When I stepped out into the chilled winter breeze, there was but one thing on my mind: My best friend.
Her name was Hannah. She was tall, dirty blonde hair, your average couldn't find more of a Soc anywhere in town. She was pretty, I guessed, but I had seen her without makeup before, and trust me, it sure didn't look like her.
I was on my way to her house, right after school. We didn't live very far apart, just a couple of blocks away. I zipped up my jacket and trudged through the cold weather. Along the way, I passed a DX station, and figured I should stop and catch a smoke there, because Hannah didn't smoke, or know I did. It was better that way. One time I was talking to her and I was messing around with her and told her I was smoking. She decided it'd be a good ideal to tell her other frinds I was smoking, so then I realized if I ever did smoke to not tell Hannah.
As I walked up to the station, I saw one guy-no, two guys, one was behind the car-washing a car.
I felt awkward as I approached them, because I knew they were greasers. And Socs and greasers didn't mix. At all. It just wasn't a good idea. I didn't know why, or who decided it was like that, but it just was. Nobody really understood greasers and Socs. Greasers were white trash, had old, dirty clothes on all the time, you get the picture. But a Soc was the well privilaged, we had nice clothes, never wore a dirty outfit, but we were still white trash. Some adults understood. But they were too quick to make a decision on which one was better, they never really took the time to think about it. That was what really irked me, like they didn't care, it's like they knew their kids were being raised in the ghetto or something, but didn't care enough to get involved with it. Adults thought the greasers were the outsiders of the bunch, not taking sides, not being classified, and some thought the greasers were, being kicked around and never being honestly thought about. But now I realize, it was the Socs who were the true outsiders. The greasers got along with the no class's. Mostly. They never really fought at least. We could squish those two together. But us Socs, we didn't want anything to do with anyone but other Socs. I didn't know why. I still don't get it.
As I got closer, I saw the features of the two boys. They both looked around 16, was tall, and had a weird, serious looking face, while the other had a really doll looking face. I didn't realize then, but that was the cutest thing I had ever seen. Socs weren't cute, at least boys. I thought the greasers were always the really good looking kids. I didn't want to tell anyone that though, because my friends would hate me.
Once I got close enough, they narrowed their eyes at me."You here to jump us?"The cute one asked."'Cuz we ain't scared of you."
I just laughed. You learned to play it cool if you wanted to stay on the greasers good side, because they got really roared up if you messed with them.
"I'm not going to jump you, I'm by myself. And have you ever had a girl jump you before?"I bit my lip in a kindof flirty way. That was how I got by with a lot of stuff."They'd know better, you're too tough looking."
I let the bait sink in, and finally, the cute one sighed and wiped his greasy hands on his shirt."What can I do for you?"he asked in an exasperated tone.
I smiled."I just wanted to bum a ciggarette."
He raised an eyebrow."You smoke?"
Oh yeah, that was another thing. Most Socs don't smoke."No, I just asked for a ciggarette to make you mad. I wouldn't be wasting my time with you all. Look, I'll buy one."Their eyes flashed.
"You going to say anything dip wads?"I was getting impatient here.
He nodded and handed me a hole pack. As I reached for my back pocket, he stopped me."On the house."
"Thanks."I lit my ciggarette and smiled."Care if I hang here for a few?"
"What's a Soc want with us?"
I blew smoke in his face and he coughed."I want to come home with you and get some. No,"I chuckled, seeing both of their eyes get wide. It sure was easy to embarass greasers."I'm on my way to my friends house, and she doesn't smoke, so I just need to stay away."
"Sure. What's your name?"
Ugh. That. My name wasn't terrible. Everybody says they love it. But I hated introducing myself for the first time. Everyone thinks it's different. Why? "Celeste."
They looked at me."Really?"
"Don't say anything."I muttered and took a draw from my ciggarette.
"No, it's p-"
"I said, don't say anything. I've heard it all before."
The cute one shrugged and continued."My names Soda. That's Steve."He sprayed his friend with the water hose.
I nodded."Do you all work here everyday?"I asked.
"Not on weekends."
"Good, I might need more ciggarettes later if my dad keeps yelling at me like he does."
Their eyes flashed, but with what, I couldn't say.
"Where you headed?"Soda asked me.
"A friends house."
"Can I give you lift? My shifts almost over."
"Neah, it's only a block or so farther."
"Oh, okay. Well, it's been nice talking to you Celeste."
He said it right.
"Same here Soda. And Steve."
"You remind me of my friend , you both just joke around a lot."
"Oh. The funniest person I know is my step-brother. I don't care if it's a funeral, he would mutter something about money or the sky or something, but the funniest thing is he would have a link to what he was saying, so if you said it was random, he would be all like, nuh uh, I saw the ground which made me wonder why it was below instead of above us, and if it was above us, would we still walk on our feet or what? He's a greaser, you might know him."I didn't say it like "greaser, greaser,", I just used it as a classification.
"Sure, what's his name?"Steve asked me.
"Keith."I said solidly.
They gave me an incredulous look."Oh hell."Soda said.
"Are you kidding me?"Steve exclaimed.
They lost me."Huh?"
"Two-Bit is Keiths nickname. Is he short, loves Mickey Mouse and Chocolate cake?"Soda asked and I just nodded bewildered.
"That's good ol' Two-Bit."
So they knew my step-brother. That means there was a good chance that they had been to my house.
"Every gone to any house with Kei-Um, Two-Bit?"
They laughed."No, he bums around our house all the time."
I nodded."He ain't been to my house in a long time."I looked at the sky and it was almost dark."Shit!I'll never make it to Hannahs now!"
"You aren't thinkin' of walking over there alone are you? Because just 'cuz your a Soc don't mean you won't get jumped.
"No."I said slowly.
Soda looked at Steve, and Steve looked back at Soda, then Soda looked at me."Oh no,"Steve said.
"Why not?"Soda said indignantly.
"She's a Soc!"
"What?"
"Stupid West-Side Soc."Steve mumbled.
"Hey! Don't hate me because you ain't me. Cool it."
Soda stared and then put his arm carelessly around me.
"Don't cry, I can't stand it if a girl cries. Don't listen to Steve neither."
"One:I ain't going to cry. Two:Better take your arm from around me, if my boyfrind finds out he'll woop your ass."
He just laughed and did as was told. "You boyfriend must be lucky."
That was a thouchy subject. Dallas...he was a douche. I'm not lying. He was mean and he hit me all the time.
"I only date him to fit in. Not because I like is mean."
"D-Dallas?"Steve stuttered.
"Yeah, why, you know him too?"
They were quiet.
"No. We had a friend named Dallas."
That was all they said and I didn't say anything either, with the way they said "had".
Just then a worker(maybe more the boss) stepped out of the entrance and yelled,"Quit'n time, get outa here."
They howled and turned off their hoses.
"So, you wanna come by our-"
"I said no!"
"Why, it ain't your house anyways!"
"It isn't yours neither."
"Well, I don't care what you say, I'm at least giving her a ride back to her house."
Soda led me to his car and I got in.
He shut the door and went around the front of the car, not taking his eyes off me, and he slipped in oil. I chuckled."I'm alright."He muttered.
"He sure does hate me doesn't he?"I asked Soda.
"Everyone does."He said blankly.
"You do?"
He shook his head."No, not me, but everyone that's not as good as you does."
"So you mean all the greasers?"I didn't mean that. I realized too late what I had said.
"Just get out if your gonna be like that!"
"I didn't mean that."
"I they don't like you because you all are mean. You jump passersby."
I was angered."I do not. My friends, maybe. Not ME though."
He snorted."Right, because your too pretty to get blood or something on you."
I ignored the Soc jibe."Turn left."
We drove mostly in silence after that until we pulled up.
"Big time Soc house huh?"
"Would you please cut it out?"I asked politely.
"Sorry, force of habit."
I went to step out of the car before he stopped me."Hey, I've been thinking, if your a Soc, how is Two-Bit a grease?"
That was easy. No rhyme or reason to it really."His dad lives in the East. He's only here when he has it with his dad."
"Okay, just ask Two-Bit where I live if your dad ever kicks you out or welcome to stay there."
I blinked, not knowing if I would ever take him up on his offer."Thanks."I stepped out and ran to the door. Once I was inside, I couldn't help thinking,'Will I ever have something to tell Keith!'