Sixteen Candles
Chapter Nineteen

Author's Note: Hi, I am so sorry for how long I've been gone. I'm not even going to give excuses because I don't have anything that'll justify my several month absence, but I'm back with another chapter. First off, I want to apologize for the length. It'ssuper short compared to my other chapters, and after how long it's been, it should be the exact opposite - super long. I am so sorry. If anyone is still out there, waiting for the next chapter, this is dedicated to you - thank you for sticking with me. I love you :)

"Hey, Babe," Steve greets plainly, staring down at me. "I'm skippin' second hour. You wanna come with me?" Any emotion I was feeling prior to his proposal drains from my face, and I shoot him a questioning look. There's no way he can be serious, but he is, and before I have time to object, he adds on. "Please, Eileen."

I want to protest. After last night's family feud, I'm not exactly on good terms with my father. We hold each other's gaze, and in this time of silence, I think carefully of how to choose my words.

But as each second passes, the foreign look in Steve's eyes expands, and it looks like he really might need me. I like this feeling. I like the feeling that he actually needs me instead of the other way around.

At this point, I couldn't care less about my dad's thoughts.

I bite back a grin, nodding my head, and as soon as I agree, Steve grabs my arm and drags me towards the front of the building. It sinks in slowly as to what's going on before hitting me full force.

We're actually leaving the high school.

"Steve, I didn't think we'd be leaving school!" I share, struggling to keep up with him. He plows through a small group of students, and a couple girls shoot him nasty looks. "I thought we were just going to sneak off to a different part of the school." Some senior teacher tries to stop up, and Steve doesn't waste a second in giving her the finger and he bursts through the front doors.

I shoot her an apologetic look, but I don't think it makes her feel any better.

"I need to get away from this place," he grumbles, leading me towards his truck. "Eileen, you're not going to believe this shit when I tell you." When we reach his truck, he rips the passenger door open. I climb in without saying a word, and thankfully I'm completely in the truck because seconds later, Steve slams the door shut.

He storms over to his side, and with each passing second, it seems like he manages to get even more pissed with whatever is bothering him.

We fly down the streets of Tulsa, and on the whole ride, Steve doesn't say a single word to me. "Steve, where are we going?" I ask. "What's going on? What's wrong with you?"

"Nothin'." He mutters, but it's a lie, and I know as well as he does that there's something more to the problem.

Before long, we come to a stop on the outskirts where the pavement meets a dirt road, and the nearest house is probably a mile or so away.

Until now, I never thought this was possible in Tulsa.

Steve shuts his truck off before unbuckling and turning to face me. "I can't believe this," he starts, and although I don't have a clue as to what he's talking about, I slowly start to nod my head. "Oh, no, wait until you hear what's goin' on. I don't think you're gonna believe it either." Steve stops, and the silence continues.

"Well, are you going to tell me?"

"It's fuckin' ridiculous," he repeats. I look at him, and he stares back into my eyes. I've never seen him look so angry, and the only thing I know is that I don't like it. "Soda's gonna drop out of school."

Without a moment's hesitation, my heart skips a beat. I'm too stunned to talk, but thankfully, Steve doesn't seem to notice. He continues talking like I'm not even there.

"He's talkin' shit like the state is down Darry's throat, threatenin' to take 'im and Pony away," he explains. "Darry can't afford to feed three mouths, and with his two jobs, they're barely makin' ends meet. But hell, Soda's only sixteen. He shouldn't hafta work too." Steve shakes his head slowly before slapping the steering wheel. "Fuck. Why'd this have to happen to them? Why their parents? It ain't fair."

"Life isn't fair." I repeat in a feeble voice. I feel lousy providing only that when Steve obviously needs some comforting, but I'm still too stunned to even come up with anything to help him.

Steve snorts loudly.

"Ain't that the truth."

We remain on the dirt road for what feels like an eternity, and by the time Steve finally decides to head back to school, second period is nearly over. In the attendance office, the secretary shoots us questioning looks, and although I'm sure my face is as red as a tomato, Steve remains calm, cool and collected.

And when lunch comes around, I have a hard time looking at Soda.

XxXxXxX

I sit at the table, working away at my homework and taking advantage of the empty house.

But right as I'm getting into the groove of schoolwork, the front door swings open – banging off the wall – and someone comes storming in. "Eileen, are you here?" Dad's voice sounds hard; I swallow hard – he means business, and something tells me it relates to dinner last night.

"I'm in here." I answer back weakly. I take a deep breath, struggling to focus on my algebra, but it's a lost cause.

He enters the room, and instantly, my heart starts to race. I look up slowly, and like I predicted, he means business – he looks mad.

Dad walks to the table, and silently, he takes a seat across from me. "I think we need to have a little talk about what happened last night, don't you think?" I swallow hard again, weakly nodding. "Sweetheart, it was unnecessary to call John those names." He starts to ease up much to my surprise. "He's a nice boy, but that's not what I want to talk to you about. I want to talk to you and your swearing, okay?" I nod.

"Yes, Sir."

"I am disappointed in you; your mother is as well," he starts, but Dad never breaks his cool. "We raised you better than that. We taught you that swearing is bad, and it's unladylike. Is that clear?" I nod once more. "I should punish you since you've been having a lot of run-ins with trouble lately, but this time, I'm going to let you off with a warning, but don't get use to it." My heart skips a beat, and before I can get in another word, Dad gets up and walks off.

I stare at my homework – absolutely stunned and wondering what the fuck I did to deserve this.

Once again, thank you for sticking around with me, and I know it's been a very long time, I would love to hear from you all in a review. I'm sorry once more for the length.

I hope to hear from my lovely readers. I've missed you guys