Chapter 4

Caught out hanging out

We followed on behind Caro and her friends across the Junior High campus and up onto the high school bleachers. There was already a small crowd of high school greasers there. A couple of them called out 'Hi' to Caro and the others, who were obviously regulars there. We sat on the bleachers to the left of the group and Caro and Trish immediately lit up a cigarette. I took out my sandwiches, which Darry had packed for me that morning and took a bite; Peanut butter and jelly again. Still I liked it well enough.

"Can I have one of those?" asked Tara. I was about to hand her a sandwich when I realised she was talking to Trish, sitting next to her, and not to me and she was bumming a cigarette from her. Tara had smoked before, though she didn't do it often, so I wasn't that surprised. Trish offered her the pack and then offered one to me. I hesitated. I had never tried smoking, mostly because Darry and Soda had warned me not to start and threatened me with all sorts of punishments if they ever found out I had. Pony smoked like a chimney of course and they had given up trying to get him to stop, but they hadn't given up on me yet! Still, I was curious and I did want to try. It didn't mean I would then carry on.

Before I changed my mind I took one and held it between my lips as Trish leant forward and lit it for me. I inhaled deeply and coughed and spluttered as the smoke hit my lungs and throat. The group of girls laughed.

"You ain't smoked before have you?" Caro remarked.

I shook my head, going red. I didn't want them to think I was a baby, especially as I was younger than all of them. Tara said gently, "Just inhale more softly and then blow the smoke out." I tried it that way and it was better, but I wasn't sure if I really liked it.

I carried on chatting and smoking then a voice broke into the conversation, which sent a little shiver down my spine.

"Hey Bex, is that you? Are you smoking?!" it was Ponyboy. He had obviously just arrived with Steve and Two-Bit to join the greaser crew. I hadn't even thought they would be here. As far as I knew they usually hung out outside the diner at lunchtime.

"Hey Pony." I tried to sound innocent and held the cigarette down by my side. "I was just holding it for someone else." I jabbered.

Two-Bit laughed out loud and Steve grinned in a sly way. "I saw you with it in your mouth Rebecca." Pony said. I knew he was annoyed with me as he never used my full name otherwise.

"Well, I was just trying it ok? Don't tell Darry or Soda will you?" I pleaded looking at Two-Bit and Steve as well. "You smoke all the time Pony, it ain't fair if you rat on me for this."

"Yeah, but I ain't 12 and I ain't a girl. Don't go copying my bad habits."

"I'm not gonna Pony. I told you, I was just trying it and I'm not sure if I like it much anyway." Although it was starting to grow on me, as it had a strangely soothing effect on my nerves. "You guys aren't gonna tell on me are you?"

Two-Bit ruffled my hair and grinned "Nah Bexster, I ain't gonna tell, but don't let me see you doing it again or I will." He warned.

"I might tell." Steve said nastily. That was just the kind of thing Dally would have said, just to wind me up and keep me on my toes. I shot Steve a daggers look.

"You wouldn't."

"He won't and I won't either." Pony said "but don't do it anymore, ok Bex? It's not a good thing to get into."

The group of girls had been staring on through all of this, surprised at the over-reaction of my brother and his friends.

"Aren't you gonna introduce us?" asked Caro cockily.

"Sure, this is my brother, Ponyboy and this is Two-Bit and Steve. Guys this is Caro, Trish, Susie and Melanie and you already know Tara of course."

"Hey girls" drawled Two-Bit.

Steve looked totally uninterested in a bunch of Junior High girls, but Two-Bit never passed up the opportunity for a bit of fun and flirting with some good looking girls, even though they were far too young for him and he had no intention of taking it any further. Pony just looked uncomfortable and didn't get involved. He certainly wasn't interested in a group of my friends and had no interest in girls much yet in general. He was too focused on his writing and movies and books.

"So are y'all in Bex's class?" Two-Bit asked

"That's right." Said Caro "Ain't you a bit old to be in high school?" She didn't beat about the bush!

"Heck no, I plan to stay at least another year." Two-Bit drawled "Those teachers would miss me too much if I just upped and graduated." He grinned.

"Sure." I muttered rolling my eyes.

"If you're gonna sass me Bexster, I may have to tell Darry about your little habit." He threatened. I knew he was only kidding though and poked my tongue out at him.

"Come over here a minute Becky." Pony called me to one side.

"Yeah?" I looked up at him wondering what he had to say.

"Since when have you been hanging round with these greaser girls?"

"I am a greaser Pone, remember?"

"Yeah, but not like Caro and her little gang. They're trouble, you know that. I think you oughta stay away from them if you know what's good for you."

"It's okay Pony, I know and I ain't itching to get into a heap of trouble and get the state down on our backs, not to mention Darry. Caro's alright really and I ain't really talked to her till today…"

"Yeah well maybe you should steer clear from now on. She's always up to something and you're better than that."

"Thanks for caring Pony, but I'm not stupid. She can't make me do anything I don't want to and I won't let her get me in trouble, ok?"

To be honest I was feeling a bit annoyed that even Pony was now trying to tell me what to do. Did no-one think I was capable of thinking for myself?

"Well, don't say I didn't warn you." Pony retorted.

"I won't!" I snapped back. I went back over to Tara and we gathered up our stuff to head back to class. Lunch was nearly over and I didn't want to get a tardy slip on top of my detention slip!

"See ya later Pony, see ya Two-Bit, Steve."

"Bye Bex" they chorused.

"I'll pick you up outside the gym as usual, don't be late Bexster."Two-Bit yelled after me.

"I won't!"

"Jeez, those guys sure got you on a short leash don't they?" Melanie remarked.

"Yeah, I can't believe what a big deal they made out of you smoking a cigarette, it's not like it was dope or something." Susie remarked.

"Welcome to my life. They're nothing compared to my eldest brother Darry or even Soda, my next eldest. I tell you I can't get away with anything!"

"Well, I think it's kinda nice the way they all look out for you and protect you Bex." Tara pointed out.

"I guess, but it would be nice to have room to breathe occasionally."

"It would drive me insane if my sister was like that." Caro scoffed. "No-one gives a damn what I get up to, which is a good thing as they'd be working overtime trying to keep tabs on me!" she grinned.

I laughed along with the other girls in the group, but I was feeling annoyed and frustrated with my brothers and the gang for making me feel so small and so hemmed in. As much as I did love them all.

The afternoon passed without further incident and I even managed to forget about my impending doom when we had a great gymnastics session in gym class. I love gymnastics and am pretty good at it. I was thinking of trying out for the gymnastics squad next semester.