First Off This Is Just A Repost Of Chapter 5 With A Message From The Author, Me.

I was just curious as to anyone was still reading this story, because if not then I can focus my attention on my other stories and tell my beta to stop editing the next three chapters that I sent to her of this story.

So...I don't mean to sound like I don't love this story, this story is my baby I love writing it. But I also know that I write as much for me as for people who read it, I can always just finish it for myself at some later time and focus on my other babies. So just let me know if anyones still interested.

Thanks for your time

If theres know one still interested than thank you for the nice, but short, run of this story and all its reviews.

Thanks Again

Nocturnalrose

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I wasn't sure what had gone on between the Curtis boys and Dallas Winston but he was absent often. When he did come, he was quiet, brooding, and he didn't stay long. I hoped his absence was not due to me. I hadn't questioned any of the boys, but I was getting extremely close to sitting Soda down and making him talk.

The boys had yet to try to push me into going out in public since the "Incident", as I began to call it, and I was not going to volunteer myself to go out. I would wait it out. Darry told me the other day that he had talked to the social worker, who talked to the judge, who gave the social worker the okay to push back my entrance to public school for another month or so, depending on how things went.

Soda told me one night when we had been talking that Darry was doing everything in his power to get me home schooled. He had been meeting with the social worker, the principal, the school board—anyone who might be able to help. He was getting closer, but as of now Soda had told me there was no end in sight.

Darry had his mind set on an alternative school for me, he knew as well as I did that I would not make it in public school. I had considered trying to find a private school, and though my grandmother had left me money, in the scheme of things it would not do that much good.

Darry's idea was quite a good one; he was trying to work out an independent study program for me where I would check in once a week with a teacher. Darry had told Soda that the only reason the Principal and the School Board hadn't kicked him out on his butt was because they knew my grandparents and my parents and respected them enough to understand the situation and try to find a solution.

I was thankful once again that my grandparents had made such a good impression on so many people, though I still thought about going to join a convent. I did enjoy my life, no matter how sheltered it may have been, and I would miss it, and everyone in it, dearly if I did decided to go. The idea was never far from my mind, and I had not ruled it out, yet I had decided to, for once, just go along with the current and let fate lead.

Pony had been good to me as of late, no true signs of dislike surfaced when he talked with me. Generally everything was going great. Except this one little thing; everyone including Two-Bit but not including Dally, because he'd been absent, was treating me like precious glass that was going to break at a second. All of the boys bent over backwards to make sure I was happy and did not need or want for anything.

For example, the other night I had asked Darry when he would be going to the store again because they needed more soda. As soon as the words left, my mouth all the boys stood up and decided who would run to the store to get soda for me, when I didn't even ask for any.

They arranged it so that someone was always home with me, usually more than one person at a time, making sure if they did go out there was nothing they could get me. 

Soda, the only person out of the limited few I had met, who was usually known to have a date, had not gone out one single time since the incident. I was beginning to think the girls of Tulsa were going to start a riot.

Though there was always someone with me, my days were mostly spent cleaning; I still didn't like talking all that often. Therefore, I usually puttered around, making the house livable. Most might think that cleaning a house was a one or two day project. They had never seen the Curtis's home before.

I had learned from a sheepish Darry that the last time the house had received such good care was when his parents were still alive, or never. Darry had told me that they had all tried to keep up with the house but everyone had something to do, and he was no better.

Most of the carpets I had to scrub and scrub to get to the point were you could even see a faint shade of the actual color. The only carpet I was having an unusual amount of trouble with was the family room, where everyone spent the majority of there time in the Curtis's house. The carpet in the family room was worn down from dirty shoes, boy's rough housing, and just dirtiness in general.

It was at that point in the day when I was done with my cleaning for the day and everyone was still at school or work, so it was just me and Two-Bit. It was fine with me, though he also treated me like something delicate. I think he might have felt guilty because he was with me when the Incident happened. He wouldn't drink when he was the only one with me, and from what I had always heard from Soda, that was quite an accomplishment.

I did appreciate everyone being so understanding, but at the same time I felt smothered, which lead me to retreat into my room or sit outside on the porch at night. Alone, it was calming and seemed to help all my stress and anxiety float away and up towards the stars.

Sometimes I would retreat into the kitchen when it was just Two-bit and myself, knowing that he wouldn't enter the room for fear of being put to work. Today I opted for my retreat to be into the kitchen, wanting to make a nice dinner, with enough food for everyone. Lately, since no one was keen to leave the house once home from school or work, we had quite a few unexpected guests who were hungry. So tonight I wanted to make sure that there was enough food for everyone.

Darry had come up with the new rule that every night we should eat as a family, which I thought was a rather nice gesture, though when everyone ate as a family I always felt as though I was disrupting the normal behavior and nightly routine. I was not sure who, if anyone, extra would be coming to dinner tonight, but a part of me hoped that Dally made an appearance.

I still had Dally's jacket, and wore it often, though if I was honest with myself I would admit that giving it back to him was the furthest thing on my mind. No one mentioned it 

when I was wearing it outside on the porch, and as far as I knew he had not asked for it back.

After our last few conversations part of me was scared to see him and part of me couldn't wait to see him. I wasn't exactly sure why I loved his jacket, but when I wore it I felt safe and comfortable, like nothing could hurt me. I was having a lot of mixed emotions where Dally was concerned and though I knew that I could talk to any of the boys, I restrained myself for fear of what they would think, and what they would do to Dally.

With dinner in the oven and everything else simmering, I decided to get a shower and freshen up. I didn't feel comfortable showering at night with all the boys in the house. It had nothing to do with them, per-se, but I had never showered with men in the house except for my grandfather.

After showering and putting my robe on, securing it tightly around my waist, I peeked out the bathroom door and double-checked the hallway to make sure no one was there before hurrying to my room. I was relieved once I reached my room and closed the door, pressing my back against it firmly. It wasn't that I didn't feel safe at the Curtis's, it just wasn't proper to be in a state of undress with a man or men in the house with you that weren't blood related to or married to.

After I was dressed, I made my way back to the kitchen, the scent of dinner wafting over me as soon as I stepped inside. Checking the meal, I realized that I had timed everything just right—nothing was burning and everything was just about done cooking. That was good, I thought, glancing slightly to the clock. The boys would start trickling in soon.

Normally Pony would already be home, but he had mentioned last night his plans to stop by Johnny's, promising he would be home for dinner. Sneaking a peek in the living room, I saw Two Bit sleeping softly on the couch his light snores filling the room, making me smile slightly. I began to set the table, getting extra places set in case of any unexpected guests. Minutes later the door opened and in stomped Darry, wiping his feet as he greeted me.

"Hey there, Rachel," he greeted, walking into the kitchen and peeking under the lids to see what I was cooking.

"Hi Darry," I replied in a soft voice.

"How was your day?" Darry asked, setting down his lunch pail on the counter.

"It was good. Dull, but I got a lot of cleaning done. I finished your carpet in your room— did you know that it's yellow and not brown?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, humor filling my voice.

"Yellow? Couldn't you have just left it brown?" Darry asked with a grin.

"Nope, it looks clean now," I responded, smilling.

"Ahh, okay you're right. I'm going to freshen up for dinner," Darry yelled, making his was down the hall and towards the bathroom.

I continued to fiddle with dinner, wanting it to be perfect as always, when the door opened and Soda stepped, in dirty from head to toe from working his shift at the DX. Pony followed shortly after Soda, looking extremely serious. Once all the boys had finished cleaning up they all sat down to dinner.

For the most part, dinner was a nice affair, but they all grated on my nerves. The boys were treating me like I was breakable again. It was so frustrating that I felt the need building in me to scream.

I waited until dinner was done and the boys began to clean up as per the unspoken agreement. I cooked, they cleaned up. They pushed me into the family room to relax until they were finished. Instead of going and sitting, I opted for the front door.

Only going as far as the porch steps, I plopped down, an extremely un-lady like frustration flowing swiftly through me. I sat there, content to do nothing except relax and fight down the frustration. I was finally beginning to relax when I heard Soda's voice asking where I was as he entered the empty living room.

A large part of me wanted to reply that I was outside on the porch, but I fought that down and decided to just enjoy the peace before it was disturbed once more. The front door creaked open, causing me to turn around, watching as Pony cautiously stuck his head out.

"Rachel?" Pony questioned gently. I glanced at him, giving him a small smile. He returned with a smile of his own, filled with sympathy.

"Need some time alone?" Pony asked.

I nodded my head slightly, and he smiled in understanding.

"Don't worry about them, I'll tell them you're fine," Pony said as he headed back inside.

I could hear the muffled sounds of them talking quietly followed by a raised voice. I tensed, expecting someone to come out and talk to me, or force me back in because it was not safe outside. I waited but, no one came out.

Finally, I began to let myself relax again. Later, I was not sure how much time had passed. I wasn't mindful of it, instead enthralled with the peace and quiet that seemed to fill the night. I was jarred out of my thoughts when the front door opened, tensing slightly because I was not ready to be forced back inside yet.

I did not turn around as the person stepped lightly on the porch behind me. I felt something covering my shoulders and listened as the steps retreated back into the house. The smell of Dally's jacket filled my senses and I snuggled deeper into it, basking in the comfort and safety it seemed to fill me with.

Minutes later, another set of footsteps and a door opening alerted me as the person walked over to where I was seated and sat quietly beside me. Turning my head slightly to the side, I saw it was Darry. I didn't think Darry was ever going to speak which wasn't a problem for me. I was more then content to just sit outside quietly. But finally, Darry let out a long sigh.

"Rach I wish I could help and say I understand what you're feeling, but I don't. I've never been in the position that you're faced with now. I know when my parents died, I focused fully on Soda and Pony because they were family and I didn't want to lose them. But you've lost your grandmother and everything that was familiar to you. I'm sorry, and I wish there was something I could do, but I don't know what. This is all new to me, and I'm sure there is a better way to go about it but I can't seem to find it. It must frustrate you to be treated like a doll by us, but were not used to a girl living with us, especially one like you." He paused and glanced at me.

"Most of them greaser girls are tuff, no question, and that's what we're used to. Soda's the only one who is been with you on a long-term basis, but even he tends to treat you like a little sister who needs protecting. I hope we can all find a balance or something. We don't want to loose you, Rach, you're family now, and we love you. So we're going to all get together and talk this through—whenever you're ready. Just say the word. You deiced what you want to do, okay Rach?" Darry asked quietly, a hopeful note in his voice.

I nodded, not really feeling like talking through everything at the moment. Nevertheless, I was extremely touched that gruff old Darry would come out and share all that with me.

Darry acknowledged me nodded by giving a nod of his own before standing up and heading in.

"I'm going to keep them all in here so they don't bother you. Take as long as you need, but don't stay out here long enough to get sick," Darry cautioned while opening the doors and heading in.

I snuggled deeper into Dally's jacket when the scent of a fag entered my range. I started to see movement in the darkness, and I tensed slightly preparing to head inside in case of danger.

As the figure began to come closer, my heart started beating fast. I stayed seated, not wanting to over react as the person stepped into a street lamp. But my heart began to thump loudly in my chest, because it was not a stranger coming towards me, it was Dally.

My heart leapt.

Yay another chapter!! A HUGE thanks to my new beta Hanna!! claps wildly