I stepped in the house at about 8. Dad was no longer in the living room. He probably went to bed early. I started up the steps, when I saw my bed room light on and the door wide open. Linda stood there looking through my closet, throwing out t-shirts, and pants.

I ran in the room, and she turned her head.

"You finally decided to show up."

"What are you doing in my room?"

"Don't question me young lady. Look at all these clothes. T-shirts, denim jackets, leather jackets-" She ran over to my vanity and opened one of the drawers. I ran over, but she already found what I new she was looking for. My cigarettes.

"Why? Do you know how young you are? This isn't something you should have! You shouldn't even look at this!" she threw them on the ground. "Another thing, I have never even met any of your 'friends'. Do you get these from them? What are they? Drop outs? You have so much going for you!"

"Shut up! Damn, all you ever do is want me to 'bond with you'. To become your 'great step-daughter'. Something you can brag about to friends who don't give a shit. You aren't even my mom. You're just some woman my dad married. No one said I had to talk to you, or even bond with you! What were you even doing in my room in the first place? Did dad not give you enough money this week?"

She walked over and slapped me hard against my check. I stared straight in the eyes. Her eyes were watering. She picked up all my clothes she threw on the floor and went to walk out the door, but stopped. I turned around.

"What's the matter, want to hit me m-" I stopped seeing my dad in the door way. He looked between me and Linda.

"Is something wrong here?" he asked.

Linda walked out the door. My dad turned slowly, and walked out as well. I walked up to the door and slammed it shut. I leaned my back against the door. I turned and locked it, then walked to my bed to sleep.

The next day I woke up to a note on my vanity. It was from Linda, which was easy to spot. Next to it was the dress I bought yesterday for her dinner party. I got out of bed and walked over to read the note.

"After you shower, and get ready, grab this trash. We are going to return this dress back, and then we are going to look for something nice for you to wear."

Rolling my eyes, I did what the note instructed. How did she get into my room when it was locked?

I stepped down the steps, in an outfit that made me want to cry. Apparently, during Linda's closet cleaning, she removed anything that could give me the hint of being a greaser. All I had were skirts, cardigans, and nice button ups. Socs clothing.

At the bottom of the steps, Linda waited by the door.

"Let's go," She rushed.

"I haven't eaten anything."

"Smoke a cigarette. I'm sure that will fill you up." And with that, she left out the door.

I walked after and hopped in her car. It smelled of some cheap perfume. If you are going to buy perfume, at least get a good one that smells nice. She started the engine and pulled out of our driveway.

While driving to the place, I had to give her instructions. She told me I could get out of the car, but she was going to return the dress. So I waited by the car, picking on my nails. Getting bored, I decided to walk a bit.

"This is rich…And so are you."

I turned to the voice. It was Sylvia. The greaser gal had a fresh cigarette in her mouth. She removed it, walked closer to me.

"What do you want?" I asked. Sylvia irritated me. Every time I saw her, it just made me want to vomit. I hated her, and I knew for a fact she hated me. Since she dated Dallas, she kind of had an advantage. While she dressed in her tight clothes, and tons of make up, she made me feel better about my choice of clothing. If someone were to see her try something, they would see an innocent Soc, dressed in simple green matching items and a greaser. I was made innocent to any crime by just standing around.

"Oh, nothing. I was jus' wondering since Dal cut it off with me again if he got to you."

I rolled my eyes. "You and Dallas broke up again? How upsetting. I'm sure he could find someone worse."

"You mean like you?"

"Watch it. You're talking to a Soc, remember? Try something and you'll be put in jail for even breathing next to me."

She laughed her pathetic hyena laugh. I scratched the back of my neck, rolling my eyes once more. I decided to refer back to her question, if I can even call it that.

"Why would Dallas 'get to me'?" I asked. She stopped laughing, and started to answer me.

"Let's face it honey. You hang around him like a cat to cat nip. If he needed a warm body to lie next to him at night, it would be you. Since you are a close second to me."

"You and me shouldn't even belong in the same sentence," I started. I hesitated before asking the next question. "What do you mean by warm body?"

She rolled her eyes, which I was surprised she was able to do with all that make up. "Ugh, he likes you. Or likes to look at you. I could never decide between the two. I think it's the second one. And by warm body I mean someone who he can ehjoy himself with for the night."

I couldn't help it but laugh. Dallas liking me was probably the stupidest thing this broad has ever said. The last part I could believe more. "Just for saying that, I should kick your ass."

"Go ahead, I sure it'll turn him on."

"Shut the fuck up, Sylvia."

"Oh my, such language from a Soc," she said with a wink. I held back my vomit. I looked into the store and saw Linda was looking at other dresses. I heard a throat clear and realized Sylvia was standing directly in front of me.

"But, to be honest, you wouldn't have a chance with Dallas. You aren't a greaser, no matter how hard you want to try. It's not just about how we dress, how we do our hair, or how many cigarettes we smoke. It's all in your heart. The way we act comes naturally to us, and we don't think twice. So stop trying."

She walked past me. Of course she couldn't leave it at that, because she hit me with her shoulder as she walked past me. I crossed my arms over my chest. Sometimes whenever I saw Sylvia drape herself all over Dallas, it made me want to grab her by her hair and just slap her. She was a disgusting, cheating filth. Dallas didn't care, but I sure did. She shouldn't be around him, and he shouldn't be around her. They were no good for each other. But she probably had more chances to marry him if he bothered asking. But they would be one of those fighting couples for sure. They would argue over every little, waking up the whole neighborhood.

Suddenly, I felt a hand wrap around my waist and another one covering my mouth. The person, who I could tell was a guy by the way how he dragged me into an alley, smelled of cigarettes. I tried to scream, but he tightened his hand on my mouth. I felt him lean close to my ear and heard him whisper, "Don't scream."

I knew that voice. Nodding my head, the hand on my mouth loosened, and then was gone. I whipped around and looked straight into the cold blue eyes I expected from the sound of his voice.

Dallas smiled. I placed both hands on my hips, shaking my head.

"What do you think you are doing? Linda could have stepped out of the store at any minute."

"I got bored. I saw a Soc, wanted to give her a good scare but it turned out to be you. Which leads me to ask, what the hell are you wearing?"

"Clothes."

"Real funny. Got any jokes that can explain that scar?" He asked, poking my check. I winced at the pain, which made him keep going. It was like a game, until I stepped back walking into the brick wall of a building. He followed, placing one hand on the wall, looking down at me.

"It's nothing. Just a scratch," I said, covering my check. It might be Linda's wedding ring that caused this.

"Looks like your fighter has long nails or a mean ring."

"Linda threw some of my clothes out, and my cigarettes. So all that is left is stuff like this," I explained. Dallas started laughing. I sighed and turned to walk away. He stuck his hand out.

"Wait a minute. She did this because she didn't like those clothes?" he asked. I nodded, and tried to walk away, but he stopped me again, turning me so my back was up against the wall again.

"What would she do if she knew about me?"

"What about you?" I asked. He lowered his face down to mine.

"What would she do if she knew you were friends with me and the guys?"

"I don't know; maybe lock me in my room."

"Mhm, what about if it looked like you were going out with a greaser?"

I hesitated. What would she do? She slaps me for clothes. She'd lock me away for being friendly…"She'd kill me."

"Better start hiding."

What does Dallas me-

Dallas put his lips on mine. Since he caught me off guard, I gasped, opening my mouth, which he took as an invitation to stick his tongue in. He wrapped one arm around my waist, the other on the back of my head. I followed along with the movement of his lips and tongue, as if it were some sort of partner dance. He slowly started to pull away, but I stood up on the tip of my toes, crashing my lips into his to kiss him once more. I felt him smile. This time the kiss deepened. He moved his head down more, allowing me to stand normally, but I continued to push forward, just to taste more of him. Then down the alley, I heard a scream. Someone was calling my name.

"TERI VIPOND."

Dallas broke the kiss, pulling me back to reality.

"Better start hiding," he whispered once more. He darted down the other end of the alley. I watched him go, but felt some start pulling my hair. It was Linda.

"Ouch…." I whispered, trying to follow after her. She didn't let go of her grip until we were in the car. Once we got in, she slammed her door close.

"Ouch? If I were you, I wouldn't say that hurt, when you were the one kissing IN AN ALLEY. You could have been kissing a stranger for all I know. I can't believe yo-"

Tuning Linda out I tried thinking over what Dallas said.

What if it looked like you were going out with a greaser? Better start hiding. Was this his way of asking a girl out? Maybe I could ask him this tonight.

"And you are not going out tonight."

"What?! You can't do that!"

"You are helping me with my party. You have a choice to make of three dresses. All of the ones in that store aren't good enough. Lucky, I have some you might fit into. End of discussion," she finally inputed. I rolled my eyes and looked out the window the rest of the way home.