Sorry for the delay, guys. I am back and I'm glad you're still reading!

Disclaimer: Ace: I'm back!

Dally: (rolls eyes)

Johnny and Pony: WELCOME BACK!

Two-Bit: (looking at the readers) I am a bit OOC in this chapter...

Buck: Yeah, I figured dat, man.

Dally: Ace doesn't own The Outsiders!

Once I slammed the door shut, I jumped off of the porch, landing in a roll cause I tripped, and got back up and began to run. I didn't know where I was headed; just somewhere where I can't be found. If I go to Bucks, he could hide me till Dally came round. I'll go there first. If Dally finds me, I'll jump out a window or something. My feet carried me down to Bucks. I went in, huffing, and looked around for Buck, finally, I found him flirting with some broad. I approached him, tapped the girl on the shoulder, and looked right at him.

"Please excuse us," I told the girl politely. She walked off with a beer in her hand. Buck looked at me. He went white in the jaw.

"Waddya do?" he asked, slurring.

"I'll tell ya later, Buck, gotta room?"

"Fast mover, aintcha?"

"BUCK!" I yelled, making the room go quiet for a minute, "A room or not?"

"Calm down, little man!" Finally, I grabbed into his shirt collar and pulled him over the counter to face me.

"Room, yes or no?" I hissed. He looked scared; I had never done that to him before.

Actually, I never did that to ANYONE at all. Wow.

Anyways, he was shaking a bit when he said, "Y-yeah, Two-Bit... I got a room for yew..." I released his shirt and he slid back to his seat behind the counter.

"I'll pay for it..." I said, digging in my pockets. He held up one hand, using his other one to search for a key.

"Yew don't need ta pay meh right now..." he said as he held up a key. I took a look at the smashed beer on the counter. I realized that I had broken that glass when I pulled Buck over the counter. I held out a five dollar bill to him.

"For the beer, Buck." I said. He looked down at the counter. Then at me. He took it and shoved it in the cash register.

"I thought I told yew ta take care of yerself there, Two-Bitty." He gave me a wet rag. I took it and pressed it against the back of my head. He gave me the key and told me which room to go to. I thanked him and made the climb up stairs. Oh, the damn climb up the stairs...

I got to the room and basically kicked it open. A bed, bathroom connected to it, dresser, window... simple. Sitting on the be, I removed my jacket that I had pulled on as I ran from the Curtis house. The fight was replaying through my mind; punches and blood on the floor. Then Darry had the nerve to beam at me and offer me the damn clock. I mean, c'mon, how can he not know I can't accept the clock after defying his rules and shooting a gun in the house. I do wrong, he hits me a few dozen times, then, offers me the clock? I would of never known Darry to be the dumb one until today. I laid back on the bed and rubbed my upper arm. Now, I can't even go back to my own house cause of the fear of facing Ken or Darry again. But here, I have the fear of facing Dally... or worse, Tim Shepard. But who's worse? Dally and Tim, or Ken and Darry? There was a knock at my door. I stood back up, rubbed my back of my throbbing head, and trotted to the door.

"Who's there?" I raised my voice.

"Who do ya think it is, Two-Bit? Let me in!" Dally... great. But still, I can't keep Dally out or he'll kill me next time we see each other. I unlocked the door and opened it slightly. Dally was standing there, arms crossed and in one hand was a first-aid kit. "You gonna let me in or stand there like an idiot?" I opened the door completely and walked back to the bed. Dally came in, shut the door behind him, and sat in a chair across from me.

"Buck told you I was here?"

"He was pretty shaken up... what did you do to him?" he was opening the first-aid kit. He motioned for me to come closer. I pulled a chair over and in front of him; we were a few inches apart. "Whaddya do to Buck?"

"I yelled at him." I squinted at Dally as he rubbed a rag, wet with rubbing alcohol on it, over my cheek and forehead.

"Damn, Darry got you good..." he was muttering, "Did he ever get you in the stomach durin' all that?"

"I didn't feel it. That is, if he did..." I said, squinting at him. He grabbed my chin and turned my head to face the other way.

"The back of your head is bleedin' like a stuck pig, man..." I heard him say. I whimpered a little as he cleaned the back of my head. "Quit bein' a baby, man."

"Shaddup, Dal." I barked. He hit me playfully.

"Buck told you to take it easy, but did ya? Nah."

"Hey, I tried."

"Not very hard." He turned me back to face him. "You scared the shit out of me and Steve, Two-Bit."

"I did? You were scared?"

"I couldn't bring myself to ever hit you seriously. If you would of killed me and Steve, at least we'd have our pride."

At right then, I realized, Dally really did care about us. Even if he didn't show it, I could tell he'd be hurt if I tried to kill him or if I died. I guess I really hurt him bad. Sighing, I glared at my feet. I could never hurt him again.

He might not be able to handle it.

Awwww, he cares! REVIEW PLEASE!