Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters/ locations- they all belong to the great S. E Hinton.
It was the same every night. You could set your watch by it. He'd be the first here, drinking alone 'enjoying his own company' as he put it. The place started to get busy around 9 o'clock but of course I didn't make my entrance until later, so everyone can watch me walk in. Well not that anyone really noticed anymore, well except Dallas. It not that I am the best looking woman in the place, far from it, but I always make the most effort. I always have the best hair, the shortest skirt and had the coolest friends. I am always the centre of attention. Not that I'm an attention seeking person, just if I make an effort I expect people to notice me. And boy had I made an effort tonight; new dress and a new hair cut. Well I say the dress was new but it was obviously second hand, still it was the first time I had worn it. Knowing I would be buying my first few drinks myself I went to the bar as Susan and Donna went to sit down. I tapped my perfectly manicured nails on the bar waiting to be served. Someone trapped me on my right shoulder so I looked over expecting to see one of the girls wanting a drink, but no one was there. I looked over my left shoulder to find a grinning Two- Bit.
"Hi, good looking!" he said in his usual overly friendly way. Actually I didn't mind Two-bit but he wasn't the type of guy you wanted to encourage- he was only after one thing. "Hi" I said looking over at him. As he was leaning casually on the bar he was staring at my hair, grinning suggestively. Well as suggestively as he could manage. "Blonde, huh? I like it". "I thought you would" I said as irritated as I could manage. I don't think it came off all that annoyed though as I had to look away slyly while saying it to hide the smile creeping up. Annoying as he could be he was the first to notice it, even Susan and Donna hadn't mentioned it. "Fancy buying me a drink?" Two-bit suddenly asked. So that's what he was after. He thinks he can give me a compliment and then get a drink. "No' I said as abruptly and turned my back on him.
As Sylvia made it clear the conversation was over in her oh-so–subtle way I decided to carry on mixing. But this wasn't an easy thing to do as it involved too many decisions. As the tête-à-tête with Sylvia showed I wanted a drink but I had no intention of waiting at the bar. Fridays were always too busy. Looking over at the table right in the corner where Steve and soda were sitting with Evie and Sandy it became clear that one of the guys would have to get up in the minute to get more drinks. If I went over now and casually sat with them they would have to ask if I wanted one when they went to the bar. I might even not have to ante up any money. But just as soon as I realised this the door swung open and in walked two of the most beautiful blondes in the world. Well maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, maybe they were just the most beautiful girls in Tulsa. Or thinking about it, maybe just the room. Looking around that room again... well they were girls and blonde so that would do. But see what I mean? Impossible decisions. Drink or girls? I decided that alcohol probably would make the girls the most beautiful in Tulsa for this evening at least, so headed over to Soda and Steve. The girls could wait. Looking over my shoulder as I went I saw Sylvia who still hadn't got her drink looking, well glaring at Dallas, who was sitting at the other side of the bar pretending not to have seen her. Some times I think someone needs to remind those two relationships are supposed to be fun. Mind you I'm not itching to be that person- I don't want a black eye, or in this case two. I'm not sure who I would rather be on the wrong side of Dallas or Sylvia.
As I reached the table Steve was just standing up to go to the the bar. I said nothing and smirked at him.
He sighed, faking annoyance "perfect timing Two-bit". "I aim to please" I said as I sat down. Steve just rolled his eyes and walked off in the direction of the bar.