Looking at the size of the bag in Darry's hand, Dal let out a low whistle. "Christ kid, you rob your brother before you bolted or something?"

Ignoring Dally, I held Darry's eye contact as if we were the only two people in the room.

"Dar it's not what it looks like." His eyes narrowed. He was no longer thinking only like an older brother - now the premature parenting role that life had forced on him was coming into play.

"Are you sure? Because it looks like you were planing on running away from the same situation you refused to let me call social services about. I mean seriously Lexi, what the hell were you thinking." Even though I was being read the riot act, a shadow of smile crept its way onto my face. "Am I funny to you?" Darry paused his tirade long enough to call out my change I demeanor.

I shook my head softly as I responded. "No, it's just been awhile since anyone's actually cared enough to lecture me for doing something dangerous."

Silence struck the room, until a quiet voice unexpectedly spoke up from behind me.

"Um Darry, I'm sorry about always complaining about you always being on my case. I didn't realize." Ponyboy may have trailed off at the end of his sentence, but the meaning of his sentence wasn't lost on anyone.

"Don't mention it little man. We're a family that's learning as we go. We'll always have each other's backs." Even though Darry didn't speak much to his brothers comment, the normal protective iciness of his blue-green eyes was replaced by a youthful warmth. While taking a deep breath, Darry came to sit next to me. "As for you little lady, if it's not what it looks like, than what is it? What were you planning to do, by yourself, with this much money."

"Sometimes..." searching for the right words, I changed my approach. "Bryce always has a temper, but when it fully flares it flares into more than a slap and an insult." With a steady breath, I tried to calm my unease before continuing. "Every now and then, rather than face his wrath right away, I've found it better to get away and lay low. Sometimes I've been able to crash at my friends places." As I spoke I put friends in air quotations because none of my soc friends were real friends in my eyes. My relationship with them was superficial: I benefited because it made Bryce happy and they benefited because they got closer to super soc's like Bryce.

"And if you didn't stay with your friends?" The hidden accusation in Darry's voice made my eyes drop.

"I've had my pick of places. The empty lot, park, really anywhere I knew Bryce wouldn't think to check. But I swear to ya, it's only ever been for a day or two tops."

"You tellin' us you've spent nights on our side of town, by yourself, with a bag of money and lived to tell the tale," Two asked incredulously.

"This was the first time I've had money with me, at least this much. Normally I'll have just enough on me to grab a few meals, but tonight I panicked. Bryce had just sent me upstairs to change into something acceptable for company, meaning more like a social, when I heard him letting Max and Jacob in. I knew they were gonna rat on me, and well one thing led to another and now it's good I at least got some money since I no longer have a home."

I let out a yawn. With my adrenaline gone, and my fear and unease baring down on me, exhaustion was sinking in.

"We'll let you get some rest kid, and tomorrow we'll get this all sorted out with social services." What Darry likely thought was a comforting comment to make, made me feel like someone had spiked my bloodstream with a second round of adrenaline.

"Darry you can't call them."

"I can and I will. You're sure as hell not going back to Bryces' and you're only 15, so it's not like there's another option out there for ya."

"You don't understand. If you call them, Bryce will jump y'all and then kill me."