Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders by S.E Hinton, or "Wooderson" by The Gaslight Anthem.

A/N: This fic is set in the same universe as all my others, and is the sequel to Born to Run.

CHAPTER ONE
Friday, December 16th, 1966

And tonight the coastline is quiet,
It's quieter than it's ever been.

The first punch to the face made her flinch. There was the sickening thwack of skin on skin, and she had to remind herself that being bothered by this wasn't going to do anyone any good. The second punch - this one to the gut - had her sucking in a breath; heart pounding, stomach tightening, and hands shaking. When the third punch was thrown, she muttered a curse under her breath, wondering why the hell she was doing this to herself.

And that, of course, was when Danny finally decided to fight back. Why on earth he had let it go that far, she didn't know. Especially when he was bigger than the other guy. Maybe it was one of those fighting tactics boys had - let the other guy think he's winning before kicking his ass. Anna smirked; it was only cocky guys like Danny and Tim who could get away with that.

She fidgeted, wondering if she should continue watching the fight so she knew what was going on or if she should head into the Dingo and just wait for someone to tell her what happened. Knowing the outcome without seeing it happen might be better. She was used to Danny fighting - seeing it and dealing with the aftermath - but she sure didn't have to like it.

"That guy's not going to be able to see in the morning," Kathy said.

Anna nodded in agreement. Danny had wrestled the River Kings member down and was relentlessly punching his face while Tim and the rest of The Shepard gang watched.

"What're they even fighting about?" Kathy asked, adjusting her winter hat.

"I think it has something to do with what a tramp Mary-Louise is."

"But Mary-Louise isn't a tramp."

Anna nodded again. "I know. She has a bad habit of finding herself in Danny's bed even though he dumped her, but I think that's more because she actually wants to be with Danny, rather than being easy."

"I thought Danny was seeing Shelley Winters?"

"He is … I think." Danny didn't talk to her about the girls he spent time with, and she never asked. It was a good system that worked for them both.

"You know, I heard the River Kings have been saying a lot of stuff like that." Kathy fidgeted in the cold night. "Apparently a few of them were hassling Angela Shepard the other night."

"That explains why Tim looks so happy about Danny kicking this guy's ass."

Kathy was silent for a moment, and they watched Danny stand up, wipe a bit of blood from his nose, and turn away from the guy on the ground. Anna let out a breath; he seemed to be fine.

"Wanna head inside?" Kathy finally asked.

Looking around the departing crowed, Anna nodded. "Did you see Two-Bit anywhere?"

"He's inside. Are you sure you're okay doing this with me?"

She wasn't sure. In fact, Anna thought she just might throw up. The flirting, the sweet-talking, and the make-up kisses hadn't started yet, but she knew it would happen and knew it would put her off any ice-cream soda she planned on having. She huffed, pulling her scarf tighter. Had she known why she was being treated to an ice-cream soda before she left the house, she probably wouldn't have come.

"Let me get this straight," she began, searching for a way out. "You broke up with Two-Bit just last week, but now you want him back?"

"Shocking, isn't it? Who would've thought I'd ever do something crazy like take Two-Bit back?"

Anna raised an eyebrow at that, though she did appreciate that Kathy's sarcasm was at her own expense.

"I just thought you would've waited more than a week before goin' back to him."

"I have, thank you very much," Kathy snapped. She crossed her arms over her chest, and grudgingly continued. "It was a week on Wednesday."

"Right." Anna smirked. "Didn't you say he got into another fight yesterday?"

"Yes."

"And isn't his fighting why you broke up with him last week?"

Kathy sighed. "Yes."

"Then why do you want to get back together with him?"

"Because he got into a fight yesterday …"

Anna frowned, watching Kathy, but staying silent. Still frowning, she looked back at Danny. He was talking to Tim and Henry Phillips and he seemed fine. She wanted to be the little sister she was and make sure he was okay, but she wouldn't dare.

"Kathy," she finally said, "you realise that makes no sense?"

"Yeah, except it makes perfect sense. I love Two-Bit, and I know he … well, I usually know he loves me …" she trailed off, fidgeting with her hat again. "But I always know that he needs me, and that's why I'm getting back together with him."

"I see."

"Do you?"

Anna shrugged. "Kinda. Did he really almost get suspended yesterday?"

"You heard about that? Glory, he didn't even care. Two-Bit loves school, but he just kept provoking Mr. Clements until he was ready to suspend him," Kathy said. "That was the third fight he'd been in since I broke up with him last week. Before then, it was one fight a week - at the most. I know it sounds stupid, but he needs me."

Anna couldn't deny that. Where Two-Bit was carefree and easy-going, Kathy was sensible and calm. Her dry humour blended well with his obvious humour, and they seemed to balance each other out. If there was anything Two-Bit needed lately, it was balance.

"It doesn't sound stupid," she said. "It actually makes sense, once you explain it like that."

"So you understand why I have to try and get back together with him?"

"Yeah." Fingers fiddling with the necklace she was wearing, Anna looked through the window of the Dingo. Two-Bit was sitting inside with Steve. "But why do I have to come?"

"Because I'm your best friend and you'd do anything for me?"

She smirked. "But what exactly am I doing for you here?"

Kathy took her hat off to run her fingers through her curls. "He might say no."

"Who? Two-Bit?"

"Yeah."

Anna glanced back at the booth Two-Bit was sitting in. "I doubt it."

"He might, though!" Kathy said, digging through her purse. She hurriedly opened her compact and applied some lip-gloss, smacking her lips together when she was done. She couldn't seem to stay still, and Anna knew it was because she was nervous. "I dumped him last week. If that's not the perfect reason to get anything he can out of me - and by anything, I mean some form of begging - then I don't know what is."

"You really think he'd do that?"

"Yes. No. I don't know." She sighed. "Maybe? It's not completely unlikely; you know how he's been acting lately."

Anna wondered if Kathy meant his constant need to argue with everyone, the crappy way he had been treating her, or his general asshole behaviour. She decided against asking; Kathy looked frustrated enough as it was, and it wouldn't surprise her if she meant all three. Anna herself had experienced all three coming from Two-Bit in the last few months. Kathy blamed it on Johnny and Dallas dying.

"It'd be pretty unfair if he decides to act like a jerk about it," she said. "I mean, you're trying to get back together with him for his sake."

"Well, I mean, I might kind of miss him, too." Kathy blushed, continuing in a hurry. "And anyway, we all knew it'd happen eventually, right? It always does."

Anna smirked again; she couldn't deny that. "So I'm here in case he says no? In case he decides to act like even more of a jerk than usual?"

"Something like that. The last thing I want is to be turned down by Two-Bit for the first time, and be by myself and in the middle of the Dingo. But it's not like I can ask him to go somewhere and talk; I'm gonna go for casual here, you know?" She looked at Anna, who nodded because it seemed like the right thing to do to help Kathy's nerves. "Casual. A bit of flirting just to see where we stand."

"Flirting. Right."

"Okay." Kathy took a breath, putting her hat back on. "Okay.

"It'll be fine." Anna reached up and adjusted Kathy's hat for her, not sure she'd ever seen her so nervous about flirting with Two-Bit. Though, with his moods lately, she could understand. She threw Kathy a grin. "Just try not to be too sickeningly cute with your flirting."

"So, you'll come?"

"Of course."

Kathy frowned, gaze travelling from Anna to the Dingo and back again. "Steve's car is in the parking lot."

Anna's stomach tightened. "I know."

"He's in there with Two-Bit."

"I know."

"And that's okay?"

No. "It'll be fine."

"Are you sure? I mean, if you really don't want -

Anna cut her off. "You don't have to worry. Me and Steve haven't fought in months. It's not gonna be a problem."

Kathy looked doubtful, but nodded anyway. "Okay … just give me a few minutes."

XXXXX

The fight had been good, and despite getting his ass kicked from him a few months back, Steve had been rooting for Danny Harris. He might not like the guy - and he knew those feelings were returned and then some - but after the run-in Two-Bit'd had with the River Kings last week, Steve would take anyone's side over theirs.

Though, in truth, he'd missed the end of Danny's fight when he'd noticed Kathy standing at the edge of the crowed. His mouth had gone dry, and he knew if Kathy was somewhere without Two-Bit, then she'd be with Anna. She was. It had put him in a shitty mood since, and he'd dragged Two-Bit inside seconds after the fight was over.

Steve looked up from his Coke when Two-Bit laughed. He was telling George Silvers some joke he'd made up about a greaser, a cop, and a priest who all walked into a bar. Steve didn't bother listening - he'd heard the joke twice already - but couldn't help remembering when Two-Bit had tried telling Mr. Clements the same joke yesterday afternoon. After being caught fighting, changing the cop in the joke to a high school vice-principal hadn't been Two-Bit's best idea.

Neither had the fight that had started the whole thing, or the fight at Buck's over the weekend, or the fight with that twitchy guy from the River Kings last week. In fact, most of the fights Two-Bit found himself in these days were bad ideas. So were most of the smart-ass comments he made and all of the rude hand gestures he gave.

But, according to grinning Two-Bit, it didn't matter so long as he won the fights.

"That's terrible, Two-Bit," George muttered, standing from his seat.

"Sure is." Two-Bit laughed. He turned to Steve once George was gone. "Shit, man. You see the right-hook Harris laid into that guy?"

Steve scowled. "Yes." He also remembered that right-hook smashing into his own face back in July.

"That guy was small," Two-Bit said. "Never stood much a chance, but it makes you wonder why he'd pick a fight with Danny in the first place."

Steve shrugged, not caring.

"Oh, hey. Will ya look at that," Two-Bit continued. He was looking at something over Steve's shoulder.

Steve looked. His heart clenched. He dragged his gaze back to Two-Bit. "Doesn't Kathy usually avoid you when you're broken up?"

"Sure does. Especially if she broke up with me. Maybe she don't know I'm here."

She knew. She'd caught Steve's gaze outside side and glared at him until Anna had started talking to her.

"My car's right outside," he said, "and I think she saw us while Danny was fighting."

"Huh." Two-Bit grinned, slapping the table. "Hey, maybe this means she's ready to forgive and forget."

"You really think so?"

Two-Bit sighed. "I doubt it. It's only been a week."

As though he didn't have a choice in the matter, Steve glanced over his shoulder, watching Anna and Kathy talk with Linda Jones and Terry Armstrong.

"Maybe you should go talk to her." Steve frowned … or maybe they should leave and not look back.

"I dunno …" Two-Bit continued to stare at Kathy's car for a moment before looking back at Steve. "She looked pretty pissed off yesterday when I got my years worth of detentions."

"Buddy, I don't think she'd ever speak to you again if you got a years worth of detentions."

"You ain't kiddin'." Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow and scratched the back of his head. "You think I should go talk to her?"

"I dunno. You think she'll wanna talk to ya?"

"Maybe that's why she's here."

"You think so?"

"Well, if it's not then I might as well use this to my advantage, right?"

"I guess." Steve looked toward Anna to see her and Kathy heading in their direction. He swallowed. "Maybe here's your chance."

Two-Bit looked up. "Anna! Lovely to see you, as always."

Anna only smirked in reply and Steve wished she'd say something. Anything. It had been too damn long since he'd heard her voice. He frowned, wishing his thoughts weren't as pathetic as they were.

She sure looked pretty, though. Cold, but pretty. He couldn't help but stare as he waited for Two-Bit make his move.

"How's it goin', Beautiful?"

Kathy smiled, and Steve knew it wouldn't be long before Two-Bit had her back. "It's goin' okay."

"Why don't you ladies take a seat? Plenty of room for everyone."

Anna didn't need to glare at him. She didn't need to glare at Two-Bit. She didn't even need to frown at the situation. The way she hesitantly sat herself in the seat George had been sitting in, rather than sitting in the roomy booth next to Steve told him exactly how much she didn't want to be there. Steve watched her do it, but said nothing.

Two-Bit slipped his arm along the back of the booth, fingers barely touching Kathy's shoulder. "It's only going okay?"

She shrugged. "It could be better."

"Huh." Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow. "Anything I can do to make it better?"

Kathy met Two-Bit's cocked eyebrow with one of her own. She was silent for a moment as she glanced at Anna then back at Two-Bit. "There could be," she said.

Steve looked at Anna, watching her as she watched Kathy. She didn't look at him - not a single glance in his direction - but she sure did fidget a lot. It killed him how close they were; close enough for him to reach out and touch her, but still too fucking far away.

"Oh yeah?" Two-Bit gave Kathy a grin. "I thought after yesterday you wouldn't talk to me for a good couple of weeks. At least."

"As tempting as not speaking to you was, I figured it was only putting off the inevitable." Kathy frowned, and Two-Bit scooted closer. "I don't like being annoyed with you, Two-Bit."

Two-Bit grinned. "And maybe you missed me a little?"

"Maybe a little."

"Maybe we should get together later and … get reacquainted."

Steve smirked, Anna laughed, and Kathy blushed, shoving Two-Bit.

"Two-Bit! You can't just say things like that in the middle of the Dingo." She was laughing, even as she said it.

Two-Bit leaned closer to whisper something to her just as Danny turned up at their booth, looking no worse for wear after his fight. He glared at Steve and Steve smirked back.

"You want a ride, kid?" he asked Anna.

"Um …" She looked like she wanted to say yes as she glanced at Kathy.

"We won't be here much longer," Kathy said.

Anna nodded and looked at Danny. "I'll just see you at home," she said, playing with the necklace around her neck.

Danny nodded, throwing another glare at Steve before leaving. Steve looked at Anna, but she still wouldn't look at him. He couldn't blame her, really, but the silence between them as Kathy and Two-Bit whispered plans to meet tomorrow night, definitely sucked.

This - the few feet between them - was the closest he'd been to her since the night Johnny and Dallas had died. His fingers might itch to reach out and touch her now just as much as they had then, but he wouldn't do it this time. He wasn't going to do anything to ruin the peace that they'd managed recently. Instead he'd just openly watched her … and she still wouldn't look at him.

Finally, she stood. "Maybe I'll just wait in the car."

"No, I'm ready to go," Kathy said, struggling out of Two-Bit's grasp.

Anna smirked, grabbing the keys out of Kathy's hand. "It's okay. You finish up here; I'll go talk to Henry and George."

Steve watched her go, not sure how he felt about their first interaction in months.

XXXXX

"My brother would kill you if he knew half the things you say to me."

Henry smirked. "Your brother thinks I'm great. Told me so himself."

"Is that right?" Anna grinned. "You really think he'd still think that if he knew you flirted with me nearly every day?"

Normally, she wouldn't dare be that bold around a boy. She wasn't shy - far from it - but admitting that she knew Henry was flirting with her just wasn't the kind of thing a girl was supposed to do. She was supposed to be coy and subtle because that's what girls did. Anna smirked; unless that girl was Evie, of course.

But when it came to Henry Phillips, being coy and subtle was pointless. He was open and eager and obvious … with every girl he met. Though, lately, it had been particularly with Anna and no other girls. She didn't miss the way he looked at her or the way every word he said to her seemed to have a deeper meaning than the obvious. What she was missing was the deeper meaning. Kathy seemed to think Henry wanted to date her, but Anna wasn't so sure. For all she knew, Henry just liked to make her blush.

"Anna, your brother would kick my ass if he knew how often I flirted with you, and then he'd make Tim kick me out of the gang, and then he'd kick my ass again." Henry frowned. "Makes you wonder why I continue to do it when you always turn me down."

"I'm not sure it's possible to turn down anything that hasn't been offered." The words spilled out of her mouth before she thought it through, and she could've slapped herself for it. She didn't want Henry offering her anything. Flirting was fine and most definitely enough.

Henry grinned, but Kathy turned up before he could say anything in reply.

"I'm so sorry," she said, looking flushed.

Anna glanced behind her to see Steve and Two-Bit talking. "It's okay. You and Two-Bit get everything sorted?"

"Yes, and I'm sure I've made the right choice."

Henry took a step back. "I think it might be time to leave you ladies alone," he said, still grinning. "Anna, I'll see you in science tomorrow."

She waved, then looked at Kathy. "So, you made the right choice?"

"Yes. I wasn't sure, because … well, anyway, he was a lot sweeter than I expected."

"Yeah, I noticed you went from casual flirting to letting him think he could make it better."

Kathy blushed. "Yeah, well. He has a way with words, okay? And I have trouble saying no to him -"

"No kidding."

"- but he means the words he say; I know that. And, hey, at least it wasn't awkward."

Anna frowned. She wasn't sure there was anything more awkward that watching Kathy and Two-Bit flirt. "Huh?"

"You and Steve," Kathy said, as though it were obvious. "I mean, it wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't awkward."

"Yeah, that's true," Anna said, even as her stomach dropped.

Two-Bit arrived then, throwing an arm around Kathy's shoulders. Anna looked past him to see Steve heading toward his car.

"So, we on for tonight?"

Anna wondered what had happened to their plans for tomorrow night, but Kathy ignored her smirk. "Yes."

"Good." He turned to Anna. "Hey, how long's it been since you and Stevie talked?"

"What're you asking me for?" And what the hell was with everyone talking about Steve tonight?

"Well, I'd ask Stevie, but he doesn't talk about you. Ever."

She pushed back the crushing feeling in her chest. Ever? "Oh."

Two-Bit seemed to realise his mistake just as Kathy elbowed him in the ribs. Not that Anna even realised what his mistake was. Steve not talking about her wasn't a big deal, and there was no reason for the frown on her face or the way she couldn't meet Two-Bit's gaze. Hell, it wasn't as though she ever talked about him anymore. In fact, she tried her best to not even think about him.

"Hey now, I wouldn't take it personally," Two-Bit said, trying to fix his mistake. "I'm pretty sure how little he talks about you is just to balance out how often he thinks about you … which is a lot."

She was sick of this conversation. "Last time we talked was … I guess it was the night - the night of the rumble."

Two-Bit's eyebrow rose. "You saw him that night?"

"Yeah."

"Huh. Steve never said anything."

She wasn't surprised. If he hadn't been willing to tell Evie about that night - something that had eventually caused their break-up - then it wasn't likely he'd told Two-Bit either. But it didn't matter, anyway. She didn't care.

Two-Bit left then, promising to pick Kathy up later that night, and Kathy ran inside to use the bathroom, promising they'd leave in just a minute. Left alone, Anna shivered, refusing to think about what Two-Bit had said.

"You know, if you'd just let me take you home when I'd offered, you wouldn't've had to wait in the cold for those two to finish up."

She turned to see Henry had come back and was standing much closer than necessary. "Well, I'm not sure I could trust you to just drive me home. Not after all that flirting."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Henry said, and she smiled.

She was happy for his distraction, but as she answered, her gaze slid across the parking lot to find Steve watching her, deep scowl on his face.

Honey, this town is a prison,
With it's four walls closing in.

A/N: Thanks to RileysMomma for beta-reading.

All feedback is appreciated :)