Chapter Four: Just the Girl I'm Looking for

"Excellent work Miss Belmont," Mr. Smith said handing Claire her test back. Claire could feel her eyes grow large as she saw the large A- written at the top in red ink. Ponyboy smiled a little when he saw it, stuffing his own test into his binder.

"Thank you so much Ponyboy. I couldn't have done it without you!"

"It's no problem." Ponyboy muttered, embarrassed. "Do you know my brother still talks about you?" he asked suddenly.

"Darry talks about me?" Claire asked, raising her eyebrows at the thought that Pony's twenty year old brother talked about her.

"Not Darry, Sodapop! Ever since you came over that night he's been talking about you." Ponyboy said.

"Really?" Claire asked, not believing him. That had been two weeks ago. Usually her novelty wore off after guys found out she didn't want to date them.

"Yeah, he says you're crazy about him, you just don't know it yet." Pony laughed. Claire laughed too.

"Soda's awfully sure of himself isn't he?"

"He can do anything if he puts his mind to it. So if he really wants to go out with you he's going to find a way to get you to say yes."

"Well I haven't seen him since that night he took me home so he isn't trying too hard to get me to pay attention to him." Claire said as the bell rang. Ponyboy shrugged as Claire stood up and walked out the chemistry classroom.

"So Claire, are you going to the homecoming game?" Cherry asked at lunch. Claire looked up from her peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

After swallowing a bite she answered, "I don't know, maybe, I guess."

"You should totally come with us!" Marcia said who had since forgiven Claire's lack of knowledge of Tulsa slang. Claire had been invited to a few parties with Marcia and Cherry and some of the other girls at the table but she had declined all of them. Claire wasn't big on parties.

"I guess. I'll have to get my parents' permission but if they say it's alright I suppose I could go." Claire answered.

"Great!" Marcia said clapping her hands excitedly.

"Hey Soda look it's your girlfriend!" Two-Bit said loudly. Claire looked over to Marcia and rolled her eyes. A large group of boys was sliding in to sit in the row behind Claire and the group of girls she was sitting with on the bleachers. These boys included Two-Bit, Steve, Johnny, a tough boy named Dallas Winston that Claire had heard of from Cherry, Ponyboy, Darry, and Sodapop.

"Hey Claire." Soda said tapping her shoulder. Claire turned around to see that he was sitting right behind her. Two-Bit was on one side of him and Dallas Winston was on the other.

"Hello Soda." Claire answered giving him a brief nod before turning around. She tucked one of her brown curls behind her ear as Marcia elbowed her.

"I didn't know you knew Sodapop Curtis," she hissed into Claire's ear. Claire rubbed her temples and she knew it was going to be a long night.

"I don't really. I mean I only met him once…" Claire whispered back. Marcia raised her eyebrows as if she didn't believe Claire and went back to watching the cheerleaders do their routine.

"You picked yourself a real Socy broad Soda," Dallas commented. Claire bit her lip as she felt Soda's knee touch her back, it was subtle enough that it could be perceived as an accidental thing but it was still noticeable to her. Dallas then went on to say some really dirty things; Claire had never even heard some of the words he used.

"Watch the mouth." Soda said warningly.

"Why is your girlfriend such a naïve and innocent little girl she can't hear bad words?" Dally asked laughing as he cursed some more.

"I'm getting popcorn." Claire whispered to Marcia who nodded, distracted at cheering on her boyfriend Randy as the football players took the field. Claire stepped gingerly around people to get to the steps. After descending the stairs she waved to Cherry who was with the other cheerleaders.

"Are you having a good time?" Cherry asked waving her pompoms. Claire nodded.

"I guess so. I've never been to a football game before." Claire said. Cherry nodded and then looked over Claire's shoulder.

"Hey Claire." Soda said, causing Claire to jump.

"Soda you scared me!" Claire said putting her hand to her chest. Cherry laughed.

"Claire, you didn't tell me you knew Soda." Cherry said. Soda grinned and put his arm around Claire.

"We go way back. Now if you'll excuse us we have to go get some popcorn at the concession stand," Soda said.

"Bye Cherry." Claire muttered reluctantly as Soda led her away to the concession line.

"So Claire…how are you?" Soda asked as they got in line.

"I'm fine thank you. But could I ask you a favor Soda?" Claire asked.

"Anything."

"Could you remove your arm from my shoulders? It's making me uncomfortable." Claire said. Soda shrugged and removed his arm like he was asked. "Thank you."

"What's it going to take Claire?" Soda asked suddenly as Claire asked the woman at the counter for popcorn and a 7-UP.

"What's it going to take what?" Claire asked as she was about to hand over her money but Soda thrust his out instead.

"What is it going to take for you to say yes to go on a date with me?" he asked handing her, her popcorn and soda.

"I don't know Soda. But thank you for paying for my snack," she said quietly, starting to walk back to the bleachers. Soda followed her, with his hands in his pockets.

"I think you're scared," he said suddenly. Claire raised one of her eyebrows in a manner that would have made Two-Bit proud.

"Oh really. Well that's a good theory I guess if you can't handle rejection" Claire said climbing back up to sit with Marcia. Soda ran his right hand through his long hair and stared after her. Soda had to know that there were a large number of girls who liked him; he could have any of them in a heartbeat. And yet he had set his mind to Claire Belmont, the one girl who didn't want to go out with him.