Bridgette literally ran to school the next day. She woke up with a bruised cheek and was glad she had recently acquired makeup. She had no intention of talking to her calculus teacher but she needed to speak with James.

She burst through the front doors and slowed to a powerwalk as she went to his office. It hadn't occurred to her that he might not be there yet until she was outside his closed door. His door was not closed very often.

She knocked and waited. She sighed in relief when she heard rustling on the other side of the door. James opened the door wide and looked at Bridgette in surprise. He beckoned for her to enter the room without saying a word. She walked forward and sat down in her usual chair. There was a bowl of oatmeal on his desk and the room smelled of cinnamon. It made her stomach rumble and she placed a hand over her stomach to quiet it.

"Good morning," he said. He closed the door behind him and then returned to the other side of the desk. "Are you okay?"

"Not really," she admitted, smiling in spite of herself. She didn't even know where to begin. So much had happened in twenty-four hours. And she imagined this from his point of view and she couldn't help but grin.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"My, uh, my mom isn't very happy with me," Bridgette said.

"Why?" he asked incredulously. He went to his filing cabinet and pulled out a file. Instead of answering him, she watched him curiously. He sifted through the papers within the file and then looked up at her dubiously. "You've haven't been slipping in any classes. Your grades are still impeccable."

"Yeah," Bridgette said bitterly. "Mind telling my mom that? Maybe it'll get her off my case."

"I can do that," James said immediately.

"Oh, no," Bridgette winced. "I was kidding. Trust me, that won't do any good."

"What can I do?" James asked eagerly.

"I don't know if you know this, but my family is notoriously protective of me," she sighed.

"I've heard rumors," he said, his lips twitching at the corner.

"So then you know I don't have a life outside of school and soccer," Bridgette said.

"That is the impression I got, yes," James nodded. "Why do you think I tried so hard to get you to go to homecoming?"

"What?" Bridgette frowned. "That's not even…that wouldn't make a difference. Anyway, my family has all of these expectations for me and sometimes forget where I come from. So my mom found out last night that I'm paired with a boy named Ponyboy for my math project. He's a greaser, like me."

"I wouldn't consider you a greaser," James admitted.

"But I am," Bridgette insisted in frustration. "No one wants to acknowledge it, but I am."

"Sorry," James said, understanding he had offended her though she could tell he didn't understand why. "Continue."

"My mom thinks I'm too good or whatever to be partnered with him. I tried to tell her that he's really smart and we work well together. But she doesn't care. She wants me to change partners."

"That can be arranged," James said slowly.

"I don't want to trade partners," she sighed. "I can't be partnered with those other kids in my class. I really can't. Besides, I like being partnered with him. But as I'm sure you know, when someone tells me to jump…"

"You jump," James finished for her. She nodded. "I'm not sure what you're asking me to do."

"I'm not so sure myself," she chuckled. She then leaned on his desk and ran her fingers through her hair. "I can't change partners but I also need her to believe I did change partners."

"Are you asking me to lie to your mom for you?" James asked. She still had her head leaning in her hands so she couldn't see his face.

"Not in so many words," she mumbled. "She doesn't really come around enough to know what I do. But if she ever did want to follow up, it might be nice to have someone at school that could potentially back me up."

"So lying," James finished. Bridgette lifted her head in defeat but saw that James was grinning from ear to ear. His smile made him that much more attractive.

"Sure," Bridgette said slowly. "Lying."

"Normally I would say no," James shrugged and her shoulders sagged. "But this is a unique situation. I'll do it if it comes down to it."

"Thank you!" she gushed. "Oh, thank you!"

Without thinking, she jumped from her seat and skipped around to the other side of the desk. She bent over and gave him a big hug from the side. He reached up and patted her hand.

"Just stay out of trouble," he laughed quietly when she let him go.

"I will!" she promised. "Thank you!"

She continued to thank him as she left his office. By now other students were filing into school. Bridgette went to her locker and checked her makeup was still effectively covering the bruise. It wasn't uncommon for people to come into school looking a little worse for wear but that didn't mean she had to flaunt it. Some people at school displayed their bruises and cuts as trophies. She was not one of them.

Bridgette went about her day feeling lighter than she had felt in a long time. She had found a way to remain partners with Pony which was what she really wanted, but there was something else putting a little extra bounce in her step. In less than twenty-four hours, she had managed to disobey orders from both Tim and her mom. She had always done exactly what she was told to do and she had never considered not doing what she was told an option. What Tim and her mom (and Curly) said was always set in stone. And in one fell swoop she had proved to herself that it didn't always have to be that way. Sure, she had to lie in order to attain some of that freedom, but wasn't it normal for people her age to lie to their family?

It made her feel free for the first time in her life.

Free to make her own decisions. Free to take control of her life.

"Hi," Pony greeted her when she sat down in math. "I'm sorry if I upset you yesterday."

"I'm fine," Bridgette assured him, smiling her biggest smile to let him know she was genuine.

"Did something happen?" he asked skeptically.

"Yeah," she snorted.

"What happened?" he asked slowly.

"Long story," she evaded. "But I got it sorted. And I'm feeling good about things for the first time in a very long time."

"That's good," Pony encouraged. "Really good. I'm glad."

"Me, too."

Bridgette took in his warm smile and wondered what could possibly possess her mom to think that separating them was a good idea. He was so handsome. For years Bridgette would dwell on the way his perfect hair would curl around his ears, even with his grease, and how his eyes changed colors depending on the lighting. She had his entire face memorized, from the sharp edges of his square jaw to his pouty lips that always looked so inviting. And she had just recently learned that he had soft hands, and that was not something she would soon forget.

"Are you okay?" Pony asked, eyeing her curiously.

"Yeah," she said and quickly averted her gaze to her bag as she pulled out her book. Had she really been caught staring at him, while he was quite clearly looking at her? That was embarrassing.

Their teacher walked into class and reminded everyone that presentations started the next day. He started the lesson. Class ended fairly quickly.

"Meeting at yours today?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"See you then."

He walked off to go to lunch at the DX like usual. Bridgette grabbed lunch and headed to her usual tree.

It wasn't until she was rushing home from soccer practice that she realized it would have been prudent to tell Ponyboy that she wasn't technically supposed to be his partner any longer. He was coming over to the house to work on a project under the supervision of Tim when, according to her mom and her lie, it should be a nice girl named Susie coming over to work on the project. It was going to be hard convincing her mom that she had changed partners when Pony was still coming over to her house.

She ran the last couple of blocks home, making remarkable time. Curly and Frankie were gone which led Bridgette to believe they were still taking care of that "thing" in Mountford. It was just Tim which couldn't have been better.

She studied him closely as she set her bag down, trying to gauge what kind of mood he was in. He was using his switchblade to dig dirt out from under his nails. Bridgette knew that he only did this when he was bored. She could work with bored.

"Hi," she said tentatively, wondering the best way to approach the situation. She wished she had had the sense to warn Pony. Or, at the very least, asked him to be a little late so she could have more time.

"Yeah," he replied.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked.

Tim's head snapped up immediately, proving to Bridgette that her attempt at nonchalance had failed miserably. He had detected something in her voice and he looked on edge. Perhaps she should have had him set the knife down before she began. She really could have afforded foresight in these situations. But in her defense, she was still getting used to the idea of lying. She would learn.

"What happened to your cheek?" he asked stiffly.

"Huh?" she asked blankly. He used the knife to point at her face and she nodded in comprehension. "Oh. Mom."

"Mom?" he asked. Relief flashed across his face, which was strange to Bridgette, but it quickly transformed into confusion. "Why?"

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," she said slowly. He watched her suspiciously and she took in a shaky breath. She was nervous. Was everyone this nervous talking to their own siblings?

"Go on," he prodded.

"Mom found out I was partners with Ponyboy for math," she explained. Tim looked extremely focused, hanging on her every word. He looked expectant, like he was waiting for her to continue. "That's it. That's why she hit me."

"I don't follow," Tim said. "Did you fail your project?"

"We don't present until tomorrow," she reminded him. "She just doesn't like me being partnered with a greaser."

"I'm not digging the idea either," he admitted. "But Pony is alright."

Bridgette was momentarily stunned though she hid it well. Tim didn't speak well about too many people in this town, at least not to her. Even if Tim liked someone, he would always add something derogatory about them to her. It was like he didn't want her to believe that anyone in the town had a redeeming quality. He spoke the most highly about the guys in Pony's gang but that was because they always provided him with food and shelter when he needed it. But she assumed Tim would be quick to put Pony down in one way or another since they were spending so much time together. If Pony was right and Tim was trying to distance her from the guys in town, he had the most reason to worry about Pony. So it was surprising he was speaking well about him at all.

"I know," she agreed quickly. "He's smart and driven." She decided to focus his attention on Pony's school attributes. She didn't think it would be a good idea to praise his sense of humor and thoughtfulness.

"Okay," Tim said slowly. He stared at her and then shook his head. "I'm still confused. What did you want to ask me?"

"Well," Bridgette said slowly, bracing herself. "Mom insisted I change partners. She doesn't want me to partner with him."

"Really?" Tim asked.

"Yes," she nodded. She sighed heavily and chewed on the inside of her cheek. She looked up at him helplessly, giving her most innocent, pitiful expressions she could manage. "Tim, I can't partner with a Soc. I really can't. Not only do I not want to, but let's be honest, who would take me?"

"Aren't there any other people in the class other than Pony and the Socs?" Tim frowned.

"No," she said truthfully.

"Mom said…"

"Mom doesn't understand things like you do," she said, deciding flattery was a good strategy. Tim wasn't stupid but he was proud and he liked being reminded of how cool and great he was. "You understand things better than most. The Socs would eat me alive. Besides, you said yourself Pony is alright. Wouldn't you rather me partner with him than a Soc?"

"I would rather you partner with a shark than a Soc," he scowled. Bridgette nodded deeply as if he had said something profound. He took a deep breath and ran his blade through his fingers as he lost himself in thought. "Mom said, though…"

Bridgette was losing him. She could see it in his eyes. She couldn't have that. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Even though she had just tasted some freedom and was already planning other small ways to disobey her family, she had to play to his protective instincts if she was going to win this, even if it made him believe she was okay with it all.

"You know that if I was paired with a Soc, I'd have to work at their house," she said slowly. "There is no way in hell they would ever come out here."

"Do not cuss," he said reflexively though she could see his wheels spinning.

"No one out there to keep an eye on things," she continued. She hated saying it because she knew Tim would feel validated in his behavior. But she needed to stay with Pony. Everything she was saying was true.

"No," he agreed. "Again, what exactly are you asking me?"

"Mom isn't around enough to check up on me," she said quickly. "As long as we all agree that she's better left in the dark on this, it's fine. I know we'd be lying to her and I feel awful but you lie to them all the time." Bridgette knew that that last phrase might dissuade some people from wanting to help, taking offense, but she knew Tim. As stated before, Tim was a proud person and he took a lot of pride in his disobedience and hood ways. "I don't want to lie to you or Curly. You mean everything to me. And as long as we were in it as a team, it could work."

"You want me to lie to Mom for you?" Tim asked.

"Only if she asks," Bridgette winced.

Tim studied her for a long time. Long enough to make her squirm. Then, quite suddenly, he broke into a smile. An actual smile. Not the usual sneer or smirk he wore but an actual, honest-to-god smile. She couldn't remember the last time he directed a real smile at her. It made her heart melt in fondness for her oldest brother.

"I never thought I would see the day that my little sister would fight the system," he said, even going as far as to give her an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

"I don't know if I would go that far," she said, suddenly shy.

"Hey," Tim said, throwing his hands in the air. "As long as you keep up those grades and keep doing good in soccer, I'm okay. And as long as you never fight me or lie to me, I'm okay."

She smiled timidly and then broke into a wide smile that matched his. She felt like she had just made a breakthrough with him. She was still very much under his watchful eye and control, but he was seeing a different side of her and he wasn't freaking out. He was encouraging it. And he was smiling at her. It made her heart flutter.

"She can never find out, though," Tim said. "Never. Even if she catches you red handed, you lie through your teeth, got it?"

"Got it," she agreed quickly.

"Do you even know how to lie?"

"We'll find out."

This comment made him pat her shoulder again in what she was learning was his way of showing his affection.

"You know what?" he asked, still smiling. "You're an okay kid."

"I'm not a kid," she said immediately.

"No," he agreed and now Bridgette was really gaping in shock. "But you're still not an adult."

"Agreed," she said quickly, willing to take any progress at all. Tim said she wasn't a kid! Tim was recognizing she was growing up! It felt like everything had changed in the span on ten minutes and it made her light headed.

There was a knock on the front door and the pair of them looked over at the door in surprise. They were quite clearly having a moment of monumental proportions and it was startling to be taken back to reality. Then she remembered that it was Pony at the door.

Tim answered the door and Bridgette could tell just by his body language that his smile was gone and he had reverted back to his usual hard look. She didn't care. In fact, she liked that his smile was reserved for only her.

"Hello, Tim," Pony greeted.

"Hey," Tim replied.

The boys walked to the table and Pony and Bridgette started to pull out their notes without saying a word.

"We have to practice giving the speech," Pony acknowledged.

"Yeah," she said. She looked over at Tim who was picking at the dirt under his nails again. If he was going to insist on chaperoning, then he might as well be useful by being their audience.

Of course, he wasn't the ideal audience. When Pony and Bridgette began their presentation, making a point to stand directly in front of Tim, Tim looked at them impatiently. They barreled on, simply because they really did need to practice and he was right in front of them. After about thirty seconds, he resorted to staring at his blade. Once the presentation was over, Pony and Bridgette looked at him expectantly.

"What?" he finally asked.

"What did you think?" Bridgette asked eagerly.

"I think it was gibberish," he said, leaning back in his chair.

"But how did we do?" she pushed.

"Captivating," he said monotonously. "You'll blow everyone away."

This was good enough for Bridgette and Pony. They beamed at each other.

"Are you two done now?" Tim asked. "I have somewhere to be."

"You don't technically have to be here at all," Bridgette said innocently.

"Don't push it," he said and she couldn't help but smile. His lips twitched upwards but he would never smile in front of Pony. Pony was looking between us curiously but he shrugged and excused himself. Tim left shortly after and Bridgette went to her room feeling light and happy and better than she had in a very, very long time.