"So get this. You know Evie right?" Angela had began her daily gossip as she cracked open my window and lit a cigarette that was perfectly poised in between her red lips, "Well while I'm the bathroom, this bitch comes in and asks me to use my lipstick. MY LIPSTCK." Angela shook her head, "The nerve."

I was dumbfounded, "So...you're mad cause she asks you to borrow some lipstick?" I asked, sitting Indian style on my bed across from her.

"Do you know not remember last year? Well anyway, I look at her and laugh. She gets this dumb look on her face and tells me not to be a bitch. Me. A bitch. Yeah, okay miss 'I like to spread rumors about Angela stuffing her bra.'"

"But you do stuff your-"

"Not the point, Cherry." She snapped, "Not my fault I can't afford a D cup."

"You can't even afford a C cup." I muttered, a smile forming on my naked lips.

She rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at me, "What the hell ever," Her eyes flickered to my breasts and back up to me, "Whoever is the lucky guy to see those bad boys are lucky."

"Angel!"

Angela shrugged, taking a drag of her cigarette, "Its true."

"You don't have to point it out."

It wasn't that I was embarrassed about Angela talking about my breasts, but I have yet to lose my virginity and to think of it kinda made me uneasy.

"You need to use them to your benefit," She tossed her cigarette out the window. She pulled out her pack of Newports. Angela didn't care what she smoked, as long as it blackened her lungs, she had no problem.

"Damnit," She cursed, "I'm out of cigarettes. Think your brother will have some?"

"Yes to him having them, no to sharing them." Keith was always weird about his cancer sticks, and I knew he wouldn't just offer them away to Angela.

I didn't care for smoking. I didn't see the point in ruining my body and teeth.

"Well we'll have to make a run to the DX." She told me casually.

My heart leapt at her words. A certain boy was most likely working today and hopefully Angela won't say anything .

"And you get to see your boyfriend." She smirked, gathering her purse and closing my window.

Damnit.

XXX...XXX

Truth be told I was sort of disappointed by all the soc girls who surrounded Sodapop as he wiped down the front counter, and his warm smile told me he was eating up this attention like cake.

Admittedly I was jealous of the Soc girls. They always have new designer clothes, and they somehow managed to do their hair and makeup everyday like it was prom. I usually got my clothes from Salvation Army, Angela once she got tired of her's, or even Keith's hand me downs. His shirts were big and comfortable though. Many times I've found myself in his room, digging through his drawers for a nice, comfortable cotton T-shirt.

We walked up to the counter, I was trudging slightly behind Angela. When she cleared her throat, the girls head's instantly turned snapped over to us.

Now, if I was by myself then maybe I would be a bit freaked out but with Angela at my side, these girl's were nothing.

Angela's smile was filled with poison and fake sweetness, "Could ya'll move? You're blocking the damn register." Her voice was laced with venom.

One of the girls who had a straight red hair eyed Angela nastily,"Excuse you?"

Angela rolled her eyes, "Move, darling."

The red head looked over to her friends as if she couldn't believe her ears and laughed, "I don't have to take that from you, skank." Her friends laughed as she smirked.

I looked over to Sodapop who was just watching the argument unfold with an amused smile. I caught his eye and gave him a small smile, which he returned with a heartier one.

Angela nodded her head, making a clicking sound with her tongue she turned to me, "What do you think I should do, Cherry?"

I looked over the girls and then back at Angela. Usually when Angela put me on the spot like that, I just shrugged but something in me clicked. And I realized three things.

One; Sodapop Curtis would never like me back and I just had to come to terms with that. Even though he was sweet, he was a flirt and that was it.

Two; Angela was my best friend and even mentor. She took me under her wing when no one even bothered to talk to me. I loved her as she was my own sister

Three; I was a greaser girl and though I was always ashamed of it, I realized I needed to embrace it, it was who I was. The cigarettes, the tattoos, blood red lipstick, and the boys. And one thing I was sure about being a greaser girl is that you knew how to kick ass.

I titled my head and looked the girls up and down, "I think they need to learn some manners."

Angela looked taken back but smirked and turned back to the four girls, "How's that sound, girls?"

The girls just laughed, this time a blonde girl with soft blue eyes spoke up, "Three against two?" Her blue eyes betrayed her personality.

Angela went to speak up but I beat her to it, "I can get two other girls." I walked up to the blonde girl and looked into her eyes. I stood up to her chin, but without the heels she would be about my height but I looked up at her with a piercing gaze, "Meet us at the park. Six tonight."

The girl faltered for a bit, struggling for a bit but she cleared her throat, "Sounds good to us." She flicked her hair back, "White trash."

"Snobby bitch." Angela had piped up behind me, not letting herself be forgotten.

The girl just smiled, "C'mon, girls." She shoved past me and turned back to Sodapop who was still holding an amused smile, "Bye, Soda." She winked and popped her pink bubblegum as she walked out the store, her hips swaying.

Sodapop's eyes followed her until she was out of sight, a flirty smirk still plastered on his face and I didn't realize I was grimacing at him until he spoke up, "That was pretty cool back there, Cher. Sticking up for you and Angela like that."

My head felt light as his smile melted my heart. Okay, so maybe I could come to terms with him not liking me back, but a girl could dream couldn't she?

Angela turned me around, "Oh my god. I'm so proud of you!" She pulled me into a bone breaking hug then released me, "Finally, I'm getting through to you. We're going to kick those bitches ass, but who exactly are you rounding up?" She leaned against the counter as Sodapop leaned into the conversation.

I shrugged with a smile, "Sylvia...maybe Evie."

She slapped the counter, her rings making a loud clinking sound, "What the hell, Cher? You know I hate-"

"That bitch, I know," I finished for her sighing, "Look, Angela. I'm tired of those girls treating us like shit. We need to stick together, okay? We can't turn on each other."

Angela didn't say anything for awhile then groaned, "Fine. But if Evie says one-"

"I know, I know," I laughed, "Didn't you come here for something?"

"Oh yeah," She looked over to Sodapop,"One pack of Newports."

He went to grab one, but a thought occurred to me. If I was going to be a greaser girl like Angela, I needed to act like one.

"Make that two." I hastily said.

Angela and Sodapop looked over at me with a surprised look. Angela looking proud, Sodapop looking more indifferent. But he grabbed two and rang them up.

I went to pay for mine but Angela slapped my hand, "Don't worry about it, doll. First time should be special." She slid a twenty over to Sodapop, "Keep the change."

He just looked over at us, his eyes lingering on me but I just shrugged. It wasn't a big deal to smoke, but this was the first step to change. I convinced myself I needed to change myself, to toughen up and it was exactly what I was going to do.