Disclaimer: don't own the outsiders or the characters! Just a huge fan!

Chapter 4

Darrys alarm started ticking loud the next morning it was 6am. I had to hurry and get dressed. I had to still go and wake Ponyboy up so he'd take the bus with me. No way in hell was I gonna wait for two bit. He was probably still drunk and knocked out. I headed out the door put my cigarettes in my back pocket and put on my leather jacket.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Steve was passed out on the sofa next to me. Darry had a coffee in one hand and a iron on the other. I helped him iron his shirt as he got his lunch together.

"Ponyboy hurry up!"I yelled. Soda smiled as he walked out the bedroom ready to leave. He had dropped out of school a few weeks ago to work full time at the DX no matter how much darry worked, soda knew he needed help. Ponyboy finally came out and we began to go towards the city to catch a bus. It was still dark outside and cold too. We walked in silence trying to conserve our warmth.

We rode the bus towards the school and as soon as we got there I could hear the bell ringing. We're late again. Damn. I thought. We hurried inside. As I walked down the hallway I waved goodbye to pony.

Suddenly I tripped. I looked up to see these 2 football players laughing at me. They tripped me. Those jerks! I got up and shoved one of the guys to the locker.

"Assholes." I said under my breath as i glared them as tough as I could. I walked of to class when I heard one of them yell after me. " we'll see you after school greaser"

I walked inside class and got my day started.

When i got to 6th period I finally saw two bit. We had math together. I loved math.

He came and sat next to me with that big grin of his. I told him what happened this morning and said not worry about. I tried not to worry but now a days you really never knew if they really meant a threat.

As soon as school was over. Pony waited for me at the usual spot and we walked back home toward the DX. I hadn't seen those socs. Bob and randy were their names. I had been trying to figure them out the whole day. But nothing, no sight of them.

I began to think they were just some jerks filled with empty threats.

A few days passed by and it was getting closer to my birthday I wasn't too excited. But I was looking forward getting drunk and dancing my ass off.

Friday was finally here. The day went by flying. Two-bit ran after me when we got out of school. " we gotta go get supplies robin. We can't be doing everything tomorrow you know." He sounded serious. Then he laughed. "Come on why the long face you're almost going to be 17! It's gonna be good I promise ."

Ponyboy caught up to us and we walked home. The word had gone around about the party. I wasn't surprised dallas and Two-bit were such big mouths. I heard around school the shepherd gang was going, going and a lot of other people too. I just hoped there wouldn't be too many fights.

I wondered if Kathy would go. She was Two-bits on and off girlfriend. She was a total slut and she was really messy. Two ended up in so many fights because of her. The bad thing was she'd dump him and then come right back to have him wrapped around her finger. She was beautiful though. Blonde curly hair, big blue eyes, long legs. She was his type.

"Robin!... hello " he interrupted my train of thought.

"What? " I asked.

He gestured towards the store. I didn't realize it was party store. We walked around picked some balloons, cups, and other decorations. Of course half the things here two didn't pay for. The rest I paid with my saved up money. We got home to pony's and drooped of all the things.

The whole gang was there. I guess pregaming for tomorrow. They were a little too excited. I looked around and saw all the beer and liquor bottles stacked up in the living room. It was so much it was ridiculous. I for sure knew I was getting wasted. I guess darry was planning on doing so too. He even took Sunday off. He never did that. Johnny even looked happy.

Dallas bragged about all the girls that were coming. Steve was so excited. Soda laughed when he reminded him about his girlfriend.

"Shut up! There's plenty of Steve to go around. " he stated very cocky.

Everyone was a bit drunk. Including myself. Not to where I blacked out but I was feeling a heavy buzz. Dallas was passed out on a chair. Darry was sleeping, he had to work in the morning. Steve began wrestling with Johnny, rolling around the floor with each other. We all laughed and before I knew it everyone was dozing off into sleep. To think in about an hour i'd be officially 17.

Steve and I walked home talking about how evie was bringing sand over so they could help out around the house. I couldn't wait for tomorrow.

"I bet you I can walk backwards the whole way home" he said amused.

"You're drunk but be my guest." I laughed.

It took a few minutes before he crashed into subsides trash cans. I laughed hysterically as I helped it up. We stumbled our way home and hoped everyone was asleep. We quietly opened the door to see my dad with some guys drinking in the living room. We tried to not make eye contact and rush upstairs.

"Where the fuck do yall think yall are going? " he yelled.

I held my breath for a brief second and turned to look at him.

"Steve bring me a fuking beer!" He snapped.

Steve rushed to the kitchen and my dad called me over to where he was sitting.

"You think it's okay for you to be this late with those hoods and not even come home!" He yelled.

I looked down and didn't say a word. "When i'm talking to you I expect to get a goddamn response! He yelled even louder slapping me across the face.

"What are you a whore like your mother!"he yelled giving me another good one across the face!

It hurt but what really made my blood boil was his friends laughing. I clenched my teeth and waited for whatever more he was gonna do. I stood there just staring at him, hating him more by the second. His wife was drinking some cheap liquor laughing.

"Here's your beer. Come on rob." Steve said pulling me back from my arm.

He laughed as cursed at Steve some more as we walked off. I really didn't know how to feel. Steve walked me into my room and I just really wanted to cry and for him to hold me. He kissed the top of my head and whispered he was sorry. I didn't want him fighting with dad he'd just hurt him. A sobbed a little and kissed his goodnight and walked towards his rooms. I shut the door behind me and locked it.

I laid in bed ready to get some rest tomorrow would be a long day and I just wanted to forget what happened with my old man.

I began hearing someone knocking at my window. I looked over at the clock and it was 3am.

it was two bit.

"What the hell are you doing here if my dad sees you he's gonna flip?" I sounded sleepy.

He grinned "happy birthday rob." I couldn't let you sleep without me telling you. What time is it midnight. He asked .

"Two it's 3am. Go home." I smiled. " and thank you."

he laughed and pulled me in for a hug. He climbed out my window and jumped of the tree.

"Good night doll." He waved. I never really tough of two bit as anything other than my best friend but every day I felt like I just wanted to be around him more. I knew he was all over Kathy so I just had to get myself together and forget about my meaningless crush.

I closed my window and went straight to bed.