I don't own the Outsiders.

Chapter 17

Dani's POV

I woke up the next morning at eight o'clock. Everyone would either be at work or school. I got out of bed and went downstairs. Two-Bit was sitting on the couch watching Mickey Mouse, drinking beer, and eating chocolate cake.

"Hey Two-Bit."

"Hey Dani. Welcome to the House of Mouse," he said.

I laughed. "You're nuts."

"You're double nuts." I laughed again.

I went into the kitchen and grabbed some chocolate cake and a beer. Then I went back into the living room and sat down next to Two-Bit. 'What're ya doin' today?" I asked him.

"Nothin'," he said, not taking his eyes away from the screen. "What're you doin'?"

"Acting as a tour guide for Tim. You wanna come?"

"Don't ya wanna be alone with him? I mean, you love him and all, and he just regained consciousness two days ago."

"No, I don't wanna. He doesn't know about us, and he flirts with every girl he sees. It sucks."

"Okay, I'll come."

"Good," I said, finishing up my cake. "I'm gonna go get ready." I walked to the kitchen to put my plate in the sink and to throw away my beer bottle. Then I went into the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth. When I was done with that, I went upstairs and put on a pair of jeans and a Mickey Mouse t-shirt that Two-Bit had lifted for me. I threw my hair in a ponytail and didn't bother to put on any makeup.

I went back downstairs, and Two-Bit was in the same position that I left him in. "C'mon Two-Bit. Let's go. You can watch Mickey another time."

He got up and followed me out of the house. We started in the direction of Tim's house, and he said, "I like your shirt."

"You should. You swiped it for me."

"Oh yeah."

We reached Tim's house and knocked. We waited, and no one answered. I tried the door, and it opened. We walked in and no one was downstairs. "Wait here," I told Two-Bit and walked upstairs to Tim's room. I walked in and found Tim still sleeping. "Tim, wake up," I said poking him in the arm. He just rolled over and went back to sleep. "Tim, it's time to go." He didn't move. "Tim Shepard, get your lazy ass outta bed!" I yelled. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me down on top of him, and then rolled over so he was on top of me.

"Hey babe," he said.

"G'mornin', Tim. It's about time you woke up. It's nine o'clock."

"You woke me up at nine?"

I smiled. "Yup. Now get your fat ass off of me and get changed."

"I don't have a fat ass," he said, getting off of me. He went to his closet and pulled out jeans and a black t-shirt. He started changing right in front of me.

I covered my eyes and said, "Could you at least wait 'til I get outta the room."

"You know ya wanna see, baby, so just look," he replied.

"Nope. I don't wanna see anything of yours."

"Yeah, sure."

"You dressed yet?"

"Yeah."

I removed my hand from my eyes and got off the bed. "C'mon, let's go." I walked out of the room and heard his footsteps behind me.

"Hey Tim," Two-Bit said when we reached the living room.

"Hey," he said and looked at me.

"Two-Bit's coming with us. He should be at school, but he's ditchin' so he's with us."

We walked out of the house and down the street, me in the middle. "So where're we goin' first today?" Tim asked.

"Umm…the lot?"

"Sure, whatever that is," Tim answered.

When we reached the lot, I said, "This is the lot. We usually hang out here, play football and soccer. This is also where the rumbles take place."

"It's just an empty field."

"Yeah, well we aren't gonna rumble and hang out at the park when it's full of Socs."

"Oh. Who're those guys?" he said, pointing to three guys across the lot.

"Those guys are from your gang. C'mon, let's reintroduce you." We walked towards them, and I said, "Hey guys."

"Hey Dani, Two-Bit. Hey Tim, you're outta the hospital," Jay said.

"Yeah."

"Tim, that's Jay, Tristan, and Dean. They're in your gang." Then to the guys I said, "He's got amnesia."

"So you don't remember anything?" Dean asked.

"Nope."

"That's gotta suck," said Tristan, "especially not remembering all the girls that threw themselves at ya."

"Yeah, it does. So I'm the leader of your gang?"

"Yup."

"How many of you are there?"

"Seven. You, us three, your brother and sister, and Will."

"Well we should go. I have to show him other things," I said.

"Okay, see y'all later," Jay responded.

We walked away and headed towards the DX. "A gas station?" Tim asked.

"Yeah, two guys from our gang work here, so it's a regular hangout," Two-Bit answered.

We walked into the office, and Soda was sitting behind the counter reading a magazine. He looked up and grinned. "Hey guys."

"Hey. Tim this is Sodapop, Soda for short,' I said.

"Hey Tim, great to have you back."

"Where's Steve?"

"In the garage. I'll go get him," Soda said and left.

"So is any of this looking or sounding familiar?" I asked Tim.

"Nope, can't say that it is."

I sighed. "Hey Stevie," I said as he walked into the office with Soda.

"Hey guys. Good to see ya Tim."

"That's Steve," Two-Bit said.

"How's the war wound?" Steve asked.

"It's okay. A little sore."

"Dani can take care of that." I glared at him, and he grinned sheepishly.

"Steve, can I talk to you for a sec?" I asked and walked outside, with him behind me. When we stopped, I smacked him in the arm, hard.

"What the hell was that for?"

"Tim doesn't know that me and him went out, so don't bring it up."

"Sorry, I didn't know."

Soda, Tim, and Two-Bit came outside after me and Steve's discussion. "Everything okay?" Soda asked.

"Yeah, everything's fine," I answered.

"Except for my arm," Steve said. I glared at him. "I'm gonna get back to work. Nice seein' ya Tim."

"Yeah, bye," Tim said, and Steve walked back to the garage.

We sat around with Soda for awhile, talking. We had time to kill. I was running out of places to show him and people for him to meet. It was around noon time, and I was getting hungry. "Anyone wanna get some food?"

Tim's POV

"Yeah, I'm hungry," I said.

"We'll see you later Sodapop," Dani said.

"Bye," he said.

"So where're we gettin' food? The Dingo or the corner store?"

"Corner store," Two-Bit answered.

We reached the store; I got a sense of familiarity when we reached one of the windows. It was the same feeling that I got when I was lying in bed this morning with Dani. I wonder if it's something I'm remembering from before the accident. "Are you okay?" Dani asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. This just seems familiar."

"That's great. It means you're remembering something."

"Yeah, I just wish I remembered what." We walked inside and got some food, the five-finger-discount way.

For the rest of the day, Dani and Two-Bit showed me everything else and reintroduced me to everyone else. After, Dani and I went back to my house to hang out. Two-Bit went back to the Curtis's. She stayed over until eleven and then left since she had to go to school tomorrow. I went to bed trying to remember everything that preceded the fight.