Thank you all again for reading and reviewing. FrankElza Thank you for your review. She is slowly finding her way through this pain. Pony'sgirlfriend I hope you like this chapter. ;) There is a little love interest in it. Emolichic1 she will get through to have happy moments too just you wait :) Here is a chapter to show how much the boys care. Please read and review. I hope you like it. It may be a little different.

Time and Beer

Months went by and I got used to living with the Curtis boys. Darry worked a lot, so it was usually me, Soda, and Pony at home in the evenings. I helped Pony clean up the house and do chores while Soda was working at the DX. I never did chores when I lived with my parents. We had people to clean for us. I didn't mind it though. I actually liked the distraction.

Johnny would come over every day and stay with us. He has become more jumpy since he got beat up. I still felt like I was to blame.

They tell you that time heals all wounds, but I was still waiting for that to be true. I told Soda I wouldn't drink anymore, but when I got too upset I would sneak some beer from Two Bit without him knowing. I knew that Darry wouldn't be happy about that, but some days I just needed to be numb.

I had gotten really close to Johnny and Pony. We go everywhere together. Dally hangs out with us a lot too. He is the toughest guy I know, but I can see the softness in him too. He cares more than he lets on.

Pony, Johnny, and I got invited to a party. It was at another greaser's house. I wanted to go so I could drink and not think for a night, but Darry told us he didn't want us to go. He made us promise that we wouldn't.

The night of the party though I was cleaning my room and found the letter Bob wrote me. I start crying. I wanted to forget. I got my clothes on and snuck out. I needed to drink and relax. I knew I would be in trouble if Darry caught me, but I needed to forget just for a little while.

When I got to the party, I was surprised about the number of people who were there. I spotted Two Bit and hid from his view. I didn't want him to tell Darry I was here. I grabbed a cup of beer and headed upstairs to be alone. I just came to relax. I didn't want everyone to know that I was there.

After I drank the first cup I started feeling better. I went for a second and then third cup. By then I didn't care who saw me. I was dancing to the music and feeling free. I was on my fifth beer when I felt someone grab me and pull me closer. I pushed away not wanting to dance with anyone, but he kept pulling me into him.

"Stop." I slurred and push him harder.

He laughed at me. "Oh come on girl you know you want to dance with me."

I pushed him more. "I was fine on my own." I look up and don't recognize him.

"I am sure you were, but now you can be better with me." He smiled at me.

I pulled away from him. "Leave me alone."

"Oh come on baby." He moved to pull me in again, but he was pulled from behind and push into the wall. It took me a few minutes to realize it was Dally who pulled him off me.

"She said she wasn't interested jackass." He pushed him into the wall hard.

"I'm sorry Dally. I…I won't do it again." The guy looked scared.

"Dally." I touched his arm. "I'm okay."

He looked at me and pushed the guy to the ground. "Don't touch her again."

The guy nodded and stayed on the ground.

Dally turned toward me and grabbed my hand. He led me outside.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" He looked at me. "Are you drunk?"

"I…I just had a few beers." I look away from him and he grabs my chin to make me look at him again.

"You are drunk. I can tell by your bloodshot eyes." He frowned and I pushed him off me.

"So what if I am?" I started yelling. "No one cares about me." I started walking away, but he grabbed me.

"That is a load of shit and you know it. We all care. Darry has been worried sick. He has us all out here looking for you."

I look over at him. "He knows I snuck out?"

"Yes, at least he was hoping that was all it was. He was afraid someone took you again."

I sighed. "Well it doesn't matter. You will all stop caring about me eventually." I start walking away again and Dally follows me.

"You think you are the only one that has a family that doesn't care? The boys care. That is all that matters. That is all the family anyone could need."

I keep walking but he is right on my heels. "I just wanted to forget for a while alright?"

He stopped me again. "No! It's not alright. I have half a mind to tan your hide right now."

I looked at him shocked. "You're not my dad. You're not my anything. None of you are."

"Is that really how you see it!? We all care for you! I'm not going to let you end up like me. Do you hear me? You have a problem you come to one of us. Because you know what, we are your family. There is nothing that you can do that would change that."

I just look away.

"You are acting like a brat right now." We just stood there.

I started to tear up. I was angry at myself. I was angry at life.

"I'm sorry okay." I looked at my shoes. "I just wanted to relax. I found Bob's note and I just wanted to forget for a few hours."

"Drinking won't give you that." He got closer to me and hugged me. "Believe me I know."

I cuddled to him and rested my head on his chest. "I don't know how to let you guys care for me. I'm waiting for you all to walk away….like they did."

He stoked my hair. "We are not them Liz. We are not going to walk away from you. So stop pushing us away."

I nod and look up at him. "Why do you always act so tough?" I think the beer was making me brave.

"I have to be." He looks down at me and strokes me cheek. "But you…you can stay sweet."

Without thinking I lean up and kiss him. For a second he kissed me back, but then moves his head. "I can't do that Liz."

"Why not?" I feel rejected.

"You….you are too young for me." He hugged me and then let go. "Plus you are drunk….you don't want me."

"Dally I…"

"Elizabeth thank God." Darry came up and hugged me. "Are you okay? What happened?"

He pulled me back to look at me. "Have you been drinking? You smell like alcohol."

I looked down and nodded.

"You went to that party?"

I nodded again.

He sighed and took my hand. "Let's go home."

I walked with him and Dally back to the house. All the guys were there. Great.

"Lizzie are you okay?" Soda looked at me. "What happened?"

"She is drunk." Dally said.

"And in trouble." Darry said letting my hand go. "Get to your room."

I didn't say anything I just walked to my room. All the guys watched me. I was embarrassed and confused.

I curled up in my bed and thought about that kiss. Did it mean anything?

I sighed and still felt the buzz of the alcohol in my head. Why did my life have to be so complicated?

Dally kissed me back for just a few seconds, but he did kiss me back. He said that I was too young. I would be 15 soon. He was 17. I didn't think I was too young. He called me sweet too.

I heard a knock on the door. Darry came in and I sat up.

"Do you know how worried I was?" He was trying to contain his anger.

I didn't say anything.

"Answer me young lady!" His voice was rising.

I jumped a little. "Yes Sir. Dally told me you were worried…."

"You could have been really hurt Elizabeth."

Tears came to my eyes. "I know….I'm sorry Darry."

"And you drank."

I nodded.

"How much did you drink?"

"Five beers…."

"Elizabeth!" He started pacing. "That should have knocked you on your ass. Have you been drinking before now?"

I nodded again.

"When?"

"I have been drinking a little about every other day….."

"How?"

"I've been taking some from Two Bit when he was drunk. He didn't know."

Darry rubbed his hand down his face. "I…I am so disappointed. Soda told me that you promised him you wouldn't drink. He feels terrible that he didn't tell me about you drinking before."

I kept looking at my lap.

"I need to punish you."

I looked up at that.

"How?"

"Well I know what I would do to Pony." He looked at me. "I would spank him."

I brought my knees to my chest. "Please don't Darry. I won't do it again."

"You told Soda the same thing."

"But I mean it."

"Did you mean it when you told him?"

"Yes…but I don't want to be punished…."

"Do you think I want to punish you? I would rather just let it go, but if I do that and you get drunk again and get hurt what then? That would be on me."

I squirmed. "But I won't do it again…."

"I want to trust that Elizabeth, but right now I can't. Stand up please."

I looked up at him. "Please Darry…."

"Elizabeth now!"

I whined but stood up. He sat on my bed and brought me over his knees.

"Elizabeth I love you. I won't let you get yourself hurt or even killed. This better not happen again."

He brought his hand down on my jean covered butt. I yelped and squirmed. He just kept spanking me over and over. Each swat was harder than the last. It didn't take much for me to start crying.

"Please….Darry…"

He didn't stop until I was sobbing over his lap. It hurt, but to know that I disappointed him hurt worse.

He lifted me up and held me as I calmed down.

"I never want to punish you Elizabeth."

I nodded. "I'm sorry Darry."

"I forgive you. You have been punished and now it is forgotten." He kissed the top of my head. He moved to lay me down in my bed. "Just don't let it happen again."

I nodded.

"And Elizabeth, if you are upset, don't drink it away. Just come to me or one of us. Okay?"

I nodded again. "Okay Darry." I yawned.

"Get some sleep."

"Good night Darry."

"Goodnight sweetheart."

Getting punished sucked, but somehow I felt lighter even without the alcohol. Darry cared for me more than my own dad did. I realized at that moment that that is what I saw him as…..my dad. He was like the dad I never had.