Hi just wanted to note that my previous chapters before ch7 have been edited by my wonderful beta dizzyizzy123, well because they were a bit pants. No major story changes have been made apart from Tara didn't meet Dally a Bucks that first night only Tim and she first met Dally at the Dingo, so those few brave souls who trudged through my first few chapters there's no need to reread them.

I don't own The Outsiders and The Runaways own the song Lovers.

I want something bad and nice - hot love

I want it nice from paradise - your love

All night long I'm chasing fast - true love

Make me scream, make it fast

We lovers never say goodbye

We lovers never die

We stop and go so quietly

Cold lovers fade away

- The Runaways

Tim made his approach to Dru's party up on the overgrown path that led to the slightly disheveled house. Many couples had already made it onto the porch, and there were the chorus of "Hi Tim" from giggly girls as he made his way through the door.

Tara had finally decided on an outfit after hours of Dru and Sylvia making comments on each choice: a leather skirt with a tight black top, with her now signature red lipstick paired with a red bandanna tided around her head, and red dance shoes. Once Tara made it down the stairs crowded with people, she headed to the kitchen to grab a drink. Through the window, she saw Sylvia and Dally having a heated argument in the backyard resulting with him storming off. Tara wasn't too bothered; tomorrow they'd probably be making up at Buck's so she went into the living room to see what Dru was up to.

Dru looked happy seated on the couch surrounded by a group of boys all wishing her a Happy Birthday. Her guy Dean was sulking in the corner watching the display, obviously none too pleased. Tara looked around the room once more and saw Tim out of the corner of her eye with some girl whispering something in his ear. Tara fumed silently and clenched her hands into fists at her side. How dare he? It was bad enough he made her feel stupid earlier but he was just ruining her mood, flaunting his new toy in front of her.

Meanwhile Tim was looking over his girl's shoulder smirking as he saw the effect this had on Tara. He had decided on the way over that he would never be one of those guys to go chasing after girls. Unlike Dallas, he'd never go running back to the same woman twice, especially if it was a messy situation. Dallas liked a mess; Tim didn't. He was the cold, emotionless leader of the Shepherd gang and he couldn't waste time getting topsy turvy over some broad. If Tara wanted to go for another round, she would come to him.

Tara was still just standing in the same spot with her stare fixed on Tim and his girl when a voice pulled her away from her fixation.

"Did you really think you stood a chance?"

Turning round, she came face to face with Dallas Winston.

"I still do," she said with a giggle while touching his arm. Dally smirked, knowing full well what she was doing. He snaked a hand round her waist and pulled her close.

"Well, you sure have grown up since the last time I knew you," he whispered in her ear.

"And I'm still growing," she murmured back as she shot a covert look at Tim.

As the evening wore on, Tara quickly pulled Sylvia aside and asked to borrow Dallas. Sylvia shrugged and said, "It's better that he hangs out with you than some other skank." But she pointed a finger at Tara and added, "Remember, he's my man."

Tara promised that she wouldn't forget and as the evening wore on, she and Dallas playfully flirted in full view of Tim. Eventually, he got up and left the room, making Tara feel triumphant. She allowed Sylvia, who got tired of dancing with other boys who couldn't dance, to pull Dallas away, Dru and Dean had made up and were getting very cozy in a corner. Tara looked around the room and realized that everyone had paired up so she decided to go outside and awkwardly wait it out.

Outside, Tara heard a car playing "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" by Elvis Presley. Tara smiled and she went to go see who was out there but she stopped when she saw Tim leaning against the car's bumper. Tara decided to gloat just a little bit and made her way over to him, crossing her arms to keep herself warm.

"Hey," she greeted huskily.

Tim only nodded his head in response and continued to smoke his cigarette.

"Can I have one?" she asked, gesturing to it. Tim took a cigarette out from his pack and wordlessly lit it for her. Tara took a small puff and looked up at Tim through her heavily mascaraed eye lashes. Tim smirked at her and Tara pinched the cigarette, sensing her chance. She got up on her tiptoes and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

"You're not mad at me, are you?" she asked flirtatiously. Tim said nothing and just grabbed her waist, pulling her closer so she looked into his eyes. A few moments passed with Tim just holding her like that and then he let go and went back inside, leaving a stunned Tara behind.

As Tim made his back way up to the house, a cruel smirk formed on his lips. He had here in the palm of his hand, that little damsel in distress. He knew she would follow him out there and he wanted to kiss her right then and there when she looked up at his through her eyelashes but had been pleasantly surprised when she made the first move. She wanted him badly and now Tim was going to find out just how badly.

Tara stood stunned for the second time that night, feeling like she might cry except then she remembered Dru when she saw Dean walk in with that brunette on his arm at Buck's. Dru had shown no emotion and soon Tara had made her face turn into cold mask as well. How dare he walk away from her? Who did he think he was? Tara was determined to show Tim that he had another thing coming.

She stormed back into the house, where the crowd had thinned out and the couples had retreated into dark corners. She spotted Tim's back heading into the kitchen and she followed him.

Tim had gone to the kitchen to grab another drink. The girl he had been flirting with from earlier showed up and coyly twirled her hair. Suddenly she was jerked away by another girl who coldly told her, "Get out."

Tim looked up from his drink and saw it was Tara, looking hot all riled up. He fought the look of surprised delight off his face and maintained his neutral stony expression.

"You're not mad at me, are you?" was his only bemused response.

Even though she was scared to death, Tara was determined not to show it and responded with the boldest move of her life. She threw herself onto Tim's lap and kissed him hard. After she broke away, she said, "Maybe a little".

Tim smiled and kissed her back.

Dru was just dragging Dean upstairs when she spotted Tara in the kitchen. She smiled and carried up on the staircase, mentally counting the days until Tara would show up on her doorstep in tears.

Sooner or later, Tim would break Tara's heart. Dru just hoped that she had toughened the kid up enough to take it.

I'm the one for you

You know what I say is true

I won't cry to tell you why

I know that you love me too

You do a 1, 2, 3, 4

Oh yeah come on now

I want a kiss wet and real - strong love

I wanna tell you how I feel - right now

All night long it rained and rained - my love

Make me scream hey what's your name?