Hartley Winston

Chapter 5

Quinn's POV

Dally and Two-Bit showed up after dinner.  Two-Bit, 20, was the last member of the gang.  His real name is Keith, but nobody, not even his mom, called him that.  He got his nickname cause he always has to put his two-bits.  He thinks he's hilarious and sometimes he is.  His gray eyes were always laughing and he loved his rust colored sideburns.  Two-Bit should finally be graduating high school this year.  He only went when he wasn't hungover.  Pretty sure he was only going 3 days a week.

Soda, Steve, Two-Bit, Kasey, and me were playing poker.  Dally and Ponyboy were on the couch, Pony giving him an update on Johnny.  Kasey and I both glared at him.  If he cared about Hart half as much as he cared bout Johnny; I bet she wouldn't be pregnant.  Just seeing him made my blood boil, "Quinnie," Soda snapped me out of my trance,"staying, raising, or folding?"

I stared at my hand...I had a straight, but it was a lower one, "I'll stay."  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dally joking with Pony and I saw red, "You're such a fuckin asshole, Winston."  I shoved my chair back, knocking it over.

Dallas was up a flash.  He grabbed the front of my shirt, "just because you're a Curtis don't mean I won't pound ya."

I kicked him in the nuts as hard as I could, "your head is shoved so far up your ass, you don't even get the damage you caused."  I kicked him again.

"Quin!" Darry grabbed me, "what the hell?  He demanded.  Dally laid on the floor, holding his balls.  "You ok, Dal?"

"You better have a good reason for doing that, young lady."  Great, Darry is using his "dad" voice.  I thought grumpily.

"Oh I do," I snapped back, "and he deserves a helluva a lot more!" I growled at him.  I ripped my arm out of Darry's grasp and went back to the poker game as if nothing happend.

Hartley's POV

I woke up to the sound of Quinn yelling at Dally.  I dragged myself out of bed and went into the living room.  Dally was pulling himself on the couch.  He looked like he was about ready to kill someone, "what's goin' on?"

"Quinn went ape on Dal," Steve didn't even bat an eye; like this happened all the time.

"You feeling better?" Darry asked me, all concerned.  Before I could answer, Dally asked what was wrong, "Hart just threw up a couple times."

He didn't say anything.  I felt tears prick my eyes, but nobody cries in front of the gang, unless there's a legit reason.

Quinn and Kasey both folded their hands and rushed to me.  Quinn pulled me into a hug and I collapsed into her, sobbing.  I was so scared.

Quinn's POV

When Hart fell into me, I lost my balance and we sank to the floor.  Kasey looked just as scared as I did, "just tell them," Hart sobbed into my shoulder. 

Kasey helped Hart up, "you tell 'em.  I got her."  Kasey didn't do well with confrontation unless she was pissed.  I, on the another hand, was used to it.  I mean, I have 3 brothers. 

I watched Kasey and Hart walk down the hallway.  Darry stood in the living room, arms folded across his chest.  Soda rushed to my side, Steve looked concerned, but Dally just sat on the couch.  "Aquinnah?" Soda whispered, softly.  He hardly ever used my full name, "hey, what's goin' on?"  He put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

I glared at Dally, "this is your fault and your dad's fault!" I stomped right over to Dally.  Darry stepped in front of me, putting himself in between me and Dally.  I widened my stance and crossed my arms over my, "Hartley's pregnant," if looks could kill, Dally would be dead, "she did anything she could to get you to give a shit!  When you didn't, she found it elsewhere.  If you had cared about her at least half as much as you care for Johnny, this wouldn't if happened!"

The room was so quiet, we could of heard a pin drop.  Nobody knew what to say.  I was so enraged that I was shaking.  Soda wrapped his arms around my trembling frame.  Dally stood and shoved his hands in his pockets, "I'm going for a walk."

"Of course you are," Kasey and Hartley entered the room, "run away..." Hart hissed at him, "run like you always do, you fuckin coward."