Nikola Reed's POV
"I can't believe you!" I stared at my mom who was standing with her new 'husband'. "You promised we would stay here." I shot a look at him. At least he looked scared and a little embarassed.
"Well I lied," she said calmly. Never had I hated my mother more. I grabbed my jacket and went to march out when a hand stopped me.
"Where do you think you're going?" my mom asked bossily.
"I'm going to Buck's," I hissed. I was stopped again by the guy handing me a couple of dollars.
"I know I don't have a place to say it," he said uncomfortably. "But don't make a habit of going there." I took the dollars off him and looked him up and down. Old enough to be my dad but he wasn't a dead beat shit head that took off with another woman. He was a Soc, that was why mom wanted to move out. Big house, loads of money. He had blonde hair, blue eyes. I didn't like him.
"You're right," I glared at him, plucking the money from his hand. "You don't."
"Okay then," he nodded. "I'll give you ten extra bucks to come to the house tomorrow and meet my three sons and have dinner."
"Make it fifteen and we have an agreement," I said calmly. He gave a small smile and I walked out of the house.
I walked to the corner where Curtis' road met the main road and waited. I heard them before I saw them.
"Anyone ever told you, you guys are too loud? I asked as Soda, Steve, Two-Bit and Dallas walked around the corner. Dallas smirked and threw his arm around me. His hand went into my pocket and he frowned when he came up empty.
"I've gotta get Kools," I told him. "You don't have a place I could lay low, do you?"
"You in trouble?" Sodapop looked up and stared at me for a second. He looked concerned and I felt a little touched.
"Not really," I shrugged. "Momma got married again."
"That's good right?" Steve frowned. Two-Bit looked at me carefully and then handed me the ass end of a bottle a beer and a Kool. He helped me light it, looking deep into my eyes and then pulled away.
"He's a Soc," I muttered. The guys tensed.
"What's his name," Dallas asked, forcing my face to look at him.
"I left before that," I said. "Gave me fifteen bucks though."
"Can't be that bad," Two-Bit said.
"He's a Soc," I retorted. Two-Bit turned to look at my properly. I stopped and Dally's arm slid off my shoulder.
"Look at it this way," he said softly. "The guy will make your mom ease up on you. He might be okay. He got kids?"
"Got three sons," I said softly. Two-Bit nodded and tapped my cheek.
"That's what you look out for Sunshine." He nodded to himself and I glanced at Dallas, then Soda and lastly Steve. Steve was the only one who answered my gaze.
"His mom talked about his dad a little today so he's in a kinda good mood."
"No he's just feeling it today," I disagreed. Steve studied him and then nodded.
"So a Soc huh?" Soda said and grinned at me. I rolled my eyes.
"Two of the guys are in the grade below me," I told him and he raised an eyebrow. "Y'know the twins?"
"You're not allowed go," Soda and Steve announced.
"Why's that?" Dally asked.
"They're the guys in Pony's English class, right?" Soda blinked.
"Yeah. They can't keep their dick in their pants, they're about seven years old," Steve growled and then his ears went red. "Sorry Nikki."
"It's okay," I flapped my hand in his direction. "You should hear the way Tim cusses." Soda frowned.
"Pony's 14 and he's the youngest in the class," he said slowly but Steve waved a hand in his face.
"Speaking of Tim," Dally threw his arm back around my shoulders. "Is he gonna be at Buck's?" His head went to nudge into the space between my head and shoulder, but I shoved him away.
"Yeah, he's around," I said. Dally sighed and took back his arm. He kicked the ground and stared at me.
"I saw him with Sylvia the other day."
"Oh Dall," my face crumpled and I threw my arms around his neck pulling him into a hug. His arms wrapped around my waist and he twirled me in a circle, staggering a little as he almost tripped. Soda made a weird 'aawing' sound, while Two-Bit picked up both of us and started to run down the street.
"TWO-BIT!" Dally yelled and cuffed him around the head, making him drop us. I winced as I landed on my ass and looked up at Soda, who was laughing.
"S-s-sorry," he managed and he helped me up. Dallas gave me a rueful smile and we walked on.
Buck's was a alive and kicking. It was easy to tell that the Brumley Boys were here as well as Tim's Boys. There were a few fist fights and blades were drawn. I wasn't allowed watch. While Dally and Steve stayed outside, Soda dragged me to find a table and Two-Bit went hunting for some action.
"Don't want you going off," Soda said. He spotted Evie and Kathy and started walking over to them. I tried to scramble away after spotting Robbie, Tim's second but Sodapop wouldn't leave me be. I tried to spot the youngest Shephard boy but there was no such luck. Curly wasn't back from reformatory, when I needed him. I had to wait a few hours.
"My god, he is so dumb," a voice laughed and I turned to see Tim's little sister, Angela. She was looking over at Tim's Boys affectionately. Dally was with them, looking utterly suspicious.
"Cover for me?" I asked and she nodded winking subtley. I walked up and grabbed Tim by his ear, as he left the back room, pulling him back up the stairs.
Two girls were getting it on, with a guy in between and I bared my teeth at them, making them run. I shoved Tim in the chair and he glared at me.
"The fuck were you thinking?" he hissed.
"What the fuck were you thinking doing Sylvia?" I hissed. He shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah I fucking know. I mean I always knew I was just a fuck Tim, but by God, did it have to be Dally's girl?"
"What's the problem with that?"
"You need as many alliances as you can get if you wanna take on Tiber Street Tigers, you're gonna need him," I snapped and he looked at me through his eyelashes.
"Doll," he drawled.
"Don't you doll me," I snapped and my hand lashed out, catching Tim on the edge of his cheek. He tucked his head back and I stared at him. "T-T-Tim, I didn't mean to," I whispered. He raised a hand and I flinched.
Hands wrapped around my wrist and I was pulled gently into Tim's chest.
"I ain't ever gonna hit you," he whispered. He pulled away. "Not gonna lie Nikki, that was kinda hot." His blue eyes were smoldering. I pulled away slightly and watched as Tim sat down. He leaned against the wall and I crawled up to settle into his chest.
"Why Tim?" I asked. He sighed and kissed my neck. I looked back at him and he rested his chin on my shoulder.
"I didn't think," he said. "I was high. She was there. We both know Sylvia doesn't hold herself back either."
"Just stop trying to fuck with Dallas," I mumbled and pressed my lips to his. They moved together and I could tell Tim was being careful. "I better go back down, I promised Soda we'd have a 'Girl's Night'."
"Something is wrong with that boy," Tim sat back and watched me carefully.
"You're just jealous cause he's getting more tit than you ever could," the words slipped out of my mouth and I pressed them together to stop from laughing. His jaw was hit the floor and he glowered playfully at me for a second. I wished he would show more of this side. But I'd known Tim for a long time. Even longer than Curly.
We were born in the same hospital. Our mothers were friends. But then my mom started to get to middle class while his went down hill. I was a week and two days younger than Tim. We were friends for the longest time. And it just evolved to something more before withering back to friendship. It's why we simply kept it at friends-with-benefits.
He never hated me and often middle-class kids were made choose a side. Mine was clear the day I walked in beside Dally and Tim. I was a Greaser. And I loved it.
Everything was wild and mad and in the momet. It was beautiful and Greasers were so passionate and lively. I'd spent a brief time with Socs and I hated them. The experience was suffocating.
We walked down the stairs and I caught Soda from the corner of my eye. He was sulking on a stool, watching Two-Bit and Steve play pool. You could see girls wanted to fawn over him but he was giving off some seriously bad vibes.
"I gotta sort this out," I muttered and pecked the side of Tim's neck. He shuddered lightly and I surpressed a smile at the fact he was still ticklish. I walked past Dally and shot him a warning look. His eyes narrowed but then he sighed and nodded lightly, grabbing his beer and heading to the table.
"Oh there she is!" Soda groaned and flopped onto the table, sending balls flying everywhere. Kathy and Evie laughed, Angela Shephard smiled lightly and Steve scowled while Two-Bit grinned.
"Take him please," Steve mumbled to me. "You were gone when he came back and his girl wasn't here to distract him and I'm done with the boy."
"He's older than you Steve," I said and Steve punched my shoulder lightly. "C'mon Curtis, let's go have our girl talk." He jumped up and I followed him to a corner.
"Okay," he huffed out a long breath. "I like this girl."
"Seriously?" I asked him and he nodded practically bouncing in his seat. "So?"
"She's middle-class Nikki," he mumbled. "I'm scared 'case she thinks I'm just a no good Greaser."
"Sodapop Curtis," I slapped his head lightly and he cursed. "Whoever said there was anything wrong with being a Greaser? A hard-working, loyal to his family, brilliant, bright and lively man. Someone who is sincere and knows how to treat a woman? I don't see a Greaser Soda, I see a man, who is gonna ask his lady friend out for a date, he's going to charm her mother and make her daddy think of him as if he's his son. Okay?"
"Thanks Nikki!" Soda threw his arms around me and I patted him on the back. "I'm gonna go now."
"Oh and Soda?" I called and he turned. "Don't bring the poor girl to Buck's just yet. Give it a couple of weeks, ease her in into the rough and tumble."
"I'll do that, thanks Nikki!" he sped out the door and I grinned and walked over to Tim.
"Finished with your meeting?" Dally asked and I turned to glare at some Brumley Boy who's eyes were running up and down my legs. Dally and Tim followed my look and suddenly, the Brumley wasn't so confident.
"He needed a little push in the right direction," I told Dallas. No doubt he knew what was going on in Soda's head. People found themselves mindlessly talking to Dallas. Somehow, he was the type you just trusted. He'd never sell your secrets.
At least not until the right price came along.
"Heard about your predicament," Tim said, giving subtle nod to Dall, who flipped Tim off with a grunt as he watched some broads across the room.
"He's not the fuzz, take the pole outta your ass," I snapped and I wave a couple of bucks under Buck's nose. His eyes follow it. "Your best bottle Merril and don't try to cheat me. My momma didn't raise a fool."
"'Course Ms Reed," he grumbles and I grinned at Tim. No doubt that was his doing.
"So the Carlson twins and their brother," Tim said slowly.
"I think that's who he his," I mumbled and swiped Dally's weed, sitting in Brumley's recently vacated seat. He sighed slowly dragging a hand down his face before fixing me with a glare. I smiled trying not to look sheepish but Tim's smirk told me I was failing.
"You be careful, okay Ms Reed. Socs are tricky business," Merril says and he hands me over the cleanest glasses I had ever seen in his premises and two bottles of good whiskey. "A parting gift."
"Most kind Mr Merril," I eyed him carefully and then turned back to Dally and Tim. I set the bottles and glasses down. Dally wasted no time cracking them open and pouring one out for me and him. Tim sighed and poured himself one, glaring at Dall.
"You staying here with me?" Dally asked. I think he did it without thinking. Tim was going an odd shade of red and I slapped him, then kicked the blonde. They both yelped and I heard Two-Bit yell out about them being whipped.
"Can I kill him?" Tim glared. I shook my head and then grinned.
"You didn't deny it."
"Glory Nikki, I'm going to-" he never got to finish his sentence as the doors swung open and my mother walked in.