Disclaimer: I don't own Lords of Dogtown.
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed! Keep doing it please! I know shit about photography so sorry if I'm way off with pricing and junk.
This Photograph is Proof
Chapter 2: Hitchin' a Ride
Driving back down Main Street, I spotted the surf shop, now deserted in the front. A wave of relief washed over me initially, but there was an under layer of disappointment. It's one of those situations where I kind of wanted to see what would happen if I ran into them again. Intrigue, if you will.
Parking my car on the side of the road, I pulled the top of my car up and locked it in place before getting out with my film and locking the vehicle up. I went towards the grimy looking shop. I've never actually been here before. I just knew they did photos and happened to see it on the way to bring Rosa home luckily so I didn't have to drive around and find it. It didn't look... clean.
I pulled the door open, setting off a bell and went up to the counter. The place smelled like marijuana and beer. Stale beer. I resisted the urge to gag as someone emerged from the back room, a puff of smoke following the large man. He gave me a lingering once over before speaking. "Something I can help you with, mami?"
"Yeah, I uh, just need these rolls developed," I told the large Hispanic in front of me, hanging him the bag. I was starting to wonder if this was such a good idea. The guy's eyes were bloodshot as hell.
"Fifty bucks, chica." I scowled. He was overcharging me and I knew it. "Half now, half when you pick 'em up on Thursday." Sighing, not having much more of a choice, I pulled twenty five dollars out of my purse and handed it to the guy, who looked pleased with himself before simply disappearing back into the door he came out of.
I could just steal anything right now.
I looked around the store but instead opted for leaving. Not like I'd have the balls to actually steal something ever. I pulled the door open, setting the bell off once again and found a smaller number of those guys from before surrounding my car. Tony was inspecting it with a look of awe on his face, while Jay-Boy was flicking at the hood ornament. Another one of the guys with long brown hair and a bandanna tied around his head was leaning against the bumper, talking to Jay-Boy.
I recognized the brown haired kid. Sid. He goes to school with me. He's a little weird, not very popular. Kind of a burn out if you ask me. I'd heard he hung around the slums; he's gotta fit in somewhere I guess.
"Hi Sid," I said hesitantly, lifting my eyebrows at the three boys all over my car. They didn't look like they were trying to steal it or anything though. That was when I realized Tony and Jay-Boy were dressed in wetsuits with surfboards leaning up against the back end of my vehicle. What is this, a free for all or something?
"Uh... hey!" Sid kind of tried to smooth his hair out and gave me a goofy grin. "What're you doin' here Liv?"
"You know her?" Jay-Boy snorted incredulously, not looking up from my hood ornament though.
"Sorta. She's in school with me," he shrugged nonchalantly. He was high, I could tell. What is with this place? Is everyone stoned twenty-four seven? "Eh, Liv, this is Tony and Jay," he introduced, gesturing to each boy.
"Yeah, we met earlier," I said with a roll of my eyes, my sarcastic tone referring to Jay in particular.
"Fuck Sid! Why don't you tell us you know hot chicks with sick cars?" Tony said with a grin, reaching over to smack Sid in the back of the head. Sid didn't seem bothered by it though. "How about a ride baby?" The innuendo was thick in his voice, but he seemed to think it was over my head as he eyed his two friends as inconspicuously as he could manage while they tried to cover their snickering.
"Uh, I don't think so," I declined, not wanting to let these rowdy surfer-slash-skater kids into my car.
"We're not gonna jack it, come on," Tony persuaded, moving from the drivers side over to where I was standing on the opposite. "Just down to P.O.P." I scratched the back of my neck, knowing letting strange boys into my car was probably not the safest or smartest thing to do. But, I guess I kind of know Sid. I mean, he's harmless enough. His friends can't be that bad.
This Tony guy sure knows how to look at a girl.
"Uh..." I trailed off, caught up in the penetrating gaze he was throwing my way. I stepped around the car and opened my door, turning on the ignition and letting the top roll back. This is so stupid. What am I doing? "Get in."
"Yes!" Tony yelled enthusiastically, doing as I usually do and jumping into the car without opening the door. Sid rushed around to the back with Jay, and they both grabbed a surfboard and settled them in the middle of the backseat. Sid slid in behind Tony with a bit of a struggle and I cursed under my breath. That means Jay is sitting behind me. Perfect.
Based on his earlier actions on the hood of my car, he's not well behaved... at all. I just hope he doesn't decide to cover my eyes or something while I'm trying to drive. "So, which way am I going?" I asked as I pulled away from the curb of the road
"Shit, you vals are sheltered, huh? Left before Zephyr and straight to the pier," Tony instructed, pointing left as if I didn't know my directions.
I took the left and coasted down the hill, allowing my foot to leave the gas while Tony cranked the volume on a local rock station. He hooted as we sped down the hill. "Shit! I love this car!"
Normally, I would never speed like this, but for some reason I felt the need to impress these guys. They just seemed... cool. There was something about their mannerisms, excluding Sid at least, and nonchalance that gave them this aura of danger. I guess it's one of those situations where I knew my parents wouldn't approve, and that only made me more engrossed.
I slowed the car before we got to a red light, still causing the passengers and myself to lurch forward a little. Tony was all smiles and I could hear Sid laughing in the back, exclamations of how fast we were going coming from him.
"So. You go to S.M.P.?" Jay had leaned forward, holding onto the headrest of my seat. S.M.P. stands for Santa Monica Prep. He must've figured it out since Sid and I go to school together.
"Yeah..." I hesitated, not sure where he was going with this. I had a gut feeling it was going to turn into a dirty joke as I stepped on the gas pedal and drove towards the pier, which I could now see.
"So you like, wear those hot uniforms and shit?" I snorted. Those have got to be some of the most unflattering clothes on earth. Clearly, he's never seen them before.
"They don't look like they do in Playboy you know," I informed him, probably crushing his hormone-fueled fantasies.
"What about Playboy?" Tony asked over the music. I rolled my eyes and shook my head as I pulled into a parking area.
"Do you get spanked with rulers when you don't do your homework?" Jay asked with more humor in his tone this time and then clicked his teeth together.
"They do!" Sid yelled out. Thanks a lot idiot.
I rolled my eyes and huffed. I couldn't very well lie with Sid here. "It's not like they put us over their knees or anything... jeeze," I defended while I cut the ignition. Tony and Jay both howled at my response.
"Hey Shogo! Check this sweet ride out!" Tony yelled to a bunch of the skaters I'd seen earlier who were now all in their wetsuits with boards and hanging around near the bottom of the pier.
Okay, I feel like I'm getting the stink eye from them all.
"What's with bringing kooks to P.O.P. T.A.?" a lanky blonde called. A few of them approached and I sunk down in my seat. Ugh, this was clearly a bad idea. I'm gonna get jumped by a bunch of Dogtown thugs.
"Would you chill Wentzle? She's cool, right?" he asked, glancing back at Sid as he pulled himself out of the car, again without opening the door.
"What? Oh yeah! Liv's cool," Sid confirmed, looking as though he were pleased with being the deciding party here.
"See? Shogo man, come look at this shit. A fucking T-bird dude," Tony ranted to his friend. An Asian guy jogged over to admire my car with Tony, who just couldn't seem to get over it.
Sid followed after Tony, not quite as gracefully hopping out and waiting for Jay to hand him the boards. I sat a little awkwardly, not really knowing if I was invited to hang around or not. I've heard about how territorial the locals are around here. It would probably be for the best if I weren't welcome though. I should go home.
"You comin' val?" Tony asked, looking over his shoulder with one of the surfboards under his arm. Sid leaned into the car and snatched the camera bag from between the two front seats.
"Hey look T.A.! She can take pictures," Sid volunteered for me, showing him my camera bag. Tony rushed over, handing his board to that Shogo guy and picked up the camera case.
"Holy shit, you must be loaded," he muttered, unzipping the case and inspecting it. He glanced up t me as I got out of the car, watching closely as he handled something I considered my most valuable possession. "This shit's nicer than Stecyk's. Must've been expensive."
He handed the camera back to me and I zipped the case closed. "Yeah, my parents bribe me with nice things to make up for letting Rosa raise me," I joked, but I wasn't really kidding. They spoiled me to try and make up for their constant absence.
"Psh, my dad could never come home if I could get shit like this. So you gonna take some shots or what?" I gripped my camera tightly before nodding and following Tony and Sid to where Jay and Shogo had to join the others who were lounging around.
I must be crazy.