bexley curtis ✰ || the outsiders

Eight

"You think Dallas is ever gonna give up on who it is?" I looked at Tim as my eyebrows scrunched. "The whole gang is wanting to know who.. the hell am I supposed to do?"

I started to nervously chew on my nails as I stared at the cement, feeling the strong wind whip my ponytail back. I ran into Tim after storming out of the house with questions piled up on my head. I ran into Tim right by Buck's place.

"Tell them," Tim insisted as he swallowed the shot of whiskey he had in his hand. "They know somethin' is up with you.. and hell I do to."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Your Soc of a boyfriend hit you, am I correct?"

I stared at him in shock.

"See?" He grinned. "You don't think I know every damn thing that's happenin' all over this small town now, don't ya?"

"How did you even know.. this happened in the back of the alleyway and-"

"My alleyway you're talking about. That alleyway is my property a few blocks away from my house.. I own that property. It's where Dallas and I gamble on these fights back there. Never thought a few rusty Soc's would come by back there, especially you, Curtis. they know better than to step foot on that property or they will be beaten to a pulp. Then.. I saw it was you down there. They left after they knocked you down to the ground under a street lamp. I was on my way with a blade held tight in hand, but I left ya go. You're lucky I didn't call Darry.. I was a hair away from calling him."

"I would be dead meat if you picked up that phone and called my brother.. hell even Ponyboy would enjoy seein' me get killed."

"and why's that?" He looked at me with a questioning expression on his face. "You know that kid has a lot going on his mind lately.. I'm sure he ain't mean nothin'."

"Tim shepherd.." I crossed my arms. "The one who always has the damn answer for everything, huh? Who the hell are you tellin' me he doesn't mean nothin' he says these days? I could've got kicked out of my own house for him almost spillin' the news!"

"He's worried about ya, kid," he leaned his arms back against the bar behind him, flicking his head at me. "You don't know what the Soc's are up to these days.. their constantly roamin' around this town getting what they want."

"For a matter of fact, me and Eric have been dating for two years. It wouldn't last a day if I knew somethin' was up."

"Now slow it down a second, Curtis.." you can feel the anger rising in his voice. "He sabotaged Cola' boy and Steve's racin', he slapped you across that face of yours.. and haven't done nothin'. You call that a healthy relationship? You want him to be the problem of the friendship you have with your friends?"

I shaked my head as if I didn't believe anything. I knew he slapped me, I knew what he did was wrong. Thinking of leaving someone, is extremely hard. You're scared. You're overthinking. You give to many chances.

"What about that greaser in the alleyway that I remember from the other night.." I tried to change the subject a bit. My voice was starting to become calm. "You said you saw what happened.. any chance you know him?"

"No, not a damn clue. Doesn't look familiar at all from the dirt scattered on his face, seems like a greaser to me if he had on a leather jacket with jeans ripped by the knees. You'll probably see him in school, or maybe around here somewhere if he looks awful familiar to you, school doesn't start until an extra month or two yet. Aren't you a graduate already?"

"No, I'm sixteen, I'll be seventeen in November but also a junior." I lift up my sleeve to look at the clock, and sighed. "Better get home, gettin' a little late."

"Yeah, alright," Tim nodded as he smiled. "Now don't forget little Curtis.."

He looked at me as I turned around, his gaze locked straight on mine.

"You have to tell them."

I nodded as I stood quiet for a bit.

"I will."

__

"Everything alright?" Darry looked at me across the room as he leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed.

I nodded as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Everything's fine.. just tired,"

"Bex.. its only 8:39 at night," he looked at me. "There's ought to be something wrong."

"Nothing," I took off my leather jacket, and threw it over the couch as I walked upstairs. "Nothing at all."

I walked into my room, shutting it behind me as I glanced at every piece of furniture standing in my room. I kicked off my converse by my dresser and threw my long brown hair into a lazy ponytail. I stripped off my clothes, putting on pajamas as I laid back into bed.

The door peeked open to reveal Darry. I sighed as I sat up on my elbow, turning on my bedroom light.

"You nervous about school startin' in a month or so?" He came closer, pulling a chair from my dresser, bringing it in front of my bed as he sat down with his hands folded.

"No, it ain't that.. if it was I'll be havin' a heart attack by now," I chuckled.

He smiled as he looked at me. But a minute later, that frown made his lips press into a straight thin line.

"Listen Bex, I am a little disappointed about how you lied about this mess. You got a little bruise marked up on your cheek.. and I know damn right it's him, ain't it?" He shaked his head. "I'm not gonna argue with you tonight because it's getting late.. but we're having a talk about this tomorrow, understand?"

"I know, I know. I couldn't even tell anyone. I was just a-afraid ya know..? I-I don't know."

He took in a deep breath, slowly letting it out of his nostrils as he sat up, bringing the chair back in front of my dresser. He shut the door behind him as I stared up onto the ceiling. What does he meant when he said "for the best"? This isn't gonna be good.