Disclaimer:

Ace: Sorry for the huge delay!

Two-Bit: Took ya long enough!

Ace: Hey, I have a good reason!

Dally: I bet!

Ace: I do!

Ponyboy: What happened?

Ace: I was hit by a car... I was in the hospital for a few days... I'm sorry.

Darry: Are you okay?

Ace: Yeah, yeah, just get someone to do the disclaimer

Steve: He doesn't own The Outsiders... or a brain...

"Two-Bit! DROP THE GUN!" Steve yelled behind me. I was shaking more than I was earlier. I had no clue what on Earth I was doing. Dally and Steve both grabbed me; Dally was taking the gun from me and Steve was holding me around the upper arms and waist. I struggled against them, I don't know why, I just did. Dally finally got the gun from me and tossed it across the room into the living room. Steve still had me around the upper arms. I heard both of them panting and swearing.

"Damn it, Two-Bit..." Dally said, "You idiot... you fucking idiot." Finally, he had me in a hug, squeezing me hard. I guessed Steve was in it too cause I was being squeezed from behind. "You fucking idiot." Dally was repeating. I heard one of them trying to keep back tears. I assumed it was Steve.

"I'm... sorry..." I had to admit, I was crying too.

This is a weird day.

--x-X-x--

Kendra POV(after Two-Bit left)

I picked up the box and looked at it for a moment. On the top was scribbled, "For Ken, Happy Birthday." I froze. Oh my god, I totally forgot our birthday! I was so worked up over Tim that I forgot our birthday.

"Mom, there's something I've got to admit..." I said to her, opening the box. "I didn't get pregnant by Steve..." I turned to her. "It was Tim..."

"That Shepard boy?"

"Yeah... I'm sorry..."

"Well, you're the one who has to deal with a child. Make sure Tim can support you and your kid."

"I know." Mom went back into the kitchen to finish what smelled like a cake. I looked at the opened box and froze. In it was the dress I had wanted for over three months. Red, knee-high, with a little metal emblem that held the strap onto the dress. But it was engraved 'Greaser Gal' and lined with diamond studs. When I was looking at it, it was over one thousand dollars. "Mom, how much was this dress? You did buy it, right?"

"No, Keith saved up for it. He said it was over 1,200 dollars."

"Over 12 hundred?" I gasped. No way... How could he have saved for this? "Mom, I have to go find Keith. I'll be back as soon as I talk to him."

"Don't stay out too long." I set down the box and grabbed my coat. I slid it on as I walked out. It was cold. My hands were shoved into my pockets. Wait... this isn't my coat. Mine had a gun in the pocket. I froze mid-step. TWO-BIT HAS MY GUN!

--x-X-x--

Two-Bit POV

When they released me, I had passed out into Dally's arms. Crying always did that to me. I assumed Dally or Steve moved me to the couch, cause that's where I woke up. I over-heard Dally and Steve talking, and there was another voice. It was soft and light, but hard too. My eyes were still shut tight and my nails were digging hard into my palm. Then, they grew wet and warm and sticky. Blood, I guessed. Jeez, what was I doing earlier? My head pounded and my heart was beating. I had a few drinks this morning from the bottle of bourbon in my bathroom. I guessed that got to me. I sat up and opened my eyes. My palm was bleeding a little, but it didn't matter to me. I licked it and looked into the kitchen. I saw Steve standing, Dally sitting, and Soda leaning against the stove. Soda was the soft, light, hard voice. I swayed a little. The inside of my mouth tasted like iron. Where did I get that damn gun? I need a beer. I swung my legs off of the couch and got up. I staggered into the kitchen and everyone looked at me. I rubbed my palm on my eyes, not knowing I left some blood across my eyes. Soda gasped and grabbed a towel. He began rubbing my eyes and palm. I didn't budge.

"Are you okay, kid?" Dally asked.

"I'm not a kid." I barked, "But I'm alright..." I looked at him, frowning, "I'm sorry." Steve was holding the gun. I looked at it and frowned lower. "This is some birthday." I muttered. Suicide wasn't what I had planned today. I took a good look at Steve. He had a band-aid on his scratch. "I'm sorry for that, Steve."

"You were really out of it." he said. I assumed he accepted my apology.

"Yeah..."

"Are you really okay, Two-Bit?" Soda asked me, looking right at me.

"Sure... I will be." I guessed I had twitched or something, cause Dally changed the subject.

"When are you moving to Arizona?"

"A week."

"I thought it was a month or so." Soda said. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed.

"Naw, a week." and a sound came from Steve, sounded like 'Ah.'. Well, now they know. I was just glad that Darry wasn't the soft, light, hard voice. I mean, Soda sounded all in the world like Darry if he wanted to. All he had to do was deepen his voice and make a rumble roll off of the end of his sentences. I shook, literally, trying to get rid of the weird train of thought.

"Two-Bit, you're pale..."

"I'm shaken up." The screen door opened and I saw Steve shove the gun down the back of his jeans.

"Soda, you home?" It was Darry's voice.

"In here, Dar." Soda said. I looked over my shoulder and saw Darry come in, with a small smile on his face.

"Hey guys-- what happened, Two-Bit?" and his smile was gone. I sighed. He was on me in a second. He grabbed my hand and looked at it then looked at my face. "Two-Bit... what happened?"

"Don't wor–."

"Tell me."

"It's nothing. It's just been a rough day..." He was stroking the four little cuts on my palm, I think he was making sure they weren't infected.

"Why...?"

"Something about Kendra... don't worry." Soda cleared his throat.

"Hey, Darry, did you have something to tell us?" Darry looked up and his smile was back.

"I got a raise, little buddy."

"That's wonderful, Dar!" And again, the screen door opened and slammed shut. This time, Kendra came in, panting.

"Two-Bit!"

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