A/N: Since it's been so long (and, as always, I apologize) I feel compelled to reiterate that I DO NOT OWN THE OUTSIDERS. S.E. Hinton gets all the props. Also, I apologize that since it has been so long since I posted, you may need to back up a few chapters to remember what is going on here - I did. The good news? I have the next few chapters on the back burner. Thank you so much to those of you who have continued to review and PM me during my ridiculously long hiatus to try to get me back to writing Scout's story. I love and appreciate all of your reviews!
We bummed around the lot for a while – found a football behind a bunch of weeds and tossed it around for a half an hour or so, making smalltalk, but eventually ended up just sitting on the big rock kicking the dirt around and enjoying the breeze.
"You think something's up?" Ben asked. I didn't have to ask what he meant, I knew he was talking about Tim looking for Darry.
"I don't know," I responded. "You're more likely to know, aren't you? Kevin lets you fight, now, doesn't he?'
"What? I mean, yeah, but what's that got to do with it?"
"Well, Kevin let you get in the fight with those guys the last time they came after Darry… if something big was going on – some sort of organized thing, I think Kevin would probably tell you, right? … and you'd better tell me."
"Oh, I'd better, huh?" he pulled me toward him and his face grazed mine.
"Ben," I started, "I'm not…" but before the word "kidding" made it out of my mouth he was kissing me.
After a minute I pushed him away.
"I mean it, Ben, I'm not kidding. You'd better tell me if you know something I don't."
"I don't." He wasn't looking at me as he said it and I wasn't sure if I believed him.
"C'mon," I pulled him down off the rock. " I should probably get home, anyway. They'll get worried, and mad - I didn't leave a note."
We walked home in silence, Ben holding my hand, only releasing it to open my front gate and walk me up to the porch.
He looked at me as we reached the front door.
"I'm on your side, Scout, I swear. And as far as I know there's nothing going on."
I stared up at him, trying not to pout, but not fully believing him, either.
"Really? I mean, you promise that even if Kevin told you not to say anything you would tell me, right? If my brothers were involved?"
"Absolutely." His eyes met mine, he squeezed my wrist and kissed my neck, and I found it hard not to trust him.
We both were startled by a voice.
"Scout, get in here… dinner's on. Where've you been, anyway?" It was Darry.
"Well," I pulled away, "guess I hafta go."
"Yeah. I won't see you tomorrow – Mom's dragging me up to the University with her for Kevin's football physical – but good luck with court. Don't worry – I'm sure you'll do great."
"I hope so," I responded.
"Scout," he took my face in his hands and turned my face toward him. I objected slightly but knew I couldn't deny him. Our eyes met and I felt sad, knowing he wouldn't be able to be in court with me.
"You will do great. I know it," he whispered, kissing me softly on my cheek. "I'll try to stop over after we get back, if it's not too late, okay?" I nodded against his neck just as the door opened and Darry appeared.
"Let's go," he said. "Time to go, Ben," he added.
Ben heeded, and with a quick "good-night" was gone. Darry turned and headed back to the kitchen.
I stood still for a moment on the porch – feeling suddenly abandoned, but remembering that I had somewhat of a bone to pick with Darry.
"Quit stalling," Darry called back at me, "Dinner's been ready for ten minutes. It's getting cold. And I expect a decent explanation of where you've been."
I paused, for so many reasons. One being that – when I cooked dinner – it was inevitably ready far before my brothers made it to the table – so I was constantly warming things and waiting on them. Yet they expected me there at their beck and call? Another was the fact that I was still pretty sure there was something going on between Darry and Tim that he didn't want me knowing about.
"We were down at the lot," I grumbled, turning and heading towards the kitchen. "It was too nice outside to stay in. I didn't know what time it was."
I sat down at the table, planning my interrogation, while Pony and Soda goofed off. Darry didn't respond to my having been at the lot so I assumed he was satisfied. I wasn't sure why he seemed to be in a cranky mood, and wondered if it somehow related to Tim looking for him.
"Mmm, Pony, you're gettin' pretty good at spaghetti," Soda joked, and Pony kicked him under the table, jarring the tabletop and spilling his own milk.
"Christ, can't we ever have a calm, civil dinner around here," Darry grumbled as Pony jumped up to get a towel.
"You just get home?" I asked Darry.
"Yeah, got tied up at the lumber mill – those guys couldn't get an order right if their lives depended on it. Took forty-five minutes to straighten out all their mistakes." I guess that partially explained his foul mood.
"Yeah, well I ran into Tim, he showed up at the lot. He seemed to need to talk to you pretty bad."
"Oh yeah?" Darry was totally nonchalant. "I'm sure we'll catch up with each other later tonight, or tomorrow."
I stared him down, trying to figure out if he was being deliberately dismissive. He stared back.
"What?" he demanded. "Shepard give you a hard time or something? I thought you two were friends," he snickered, which sort of surprised me. I'd always been under the impression that he wasn't too thrilled with me being around Tim or Curly without another Curtis present.
"No." I couldn't stand it, so I just asked. "Look, is there something going on? Is there gonna be another fight, or rumble or something?"
Soda's head immediately jerked up. How such a happy-go-lucky guy could enjoy punching strangers in the face so much was totally beyond me.
"What?" Darry looked incredulous. "Seriously, baby, you don't think we've got enough possibility for trouble as it is? Who exactly do you think we would we be fighting against, anyway?"
"Those guys…"
"Those guys don't have the combined intelligence to put together any sort of decent attack on me or anyone else. No. There's nothing going on."
"So what's Tim want with you?"
"I don't know. I've got some of his guys working for me still, could be about that."
"He said you weren't at that same house today. So where were you?"
"I was at that same house – it was Tim who wasn't. He didn't show up this morning. If he was looking for me there and didn't find me it must have been after I went for supplies. What are you all worried about anyway? Christ, court hasn't got you worked up enough – you looking for something else to get upset about?"
"No," I twirled my spaghetti around my fork. "I just… I got the feeling that something was going on, that Tim didn't want me to know about."
"Yeah, well maybe he didn't want you knowin' he played hooky from work, seein' as how you got this hero-worship thing for him and all." Darry laughed, practically inhaling a meatball. Soda and Pony both chuckled.
"I do not," I snapped. Darry looked over at me, still grinning, until he saw I was serious.
"Hey, I was kidding," he said, gently. "Ease up, kiddo. Nothing's going on. I don't know what he wanted with me, but it's nothing you have to worry about."
I didn't answer.
"Scout, I'm serious. Nothing's up. Eat some dinner, okay? I don't want you passing out on us in court tomorrow, dig? You know it's always hotter than Hades in those courtrooms."
"You better not be lying," I glanced over at him.
"I'm not. I promise. I don't know why Shepard would be making you so suspicious. Everything's fine. Eat your food, okay?" His eyes narrowed and he looked at how little I'd eaten, concerned. I could feel Pony and Soda staring, as well. I looked up and the two of them looked away - Darry's eyes remained on me.
Begrudgingly, I lifted a forkful of spaghetti into my mouth, under Darry's watchful eye. He was right – it was always hot in court and the last thing I wanted was to pass out.
Soda suddenly chimed in with some tale about a guy with some super-rare sportscar who had pulled into the station that afternoon and expected the DX to have repair parts on-hand, and I pretty much zoned out for the rest of dinner, concentrating on making sure I ate enough that Darry would be satisfied. Again, I was amazed at how much my brothers could eat. Each of them filled up their plate three times while I struggled to get down half of my first helping.
I was looking for any reason to excuse myself when, thankfully, the phone rang. Darry reached out to answer it and it turned out to be Anna.
"Go ahead," he motioned, eying my plate. "You can take it in the other room."
I took the receiver and went around the corner to the living room, plopping down on the couch.
"Hi," I said, twirling the excess cord around my wrist. We had all managed to stretch it to about five times its normal length.
"Hey, Scout. I just wanted to wish you good luck tomorrow. I mean, I'm sure everything will be fine, but, you know..."
"Yeah, well, I wish I was as sure as everyone else about that," I tried to joke, though I really meant it.
"No, come on," she answered. "Be optimistic. This time you're the one who has all the answers about what's happening. You're, like… the star witness."
I was sure she had every intention of trying to reassure me but she was, in fact, just adding to my apprehension. Everyone had seen what happens to "star witnesses" on TV – they got cross-examined and torn apart and yelled at and attacked from all angles.
"Well, we'll see, I guess. Thanks for calling, Anna, but I can't really talk – it's my night to do dishes. I'll call you on Saturday, though, okay?"
"Okay," she said, though she sounded a bit put-off. "Is Darry there? Alison wanted to talk to him after I talked to you."
"Yeah. Hang on, I'll get him."
"Okay – and Scout?"
"Yeah?"
"You'll do great. I know you will."
"Thanks." I walked back into the kitchen where the boys were clearing the table and tossing the plates into the dishpan for me to wash. Soda headed out the back door with the trash.
"Darry, Alison wants to talk to you." I handed him the phone and he once again stretched the cord as far as possible down to his bedroom and shut the door. I sat at the table, rested my head in my hands and rubbed my forehead.
"Hey, Scout – you know what? I'll do dishes tonight. You can just go relax. Watch TV with Soda or something, okay?"
"Why?" I picked up my head to ask. Pony wasn't usually one to take on anyone's chores for no reason.
"I just - I know you're stressed about court. I mean – you know that I get that. Honestly, I wish I could go instead of you tomorrow, but I can't. So – just – let me do this, okay? Just go try to relax."
Sometimes Pony surprised me to the point of being speechless.
"Go," he urged. Go read a book, or watch TV or something." He flicked at me with the dishrag, and winked at me.
"Thanks, Pone."
"Get outta here," he smiled, and turned to get the dishes.
I wandered into the living room, assuming Soda must have come in the front door after taking out the trash, but was surprised to find nobody sprawled out on the couch. Stopping in the doorway, I heard his voice out on the porch. Assuming he was talking to Kevin or maybe Two-Bit, I headed out the front door, surprised to find Soda leaning on the front gate, talking through an open car window. Making my way down the path, I realized it was Tim, in the same car I'd seen him in earlier.
"Hey, kid," he nodded an acknowledgment.
"Hi." I was still wary.
"Your brother here says I scared you this afternoon… sorry 'bout that. Gotta admit, I wasn't in the best of moods. Somebody out there got some sorta deathwish and slashed my tires last night. Just been lookin' for your brother Darrel since I heard he had the same problem lately."
I didn't answer. So that was why he wasn't in his own car. Now I was even more sure that Tim was looking to hook up with Darry for some sort of revenge on whoever was after them, though.
"Scout's got court tomorrow," Soda explained my silence. "She's kinda worked up."
Tim nodded. "Don't sweat it, kid. You ain't in no trouble." I guess he knew the story.
"I'll be okay." I wasn't looking for any pity from Tim - in fact, I was feeling a growing anger toward him if he had any intention in getting any of my brothers involved in any sort of fighting.
"Darry still on the phone?" Soda asked me.
"I don't know," I answered. He had been when I came out but he tended to keep his phone conversations pretty short.
"Alright, well, I'll go get him. You comin in?" he turned to me.
"No, go ahead. I'll keep Tim company."
"Don't let Darry hear you sayin' that," Soda joked, and both he and Tim laughed, which just made me angrier. Soda headed into the house and I turned to face Tim through the fence.
"What's the matter, little Curtis? You need a gun or somethin'?" he smiled but I didn't return the gesture.
"No. I don't need anything. But mostly I don't need you dragging Darry into any trouble."
"What's that supposed to mean? Darry's my buddy, you know that. Just like you are, right?" He was playing on the fact that I owed him - and I did - and I knew it, but sort of hated myself for it.
"Maybe he is – and him giving you and your friends jobs and stuff – well that's great – but we can't afford any trouble around here, Tim. Rumbles, even just plain fights – Darry gets caught up in any of that stuff and gets hauled in – I'll get sent away. I mean - I'm sorry about your tires and everything - but leave us out of it? Please." I was ashamed to look him in the eyes, begging as I was.
"Kid- why do you assume I'm out to get Darry involved in any of that? You ever think maybe I'm looking out to offer him some protection? You know how I operate – you mess with me – you mess with my friends. And I don't appreciate anyone messin' with me – or my friends."
I looked up, but didn't answer. He was staring right at me and while I wasn't scared, per se – I was definitely intimidated.
"Don't you worry, kid. I ain't gonna mess up things for you and your family. Darry and me – we got a business agreement, that's all. And that includes me lookin' out for his interests. You can understand that, right?" He winked and suddenly I wondered how I'd ever trusted him so much in the past. Right then he seemed like a complete liar – a player.
"Yeah," I whispered, hearing Darry emerge from the house behind me and his heavy footsteps approaching.
"Hey, Curtis," Tim greeted him over my shoulder.
"Shepard," Darry nodded at him and leaned up against the fence. "Scout said you were lookin' for me… what's up?"
"Just some business," he said, motioning towards me.
"Scout, why don't you go on in and relax. You got somethin' ready to wear tomorrow?"
I shook my head at how obvious it was they were trying to get rid of me and turned and headed back into the house without a word.
"She's upset," I heard Darry saying as I walked away. Yeah, I was upset – just not about what he thought. I prayed Darry would have the good sense to stay out of any trouble in which Tim was looking to involve him.
"Hey," Soda said as I came back in the front door. "C'mere," he gestured me over.
"What?"
"Sit," he motioned to the floor in front of him. "I'll give you a headrub."
As much as Darry loved having his back rubbed, I loved having my head rubbed. Whether it was the result of always having my hair pulled back tight, in braids or a ponytail, or just plain stress, nothing felt better than just letting all my hair down and having my scalp massaged. I sat down and pulled out my hair elastics, leaning my head forward.
"You hair's getting' real long again," Soda commented. "Looks nice." We were obviously in that pre-court pattern where everyone knew I was stressed and went out of their way to be nice to me.
"Thanks," I whispered.
"Gonna be fine, Scout. Promise." He was practically putting me to sleep, already.
"Mmm."
"You know it's all good, right? No matter what happens in court, we're all good, as a family."
"I know."
"What's got you all wound up, then, huh?" He moved his hands down to my shoulders. "Christ, you're more knotted up than Darry after a week of double shifts. What's up, baby?"
"Nothing," I murmured. I honestly wanted him to put me to sleep. I wanted to sleep, wake up, get the whole court date over with, and be done with it. Then I could focus on this whole issue with Tim.
"Alright," he whispered, leaning over. "But you know, we all got your back tomorrow. You just tell the truth, and we'll all be right there."
I nodded, and gave in to the relaxing sensation of his hands massaging my head until Darry came back inside, slamming the door and jolting me awake with a start.
"Jesus, Dar." I guess he startled Soda, too.
"Sorry. Looks like the two of you are about done for this world, anyway. You guys should get to bed – court comes awful early. I'll wake you up at 6:30 so we can all get showers in." I knew he'd wake me last. He headed off into his bedroom.
Soda stood up from the couch and pulled me up after him, both of us shuffling into our bedrooms. I put on pajamas and, too tired even to brush my teeth, crawled into bed. I heard Darry and Soda talking in the kitchen – mentions of tires and Tim and court – and I tried to block it all out.
I tried as hard as I could to focus on what everyone had been telling me – that court would be no big deal – that I wasn't in any danger of messing anything up – and that all I had to do was tell the truth – and I tried as hard as I could not to think about Tim Shepard and what he might want with Darry.
And somehow – for the first time ever the night before court – I fell soundly asleep.
A/N: Court next. Hope at least a few of you can even remember why Scout and Soda are going there!