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It had been hours since Sodapop and I had told Darry about the situation and I can quite frankly say I've never felt more unnerved about a situation. I know that right now I should be freaking out, its like waiting to find out if your friend is dead or not. Because she'll either hate us for this or thank us, it's either us winning or us losing. Yet I feel irrationally calm and that is the thing that's scaring me somehow, I just wish my foot was bouncing up and down like Steve's or I was fidgeting with things like Sodapop because then I would suddenly feel normal. Instead I started to clean the dishes when I got home and then sat down, and get this, started homework. Why am I so weird?

I think its because I'm the one that figured this all out, with Evie's help, and I'm not doing anything about it. I feel like a failure because I wanted to do this right but I screwed it all up. As I sigh to myself I'm starting to slowly feel the worry overcome me. Darry reacted like any normal person would when we told him. He left ages ago to pick up Kate from school and presumably go to Emily's house to speak with her. But like it'd take that long. Emily would either kick him out or surrender. It was quite simple; at least that's what I was trying to believe.

"I see Two-Bit," Steve called out in a nauseatingly sweet voice, it made me feel sick, the jerk. "What are ya gonna say?"

"Shut up, Randle," I said through my teeth as I stood up, rubbing my hands nervously. "Sodapop I'm gonna go walk with him, 'kay? I'll be back soon,"

Soda nodded, as he looked to me solemnly, "Good luck, sis."

"Thanks," I whispered as I threw my scarf on around my neck and bounded out the front door, smack bam into Two-Bit. "Hey,"

"Ain't ya sick?" He asked kissing me on the check as he wrapped his arm around me. "'Cause you probably should be inside if you are."

I shook my head quickly and led him out of our front yard and into the road, "I'm not, I'm sorry I lied," I said softly looking up into his eyes. "But I sort of had to do something."

Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow and took my hint as we started walking down the road. "Was this something an important something or a school-is-gay-lets-skip-it something?" With a grin he added, "I'd have joined you."

"I know," I said giving him a tiny smile as I looked down to my moving feet. "But it was an important something, helped by the school bit I guess. More important, though."

"Important like, gonna kill ya or wound someone?"

"You know the word wound?"

Two-Bit rolled his eyes as he placed a hand under my chin making me look up. "I'm not that dumb, but you better spit it out before we both freeze to death, Pixiedust."

"Fine," I sighed miserably looking up at him, honestly why must he be so much taller than me! "It's about your sister and her boyfriend."

"The squirt have a mini drama and break up with him?" Two-Bit said with a laugh. "I so knew that was why she's been getting upset lately,"

I shook my head but my eyes widened as this knowledge. "No. But Ashley and Ponyboy have seen bruises on her arms, so have I. We all think maybe he's been hitting her or something, the boy is Evie's, you know Steve's Evie, little brother. She told me that she reckons he has too." Taking a breath I bit my lip as I stared into his eyes. "I took today off so Kate and I, with Ashley, could knock some sense into her. Needless to say it failed."

Two-Bit's mouth was slightly open in surprise as he stared back at me. "Where does he live?"

"Two-Bit don't you dare!" I exclaimed as my eyes practically popped out of my head in shock.

"Pix, he's hit her!" Two-Bit exclaimed as this rage I've never really seen in him overtook his body, the last time I saw him like this he knocked a tooth out of a soc and that was scary, I was fifteen then. "I'll kill him! Where does he live?" he repeated.

I sighed in exasperation as I shook my head. "Two-Bit honey, I don't know. Honestly, if I did I probably wouldn't tell you but I don't know. Darry has good as left here with that knowledge I bet he's talking to Emily now but you can't hit him whilst we have no proof!"

"So I can hit him?" he demanded.

"No! Just…just if you do wait until we have proof, please. Do at least wait, I don't want you in the cooler for hittin' a minor!"

I suppose saying Two-Bit was pretty pissed about this would be a total understatement. But I guess that reaction is to be expected. Emily is his little sister and even though he brags that he really doesn't care about her and lets her fend for herself a lot of the time I know deep down he really cares about her. Besides, even if Emily wasn't his sister I guess a lot of people would react like this, nobody should hit anyone in my opinion but let alone a girl, she's practically defenseless. Okay, I've seen her hit Two-Bit before but he was sitting on her, I would hit him too if he did that!

But watching him now flare up was kind of…scary. He's not as bad as Dallas yet, but I guess I've forgotten what he gets like when he really gets angry. He's always just been…I guess more of a joker than someone who gets really physical. Mind you he loves the rumbles just as much as the next guy but this anger right now was petrifying, all I can say is I hope to god if Emily see's him like this maybe it'll help her change her mind. Isn't Two-Bit's worry a scary thing enough without her still sticking to this boyfriend of hers?

"Pixie?"

I glanced up at him and nodded, "Yeah?"

"No ones told my mom yet have they?"

"No…why?" I asked him reaching for his hand.

"I don't want to worry her." He said simply breathing slowly. "She'd probably die if she knew this was happening. She really would break down, blame it on herself. I think I should tell Emily that,"

"I think you need to calm down first," I said in a nervous whisper. "Please, you're gonna scare her."

"Maybe she needs to be scared!" he snapped irritably as he started to head back to my house. "Clearly the nice approach isn't working, Pixie! The world isn't all rainbows!"

My mouth dropped open but I soon shut it scowling at him. "I know that! Stop acting like a jerk! I wasn't gonna tell you because I knew you'd take this the wrong way but there's no need to personally attack me now!"

"You weren't going to tell me?" demanded Two-Bit looking scandalized.

"Yeah!" I cried out as I crossed my arms. "You're a freaking nut job, Two-Bit. I suggest you calm down before you speak to me next, seriously you're crazy and insane."

Two-Bit glowered at me. "I am not."

"You're behaving like a five year old, you're almost nineteen for Pete's sake!"

Two-Bit sighed loudly. "Fine, I'll calm down before I speak to her, but you shouldn't call me crazy without looking in a mirror first."

"I never said I wasn't," I said my eyes flashing in annoyance. "But you're more crazy than I am at the moment, you're a flipping mad man!"

"Don't deny the fact you're attracted to that,"

When I snorted he laughed at me and grabbed my arm pulling me into a hug. As annoyed as I was getting with him at the moment I must admit I melted into his embrace. Sighing softly to myself it was like a comfort just getting this warmth from somewhere just before a bomb went off in Tulsa and it happened to me called Emily Matthews. This one hug made me smile and that one smile changed my mood and created a plan. That one smile might have even changed the outcome of the future. It's amazing what one hug can do to a person.