Well, this is it! The first of the chapters I have been working towards for as long as this story has existed. Yeah, took me long enough, eh?

Disclaimer: I own Passin' Through, but not her name because Louis L'Amour already does. S.E. Hinton owns The Outsiders. That about covers it!

Now, on with the show!

That night I managed to make it back to my uncle's without a hitch. I didn't have to fend off Davie's very helping hands and I didn't run into Two-Bit along the way. During my idle moments during the day I wondered how he had faired after I left. He had been throwing up quite violently and Darry was pretty sure he wouldn't be going to school that day. I was still shaking my head over that one. Who would have thought Two-Bit Mathews would go to school and actually enjoy it? How long had it been since I was in a school? I frowned, thinking on it, but not pulling a magic number out of my hat to answer it. It had been that long. I always wondered what it would have been like to have finished school and gone on to actually have a job and possibly a family some day. Well, that was never going to happen. Drifters didn't exactly become career people.

I sighed and looked through the nearly empty fridge for the third time and figured I would just go without that night. I was used to missing meals and Jebb must have been, too, judging by the lack of food in the house. On the road, it wasn't likely I was going to manage more than one a day and it wouldn't be much of a meal, but Tulsa and Two-Bit had spoiled me. I needed to get back to my old habits, but from the noises my stomach was making, it wasn't happy with my decision. That was another mistake I had made when I got to Tulsa. I had stopped eating at odd times and found a bit of a set meal plan. It simply wouldn't do.

My stomach gave another loud growl and I retreated back to the room I slept in with hopes of taking my mind off it. I didn't exactly expect it to work, but there was still the task of going through my duffle and 'borrowing' what I was lacking before I hit the road. It would have to be done tonight if I ever wanted to get out of here. I knew there was little chance of that if I stuck around of much longer. That simply wouldn't do. I couldn't stay here with Jebb and I wouldn't go back to that state home they're incarcerated me in when they'd caught me last time. So I pulled my duffle out from under the bed and dumped everything out of it without another indecisive thought. I folded clothes, blankets, threw out some old food and ripped up an old, holy shirt that hadn't fit me in a while for rags, just in case. You never knew when a piece of glass was going to find a bare arm or when Sam would pick a fight with a local dog. I couldn't afford a decent meal most times I was on the road and I certainly couldn't spring for an unexpected medical bill, so I always kept my first aid packet full of supplies. I had looked around here; there was no hope of even finding a band-aid let alone some iodine or gauze. I wondered what Jebb did when he got hurt?

The front door slammed and I jumped. There were heavy footsteps through the house and finally a grizzled face popped through the door. Speak of the Devil…

"What are you doing?" he asked suspiciously

"I'm unpacking," I lied

"Clean up the boy's stuff before you go putting away your own crap," he ordered and I nodded

Jebb took a look around the room. I couldn't tell if he was just unimpressed or if he really didn't like his son all that much, but I figured if he was never around, then there must have been at least a rift between them. I didn't like Jebb and I had only been in his company for less than an hour in all the time I had known him. To be raised by him or June…well, I wouldn't have wished that on anyone. I suddenly understood my cousin. We had more in common than even I would have guessed.

"Where were you last night?" he asked suddenly and I kept myself from jumping

"I stayed with a friend," I answered "It was late and I thought it was the smart thing to do."

Jebb grunted and looked me over closely. It wasn't a perverted look and I wasn't threatened, but I didn't like being sized up or down, as the case may have been, especially by him.

"I don't care where you go, but you be here for the fifteenth when those state people come."

There was no 'or else', there never seemed to be, but that message came across loud and clear. I nodded and he looked me over again before making a grunting noise and leaving me just as alone as I had been before he got home.

I sighed and packed my duffle again. There was no use in trying to do anymore packing tonight, not when I had told Jebb the opposite. I rolled it back under the bed and on a sudden whim picked up all my cousin's loose laundry up off the floor. Most of it was blood stained and I hadn't planned on ever using the washing machine Jebb owned, so I opened the door and shot a cautious look down the hall at where Jebb was outlined by the glow of the TV screen. I figured he wouldn't bother me, and with that in mind, I crossed the hall to the bathroom.

The bathroom was only one of the signs in this house that Jebb didn't entertain company, period. If I had to guess, I would say this was the guest bathroom and that Jebb only used the one off of his room. The floor was filthy, the sink was unsightly, the bathtub had a ring in it along with dirt and dust of long disuse and the shower curtain was half ripped off. The small window was so grimy it let in little to no light and I wasn't about to even let myself think about the spiders that had left half the room covered in webbing. Needless to say, I had my work cut out for me when it came to making this room even useable.

I pushed the toilet seat lid down and was relieved to find the top of it was only a little dusty because it had been left up for lord only knew how long. I sat down on it and looked around the small bathroom again. It sure would be nice to have an honest to goodness bath before I left. I wouldn't even think of that while Jebb was home, but tomorrow morning before my shift would be perfect. I guess it was that want for such a basic comfort that gave me the will to open the cabinet beneath the sink and look for any cleaning supplies. I found some for the tub and figured it would have to do for everything else, too. I smirked, thinking this is one time I wanted those yellow dishwasher's gloves I hated so much. Well, it just went to show life wasn't fair and you had to play with the hand you were dealt. I often thought someone had cheated when it was my turn to draw.

It took me hours before I finished cleaning that bathroom and from the sounds of Jebb's snoring from in front of the TV, it was getting late. I grinned at the sight of that nice, white, porcelain tub and wondered if Jebb ever bathed. June had, but she was a girl and Jebb, well, he certainly wasn't. I doubt he even remembered the tub was there. I didn't care if he did or not, he didn't care.

I dropped the bundle of clothes into the bottom of it before running wonderfully cool water into it. It almost seemed a shame to see the water slowly dig the rusty color out of the clothing and stain the tub, temporarily, again. The affect it had on the clothes was amazing, though. They almost looked wearable again. I decided to let them sit for the night and closed the door to the bathroom before crossing the hall again. With any luck that room would be my secret until I left and I would be able to take a good memory with me when I left. A real, honest to goodness, hot, clean, luxurious bath. It was almost enough to make me wonder if I had dreamed the idea up. Things like this were treats and I was due for one.

The next morning I hung the clothes up to dry and reveled in my bath. By the time I hauled myself out of the water I was already twenty minutes late for work. Needless to say, I worked up a sweat getting over there. When I walked in Davie was at the sink doing my job and Stella was at the stove. He looked up when I came in and almost looked relieved. Stella looked up too and hollered over her shoulder for the boss. I felt like scuttling off into a corner. Here it comes…

"You're late," he snapped coming right over to where I was standing "Go get changed."

"What?" I blinked

"Francine didn't come into work today. She got stabbed over at The Dingo last night."

"So?" I asked

"That leaves me short one leggy waitress."

I had to fight with myself to keep from raising an eyebrow at that. What the hell did that have to do with me? I wasn't a waitress…I knew I should have just stayed in the tub all day.

"I can't waitress," I stated bluntly "I have no balance and no skirt."

"If I tell you you're going to waitress, that's what you're going to do. And it just so happens Fran left her uniform in the bathroom. Now go get changed or you don't get paid until I feel like it."

I glared up at the man I called boss and bit my tongue at everything I wanted to say to him. It was obvious that if I made waves he wouldn't pay me for a long time and I needed to get out of Tulsa as soon as time allowed. So I stepped around him and headed for the bathroom. There was a uniform on the door and I sighed before pulling it off the hanger and putting it on. It was a little too big and it showed off a hell of a lot more skin than I would have liked, but it would do. I pulled my hair back and sighed before going back to the kitchen. The boss nodded and ordered me out there. Davie gave me a reassuring smile and I felt even worse when I went out there. I couldn't hide and I felt vulnerable. If only the toughs I had fended off with my knife could see me now.

I walked over to the nearest table and the two men sitting there gave me impatient looks. I had no idea how to even start the conversation. Luckily they seemed to have some idea of how it should go.

"You're new," one pointed out "What happened to Franny?"

"Accident," I answered wishing my hair wasn't up so I could hide behind it

"Two cheese burgers, two cokes and onion rings," the second sighed when it was obvious I wasn't going to elaborate

"Sure," I muttered as I wrote down the order and went over to the kitchen window with it

Stella threw me a dirty look for just handing it off through the window instead of trying to figure out the clips on the turner, but I didn't care. I was shaking all over and I was hoping it would be a while before she got done cooking that order.

That next few tables were mostly little things, like coffees and pastries from the containers on the counter. I could handle that; in fact I was glad it was so simple. Well, it was until business started to pick up. I knew it was lunchtime, but I hadn't known that the factory across the street was actually a working factory until all the hard-hat wearing workers started drifting in after the whistle.

I was so busy going from table to table that I wasn't even looking at faces anymore. So it came as a total shock when I heard his gruff voice. I froze in my writing of the order and slowly raised my head. Jebb was sitting at the counter with a hard hat beside him and a dirty pair of gloves sitting in it. He was in coveralls – like all the other men there – and he looked tired. I wasn't really taking in anything but the look on his face. He was sitting without a single emotion on his face. He didn't look surprised, he didn't look angry or anything. Then a little glint came into his eye that made me feel like I was only safe because there were other people around. He leaned his arms on the counter and kept me in his gaze as I inwardly groaned. I should have never got out of the tub.

"What can I get you?" I asked finally

"The special, Jocelyn."

That stung more than anything. I had had men in here trying to get my name out of me all morning and he had let it drop like it meant nothing and everything at the same time. I actually started thinking about things I could stick in his meatloaf, but I wasn't going to do that. Being an honest person always had its drawbacks.

"Coming right up."

It was hours later when things slowed to a crawl and we only had one customer. I looked out the window at the dying sun and sighed. The day was over, but my problems were just about to begin. Jebb knew I was making money. If he was anything like Aunt June, he wouldn't let me keep it. I was going to be shoved back to step one just because the boss was out one 'leggy waitress'. I'd worked too hard and too long of him to do that. But I knew it would happen anyways and there was nothing I could do about it. I bit my lip and shoved my emotions out of my way. At least I could make it through the day.

/-/-/-/-/-/

"Well, you survived."

I looked up from where I was staring at the cracks in the floor and tried to meet Davie's eyes. He actually looked a little sympathetic. I guess he had played the waiter part before. I shrugged back at him slightly and nodded a little. To tell the truth, I'd survived by the skin of my teeth – a saying that made no sense, but seemed to fit just fine. That had been one of the toughest experiences of my life and it opened up doors to a whole new bunch of trouble.

"So, smile," he added "My mother always told me that you looked prettier when you smiled."

"Then I must be the handsomest guy in Tulsa."

We both looked over at the back door and I did grin. Two-Bit was leaning in the doorway, giving me the once over and I fingered the hem of my skirt absent-mindedly. He raised an eyebrow and I blushed a little, mad at myself for not getting out of this outfit the first chance available.

"Don't ask," I said before he could come up with anything to say "I'm going to go and change."

I didn't bother looking back before going into the bathroom I had left my clothes in earlier. I could hear Two-Bit's voice from beyond the door and Davie said something in reply, but that was about it. I came out a moment later in my usual clothing and Two-Bit smirked a little. Here it comes, I thought.

"Night, Davie," I offered, pulling Two-Bit with me out the back door

"You know," Two-Bit started five minutes later "You looked pretty cute in that skirt. You have the legs to wear it."

"Please, don't."

"I'm just stating the facts." Two-Bit shrugged, dropping it before looping his arm around mine, walking like we always did. It was comforting. "Where to tonight?"

"I don't know."

Two-Bit glanced over at me and I tried to look like nothing was bothering me. He seemed to be thinking on something as we walked deeper into the east side. We passed right by Jebb's house where the car was parked in the driveway. I looked ahead as we walked; finally ending up in the empty lot he had shown me once. I sat down on one of the tires and he leaned against the tree. I could tell we were both awkward conversationalists about serious things.

"Are you going to need a place to stay tonight?" he asked

"Yeah," I answered, running a hand through my hair "The Curtis' couch?"

"No. It's been a year tonight since their parents died. We all agreed to give them some space."

I glanced up at Two-Bit, noticing he looked a little tired. I had the feeling he missed Ponyboy's parents, too.

"So, what do you plan to do for the night?" I asked casually "Johnny says he sleeps in the lot a lot."

"I don't sleep on the ground unless I'm too drunk to know the difference," Two-Bit stated, looking thoughtful "It's no place for a girl. That sums up a lot of the places I go."

"I've been in worse places," I defended and he waved me off, looking like he'd come to a decision

"Come on. If we hurry we might be in time for dinner."

"Where are we going?" I asked getting up to follow Two-Bit

"Somewhere I have never brought a girl before," he sighed, "We're going to my place."

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Well, the next chapter shouldn't be too long in coming (Yeah, we've all heard that one before…) so hopefully that goes well. Hope everyone enjoyed!

Any comments at all are welcome and flames are accepted.

See ya in the funny papers!

Tens