Next chapter! I would like to dedicate this chapter to my three reviewers: BellaVision, DJxDANGAAxCRNPPS, and StaccatoThoughts. Thanks guys, hope you like the chapter!
-rach
3 Years Earlier- Sam's POV
My friend Kat and I finished getting ready in my room. Bob and Paul were going to come by soon to walk us to the drive-in. Since we were all only thirteen, we weren't doing much driving.
I had on a short leather skirt, much like Kat's. Kat is middle class, so she isn't bothered by the fighting and didn't understand my protests to dressing like a Greaser. In the end she talked me into it and had just finished applying my makeup. I knew my dad would be mad when he saw me, but I tried to ignore my feelings. Kat said we would have fun tonight, something I wasn't getting enough of with all the stress at school.
"C'mon, let's go wait in the front yard," I told my friend, and we made our way downstairs and out the door. Not two minutes later Bob and Paul rounded the door, looking like nice, clean, respectable Socs. I once again regretted my decision for letting Kat dress me this way. What would Bob think?
"Hey there, baby!" he greeted, something he hadn't called me before. He hugged me, and when he pulled away he left on arm around my waist.
"Hi, Bob," I answered hesitantly.
"Why are you dressed like a Greaser?" He didn't sound condescending, like he usually did when bringing Greasers up in conversation, merely curious. I relaxed, and looked up at him, thinking that this might be alright after all.
"Kat and I decided to try something different for the night," I answered, waiting for his reaction. He was looking me up and down, and his hand was starting to drift lower than I usually allowed. I glanced over and Kat and saw she and Paul were having a similar conversation.
"So what's the movie tonight?" I asked, leaning as far away from Bob as possible without stepping away from his arm. I wasn't sure when he asked me out yesterday at school, and now I was starting to wish I had followed my instincts, my first thought being proven untrue quicker than I would have thought possible.
"I'm not sure. Something about a beach, same thing that's always playing." He seemed distracted and I realized why. He was looking at Kat in the same way he had been looking at me. I stifled my pride, but deep down knew tonight couldn't end well.
We made our way to the Nightly Double and paid. I was slightly annoyed when he made no move to supply my admission, but didn't say anything and was glad I brought some change for something to eat. Looks like I'll have to rely on Bob stepping up and buying me popcorn. Yeah, right. With the way this was going I shouldn't hope for it.
We chose some seats up front and I tried to pay attention to the movie. Bob kept brushing against my arm until I let him hold my hand, and even then he wouldn't leave me alone. He continued to get closer and closer until he was practically in my lap. I turned to say something when he tried to kiss me.
"Bob! Get off of me!" I shoved him away and stood up, enraged. "This is our first night dating and you try to kiss me? We haven't even been together for a day!" I glared and waited for his defense.
"Well, you shouldn't dress like Greaser trash if you don't want me to try something. I though that's why you were wearing this!" He gestured to my outfit and I crossed my arms, but stopped myself when it seemed I was agreeing.
"I won't go out with you when you act like a jerk and try to take advantage. I mean it! I ain't trash, you are!" I kicked over the chair Bob had been sitting in and stalked off. Kat followed me, knowing she had to keep me out of further trouble.
I plopped down in a chair near the back, fuming. "You got a smoke, Kat?" I asked over, breathing deeply, wanting to calm down. I knew I would do something stupid if I didn't. Like go over and punch him.
"Here ya go," a boy replied, reaching up from behind us. I took the cigarette from his hand and nodded to show my thanks. "You know, it's actually not very healthy to use those," he told me.
"Blame her," I muttered, searching my pockets for a lighter and waving a hand towards Kat. She was the one who got me hooked last year, right after she convinced me let my hair down, literally, and wear shorter skirts and darker makeup every once in a while.
I looked the boy up and down, deciding he was probably about eleven.
"You really shouldn't have these," I warned him.
"They're my brothers. I thought you needed one," he shrugged. I realized this wasn't much of an answer, but let it go and turned back to the movie.
"Who's this, Pony?" I heard someone ask behind me not two seconds later. I turned and found Sodapop Curtis. I saw him around school, but wasn't sure if her would recognize me.
"Sam?" he asked, leaning closer. "I thought you were a Greaser! How have you been?" I was secretly pleased he remembered my nickname, but I sure as hell wouldn't let him know that.
"Fine. My friend Kat here talked me into wearing this. Do you like it?" I knew I was shamelessly flirting, even after what happened with Bob, but for some reason I didn't care.
"I do like it. It suits you." He turned red and I tried to find something to say to relieve the awkwardness. Steve appeared with two cokes in his hands, something I much appreciated.
"Hey, Steve!" I greeted, hoping he would remember me.
"Hi, Samantha! How are ya?"
"We saw what happened with that Soc. I didn't realize it was you, though," Soda told me before I had the chance to answer Steve.
"That was her?" Steve asked what was clearly his best friend, and then looked back at me, astonished.
"Yeah, that was me. Bob doesn't know how to treat a lady." I grinned at him, and glanced at Kat to see her staring at me, surprised I knew them. I saw why. I put up such a fight to not dress like a Greaser, and now here I am, talking to two of them. "By the way, this is Kat. Kat, this Is Sodapop Curtis and Steve Randle." I looked at Soda, eyebrows raised, seeming to hope I got their last names right. Although I knew exactly what they were, I didn't want them to know that.
Soda grinned as if he knew what I was doing, and sat next to me. Steve sat on my other side, between me and Kat. Ponyboy, who I guess is Soda's brother, stood up and walked away, going to talk to someone else, another Greaser sitting by himself, knees drawn up on a chair with a jean jacket around him.
"So, how are things?" I asked Steve, leaning closer.
"Not bad. I just got a job at the DX, which'll help out my family.
"Oh, really? That's nice," I answered, keeping him distracted. While his eyes were on my face, I snuck my hand to the edge of his seat, and slowly took the coke that was stashed there. As Steve told me more about his job, I did my best to look like I was hanging onto every word he was saying as I brought the cup to my lips.
Seeing me drinking must have made him realize how thirsty he was, because he looked down, searching for his cup. Not finding it he looked back up, stumped. But then his eyes narrowed.
"Samantha?" He asked.
"Sam," I corrected without thinking.
"Sam," he started again. "Did you have that coke when I first came over here?"
"Nope," I answered, edging away. I jumped up and took off at a run, surprising myself with my guts. Normally I wouldn't do anything of the sort.
"Sam!" Steve yelled, coming to get his coke. I looked back to see Soda join the chase, and Kat still sitting, laughing so hard tears we starting to form. I got to the other end of the lot before Steve tackled me, followed by Soda. We landed on the grass and I did my best to protect Steve's precious drink.
It didn't work out. The cup flipped over and landed on his head.
"Uhm, there you go, I guess." I tried to keep a solemn face as I told him, "Maybe I could sort of squeeze it out of your hair." Soda couldn't take it anymore and burst out laughing. I was next, and Steve tried to look mad, but joined us soon enough.
The three of us sat there in the grass, laughing for a good ten minutes. Every time it started to die down, either Soda or I would look at Steve, sitting with him arms crossed and the cup somehow still balanced, upside down, on his head.
Eventually we were asked to leave, something about disrupting the other audience members. As we made our way to the exit Kat joined us and we went out separate ways. I looked back and saw Soda doing the same, and if I didn't know better, I'd say he was sad I was leaving.
Hope you enjoyed it! Please review, I'd love to hear any ideas you might have.
-rach