I'm not sitting on the couch a minute before Darry puts a heaping plate of spaghetti in my lap. Sometimes I think they forget I'm a girl and feed me boy portions.
"Thanks Dar." He half smiles and I can tell Steve was right he was in a mood. Him and Pony must be fighting. When Steve sits beside me I push some of the excess spaghetti on his plate.
"Better eat up little girl if you want to keep up with the big boys." He grins.
"Don't keep up with that one, Amy, if you know what's good for you." Darry casts me a warning glance.
"I have no such intentions ever." We're waiting for Sodapop to get out of the shower so we can make him come on our adventure.
"Where are you guys going to go?" Darry asks pretending to act interested but really he just wants to know where Sodapop will be and if he's even going to let him go. Steve and I exchange looks willing each other not to say Buck's.
Eventually I splutter out, "Garret is having a party." Darry nods his approval and Steve chokes back a laugh at my lie. Darry approves of Garret, he's always talking about what an upstanding hood he is, its weird. We like to make fun of him for it when he's not around – no one makes fun of Darry when he is around, except maybe Soda.
"Steve and Amy are here this must be my lucky night!" Soda lets out a yelp and sits between the two of us pushing us both apart. "What are you guys up to?"
"Evie broke up with me. We're going out tonight." Steve tries to sound happy but you can see he's heartbroken. Soda tries to look sad but then grins.
"Don't worry, buddy, we'll cheer you up. Can I go Darry?"
"Yes. You know the rules though, no drinking or drugs." Sodapop didn't need those things to have fun anyways. "And watch out for her."
I snort and suppress a laugh. I never needed anyone looking out for me before. After a reminder from Darry to watch my drink and make sure Sodapop doesn't get in trouble, we are off.
"So where are we really going?" We are a block away before Sodapop determines we are out of Darry's earshot.
"Buck's of course, silly." I give him a slight shove.
"We walking there?" Soda groans.
"Shit my car's still at the garage." They both look at me. Last time this happened we took Tim's car. He had thought Curly had done it and was none the wiser. I wasn't so sure that would work again; but walking all the way to Buck's was not appealing.
"If Tim kills me you two better feel awful." Their faces lit up at the idea of stealing Tim Shepard's car and I prayed we could do it again. Luckily all the lights were out at my house and it looked like Tim and Curly had taken off and left the car. I had made a copy of the key last year when Tim and Curly had both been locked up and I'd been borrowing it – without Tim knowing of course. We made it to Buck's without incident and he poured the three of us shots on the house when he heard Steve and Evie had called it quits. Soda passed his over to Steve when Buck turned his back and the night had begun. The music was getting louder, more people were filing in, and after the 4th shot Steve had guilted me into I was starting to feel tipsy. It was around 1am when I felt the rough hands on the back of my neck. Soda and Steve were talking to some girls, and having had too much to drink I had retreated to a corner.
"You know I beat Curly something awful when he stole my car last May. Bet that was you too wasn't it?" I stiffened afraid to turn around. He shook me, "Huh?" I nodded and stared down when he pulled me up to face him. He let go of me and I gripped the table to stay up right, "You think I wouldn't notice? Huh? You think I'm dumb or something? Fucking say something." He cuffed me upside the head and I flinched.
Steve and Soda were both looking at me now; but I nodded that I was ok. I guess it wasn't as subtle as I thought because Tim looked in their direction and a new anger glowed in his eyes.
"They help you?" I shake my head trying to find words.
"I told them you let me borrow it." The words came out rushed and slurred and Tim took a moment to decipher them. He glanced between us again and then hauled me out to his car. Letting me go he gave me a shove towards the back seat. Curly was sitting on the hood smiling victoriously.
"I told you Tim. I told you it wasn't me."
"Shut up." Tim eyed me like he wasn't sure what to do. "Get in the car." I shake my head no then look off into the distance and think about running. Tim grabs up the front of my coat and slams me into the car. I yelp and shake waiting for him to make his move. He doesn't and I look up.
"Come on Tim you can't hit a girl." Curly's defense surprises me since I'm the one that got him beaten up for stealing the car last time.
"I know. Fuck. Get in, both of you. We're going home."
"Aww come on Tim can't I stay a bit longer I'll get a ride with someone."
"Someone half crocked no doubt." He mumbles, and then looks at me again. I know he wants to hit me because I've seen the look in his eyes a thousand times. Tim settles for a rough shove and I get in the car before he changes his mind.
"How'd you do it? Those two must have known you didn't have permission to use my car when you didn't have a key." This seems to dawn on him as he turns the key in the ignition and he looks ready to go back in and beat Steve and Soda, since he can't seem to hit me. I'm scared to tell him; but I can't Tim hit Steve and Soda so I fess up.
"I made a copy of your key." The words hang in the air and Tim's anger is building.
"When the fuck did you do that?" He turns around with a cold look in his head and I reach for the door handle. He's faster though and gets a hold of my arm. "Answer me."
"Last year when you and Curly were both gone." I pull trying to get loose but he tightens his grip and I can tell it's going to leave a bruise.
"So you've driven my car more than a couple of times?" He snarls and I let out a whimper. Curly gives me a sympathetic look, but I know he won't intervene.
"I'm sorry, Tim." It comes out as a whisper and he finally releases my arm and speeds out of the parking lot.
"Yea, you'll be fucking sorry."