After we had gotten back Soda hadn't said anything else about what was said at the barn, for which I was grateful. We were standing out front with our makeshift target; we had drawn circles on the cushion with a red sharpie.
I walked over and pulled my bow out of the back of the truck and slung the quiver over my shoulder as I returned to Soda's side.
"You ready to become a great white hunter?" I asked raising and lowering my eyebrows with a wry grin.
"Totally!" He said excitedly. I laughed and handed him the bow. "So what do I do first?"
I handed him an arrow. "First load your arrow," I said as he hooked it to the string. "Okay now you have to change your stance, stand sideways and spread your feet apart." I said as he turned facing me and spread his feet. I kicked my foot out to his foot sliding it a little farther apart.
"Now what?" He asked.
"Look at where you want to hit," I said as he looked towards the target. "And take aim."
He held the bow up and pulled back the string. I smacked his arm straighter then hit his elbow straightening it out. "Good enough?" He asked.
"Pull it to your lips." I said as he did so, "Now let it fly."
The arrow sailed through the air and hit the target just outside of the circle. "Well at least I hit it." Soda said with a grin.
I clapped for him. "Well done, Carb- uh Soda." 'Did I really almost just call him Carbonated Beverage? Ha imagine how embarrassing that would be.'
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
'Aw crap.' I thought. "I said well done, Soda."
He gave me a look then laughed. "Whatever you say."
"Soda get in here and get to bed," Darry said through the screen door. "You have work in the morning."
'Yeah work to kill me before sunrise.' I thought as Soda handed me the bow. "Well that was fun."
"Archery always is." I replied as a bright light hit us, I squinted and turned seeing a blue mustang pull up.
"Hey, Baby," The passenger yelled. These guys must be what Soda called 'socs' driving their mustangs. "What are you doing hanging out with this greaser?"
Soda was about to say something when I put my hand on his chest. "Let me handle this," I said glancing up at him.
"No, Kimber," He said grabbing my wrist as I was about to turn to give these losers a piece of my mind bringing me close to him as he spoke sincerely. "I know these guys and they don't just want to talk, they're drunk."
"Look that's really sweet, Soda, but I don't need your permission." I said looking up at the taller boy, he gave me a concerned look but dropped his hand from my wrist I walked over making it known I was irritated with their presence, the mustang was filled with at least five guys who looked like those huge football player guys. "What do you want?" I asked uninterested.
"Maybe you should find some new company, Baby." The passenger said. I rolled my eyes in irritation.
"Now why would I want to do that?" I asked in monotone.
"Bob and I here can show what a," he paused then winked as he looked me up and down suggestively. "Real good time."
I looked back at Soda and he gave me the look that said 'told you'.
"Uh no thanks." I said turning to walk back to Soda when I heard the door clank behind me.
"That wasn't a question, Bitch." A voice said behind me. Immediately Soda walked over and pulled me out of the way pushing me lightly behind him, I looked over then saw they had piled out of the car. Nearly all of them were taller and bigger then Soda, I had a feeling this would turn ugly real soon.
"Leave her alone, Bob." Soda said glaring at the taller, blonde boy.
"What are you going to do about it you useless dropout greaser." He hissed as the other four guys went to back up the blonde one. "Plus I don't think she'd be some greaser's girl, she's definitely a soc's girl or soon will be." He said pushing Soda out of the way. "Now, why don't you come and get in the pretty mustang and we'll show you a good time."
I stepped back as I held my bow tighter. Maybe I had been judging the wrong group of guys, Soda's boys didn't even try anything and the second some guy in a blue mustang comes up he's trying to get me to come with him to gang rape me, cut me up in and shove me in a skinsuit. "Sorry but I already have a mustang, black one too." I said stepping backwards but he kept advancing, every time I took a step he took two.
"See! Even she's got a nice car."
"I wasn't talking about a car, stupid. I actually have a mustang." He glared at me for calling him stupid.
"What did you call me?" He asked, when I didn't answer immediately he pushed me against the chain-linked fence with his hand on my throat. "What did you call me, Bitch?"
Out of nowhere he was shoved out of the way as Soda came into view shaking his hand, he looked over and touched my arm. "Are you okay?" He asked. 'Wow, this guy's really nice.' I thought as I nodded.
"Watch out!" I yelped as the blondie called Bob recoiled and tackled Soda to the ground, I felt a scream escape my lips as the other guys jumped on him and me. One guy grabbed me around the waist and hoisted me off the ground making me drop my bow covering my mouth with his hand, he was tall. Very tall and me only being five foot three and he had to be at least six-two; it was a high drop. I struggled violently as the other three pinned Soda on the ground mercilessly punching and kicking him in the face and chest.
"Stop struggling!" Apeface ordered as I struggled even more.
I bit down hard on his hand as he yelped dropping me. I hit the ground on my feet falling onto my hands as I scrambled for my bow that somehow got kicked a few feet away, before I had a chance to grab it Apeface jumped on me struggling to keep me down as he smashed me face into the dirt and gravel. He grabbed my hands and pinned them behind my back, I heard Sodapop growl as the other boys ruffed him as they pulled his leg as they jumped on him again.
"Darry!" Soda yelled as they punched him in the face. "Darry!"
No one heard his pleas for help though. Bob pinned Sodapop on his back as he sat on his chest flicking a knife out to his neck.
"No!" I yelped. "Don't hurt him!"
Bob shot me a wild yet drunken grin. "Tell ya what, Greaser, you let us take this fair-haired beauty and we'll leave you alone."
'Fair-haired means blonde, Stupid. I have dark brown hair.' I thought as Apeface grabbed a fistful of messy brown hair smashing my face harder into the ground.
"Not a chance." Soda spat. "She didn't do anything to you."
Bob pressed the knife into Soda's neck a little more shutting him up immediately. "I don't think you're in any position to say otherwise." He gave a sickening grin as Apeface pulled me up.
"Soda, just let it happen." I said as another guy grabbed my arm. "I'm not worth you getting sent to the hospital for."
Bob laughed. "Look at this little one," He said. "How cute, Grease! She's stickin' up for ya."
Soda struggled but Bob pressed the knife further to his neck cutting it slightly. I felt a gasp leave my mouth. I heard the screen door open which distracted the two guys at my side long enough for me to break free and grab my bow. The smoothness of the wood in my hand was reassuring knowing I was in my element with my nearly ancient weapon.
"What the hell is going on out here?" Darry's voice asked an arrow was loaded into the string of the bow aiming straight at Bob as he pulled Soda in a headlock.
"Don't move!" I ordered as all the guys backed up.
"Kimber, don't use that." Darry's voice said calmly but sternly.
I ignored him focusing solely on Soda and Bob. "Let. Him. Go." My voice sounded like acid, dangerous and low, intimidating and deadly.
"What are you going to do about it, Bitch?" he asked tightening his grip on Soda's already bleeding neck.
I felt a boiling flame starting to bury itself in the pit of my stomach. I may have just met Sodapop but I was getting sick of others thinking they're better then someone else, belittling someone who's different and to be honest I was tired of being called a bitch. I glanced at Soda as he motioned towards Bob's hand; I gave the slightest nod as I turned my head to Darry who seemed to be waiting for a distraction as well. I let the arrow fly as it struck its target hitting Bob in the hand and as if on cue Darry jumped on the socs as Ponyboy came out as well backing us up. Soda spun out of Bob's grasp and punched him square in the face. I tossed my bow aside as I jumped on Apeface's back managing to tackle him to the ground we rolled around fighting over dominance as he pushed me on my back. I heard a snap of wood and knew my quiver had snapped. I managed to push him off as arrows slid out of the quiver littering the ground he managed to push me off as the four of them raced back to the mustang and got in faster than you can say 'sucker'.
"This ain't over greaser!" one of them yelled as they spun out of the neighborhood. I groaned from my spot on the ground and arched myself up on my elbow as I watched them leave. Darry pulled Soda up by his arm.
"You alright, Little Brother?" he asked as Ponyboy walked over and held a hand out to me; I smiled and took it as he pulled me up.
"Thanks." I said brushing off the dirt from my clothes and face.
"Yeah, I'm alright." He said holding his stomach hunching over slightly. I walked over watching him carefully. Darry turned to me.
"Now you know why we hate socs, huh?" he said then grinned slightly. I smiled and nodded.
"You bet'cha." I replied.
"Get inside you three," Darry said as Soda nodded weakly. Darry led him up the stairs and into the house as Ponyboy walked me inside.
"It's a good thing you two came out." I said picking up my bow and the arrows that fell out. "Thank you."
"I didn't do nothing," Ponyboy said as he helped pick up the twenty or so arrows. "You're the one who shot him." He said twirling an arrow around his fingers.
"I don't know what happened with that honestly," I said as he handed me the arrows and walked towards the door. "I was ready to seriously hurt that boy if he hurt Sodapop."
I could feel Ponyboy's eyes burning into the back of my head as we entered the house. "Well it's a good thing you didn't. Wouldn't want you to get sent to jail over it."
I laughed lightly as we came inside, I looked over and say Darry lead Soda to the couch as the bruises started to form on his face and arms. I immediately dropped my bow and arrows by the door and walked over to him. "Ohmygod!" I exclaimed quickly seeing the full extent of the beating he had gotten. He laughed weakly.
"It's nothing, Sweets." He said as Darry came back with rubbing alcohol and a rag. I knelt down in front of Sodapop and tugged at his flannel lightly helping him out of it.
"I'm so sorry, Sodapop," I said noticing he had several cuts on his lips, cheeks, and of course his neck. Darry handed me the alcohol and the rag.
"I'm fine, Kim, don't worry," Soda said wincing slightly as he sat up straight as I lifted off his white shirt over his head carefully.
"Fine, my ass," I said pouring some alcohol on the rag taking a seat next to him.
"Are you guys going to be okay?" Darry asked.
"Yeah," Soda answered.
Darry nodded. "Ponyboy get to bed." The youngest Curtis simply nodded; he looked over his brother before going down the hall. Once the other two had left I turned to Soda seeing the full extent of his injuries and what I saw baffled me. His entire torso was starting to turn an ugly black and blue swelling up.
"Dammit, Soda," I said more to myself as I looked him over. "You don't look so good."
"It's not as bad as it looks." He said offering a small smile.
I felt terrible for what happened to him because of me. "This is going to hurt," I said dabbing the rag on his chest. Soda hissed as it bubbled on the cuts. "Sorry." I said over and over with each dab.
"It's alright," He said. "Don't worry about it."
I looked up at him and frowned. I had been horribly wrong about these boys, especially Soda. He wasn't going to hurt me at all instead he basically saved me from those creeps and got a beating for it too. He wasn't this murderer I was making him out to be but a sweet seventeen year old boy.
It was quiet for a while as I cleaned him up a bit and disinfected his cuts. "Thanks for helping me out… again." I said. "I should've just listened to you and let you handle it."
"Hey, I understand," he said letting out a long sigh. "but the outcome probably would've been the same. Those guys were some of the biggest jerks, they love to mess with anyone and see how far they can push you. That soc didn't hurt you at all did he?"
I laughed at that. I barely had a scratch on me while he was beaten to a pulp and he was asking me if I was okay. "He broke my quiver, but other than a few scratches I'm fine." I said. "How are you feeling? You're going to be sore as hell tomorrow."
"I'm sure." He said leaning back on the couch.
"You should go to sleep," I said standing up and held my hand out to him. "Here I'll help you."
He grinned and took my hand in his as I pulled him up wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around his back blushing at the fact that he was half naked and I was taking him to his room. We limped until we reached a door at the end of the hallway.
"I got it from here," He said removing his arm from my shoulders as he leaned against the door. I smiled feeling a whole new respect for my new acquaintance.
"Thank you for everything," I said then before I had a chance to stop myself I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight." I smiled and walked back to the living room.
"Goodnight, Kim." He said before I heard the door creak open and close. Usually I hated when anyone called me 'Kim' but for some reason I loved the way it sounded coming off of his lips and I couldn't help but be flattered that he already had a few nicknames for me being 'Kim' and 'Sweets' while all I had was a secret nickname for him. Carbonated Beverage.