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You loved him, despite that. He held you down like your wrists would snap like twigs. He was gentle and slow when he rocked into you. Evan was gentler than any man had ever been with you, but it wasn't just the sex that was nice. He was interesting, and he had so many scars and last minute tattoos to tell stories about; with a boyish grin to lure you in.

You liked him. He liked you. Naturally, he propsed within a month of the two of you meeting each other, and the next thing you knew, you were officially eloped (because, believe it or not, your parents would never have approved of the marriage).

It was just you and him as each other's only company, really.

♰

The dark expanse of forest stared back at you, the birch trees climbing high towards the night sky, crickets chirping in tall blades of grass. You sat in Evan's lap, the two of you settled in a rickety porch chair as you picked at the sleeve of your moth bitten hoodie. Evan rested his chin on your shoulder and gently bopped his head to the music.

Evan's Pearl Jam CD was spinning in the player you brought from your old house that wasn't a place you couldn't call home anymore. It was nice.

The two of you started to get into the flow of an idle conversation about summer, and your lives before whatever this was.

"You're telling me you've never shot a gun?" You shook your head, biting back a grin as he looked at you incredulously.

"Never. My daddy never took me hunting, only my brother."

"We gotta change that. Grab my rifle."

"What? Now?" You stammered out.

"Yeah, now."

You sighed, leaning forward to grab the rifle that was perched against the porch rails in front of you. He sure was insistant sometimes.

As you tried to stand up with the rifle in your arms, Evan grabbed your waist as you tried to pry yourself away and dragged you back into his lap. He tutted under his breath, "Stay here. Gotta show you how to shoot."

You froze, perched on his lap as he wrapped his arms around you. With both hands on top of yours (which were settled on the rifle) Evan hauled the gun so that it was in the correct position. One hand on the trigger, one on the barrell of the gun.

Evan chuckled. He bumps the side of your head with his, much like a pair of bisons. "Feels good, right?"

"I don't- I don't really know." Was it supposed to feel good?

"I always feel a rush of something when I'm out hunting. Adrenaline, hunger, fear, it's all there. Anyways-" Evan squeezes your hands, urging you to grip the gun tighter. "You wanna keep still. I like to focus on a single point."

There's something rustling in a bush a few metres away from you. Your eyes flicker from the side of Evan's focused expression, to what emerged from the foliage.

A small brown rabbit hopped in view, sniffing around the dead brown grass that bled into the dry dirt.

"Look o'er there sweetheart, we got a little target." Evan chuckled, and you could hear the grin forming in his voice.

Your breath hitched. "Target? You want me to shoot that thing?"

"What'd ya think the gun is for, dolly? Propped up to look pretty? She's for fixin' our next meal."

You didn't want to shoot it. It looked back at you with its beady eyes, wide and harmless. You looked at it with an understanding, and fear. Fear that you would shoot it dead, fear that you would enjoy it.

"'S just aimin' practice. Rabbits are skittish things, it'll run off as soon as you pull that trigger." There was a growl edging his words. Softness teetering on erratic, you wonder what's getting him so riled up. It was nothing more than a small bunny that strayed from its burrow.

Evan takes a hand off your hand on the barrel to lift his cigarette off the ashtray next to you. He blows the smoke upwards right next to you, with his chin still on your shoulder. His finger still lies on top of your on the gun trigger, adjusting itself every few seconds. Your heart jumps at every shift in pressure.

You can't control your breathing, your chest feels so heavy; it's as if its about to burst. You couldn't do it. Your aim is trembling at the barrel with how much your hands are shaking. "I- I can't. Evan-"

As you start to tilt the rifle down. Evan chucks his stub of cigarette into the ash tray, his hands grasping the barrel and lifting it back up to line up with the rabbit.

"Shit, you really need me to do everything for you, huh?" Evan grinned like you'd never seen him grin before. Cocky in a way he'd never really been before, as much of an asshole he could be sometimes. "I've got it, sweet thing. Watch this."

He leaned back into the rickety plastic chair, dragging you along with him, so your back was pressed against his chest. Evan adjusted his grip once, licking his front teeth. You brace yourself as you feel him tap on your finger that now felt glued to the trigger with sweat.

With a moment of hesitation, Evan pulled the trigger, and a wave of shock pulsed through you as the bullet whizzed out of the barrel--- and then it was over. The rabbit collapsed onto the cold October groud, perfect fur coat ruined with sticky blood. Your short gasp comes out all collapsed and rattling, you don't know what else to do other than slump further against Evan's chest.

Evan chuckled, resting the rifle on the ground between both of your legs. He lazily rests his head against the side of your sweaty cheek.

~~

The lunch in Ponyboy’s mouth tasted acutely similar to a steaming pile of dog crap.

He scowled, swallowing down his sandwich.

Across the cafeteria, you were talking to, and giggling at a boy. And that wasn’t even the worst part.

This creature had an aura, one that certainly wasn’t positive to Pony, and nor would it be to the other Curtis boys.

Would Ponyboy face you up front about it? Of course not. He was looking out for you, sure, but he also had twin duties to keep up with.

So the second Darry and Soda got home from work, Ponys mouth was running faster than his legs could.

“She’s got a boyfriend! And he looks like a real creep!”

Darry raised his brows silently, watching you tackle Pony. The two of you tousled for a good minute, until Sodapop yanked Ponyboy off of you.

“Quit it. Pony ya just being over-protective.”

The younger boy squirmed in Sodas hold.

“Invite him ‘round for dinner,” Darry spoke up finally. “I wanna see for myself.”

You huffed, sitting up with a scowl. “Ain’t nothing to see!”

“Liar!”

This time Darry caught you before hell could break loose again.

~~

“He should be here by now…” 

Your eyes rested on the nearby clock, as your boyfriend grew more tardy by each tick.

Pony gave a triumphant look to Darry and Soda, which you noticed and kicked his shin from underneath the table.

Finally, 30 minutes later than anticipated, there was a sharp knock at the door.

You bounded up, racing to open the door with a large smile.

The boy, Brian, at the door grunted, sidestepping you as you attempted to hug him.

Darry had appeared behind you silently, holding out a hand to Brian, who shook it and mumbled an introduction.

“Pleasure.” Darry deadpanned, moving back to the kitchen to where Pony was scowling and Soda was smiling slightly.

“Ain’t seem that bad, Pony. Maybe a bit bland..”

“No, no, no. He is evil. Trust me.” Sodapop chuckled again at Ponys warning.

You led Brian in, yapping excitedly about your day, although he was clearly not listening, an openly annoyed expression on his face.

The three brothers shared a silent look, before Darry started dishing up everyone’s meal

From that night, Darry noted that your boyfriend constantly seemed bored or bothered by you. 

Soda saw how he subtly tried to control you, with where or how you sat. 

And Pony noticed he was a mouth breather, which was obviously the worst sign.

~~

A few days after that unimpressive night, you burst through the front door with tears streaming down your face as you made a beeline for your bedroom.

Dally and Johnny, who’d crashed on your couch, both jumped up, equally startled by your dramatic entrance.

Ponyboy raced in a few moments after you, panting for a moment then continuing his pursuit.

“C’mon, open the door! Tell me what’s wrong!”

He huffed, trying at the very locked door once again before slumping against the wall and sliding down to the floor.

“What’s up with her?” Dally asked from the end of the hall.

“Man, beats me.”

Pony grumbled, before burying his face into his hands. He was so stressed about you. You were usually so cheerful, quick to banger back with Pony.

But that afternoon, when he made a joke about Brian, all he got was tears.

Pony didn’t move from beside your door, listening to your muffled sniffles and sobs.

Thankfully Darry and Soda (and Steve) got home earlier than usual.

“Pony! Where’s your sister?” Darry called out.

“Didn’t kill her did ya?” Ponyboy finally looked up at Sodas words.

“She’s locked herself away, man. I said something about her boyfriend and— and now she’s bawling her eyes out.” By now Pony was holding his own tear back.

Soda tugged Pony to his feet, escorting him back out to the living room.

Darry knocked lightly on your door.

“Hey bub, you alright?”

There was some soft rustling, then the door clicked open and you lunged into his arms.

 You’d always been Darry’s little girl, having his protection and adoration since birth. Pony had Soda, and you had Darry.

You babbled for a moment, before you cleared your throat with a few coughs.

“Deep breaths, it’s okay…”

“He cheated! He kissed another girl, Dar.” You sniffled again, your lip shaking and glistening threatening to leak again.

Five pairs of greaser ears perked from down the hall.

“He’s an idiot, sugar.”

“I know! I know! I should’ve listened to Pony and steered clear…”

Darry shook his head, wiping a tear from your cheek. “It ain’t your fault. Don’t go blaming yourself, and you better not apologise for anything, okay?”

You nodded, promptly burying your face into your brother’s shoulder.

Darry guided you back to bed, before he met back up with the gang.

“Ya know where he lives, Pony?”

Ponyboy nodded, hesitantly murmuring an address. “Blue car out front.”

The Curtis gang filed out of the house, aside from Ponyboy who volunteered to watch over you.

It was safe to say that you never paid Brian a second thought ever again.

~~