

Gary caught Evelyn's gaze and she smiled at him. He forced a small grin back to her and nodded. Evey waved her hand, telling him to come over.

Gary shook his head. He wasn't afraid of Ricky or the greasers. He had fought guys bigger than each of them. However, he didn't want to get in trouble with Evey or get kicked out of school. Some trash talking from a few assholes in 1950s clothing wasn't worth going back to Happy Voltz.

Evelyn gave him a pout and waved him over again. Gary sighed and walked over, sitting down between her and Petey.

The greasers all glared at him, but Evelyn didn't seem to notice as she went on and on about Gary's costume.

"I should head out, Evey," Gary said, still ignoring the stares from the greasers.

"What? No, stay!"

Gary sighed. He leaned into her and muttered, "I don't think your boyfriend or his goons really want me talking to you."

Evelyn blinked, a bit taken back. She looked over to Ricky, who smiled at her, then back to Gary. "Since when do you care about stuff like that?"

"I don't want to ruin things between you and Ricky," he lied.

"He knows we're friends. Come on, Gar. One dance at least?"

"I don't dance."

Again, she pouted, batting her eyelashes at her scarred friend.

"Fine."

She got up and kissed Ricky before leading Gary over to the dance floor. A slow song came on and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Even with heels, he was quite a bit taller than her.

Gary laid his hands at her sides, gently gripping at her hips. Memories of the night they shared flashed through his mind.

"You look real handsome in your fireman costume," Evelyn said as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Gary sighed. "Your boyfriend is glaring at me again."

Evelyn shook her head. "I don't know what his fucking issue is."

Gary was taken back by her sudden grouchy tone. "Whoa. Trouble in paradise?"

"No," she replied. "Not really. I think Johnny feeds him bullshit. You know, like every girl is a cheating slut like Lola."

Gary scoffed.

He felt her tighten her grip on him, pulling him closer. Gary smiled, giving her a light squeeze.

Evelyn looked up at him and smiled. "Gary, I have to tell you something..."

"What?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but was stopped when Ricky walked up and interrupted. "Smith, mind if I steal my date back from you?"

Gary looked at the greaser, then back to his best friend. She smiled and let go of him. She mouthed, "later" at him and he nodded.

As he walked off, he could hear Ricky asking her about Gary. He didn't care until he heard the greaseball say it...

"You're so beautiful tonight, Evey."

Evey.

He called her Evey.

Gary leaned his neck to the side, cracking it, before he cracked his knuckles. He turned toward the couple, glaring at Ricky.

Ricky gave him an arrogant smirk.

He called her Evey.

Suddenly, Gary reached over and shoved Ricky away from Evelyn.

"Hey, psycho!" Ricky yelled at him, shoving him back. "Get the fuck away from me!"

Ricky turned to Evelyn, who stood there in shock. "Evey, get your psycho friend away from me."

Gary tackled the greaser to the ground, his fist colliding with Ricky's face. "Don't. Fucking. Call her. That."

"Gary, stop it!" Evelyn yelled, running over to pick her friend off of the greaser.

Gary lightly pushed her away before continuing to pound into Ricky.

Eventually, Mr. Galloway got between them, shoving Gary off of Ricky. "Evelyn," the drunken teacher said, "please escort Mr. Smith out of the gymnasium."

Evey looked to Gary, walking off angirly outside into the rain. She looked down at her now wet and ruined costume, growling in frustration.

Gary followed behind her. He was surprised when she suddenly pushed him against the wall of the gym.

"What the hell, Gary?!"

"What?"

"Oh, I don't know...you just attacked my fucking boyfriend for no reason."

Gary scoffed, pushing himself away from her. "He's a dick."

Evelyn grabbed his arm and pulled him back over, slamming him against the wall again. "And what if you go back to Happy Voltz because of this?"

"Why the fuck do you care? You have Ricky. Don't pretend like you give a shit about me."

"Of course I do!"

"Then, why? Hmm? Why did you go to him?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about, Evey! You fuck me and then run off with the greaser? That's bullshit, Evey!"

Evelyn glared at him, tears forming in her eyes. "That night...that was a mistake. We were drunk."

"But you wanted it, drunk or not. And you know it wasn't a mistake."

Evelyn wiped a tear from her face. "Gary..."

"No, Evey! Shut up for a damn second."

She jumped at his raised voice, backing away slightly.

"What do you see in Ricky that you don't see in me?"

"Gary," she said with a sigh.

"Answer the question."

Evelyn crossed her arms, feeling defensive. "You're mean, for one thing."

Gary scoffed. "I get it. It's because you don't want to be with the psycho."

Evelyn rolled her eyes.

"Just wait, Evey, till the pills wear off. You'll be insane just like I am, and Ricky will drop your ass."

"See? Mean."

"You know it's true. Evey, I know you feel the same way about me that I do about you. I know you enjoyed yourself that night, and I know you don't feel like it was a mistake. I also know that you find Ricky boring, and that you two have nothing in common."

Evelyn looked down at her feet, her socks and shoes both dirty and wet from the rain. She kicked off her shoes and pulled her stockings from her feet. Dramatically, the threw them as far as she could, over the fence.

She sobbed, knowing that Gary was right but refusing to admit to herself. Gary pulled her into a hug.

She cried into his shoulder for a few moments, then looked up at him. His scar glistened slightly in the dull light of the moon. His hair was flat against his head, weighed down from the rain. Evelyn bit her lip. She stood on her toes and pressed her lips against his.

This time, it was Evey who was pushed against the wall. Gary backed her as far into the wall as he could, pressing against her. Her hormones went wild as he kissed down her chin and to her neck, which he lightly bit.

Evelyn let out a groan and ran her fingers through his hair, lightly pulling. Gary smiled against her kiss and picked her up, cupping her ass with his hands. Evelyn wrapped her legs around him, bringing him as close as possible.

The two made out in the rain for a bit until Evelyn snapped back to reality. She pulled away and shook her head, tears starting to roll down her cheeks again. "Gary, I'm so sorry."

Gary's face fell and he sighed.

"I'm so sorry," she repeated, but it didn't mean anything to him.

He walked away, not turning around when she called out his name.

Gary broke the window to the auto shop, pausing to look around, making sure no one heard. He pushed himself through the window, ignoring the cuts and scratches the glass made on his arms and torso. He landed on his feet, the sound echoing through the empty classroom.

He looked around until he found what he wanted. He grinned from ear to ear, running over to the gas cans. He emptied them out on the floor of the auto shop, dousing the bikes and cars. He took a couple extra, one in each hand, and made his way back to the window, carefully setting the cans down and climbing out.

Gary went around to the back of the auto shop, where the greasers often had their cigarettes. He opened the gas cans, throwing gasoline on everything he could.

Gary dug through his pockets then, tearing out a matchbook. He lit one of them and dropped it down before making a run for it.

He sat in front of the auto shop, still grinning as he watched the auto shop go up in flames. He felt the warmth of the fire, and it comforted him. Gary heard the fire alarm start and walked away, leaving the flaming building behind him.

"And we'll be down here waiting for you,

Down in the flames,

Oh, Evelyn, it's true."