Random Summer Challenge

[Masquerade]

Haha, you got it exactly. That was the line I meant. I couldn't really see him with a nightgown either! ;D
I'm glad you liked it!

[fosterchild]

Ok warning....this is slashy....I honestly didn't think I'd ever do slash but hey, it's what popped into my head....oh and there's a few *F* bombs in here, too.....characters by SE Hinton, Lyrics by Metallica....

Nothing Else Matters

So close, no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If anyone ever found out about it I’d lose everything~my rep, my turf, my respect. Maybe even my life.

There’s more to life that that, though, right? I have to hope that there is but I have no idea how to get beyond this life I have. It’s all I’ve ever had and all I know.

I’m hard, cool, tough, mean. Maybe I wouldn’t be if I didn’t have the need for it. I learned real quick at a young age that you were either a leader or a follower and I’ve never followed anything.

I remember somebody saying once that they were never a kid and I’ll tell you, I know exactly what they meant by that. I did all I could to let my brother and sister be kids but even they grew up too fast. Ah, it’s probably for the best. You get tough ain’t nothing can touch you. That’s what Dallas is always preaching anyway. Is he right or wrong about that? Maybe both, I think.

I wonder how, then, did Dallas and I let our tough guard down? How did we end up here? Hiding. Hiding everything from the rest of the world. Hiding our feelings from everyone. Fucking feelings! When the hell did I ever start to feel?

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This began so simple. We were drinking. A typical Friday night. It got really late and the group at Buck’s started trailing out until only Dallas and I were left, trading shot for shot. As usual, trying to outdo each other until Buck told us we were done.

Dallas kicked back his barstool and stumbled toward the stairs up to his room. He turned a little too quick to look back at me with glazed, drunk eyes.

“You comin’?” he asked as he fell backwards into the wall.

I was too loaded to drive and knew I’d never make it walking so I shrugged and followed his wasted lead upstairs.

As soon as I closed and locked the door behind me Dallas turned around, slammed me into it by my shoulders and he was on me hard. He shoved his whole body rough against me and his mouth crashed onto mine.

My head was too wrecked to think so I just did what felt natural. I shoved him away with as much force as I could muster up in my state. Then I attacked him.

It was so primal. We clawed and grabbed for each other. We bit and kissed and sucked and groaned, both of us fighting for control. It was so typical me and Dallas.

We tore into each other until I finally won the battle over him.
The night is still like a fuzzy dream but the one thing I remember vividly is the moan he gave and the guttural sound of his voice when I took him. “I fucking love you, Tim.”

That was all I needed to hear to push me right toward the edge. “Dallas…fuck…I love you…”

Trust I seek and I find in you
Everyday for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wondered if anyone got the plate number of the truck that ran me over when I woke up late in the morning that Saturday. My head felt like there was a guy in there with a sledgehammer trying to get out. I didn’t want to move because I knew I’d hurt but my arm was asleep.

I groaned trying to roll over and wake my arm up. I heard another groan and realized I wasn’t alone. I opened my eyes and saw that blond hair and the night before came flooding back to me.

“Fuck;” I said under my breath.

Dallas sat up slowly and looked down at me with his slight mean smirk. “What?”

“What the fuck, Dallas?”

He lit two cigarettes and handed me one which I took and rolled onto my back, glaring at him.

“Fuck what, Tim? You heard what I said last night and I heard what you said. Leave it at that.” He took a long drag and blew it out hard. “It was just a fuck. Don’t worry about it.”

I didn’t know what the hell he sounded so mad about. I had a bigger rep than him to keep intact and people who followed ME that wouldn’t take too kindly to me and Dallas doing each other upstairs at Buck’s. “Keep your mouth shut.”

“Yeah, like I’m gonna say anything.” He looked away from me then and sighed. He was quiet for a couple minutes then quietly I heard; “Did you mean it?”

I laughed to myself. Did I mean it? I’ve known him for years. The first time I met him was when we both got picked up for fighting each other and we’d been friends ever since. I wanted to kick his teeth in on more than one occasion and had at times. But he knew me and I knew him probably better than we knew ourselves. We knew what made each other tick. Sometimes that worked to our advantage. I knew just what to say to piss him off. But then, so did he. Did I love him? “I said it, didn’t I?”

At that, he got off the bed and got dressed. I watched him, trying to remember the blur that was last night. I never thought I could be that way but just looking at him and thinking about last night, I felt a stirring.

Just before he walked out he turned to look at me and smiled a genuine smile at me. “I’ll see ya.”

So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That was the only time we were ever together that way. Who knows if it ever would have happened again. Booze does weird shit to you. It did make me wonder, though and I’m not the wondering type.

A week after that, I kicked his ass for slashing my tires and a week after that he was dead.

And I still wonder…

[samanthamae]

All of them so far were great!

laughing, I read that on ff.net and loved it! I felt so bad for Soda. Masquerade, I always kind of wondered what Sandy thought about it. I've always hated her, but that one-shot made me think about her in a softer way. I still "dislike" her, though and fosterchild, very well done! Poor Tim, with Dally passing away soon after that...

So, I'm considering writing one about Curly, but should I read That Was Then first (I haven't read it yet) so I can catch his character better? Is there much mentions of him?

[fosterchild]

He's mentioned again in passing in That was Then but more so. He's meaner, more vicious I think. I haven't read it in a long time.

Thanks for the comments!

[fairlane]

S E Hinton owns The Outsiders
Lyrics from Runaway Train by Soul Asylum

Warning: it’s the first time I’ve attempted a song fic.

Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a blow torch burning
I was a key that could use a little turning

I would burn. My knees shook, my hands shook. For what I had done, I would surely burn in hell. I felt myself sinking down to the ground, pulling my knees up to my chest. The knife was still clenched in my hand, I tried to release my fist but it was like it had become a part of me.

It was dark under the blanket of night, but through the trees came the light of the moon, casting its sallow gleam over the body that lay before me. My breath started coming faster and faster, I felt like I would fill up with air and float away from this nightmare.

Pony turned toward me, his clothes dripping wet, his hair plastered down over his forehead, his eyes glowing in the dark like the eyes of an animal.

“I killed him” I heard myself saying to him. The words that were coming out of me were words I could barely understand, like another language, or like Dallas Winston himself was speaking through me. Oh glory, but even Dallas hadn’t ever killed nobody.

I turned away while Pony puked onto the dewy grass, turning away from him and the boy. That was the boy who had beaten me so bad all those months ago, I remembered how cold his eyes had been, how he had smiled at first before anger twisted up his face. He could have killed Pony, maybe he would have. He had looked surprised when I stabbed him, on his face the bleak realization of someone who knows too late that they’ve made a mistake.

Pony was getting more and more upset, his voice rising over the wind, carrying through the park and the tall trees. But I could feel myself breathing easier again, a still feeling settling slowly through me. I could do this, I could make my mind go calm, and I could watch the pain like it was happening to someone else. I was the one to grab hold of Pony, order him to settle down.

“Dally” I said, finding that I could let go of the knife now, that my legs felt steady beneath me. “Dally’ll get us outta here.”

So many secrets I couldn’t keep
Promised myself I wouldn’t weep

I stomped my feet on the gravel outside Buck’s, feeling the crunch of glass and loose stones under my shoes. From inside the noise came of whoops and yells and laughter, the light from the window was a warm glow. I felt alone as I watched the crowd inside. Somehow it seemed it had always been this way, standing apart in the shadows, watching and waiting, feeling scared.

I was gladder than I could have imagined seeing Dally come to the doorway. Dally wasn’t scared of anything, not the fuzz or soc’s or other hoods, not anything. Dally always knew what to do, he never hesitated, he never stopped. Dally was hard and tough, but when I was with him I felt protected, the closest thing to being safe.

“Dally” I told him, my voice lowering to a whisper even though there was no chance of anyone hearing me over the noise inside. “We got jumped by a whole bunch of soc’s, me an’ Pony. One of them was drowning Pony so I stabbed him, I had to do it Dally” I heard my voice waver a little and stopped, because I didn’t want him to see me cry.

His eyes were dark under the porch light, flat and still. We followed him inside.

I’m in too deep
There’s no way out

The gun was too heavy in my hand. I didn’t know what to do with it, I couldn’t hold it right. I lay back on the bed and stared up at the stained ceiling. I wished I had a cigarette I wondered why bad luck seemed to trail me through life, why there was violence at every turn.

Dally was asking Pony about Darry and Soda, and I felt guilt again. Pony’s brothers really loved him, they would worry about him, wait up for him, miss him. When I thought about my mom and dad I felt an ache inside way deep down, I wondered if everyone felt that for their parents, if that was what love felt like.

“…man I thought New York was the only place I could get mixed up in a murder rap” Dally said, his eyes on me, a strange look on his face like he was thinking of something sad. Dally never looked like that, I felt myself starting to shake again, my breath starting to come fast.

Can you help me remember how to smile
Make it somehow all seem worthwhile

I walked out to the porch. An uncovered bulb flickered above and night bugs flew around my head, the clicking sound of beetle wings made my skin crawl.

Dally snapped the light off and stepped out to stand beside me, dragging on the butt of a cigarette. He looked cool and calm, he was like an anchor I could hold onto, he wouldn’t let anything bad happen.

“Take care kid” he said, reaching out one hand and brushing it briefly across my hair. I nodded with my chin up, hoping I didn’t look scared, wanting to be someone that Dally would be proud off.

Fear was something I’d felt all my life, in one way or another. It was so old and so unrelenting it just seemed a part of me. But now as I stared out into the cold star studded night I was about to disappear into, I felt the fear lift a little for the first time. I had always wanted to be able to wake up and be someplace else.

We ran into the night and the darkness that closed around us.

I can go where no one else can go
I know what no one else knows

I put my hand down on the smooth steel track, feeling for the vibration of a train coming.

“Feel anything?” Pony whispered by my ear, his head so close it was just about on my shoulder. I could feel dew soaking up the legs of my jeans. One side of my jacket dragged through the weeds, weighed down by the gun in my pocket. And under my palm the track was humming.

“Yeah, it’s coming” I said, and in the distance heard a high whistle. I remembered once when I was a kid making up a story about my old man taking me on the train, taking me on holiday to the lake. I’d been gone from school a week, and that was a better story than the truth – my dads fist, the sharp pain in my ribs, the ghostly image of the x-ray, the questions of the nurses “Who hurt you?”.

The light of the train came closer, sweeping over the weeds we were crouched in. The brakes shrieked hotly.

“Now” I whispered.

Little out of touch, little insane
Just easier than dealing with the pain

The gun lay where I’d discarded it. Pony slept beside it. I leant down to pick it up, held it out experimentally, aimed it at the end of the box car and cocked my finger on the trigger. Sometimes I tried to imitate Dally. I could make my face go blank and still, I could turn my lips in a sneer. I could dangle a cigarette from the corner of my mouth and squint through the smoke. I could look the way he did; it was just the inside that I couldn’t make the same.

“Ain’t you ever scared of anything?” I’d asked Dally one afternoon as we sat in the Dingo together. Dally was hung over, his head practically on the table, wearing his sunglasses inside.

“Shoot kid” he’d said, lighting up a cigarette and gazing down into his untouched coffee. “What’s there to be scared off?” He seemed to really not know.

“Going to jail?” I’d suggested to Dally. “Getting beat up?”

My arm was on my lap under the table, heavily bandaged. My wrist cut to the bone. I didn’t want to die, I just wanted another life.

He’d laughed a little, which he didn’t do very much. “Saw a guy one time who scared me, looked like he might be able to take me out.”

“Yeah?” I leaned forward, trying to imagine who Dally might be scared of, and who could possibly be tougher than him?

“Yeah, so I punched him, broke the damn mirror” he smirked into his coffee, amused with himself.

I remembered that now as I stood in the box car, watched the fields roll away beside the tracks. Sometimes I wanted the face in the mirror to go away too.

Runaway train never coming back
Runaway train tearin’ up the track

The miles began to stretch out behind us. Everything was getting further and further away. I was never going home.

[Tensleep]

Wow, there have been more great responses.

Better Than Me - I liked the POV from Sandy. You can see some guilt there and it makes her more of a real character with real emotions. That is something that a lot of her portrayals forget. Good going with that one. I also like the song, so nice one there.

Nothing Else Matters - You know, I honestly skipped the lyrics on this one. I don't think I'm ready to put my favorite song to slash, but I liked the story. You gave that a interesting spin. Most writers draw out these things where it would be plain and simply a mistake. No romance, no pillow talk and no second times.

Keep 'em coming!

[Tensleep]

Runaway Train - I liked the way this one was written. Johnny burning was this great imagery and irony to the nines! I like the tie into the song with the box car as well. I also like how Johnny's thoughts were jumping, but ordered. His voice was there and I don't think I've ever read anything about his thoughts during the escape from Tulsa. Afterwards there's moping and regrets, but this keeps it real. You can tell he's freaked, but doing his best and that came out well. Great job!

[samanthamae]

That was really good! And I really love that song ;D

I've always wondered what went through Johnnycake's mind at that time. I really liked the way you made him think about Dally a lot of times, and the way he mentioned he would try to look like him sometimes.

I really had to laugh, though, at the part with Dally punching the mirror. So Dallas Winston...

[fosterchild]

Nice job, fairlane! Dally punching the mirror was great. Good writing Johnny's take on that whole situation.

Tens....sorry about that!!! Like I said, I wasn't planning slash, it's just what came out and everytime I hear that song it reminds me of the characters.

[Tensleep]

Fosterchild - completely understandable! I can't listen to The Barenaked Ladies' One Week with out thinking of one of my own characters, Pepsi-cola. Oh and their Get in Line is soooo our dear Shadow's theme song.

[fairlane]

Thanks for the comments. I heard that song on the radio and I thought I would give it a go. I tried not to make Johnny too angsty, I'm not sure if I quite managed it lol.

[samanthamae]

Disclaimer: S.E. Hinton owns the Outsiders, Tom Petty owns the song Runnin’ Down A Dream, my mother owns my house, my sister owns this shirt--I don’t own much.
And no real warnings, no bad swearing. I might have Curly out of character. Sorry about that.

It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down. I had the radio on, I was drivin’ . . .

“Maybe you oughta slow down, Curly. . .”
I looked at him and laughed. Curtis looked so nervous, just sitting there and looking for the fuzz. He shouldn’t a been so tensed up. I been joy-riding since I was ten.
“Maybe I shouldn’t a done dope before I started the truck.”
His eyes went wide. “You what!”
I laughed again. Tim would kill me enough driving around with his wheels as soon as getting outta reformatory, but if I was smoking anything before doing it, I don’t even wanna know.
“Relax, Curtis,” I told him. “We’re stickin’ to the downtown streets.”

Trees flew by, me and Del were singin’ little Runaway. I was flyin’…

I was surprised enough Curtis came in the truck with me. He was sweating something fierce every time we saw a cop car or something.
“Wanna head over to the Dingo?” I asked, just ‘cause I was getting bored.
He shook his head. “If I see anyone from my outfit, I mean, Darry’ll kill me.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I sighed. “I just wanna good jumpin’.”
I was about to turn up the volume on the radio when I realized Curtis was ramblin’ on about something. He always kinda started talking about colours or the clouds, and I’d always kinda didn’t listen. I felt my eyes rolling, then coulda kicked myself. I was picking up Angela’s habit of rolling her eyes. Great.

Yeah runnin’ down a dream, that never would come to me…

“Ever got pulled over for driving?” he asked me.
I thought about it after heading a bit faster. “Yeah. Once.”
When I saw his eyes widen I added, “I’m a good driver, though. ‘Sides, the fuzz don’t come around downtown. It seems funny to me, ‘cause more goes on here then anywheres else.”
He was quiet. Glory, I never could figure out the kid. One second he couldn’t keep his trap shut, the next, you couldn’t open it up again.
Shrugging, I turned up the radio.

Workin’ on a mystery, goin’ wherever it leads…runnin’ down a dream…

I saw some greasy girls walking by and honked at ‘em. If I wasn’t in the truck, I coulda done a lot worse. I thought bout that when she shot me a dirty look.
“We should do this more often,” I said.
Curtis nodded, but something about his expression told me he was never gonna get in a car with me again. Aw, come on, I thought. My driving ain’t that lousy.

I felt so good like anything was possible. I hit cruise control and rubbed my eyes…

I saw two guys walking and noticed one of ‘em. Bryon . . . something. Wasn’t he the one that Angela went out with on Friday night? Boy howdy, maybe me an’ Tim oughta give him a good talkin’ to.
“Curly, slow down!”
I focused back to driving. Yeah, I reckoned I was going pretty fast, so I lightened my force on the pedal.
“Lemme out here,” he said, putting his hand on the door handle. “Soda an’ Steve are at the Dingo, so I can just walk there.”
“Aw, can’t I drop ya off there?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess.”
He quit talkin’ again. I drove over, let him out, then decided driving in the highway wasn’t too bad an idea, was it?

I rolled on as the sky grew dark. I put the pedal down to make some time…

I had almost two hours till Tim was supposed to come home. He normally don’t come home until after midnight, so I figured eleven o’clock would be good timing to put the truck back to the driveway.
Somehow I made it to the South Side. It was too dark for Socs to see me on their “territory”.
There’s this thing about me that I get bored real easy. Since Curtis wasn’t in the car with me no more, and there wasn’t anyone to look tough in front of, I headed for home.
But I was sure as hell gonna go out sometime again that week.

There’s somethin’ good waitin’ down this road. I’m pickin’ up whatever’s mine…

I made it home a bit passed ten-thirty. When I pulled the keys out and opened the door, I noticed Angela standing in front of the truck. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and there was a smile on her face.
“I’m tellin’ Tim.”
“No, you ain’t,” I snapped. The last thing I needed was Tim busting my brains out and owing Angela a favour.
Her expression didn’t change. “He’s gonna be mad.”
She was really hackin’ me off. I shot some dirty words at her, making her shoot dirtier ones back. I caught myself rolling my eyes again. Man, I had to break that.
But when I came in the house, Tim was standing in the kitchen. He looked angrier than I’d ever seen him.
I grinned like a cheesy cat, my voice disappearing on me. Tim beat me before, and I don’t think he’d wait a second before doin’ it again.
Glory, I remember thinking, I’m a dead man.

[fosterchild]

That was pretty cool. You could feel Curly's being high with his rambling and the speed at which he was going. Did that make sense?! It's early! lol

Good song, too.

Ok, so is it just me singing along with every song while I'm reading these??

[Masquerade]

Good job, SamanthaMae! Can I call you Sam? Lol.
I liked it a lot. I haven't read many stories about the Shepards, but I thought this was a good one. And the song really seemed to fit!

[samanthamae]

Awh, gee

There just isn't enough Curly Shepard fics, on my opinion. I've only read two. And every time I listen to Tom Petty, I always think of the Outsiders. I could never really figure out why.

Yeah, call me Sam. All my friend do, and my family calls me "Mayo". Haha, I have tons of nicknames.

Man, I sing along with all these, too! I thought I was the only one!