I twirled my sun-bleached hair around my tan finger. School was out for the summer and I was hanging out with the gang at the Curtis house
Ponyboy was reading 'Gone With The Wind' again. He loved that book. Even when he wasn't reading, he was wrapped up in one of his many daydreams. Closest to my age, with only a few months separating us (he is younger), Ponyboy was a real sweetheart.
Johnny and Dally were talking about something on the sofa. Being the sweet and trustworthy girl I was, I knew Johnny was sweet on Dally. I was pretty sure Dally felt the same way, judging from the look in his eyes. I hoped I wasn't that obvious.
Sodapop and Steve were wrestling on the floor. Steve was winning, as usual. He had Soda pinned to the ground, and you knew he was enjoying it. Steve had dug Soda for awhile now, and everyone (except Soda) knew it. Soda's sun-lightened wheat gold hair was in his eyes as he desperately tried to flip Steve over. He never could.
Darry was in the kitchen, baking one of the famous Curtis-family chocolate cakes. Now, Darry ain't no world class cook, but his chocolate cakes are amazing. I'm not sayin' Sodapop ain't good (I love that he puts tons of sugar in the icing), but Darry's is the best.
Last, but by far not least, was Two-Bit. Two-Bit was sitting on the coffee table, drinking beer and watching Mickey. His obsession was pretty cute. With Mickey, I mean, not the beer. His gray eyes would get wide as he focused on the mouse and was almost impossible to get him to pay attention. I've known him for years; we're neighbors. He's a real sweetheart, at least to me. He can have a bad attitude, and I know he's been arrested a lot, and he loves his beer and fights a lot, but he is so sweet and is always trying to brighten everyone's day. His wisecracks are one of the reasons he's been in jail so many times. If he'd stop mouthing off to the fuzz, his number of offenses would probably be cut in half.
Even Two-Bit's drunken-ness wasn't much of a problem. The worst he had ever gotten was when he tried to kiss Ponyboy, but then he passed out cold on the couch. Pony retold the story to the gang, and Two-Bit actually blushed. I felt a mixture of hilarity and jealousy. Not of Two-Bit- he and I had gotten drunk together before, and as much fun as it was, I woke up with the world's most awful hangover the next day. I was in my bed, by myself, so I was pretty sure I hadn't done anything. I asked Two-Bit about it after the hangover wore off, and he was sure that we hadn't done anything.
"Hey, Lynni, you still with us?"
I flinched. I had been daydreaming as Darry's voice cut through the air. "Don't call me Lynni," I responded automatically. "You've known me for years. It's Marilyn."
"Shoot, Lynni," Two-Bit said with a grin. He could call me whatever he wanted, so I didn't say anything. I knew I was blushing. "I don't think you were listening at all. How unusual."
"I swear, you were as bad as Pony right there," Darry laughed, ruffling said brother's hair as he spoke.
I tried to grin. "Sorry guys. What did you say?"
"I was asking if anyone wanted to go to the movies with me," Darry repeated. "It's my day off."
"I guess I'll come," Two-Bit said lazily. "Mess up my drinking schedule, but-"
"Aw, shut up, Two-Bit," Steve said, rolling his eyes. "All you ever do is get drunk.
Sodapop and I'll come. Won't we Soda?"
Soda nodded, a grin slowly spreading across his god-like face. "That new Paul Newman is playing."
"In that case, Johnny and I'll come too," Ponyboy spoke up. Johnny would never say so for himself.
"I'll come," Dally said, giving no explanation, but Johnny received a quick glance.
Everyone looked at me. I looked at Two-Bit as I spoke. "Yeah, I'll come too."
"Wow, everyone?" Darry said, kinda surprised. "I think that's a record."
"Well," Two-Bit said with a bored yawn. Mickey was obviously over. "I'm gonna go get drunk before the show. Anyone wanna join me?"
Everyone except me shook their heads. "I'll come," I said, standing up.
Pony and Johnny began to giggle. Two-Bit gave them a deadly glare. "Shut it," he hissed, trying to make it so only they could hear. I blushed again.
"Okay, baby," Two-Bit said, putting his strong arm around my shoulders. I was turning about forty shades of red, judging by the fact the whole gang was smirking at us. "Let's get a move-on."
I answered with a shaky grin, only to receive more smirks.
When we reached the bar, Two-Bit and I both pulled out our fake IDs to get in. We put them away after the guards checked them; we didn't have to flash our IDs every time we ordered a drink. Which was good, 'cause soon we'd be too drunk to even pull 'em out. I get drunk just as easily as Two-Bit. As much as I hate the hangover, the drinking part conquers all.
"The regular, Buck," Two-Bit ordered as he and I sat on a stool. "And give Marilyn the same."
I playfully hit his arm. "I can order for myself," I said, trying to be mad. But with Two-Bit, that was practically impossible. Good ol' Two-Bit.
When our drinks came, Two-Bit raised his glass. "To the gang," he toasted.
"I'll drink to that," I replied with a smile, raising my glass as well. I drank deeply, enjoying the familiar buzz. "So, seen any good blondes lately?"
Two-Bit finished his first glass off and ordered a second. Anyone else would have been shocked at how quickly he had drank that, but not me. I knew him too well. "Actually, yeah."
"Really?" I asked in mock surprise. Blondes were in short supply in our area (which made me feel real tuff), but Two-Bit always managed to find them. He lucked out having me for a neighbor. In our neighborhood, people don't want to waste money on curtains. I have to say, I felt pretty luck too. "What's she look like?"
"Well," Two-Bit said, sipping at his beer again. "She has sun-bleached blonde hair, is about a foot shorter than me, and doesn't wear much makeup."
"Sounds like a real babe," I muttered, half way through my second beer.
"She is," Two-Bit said, messing up his hair. "Thing is, she's about four years younger than me and therefore a minor."
"Mm-hmm?" I hummed as I finished my beer. I was getting drunk, and I knew it. Then I realized something. I asked casually, "Do ya know 'er name?"
"Yeah," Two-Bit whispered. "Her name is Marilyn. Marilyn Rumsey." He pulled me close to him and pressed our lips together. He tried to get me to open my mouth, and I happily obliged. He pressured some beer into my mouth and I swallowed, enjoying the taste. We pulled apart, gasping for air. I licked my lips.
Two-Bit banged his hand on the bar. "More alcohol!"
