Chapter Four

Nearly a week since Cat was jumped by the Socs, she was still recovering from it. If she was paranoid before, she was a mess after that incident. She absolutely wouldn't go anywhere alone from then on and insisted that someone always escort her. But she didn't have to beg, that's for sure, because none of us wanted her to be alone, either.

Luckily, though, things were getting back to normal.

"Aye, Jade, you wanna go to the drive-in tonight?" Robbie asked, puffing smoke from his fresh cigarette.

"Can I come?" I begged hopefully.

"No kids allowed," he said strictly. "How 'bout it, West?"

"Nah, I'm gonna go hunt some action," the pale girl announced. "Kids are allowed. Wanna come, Vega?"

"Uh, I don't know, Jade," I said uneasily. "I can't get in trouble with the cops, or…"

"Relax, I just wanna go have some fun," she assured. "I didn't say nothing about the boys in blue."

"Can I come, Jadey?" Cat asked shyly.

"Sure, kiddo," Jade smiled, ruffling the redhead's hair.

"Fine, I'll come," I sighed. There was no way Cat was gonna go and I wasn't. I'd be ashamed if she looked tougher than me, but who am I kidding? She was akin to a seven-year-old, in all honesty.

"Perfect."

Later that afternoon, we entered the local gas station. "Here, Cat," Jade said, pulling a couple dimes and quarters out of her pocket. "Go get yourself some candy or something." I watched as the little girl's face lit up as she took the money. In no time, she had scurried to another part of the store.

Then I watched as Jade grabbed a bottle of alcohol and promptly concealed it in her black, leather jacket, and then I realized why she had sent Cat off. The kid absolutely hated when Jade or anyone broke the law. She was the only one of us who had never committed a crime, not even a small one. But we had learned how to easily hide our deeds from her.

After all, it was a way of life for us. If you're a greaser, you're a thief, and an underage drinker, and a smoker, and a fighter. You're a troublemaker in general. Not Cat, though. She was one of us, but you wouldn't catch her with a cigarette or a bottle touching her lips, and there was nothing she hated more than fights.

"Can I get this?" Cat questioned, looking up at Jade with saucer eyes when she got back. In her little palms a handful of wrapped caramels and a box of gumdrops.

"Why not?" Jade shrugged. "Go pay for 'em, okay?"

"Kay, kay!"

"Let's go," the older girl urged me to follow her as she turned to leave. We waited ten minutes outside the building before Cat finally reappeared.

"What took you so long?" I asked, trying to hide the edge in my voice. It was still unbelievably hot outside.

"I dropped one of the coins and it went somewhere under the cash register, so I had to fi-" Before she could finish, Jade shushed her and took a swig of her Jack Daniels. "Hey! Where'd you get that?" Cat pointed at it with a look of confusion.

"I found it sitting out here." It was no wonder Cat didn't bother to interrogate any longer. "Hey, look at them blonde bimbos over there," Jade said, gesturing to the twosome headed towards us. It was obvious they were Soc cheerleaders. I noticed my friend fidget a little, clearly wanting to start something.

"Jade…" I tried nervously, praying she wouldn't do anything. With none of the boys here, there was nothing I could do to stop her if she got feisty. Surprisingly, though, they made the first jab.

"Look, a bunch of low-class greaser girls," one of them sneered. "You girls ever brush your hair?" Jade only chuckled in response.

"Oh, that was a good one. How about them short skirts? Little slutty, aren't we?"

"Better watch it, sweetie," the same girl warned while the other stood there amused.

"Better stop right there, bitch," Jade growled.

"Hey, Jenny," the girl's friend called. "Isn't that the little girl we taught a lesson to the other day?" She was referring to Cat, and then I was getting angry.

"So it is," Jenny confirmed, looking evilly at Cat. "Remember us?" The redhead whimpered and I held her close, wishing I could shield her more. Suddenly our older friend went to advance on the blonde.

"Jade, wait," I pleaded, attempting to hold her back. It was no use. She completely ignored me and stomped right up to the preppy girl, who stood with arms crossed, ready to rumble. I realized that it was only fair that Jade get even with this girl after what had been done to poor Cat.

"Oh, you wanna fight, hon?"

"Sure," Jade nodded with a grin. The Soc girl went to grab Jade's hair, but our experienced pal was too quick, catching her arm and holding it tight. Soon enough, Jade was holding her arm behind her back while Jenny cried out in agony. But somehow Jenny freed herself and swiftly punched Jade's nose.

Cat and I watched as Jade looked to the ground, wiping her now bloody face with the back of her hand. She slowly peered back up at the girl, and in a flash, she had her switchblade whipped out. Jenny's jaw dropped in terror and she backed up, only to have the Goth girl slowly walk up to her. The Soc kept reversing until she was against her car. Jade's eyes were filled with fury and I knew she wouldn't second guess stabbing that girl right then and there.

"Jade!" Cat screamed out of the blue, causing everyone to look at her. Jade turned around with a questioning look. "Jade, stop! Please!" The tall girl closed her eyes, irritated, but she flicked her blade back in and put it away. She slowly turned towards Jenny.

"Get lost," she demanded. Regaining her composure, Jenny gave a dirty look and then stalked off towards the store with her friend.

"Come on, Jade," I coaxed. "We ought to go home now." But Jade only smirked and went to the girl's expensive car.

"What are you doing?" Cat asked innocently. Jade still didn't answer, though. She pulled her blade out again and proceeded to cut holes in each tire. "Why'd you do that?" Cat pried, looking kind of upset.

"I got revenge," the tall girl stated. "Just like I promised I would." She looked back to the car and admired her devilish work. "Good thing they're all trust fund babies, 'cause that'll cost 'em quite a bit."

A/N: Hope you liked it. Just in case you were wondering, the setting and scenery is the same as the book. Please review!

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