"I love you..."
Tim shoved Angela off him and practically sneered. "Fuck off, Angel. What's been goin' on this past year? The first night I'm home, you're getting into fights like it ain't no body's business."
She threw her arms up in disgust and wandered into the living room. "It ain't my fault! That bitch had it comin' - she's been saying shit about me for years. Ask Curly! He was there, and he knows she's the-"
"It don't make no difference if Curly was there or not," he replied, lowering himself to the couch and pulling a cigarette from behind his ear. "What I wanna know is why the hell is you two going to pool halls, anyway? You don't even look twenty-one."
The orange cat was rubbing against Angela's legs, so she couldn't help but pick it up and hug it. "Curly showed me a place a few weeks ago that don't ID you if you go in. The bartender don't let you drink, but you can play pool and hang out. It's pretty cool!"
Tim's eyes widdened. "Where? Did that stupid fuck take you to Buck's?"
She shrugged and stratched the cat's head. "I dunno."
"Okay, lemme get this straight ... Curly took you to a pool hall, you beat the living hell outta some girl, and the cops took you home. What do you think I should do? For fuck sakes, Angela, put down the damn cat and talk to me."
She dropped the fluff ball. "Well it ain't like no one else pays attention to 'em."
"Listen, you ain't going out this weekend."
"What!"
"Yeah. You're gonna take care'a Ma while I go outta town and make some money. And go get me all the hidden smokes in your room - that's right, I know 'bout the smoke stashes."
She could hardly believe what she was hearing. "That is such bullshit!"
"Christ all mighty, I might as well wash your mouth out with soap while I'm at it."
"Tim! That ain't fair! What about Curly?"
"Well, I'm gonna talk to him about takin' you to the pool hall, that's for damn sure. But if you wanted to go out this weekend, that ain't my problem. Maybe you shouldn't of been pickin' fights at a bar in the first place."
Angela wished she wouldn't have, but out of anger, she kicked over the coffee table as hard as she could. It landed on the floor, and the books that had been used as a table leg were flying through the air. She gave the table another kick for good measure as her brother stood up in a hurry.
"Hey!" Tim shouted, pulling her by her arm to calm her down. "Cool it! You ain't gonna go very far and get a half-decent husband if you keep tearin' around like this. Not very lady-like."
"I don't care!" she cried, ripping her arm out of his grip. "Why do I have to stay home all weekend? I wasn't even arrested! When Curly goes to jail, you don't even give a damn!"
"That's different."
She kicked the couch, but all it did was slide it over. "How in the world is that different, Tim? Oh, I know, because when Curly gets arrested, it's from doin' all your dirty work for you and your gang. That's why!"
"I am gonna tell you one time, Angel..."
"All you care about is that fucking gang! You don't give a shit if-"
"Watch your mouth!" he snapped again. "You think I don't care about nothing? How about all's I do is bring in money, 'cuz no one else ain't gonna do it. I take you to school, I bring food home, I do everything for you! All you care about it looking tough and getting yourself shit on. All's you have to do is go to school, and you can't even do that half the time!"
At this time, she knew she couldn't say any more. When fighting with Tim, you couldn't win, no matter who you were. Tim knew everything.
The only thing she could do is force tears to come to her eyes and say, "Maybe I don't want you to leave town the first week you're home."
And with that, she stormed off to her room in victory. The only way to really win a fight against Tim is by making him feel guilty.
XxX
Linda Haynes held the lipstick with her mouth while she dug through her make-up bag. Angela knew it was in there somewhere; it was only a week ago when she lent the blond her liquid eye-liner for "her big date," which just turned out to be the night Donnie decided to break up with Linda.
Linda was certainly not the brightest light bulb around. Anyone could out-smart her with ease, but she had some good qualities. For one thing, she was gorgeous, with her tanned skin and her straight blond hair. She always reminded Angela of a Barbie doll, just perfectly figured, tall, and beautifully shaped eyebrows.
Yeah, she was pretty, but God she could be an idiot sometimes.
"I think it's at Donnie's," she said, shaking her head into the mirror. "I must'a left it there."
"Great," Angela spat. "Now how am I gonna get it back? Donnie hates me!"
"He does not hate you."
"He sure as hell does," she argued, staring at the pimple on her chin that make up couldn't hide. "Bryon gave me a bad name with those boys."
"Speaking of Bryon, guess what I heard."
Angela could have snorted. "What?"
"He's saying he broke up with you."
She froze. "No."
Linda nodded through the mirror. "Anyway, I have to get to class, as entertaining as this bathroom is."
Angela grabbed the blond by her shoulders. "You ain't going anywhere. Who told you that? What else is he sayin' about me?"
She shrugged. "He just said he got bored of you and broke up with you. I can't remember who I heard it from."
"Ugh!" she groaned, rolling her eyes. "I hate Bryon! He's so obnoxious and full of shit."
"I really gotta go, though, Angel." Linda zipped up her bag and finished tying her hair up with her ribbon. "I'll see you in history class."
She scampered off, but Angela had no reason to leave. She was too busy going crazy thinking about Bryon.
Bryon Douglas, only the most irritating, self-involved asshole in the world, was her ex-boyfriend. They dated for roughly three months, but by the end of it, she couldn't stand him. Sure at first it was fun to have a boy so desperately in love with her, but having your boyfriend calling every hour to "hear your voice" and having him come over unexpectedly "just to see you because he missed you" was fucking annoying after a while. It was towards the end of their relationship that she decided to end it.
And that led to Curtis. But that was a different story.
She didn't know how she would get him back, but she was going to. He caused too much shit in her life for her to never get him back.
XxX
"Hey, Angela!"
She almost groaned. So, instead, she pretended as if she didn't hear Adam Miller and continued walking to the lunch table.
"Aw, come on, Angela!"
Fuck. Now she had to talk to him.
She turned around and acted surprised. "Oh, hi, Adam."
"Hey." He smiled. "You look real pretty today."
"Thanks." She put her books down onto the table and sighed. "What do you want? I already told you I ain't going to the dance with you."
"I know."
She nodded. "Yeah. So?"
"I heard you like that Curtis kid. You-"
"Yes, I'm interested in Ponyboy. What's it to ya?"
Adam shrugged and rubbed his red hair off his forehead. "Well, I dunno. He don't seem like your type. And I know his older brother, and his brother-"
"Okay, Adam, I will let you know how it goes," she snapped. "But you know you and I will never happen, so why don't you back off my personal life, and let me date who I wanna date. Does that seem fair to you?"
He seemed shocked. She had never said it that straight forward, but come on - who couldn't take a hint?
Without a reply, he stood up and awkwardly left the lunch room. Angela didn't care too much. Adam was nice to have around if she needed a favor, but sometimes he was so annoying. And he actually thought she would let him take her to the dance?
She cringed.
Curtis was going to ask her to the dance. There was no question about it. And if he didn't do it, Bryon would definitely be asking her to go. Either way, she had a date better than Adam.
She had no worries about the dance for now, but she shouldn't have even gone in the first place.
XxX
Friday night came sooner than expected.
There was a party at Micheal Williams' house, and Angela knew she wasn't supposed to, but she was planning on going regardless of what Tim said. It wasn't like he was her father - he couldn't tell her what to do, and frankly, he should have known better.
It was a miracle that Curly hadn't been home all day. She decided that Tim probably took the idiot with him.
It was around eight o'clock when she was done her hair and make up. She thought about ironing it, but fuck, it would have taken too long; she had enough hair as it was.
As she made her way down the hallway, she peaked into her mother's room, only to see she was passed out on her bed with an empty bottle of whiskey on the carpet. Figures - she was probably getting sick of wine.
Angela tip-toed her way to the door and, for a second, she wondered if she should just stay home like she promised Tim she would.
And then, as Linda pulled into the driveway, her mind changed. Who would want to miss out on one of the biggest parties of the month?
"I wasn't gonna tell you this," Linda began as Angela jumped into the passenger's side, "but Curtis is gonna be at Micheal's. And lemme tell you, if it don't happen tonight it'll probably never happen."
Angela rolled her eyes. "I ain't gonna sleep with him, all right? I might kiss him if it gets down to it."
The blond giggled. "And Donnie's gonna be there."
She ignored Linda and started day-dreaming about Curtis. He was so cute ...
They pulled onto the street and, at eight-thirty, there was all ready cars filled in the driveway and music playing so loud, Angela could hear it from Linda's car.
She didn't know the party turned out to be a total waste. The night was spent by trying to catch Ponyboy's attention, and he ignored her the entire time. At one point, she came over to the couch he was sitting on and introduced herself. He said,
"Oh, I know you. You're one of the Shepards."
"Yeah!" She smiled. "Glad you remember me."
He dismissed her and stared out into the crowd.
"So what're you doin' these days?"
He shrugged. "School. Work."
Angela knew she was going to have to be blunt. She pretended to spill her drink on the floor, leaned down to wipe it with a tissue, and made sure that Curtis could see down her blouse. It wasn't a revealing blouse by any means, but any boy couldn't resist obvious cleavage that was right in front of their face.
She was wrong when he didn't even notice.
Later when Angela was trying to find Linda, only the worst possible thing happened: she ran right into Bryon, who had one of his classic sneers on his face. It pissed her off so much, she tossed her drink into his face.
After that, everyone there was pretending as if Angela was the most terrifying person to walk the Earth.
And then, the second worst possible thing happened...
Curly showed up.
"You dumb bitch!" he shouted at her when he saw her.
She almost yelled back, but he shoved her onto the hallway wall.
"What is your problem?" she snapped, shoving him back.
"You weren't supposed to leave the house, Angel! Why the fuck did you leave!"
"Oh, whatever."
Curly shoved her again, and this time, she was starting to get real mad.
"Curly, you stupid fuck! It's your fault I'm in trouble, and-"
"Angela, you stupid, conceited, self-centered moron, Ma's in the fucking hospital!"