Author Note:
This chapter is VERY different than the one I had posted originally. I hope you like it better than the old one, this tells a little bit more about Alexis and the title of the story. Responces to reviews on this story are at the bottom :)
- xxDevil-Childxx
I hung over the car, its hood above me, I balanced on my elbows and lifted my feet off the hard pavement. As I inspected the machine I got more oil on my hand. Golly it sure was hot out, I quickly wiped the sweat off my head and called out to Soda:
"Hey Sodapop! The crankshaft isn't hooked up to the flywheel real well! Oh, and the chain needs realigned 'cause its lagging on the fuel line!"
The first time Soda took me to work, Steve was sick that day, everyone thought he was insane. Because I was a girl. As it turned out I was better then some of them. Occasionally, when I was very board, like today, Sodapop would take me in with him so I could help out.
"Great, I'll have Matt work on it." He came over and leaned down to inspect my work, chuckling when he saw my face.
"What?" I wondered, I don't think I smudged anything, maybe I grew a third eye. Without speaking he took the old rag from his pocket and wiped my cheek, showing me the oil that came off on the rag. "Oh…" I smiled and wiped off my cheek with my palm, just to be sure.
"So how's your singing career goin'?" He asked curiously as he cranked something back in place with a wrench. I blushed. Soda had heard me singing one day and had been encouraging me ever since. Right now he was my biggest, and only, fan. I mostly wrote my own songs, but the boys at the DX loved when I sang These Boots Are Made For Walking or Gloria.
"Good, Elvis called me up asking if I would do a duet! But ya know I had to say no cause I'm going to the movies with Pony and Johnny today." I scoffed, rolling my eyes. If Elvis ever called me I would probably die, then say yes. Whichever came first.
"Too, bad…" he muttered, grinning as he dug around in his toolbox for something, pulling out an oil checker. I pulled off the cap for him so he could get in easier. "So you wanna sing something for us?" I groaned internally but shrugged.
"Sure, what do you want?" He suggested the latest hit by Loretta Lyn.
"Dear Uncle Sam, I know you're a busy man. And tonight I write to you through tears and a trembling hand. My darling answered when he got that call from you. You said you really need him but you don't need him like I do. Don't misunderstand, I know he's fighting for our land, I really love my country but I also love my man. He proudly wears the colors of the old read white and blue, while I wear a heartache 'cause he left me for you… Dear Uncle Sam I just got your telegram, and I can't believe this is me shaking like I am. For it said I'm sorry to inform you…"
The station filled with applause as my last note echoed off the cement. I didn't realize there were so many people watching me. I smiled and took a quick bow.
"Well?"
"That was awesome! Thanks, Lexi!"
"No problem." I smiled, finally getting a good look at the clock. "Oh hell, I've got to beat it out of hear or I'll be late!" I yelled, wiping off my hands and face as I ran out, "See ya later, Sodapop!" I screamed and ran down the street to my house. Dally signed me up for some barrel racing and if I won then we would get one hundred dollars, enough to by me some new shorts and food for the month. I quickly threw on my outfit and rushed to Dallas's room.
"I'm ready…" I muttered, hoping he wasn't mad at me for being late. I was second to last in the competition.
"Good, get in my damn car so we can go already, I've got a rodeo to go to." I climbed in and we sped off towards the fair grounds. I got on my horse, a buckskin named Abigail, and steered her over to where the rest of the girls were waiting. Currently there was a red head, a soc I assumed, on the course twisting and flying through. She intimidated me a bit but I paid her no mind.
When it was my turn to go I lightly tapped my horses side with my heel, causing her to fly ahead. We went around the first barrel, nearly knocking it down, the second we weren't so lucky, and the third I don't even recall. We raced through it again and finished with flying colors. I was better then a soc, sure I always knew it but now I got to prove it. Daddy's money could win this one for her, sweetheart.
To my dismay, it turned out his money could. I sat there angrily as her name was called in first place, the spot just ahead of mine. I took my ribbon and my second place prize of fifty dollars and left to go watch Dallas. He was good, holding tight when he needed too, and relaxing when necessary. He made it through the eight seconds, unlike the others, and won it, unlike me.
All I knew is I couldn't wait to get home and go to the movies with Ponyboy to relax. We were going to go see the new Paul Newman movie, Pony had been ranting about it all week. The ride to the Curtis's was silent, they congratulated me on second place and we set off to the movie house.
"So, Curtis, what's up?" I playfully pushed my friend as we walked under the shade of the trees. I had just noticed he was a bit taller than me. Damn my shortness.
"Nothing really, I have to do that essay thing for English, but other than that life's pretty normal." He said, lightly pushing me back.
"Sounds boring." I retorted. I hated school, even though Dallas was a dropout he made me go. By the time I thought of something else to say we were at the movie house, though. So we went in silently. Ponyboy and I are alike when it comes to movies. We didn't really like coming to the movies with someone, but we both like to watch movies undisturbed so we left each other to themselves.
When the movie was over we walked out, I laughing because Pony was trying to pose like the movie star. I giggled at our reflection and stuck a pose myself, causing Pony to laugh. A car passed, blasting the Beetles latest hit out their windows.
"Lives in a dream. Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in the jar by the door, who is it for? Oh, look at all the lonely people…" I sang along, even though the car had past and the music was faded.
"You know your really good, Sodapop was right about that." I blushed, I didn't really know how to respond to complements other than to turn my head, blush, and mutter words of thanks. "Yeah, well what do you want to do?"
"How about we just head back to your place? It's getting a little late." I nodded toward the setting sun, turning the sky an array of pinks, oranges, and reds. Though he would never admit it I knew Ponyboy loved to watch the sunset. It was kinda pretty.
He just shrugged and we started heading in the direction of his house. It was a long walk, but Pony and I didn't mind walking. In fact, we almost enjoyed it. Until we saw that red Corvair trailing us. We weren't far from his house, only two blocks. I tapped Pony's arm, his eyes told me he had noticed too, so we started walking faster. It wasn't any use though, I knew that before the car stopped and five guys got out.
Pony got nervous, real nervous I saw him glancing around for a potential wepon to hold them off. But before any could come after me he whispered to go get the gang, I didn't want to leave him there but what choice did I have? So, at a speed that would get me on the track team, I ran the two block's to Pony's and burst in the door, my lungs felt like they were on fire.
"Pony's" -pant- "getting" -pant- "jumped." pant. The boys all jumped up, they hurriedly following me out the door and sprinted in the direction I pointed. After I got my bearing's I ran after them. Darry was in the middle of yelling at Pone for not using his head or something. I felt instant regret for leaving when I saw my friends face, bloody and bruised.
"Damn, Pony, you're bleeding like a stuck pig!" I blurted, Soda handed him a handkerchief to clean it up. He hurriedly looked away, looking like he was about to start bawling like a baby. I wanted to sit down next to him and hug him, like we used to do when I was younger. Like when Johnny got jumped in the lot. My brother, Two-Bit, Steve, and Johnny all returned then with a disappointed look.
"Did ya catch 'em?" Pony rubbed his eyes, I pretended I didn't see him crying.
"Nope, they got away, the dirty bastards'." Two-Bit liked cursing out socs', hell we all did, especially in front of socs'.
"Oh…" Pony mumbled. He was usually quiet. He and Johnny had a rep for being quiet, that's why they were such good buddies before I came along. "It makes for such and interesting conversation" I said smiling "you keeping your mouth shut and Johnny not saying anything right back." But I knew they understood each other without talking. That's how I was with them, too.
We walked back to the Curtis's, Two-Bit and Dally saying how tuff Ponyboy looked with his bruise and his cut the whole walk there. I left them there, Dallas came with me back to Buck's so I could go up and collapse on my bed, asleep.
Author Note:
SOOOOO HOW WAS IT? Please REVIEW!
- xxDevil-Childxx
Responses:
bigdreams15- Thank you so much! I have every intention on keeping up with this story! :) Glad you like it!
sammy4eva- What do you mean a disclaimer? I'm confused on what I am supposed to disclaim... But I did fix Soda's name! Hehe thanks for your review!
HeyPeople76- Haha its scary, isnt it? You should see me reading I do that all the time, there's this little voice in the back of my head that belongs to my seventh grade English teacher that yells at me while I'm writing. HEHE!
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