Alright, new chapter! I know, shocking! Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I enjoyed reading them and have just been too swamped with this midterm to answering them. But I thought I would let you all know that you're an awesome bunch of human beings.

Disclaimer: The usual

On with the show!

The next few days were slow to say the least. Buck's got really quiet during the week. There weren't that many people who came to drink on the weeknights when there was work and school the next morning. There were always a few hanging around that did need a drink, so I kept somewhat busy, I suppose. Two-Bit was pretty much always around, so I wasn't all that surprised when he sauntered over to the bar with a wide smile on his face. He didn't say anything, though, which was very out of character for him. So I finally asked what brought him to my neck of the woods.

"I talked to Dally," he told me.

"Congratulations," I offered and really meant it.

I couldn't get much out of Ross over the last few days. It wasn't like we had deep meaningful conversations before the business with Del's nose, but now it was worse. He didn't talk to me period unless he was telling me to stay put. His rules were really confining, and as someone who hadn't had rules for a long time, it wasn't at all pleasant.

"We're going to a movie tonight," Two-Bit informed me, bringing my attention back to him.

"Really?" I asked, interested because I had been cooped up in the bar all week.

"Yeah. Pony found us a horse flick at the drive-in since you liked Mr. Ed so much."

"That sounds like fun," I said, meaning it, too.

My last experience at the movies wasn't all that bad, even if I did spend most of it on the spot or so lost in the film that I didn't know which way was up. Plus, it was getting me out of the bar. What could be better than that?

"Hey, what is it with chicks and horses?" Two-Bit asked me.

"I dunno. What is it with guys and cars?" I asked back and Two-Bit shrugged.

"Good point." Two-Bit grinned. "You can ask Soda and Steve later. They'll come and so will...everyone, I guess, except for Dal and Darry."

I nodded. I didn't expect Ross to come. He and Del were up to something. Whatever it was, Ross wanted me out and about with supervision. He probably put this whole movie idea in Two-Bit's head.

"Well, let's go then. Darry's cooking dinner."

"What's so special about Darry cooking dinner?" I asked as he tugged on my arm.

"Well, for one, it won't come out in ten different colors. Plus, there is the perk of it not being burnt," he added.

"And why would it come out like that for everyone else?" I asked.

"You need to come around some time when Soda is cooking."

"Oh." I paused, pulling back on my arm. "You know, I do need my stuff," I told him. "I'm not sleeping in my bar gear."

"We'll grab it later. Anyone late for dinner doesn't get seconds," Two-Bit explained.

"I can see how that would be important," I drawled.

"Exactly."

And with that, I was whisked out of the bar. Two-Bit drove like a maniac all the way to the Curtis' house and I had my eyes closed most of the way. He told me last time his brakes were out. I hoped he'd either completely lost his marbles or gotten them fixed by now. When we came to a sudden halt, I was pretty well convinced someone had worked on his brakes. It beat insanity any day of the week.

When we walked in the house, everyone was lounging around the living room looking bored. I wondered if that was just because there was nothing to do or if they were trying to behave themselves until dinner. I didn't have much time to speculate before Two-Bit drug me into the kitchen, sitting down at the table and pulling me into a seat beside his. Darry was at the stove. He looked over at us and shook his head slightly.

"How you know exactly when I'm about to call everyone in for dinner will always astound me," Darry commented and Two-Bit looked smug.

"It's all in the nose," he replied.

Darry shook his head again before setting things on the table.

Everything looked warm and delicious. The fare at Buck's wasn't so great. Everything you would think safe was in the fridge and often times you pulled out four spoiled things before you got to the stuff that still had a few days left on the expiration date. And when you did find something edible, it was often horrible.

"Dinner!"

A moment later all the boys had tromped into the kitchen and sat down at the table. I found myself in between Steve and Two-Bit and across from Pony.

"Eat up, Pass," Two-Bit advised, dumping a scoop of everything in reach on my plate and then his.

"Yeah, you'd better before someone gets ideas about what's on your plate," Steve concurred. "Mainly Two-Bit."

"Don't let her fool you, Steve," Two-Bit cautioned. "The first time we ate anything together, she was the one stealing off my plate."

I nodded, picking through my mountain of food with a fork, trying to figure out what was what before Two-Bit turned it into one dish.

"Corn, Green beans, Chicken casserole, and some toast for the gravy," Darry explained at my confused look.

"Not that it really matters when it's all in your stomach," Two-Bit reasoned.

"I'm not picky," I replied, taking a bite.

"So, what movie are we seeing?" Johnny asked from where he was tucked in between Soda and Pony.

"The Appaloosa," Pony replied. "It's about a cowboy whose horse gets stolen."

"A western," Soda brightened. "I can deal with that."

"Just don't go getting us kicked out playing cowboy," Steve joked. I hoped he was joking.

As it turned out, Steve wasn't much of a kidder. Every time something exciting in the movie happened, Soda was practically out of his seat. At least we were outside and there weren't many people not sitting in a car. Steve merely smiled and pulled him back down each time with a hand on his arm. Pony and Johnny sat a little bit away from them so they could enjoy the movie in peace. I was stuck between Two-Bit and Soda. Two-Bit wasn't so bad, but he seemed to think the movie was hilarious. I had a harder time getting into it, but I did like it. The cowboy eventually got his horse back, too.

After the film was another, but I was pretty tired, so Steve said he would drive everyone home if we wanted to get out of there early. We'd taken two cars so Two-Bit could get me back to Buck's for my things without inconveniencing everyone else. The silly thing was, we left the car outside the lot and were sitting in stands. I guess this way was better. I mean, getting stuck in a car with Two-Bit and Soda would have made it even harder to watch the movie.

The bar was still bright when we walked in. I had hoped it wouldn't suddenly be packed for some unfathomable reason because I really needed the tips and it was always a fight to get to the stairs if that was the case. It was pretty empty, though. There was only one poker game going on and a couple of guys sidled up at the bar nursing drinks.

I turned my attention to the poker game and wanted to groan when I saw Del was still here. He'd made himself scarce after I broke his nose. It looked like someone had clobbered him with all the bruising around his cheeks and eyes. He was squinting at me with nothing friendly in his face, even though he had a smile on his lips. I guess every chance of him ignoring me went out the window right then.

"Hey Jocey!" he called. "C'mon over here and blow on my cards for luck."

"You're half Winston. You should know that the only luck we're ever going to have is bad," I replied fully believing it.

"You ain't lyin'," he replied. "But the cards don't know that."

"Good night, Del," I told him, keeping to my side of the bar room.

"What's your hurry? You should stick around for a while."

I paused then and looked him over carefully. "What did you do?"

"Nothing - yet."

I believed him – there wasn't a big enough audience to make a scene that would make us 'even' for his nose.

"Wow, your nose sure looks sore," Two-Bit commented, stepping towards the game, even though I was tugging on his arm like mad. "Pass, you sure you did all that with one hit?"

"She had a mug," Del growled out.

"Still...man, you look like you ran into a wall with your face!"

There were chuckles and Del looked livid. I was frantic. Del was a bully. The only people who stood up to him were people he knew not to cross. Two-Bit was not one of them and I knew that I was going to be the one regretting this conversation sooner or later.

"Two-Bit, please!" I pleaded, tugging on his arm.

"You're right. He's not worth the effort," Two-Bit paused.

And here comes the punchline...

"He's a joke all on his own."

There was more laughter now, but Del was merely smirking at me, letting me know that the deeper Two-Bit dug, the more I was going to suffer for it later.

"He doesn't know when to shut up, does he, Jocey?" Del asked.

"No," I agreed, turning up the stairs to grab what I needed before Del could get more under my skin.

Two-Bit escorted me back to the car without comment. I collapsed into the passenger seat and curled up tight. I was in for it. Del never did let things go. And when you made him out to look silly, it was even worse. I couldn't even think what Del would come up with as a punishment for the fact I had a friend who had stuck up for me. Two-Bit didn't speak to me. It was the first time all night he had known when to keep his mouth shut. It didn't last, of course. As soon as he pulled up in front of Pony's house, he had something to say.

"Pass, the only way he's ever going to leave you alone is if you stand up to him," he told me.

"What do you think the beer mug to the face was all about?" I asked and he looked at me with pity.

"But the thing is, he had to rile you into that. He won't pick on you if you stand up to him all the time," he explained.

"You know Two-Bit, Del was right. You really don't know when to shut your mouth. "

I got out of the car before he could come up with anything to say to that and headed up to the house, closing that door behind me, too, in hopes that the message got through his thick was sitting on the couch watching TV and it looked like Johnny was passed out on the floor. I sat down beside Steve and hoped that I'd fallen asleep during the movie and the whole incident had been one bad dream.

Alright, another chapter down. Zickachik would like to see Del knocked out with a pool stick and I agree with her, but I need him conscious in a few chapters, so that'll have to wait.

Any comments at all are welcome and flames accepted.

See ya in the funny papers!!!

Tens & Zickachik