This story is A/U.
Chapter 9 : A new day begins.
The two mile ride to Rock Creek High seemed like two hundred miles as Bekka listened to her mother drone on and on about her classes. Tuning out Doritha's ranting, she gazed out the car window as they pulled into the High School. Bekka's eyes lit on four of the Rattlers hanging out at the main entrance, smoking and carrying on. She smiled despite herself when she caught sight of Buck in his leather Rattlers Jacket. Bekka nibbled on a fingernail as she watched him leaning with languid ease against the brick wall while coolly lighting a cigarette, her silly heart skipped a couple beats.
"...Bekka, Bekka Joe! Are you even listening to me? Look at me,...and stop biting your nails. What have I told you about that."
"I'm sorry, mother," Bekka sighed as her dreamy eyed smile fell.
"You're suppose to be a well bred young lady. Those nails are a terrible sight, and to think of adding grease from a car to those hands, what were you thinking?..." Doritha shook her head in utter disapproval.
"Do you have any idea how angry I am with you? When were you planning to tell me that you were assigned to an automotive class?"
"You didn't seem all that concerned about my classes the other night. My wardrobe seemed to be your main point of interest." Bekka mumbled under her breath as she turned to look back out the window.
"Don't sass me, young lady!" Doritha snarled as Bekka thought better of mentioning that scowling like that would lead to more noticeable age lines. Not that Bekka was ever really one to say what she was thinking when it came to her mother. It was fun all the same to think these things.
"Do you realize how that made me look? To get a phone call from Mrs. Burgess, the head of the Ladies VFW Auxiliary, informing me that my only daughter is cavorting with juvenile delinquents, and in auto shop no less?"
"I'm not cavorting, mother! I'm in a class, learning how to repair cars. And those boys are not delinquents or hoods what ever else you want to call them. They're all very nice and..."
"Nice?" Doritha's corn flower blue eyes narrowed on her daughter, "There is nothing nice about boys like that, Bekka Joe. I'm not going to sit by and to let you ruin your father's reputation, as well as my standing with the Ladies Auxiliary, by carrying on with trash like that. Now come along. I'm getting you out of there and into a respectable class where you belong, and while I'm at it, I'm going to see about getting you into cheerleading."
"You can't do that, mother! I like the class and I'm not trying out for cheerleading! How many times do I have to tell you that?"
Bekka was infuriated. It was just like her mother to run rip shod over her just when things were starting to go good. Slamming the car door, she followed reluctantly after her mother. The sound of Doritha's heels clicking on the sidewalk grated on Bekka's nerves as she looked up and spotted the four Rattler's still lingering against the wall, eyeballing a few of the school's Senior pom-pom's ascending the stairs.
Kathleen, Samantha, Sarah and Rosemary were laughing and carrying on about the Homecoming game and dance that would take place in several weeks.
"...You're sure to be Homecoming Queen, Kathleen…"
"...Oh for sure, Kathleen...and Rance as Homecoming King...you both will make such a dreamy couple…"
"...or Bill, he's just the ginchiest...I would just die to be Homecoming Queen with him…"
"Don't let Camille hear you say that, Sarah..."
More tittering giggles followed.
Spinning around, Kathleen faced her girlfriends, "Wait 'til you all cast your pretty peepers on my new dress. You dolls will be so jealous, Mother had it ordered all the way from Paris. It arrived yesterday. It's just the most."
"Rance will be over the moon when he sees you, Kathleen..."
"I'll bet Buck will be drooling all over himself, and following you around like a lost puppydog."
"Buck!" Kathleen spat. "I could care less for that rat loser. Now, as for Rance, sure he's a total flutter bum, but the guy's small potatoes. I have my eye set on a dreamier catch,...Mr. Wilkins. When he sees me, he won't be able to pull his eyes away...maybe he'll even dance with me…and who knows where that will lead."
Kathleen's expression shifted in a blink of an eye. If the mention of Buck Cross caused her face to contort into a look of pure disgust, then the thought of Hack Wilkins did just the opposite. She smiled dreamily as she conjured up the image of her handsome Literature teacher,with his blue eyes and Australian accent.
Wagging her brows and sashaying her hips seductively at her girl friends, the wheels in Kathleen's head were starting to turn as she schemed a way to get what she wanted. Kathleen always got what she wanted, and the harder the challenge, the better.
Buck Cross, the tough, brooding Rattler, had been a joke. Even Mr. Dewitt Tyler, her World History teacher, had been a piece of cake. A little bit of flirting had led to a few stolen kisses, which led to other things. But it got her the straight A's she desperately needed in his dull as dirt class.
Now Hack. He was dreamy cool and just a little older than she was. They could have a lot of fun together, not to mention helping her out in his boring Lit. class. And, if they got caught, well her daddy could send him packing. Not like it hadn't happened before, and she really didn't care. She was determined to have as much fun as possible before getting saddled down with Rance and the lame, rich, house wife life her father and mother imagined for her. Rance Burgess was alright, he was good looking and, on a social level, put her right where she wanted to be in Rock Creek society. But for the here and now, all she wanted was to have a good time, and that, in her mind was with Hack.
"You're so boss, Kathleen..."
"...I wish I was bold and daring like you..."
"Girls, you know this is going to be just the best Homecoming Rock Creek has ever seen!" Rosemary squealed. "We'll walk into the Homecoming dance with the men of our dreams. I'll finally have Jimmy! Oh, and did I tell you, mother ordered my dress from a famous New York City fashion designer, I'll be a vision. When Jimmy see's me he'll dump that skank alleycat for sure. I can't wait..."
"Oh...it's going to be the most..."
"...Totally..."
"Well, good morning ladies," Cody drawled as he smoothly stepped in front of Sarah Downs and draped an arm around her. "Where are you going with heels on fire, babycakes? Why don't you hang around with us and..."
"Get outta my way, you greaser!" Sarah exclaimed as she shoved Cody away.
"Hey sweetcheeks, is that anyway to treat a fella who's just trying to say good morning?"
Cody wasn't about to let the slight pass him by and slickly flipped Sarah's sunflower yellow poodle skirt high in the air.
The Rattlers let out raucous cat calls as the group of cheerleaders passed by with outraged gasps and protests.
Snatching her skirt from out of the blond Rattler's hands, Sarah was clearly incensed."Get your greasy rat hands off of my skirt, you creep."
"Ohhh, what are you going to do? I'm so scared," Cody mocked as he circled her and continued to turn up her skirt.
"I said, quit it!"
"Just leave us alone, you cretins." Kathleen shouted. "Wait till Rance gets here! Hey...hey! Give me my book back you dummy rat!"
Ike grinned as he held the book high in the air.
Buck, who had been slouching against the wall, flicked his cigarette to the ground, crushing it with his boot heel as he took a menacing step towards the preppy paper shaker. "If I were you, I'd pick my words carefully, Kathleen..."
"Like I'm scared of you, Buck. Why don't you go slither back to the Reservation where your kind belongs."
"Yeah! ...Why don't you put a egg in your shoe and beat it!" Rosemary chirped.
In a flash the four Rattlers had the paper-shakers corralled, flipping up their skirts, circling and taunting them, snatching their books, and blocking their way into the school.
"Oh, my! Will you look at that, Bekka! That boy just pulled up that girl's skirt. Oh, those poor, poor dear girls. Having to put up with treatment like that from a bunch of hooligans." Doritha Cooper exclaimed in horror, with gloved hand covering her mouth.
"This is just what I was trying to tell you, Bekka Joe. Boys like that are not nice and are nothing but trouble. They are positively harassing those young ladies! Why,...why isn't anyone taking care of this? Where is the principal?"
"The Rattlers are just having some fun mother, and those girls deserve what they're getting." Bekka defended.
"How can you say such a thing! Those are proper young ladies, cheerleaders, I'd wager...What did you call those boys?..."
Bekka rolled her eyes and sighed as she started up the brick steps.
"Rebecca Josephine, where do you think you're going!? You're not going up there...Bekka, get back down here before one of those ruffians decides to show the whole world your unmentionables." Doritha clamped her hand down on her daughter's arm.
"Mother! What are you doing? I'm going to be late for homeroom," Bekka protested. "Besides they won't bother me."
Bekka smiled as she looked up in time to see Ike snatch a book out of Kathleen's hands, while Buck's gaze fell on her. Shooting her a heart stopping wink, Bekka's belly did a little flip.
Laughing, Ike tossed the book over to Noah, who turned it over in his hands, "Well well, didn't think they gave out McGuffey grade school readers in High School, little miss round heels. But I guess for a pom-pom like yourself, reading wouldn't exactly be your strong suit, now would it."
"It's not a McGuffey reader, you hood! It's Jane Eyre. If you knew how to read, you'd have seen that! Now give me back my book." Kathleen jumped up trying to snatch it back from Noah.
"Hey, Cody...catch."
Cody waved the book over Kathleen's head, taunting her. "How bad do you want your book, darling?"
"I'm not your darling...give it back..."
"...Hey, Stop that...leave me alone..." Rosemary protested as she grabbed hold of her skirt. "If Jimmy was here he'd put a stop to you punk rats..."
"Is that so?"
As if on cue, Jimmy Hickok strode up the stairs with his arm wrapped around Alice's waist and deftly caught the book Cody tossed his way. He could clearly see Rosemary's hopeful look to him. That girl never could get it through her head that he didn't want anything to do with her. He never had.
One corner of his mouth turned up and his golden eyes sparkled with mischief. He'd teach Miss Rosemary Burke to mess with his girl.
"I think we're just in time to get in on all the action, don't ya think, Milady?" Jimmy looked down at the woman he believed the most beautiful he'd ever seen and gave her a playful wink.
"Yeah, Captain, just in time." She cooed snaking her arms around Jimmy's neck as she shot Rosemary a wicked and victorious grin.
"Hey! Einstein, think fast."
Jimmy tossed Kathleen's book over to the lanky dark haired Rattler. Then, sparing Rosemary one last pointed glance, he pulled Alice in for a quick searing kiss.
Rosemary had clearly been dismissed. She stood there glowering with rage and fighting tears she would later deny. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. Alice shouldn't be any match for her. Alice was...nothing special. But the boys all flocked to her. They always had. Everyone had flocked to Alice. Maybe she shouldn't care about Jimmy. But something about him made her swoon every time she saw him or thought about him or heard his deep rumbling voice. Rosemary just had to have him and there was no way she was going to admit defeat to some no account Scarlet from the other side of the tracks. There was no longer any other thought in Rosemary's head. She was oblivious of her skirt flying up or Billy Cody trying to pull her to him and she certainly no longer cared about Kathleen's stupid book.
"Buck...Buck, please, can I have my book back?"
Keeping the novel just out of Kathleen's reach, Buck lowered dark eyes on the girl, and for half a second he considered making her beg on hands and knees for the thing.
"You greasers are going to be in a heap of trouble when we tell Principal Shannon what you're doin'!" Sarah cried between squeals of protest while trying to keep away from the boys.
"No they won't, school isn't in session yet. Mrs. Shannon won't do a thing." Emily replied, cool as a cucumber as she strode up to Ike and draped her arm possessively around her man.
"What the hell's going on up there? Get your rat hands off our girls." Rance demanded with a fierce bark.
Bekka Joe let out an involuntary gasp as she stepped back beside her mother. The other students seemed to follow suit and parted like the waters of the Red Sea to let the Silvers up to where the Rattlers had the cheerleaders hemmed in.
"Rance's going to pound your face in, Buck. Give me my book back. Now!" Kathleen ordered as she tried reaching for it.
Turning the pristine, leather bound copy of Jane Eyre over in his hands, Buck's thoughts went to his feisty little ball of fire. Lifting his eyes from off the smooth brown cover, he flicked dark eyes down at Bekka then back to the book.
"This is real nice, Kathleen. A lot nicer than the copies the rest of us got in class. How badly do you want it back?" Taking a slow deliberate step closer to Kathleen, he looked her up and down while holding the book out to her but kept his grip solid as she tried to yank the novel out of his grasp.
"Come on, Buck. You've had your fun. Just give it back to me,...It belongs to father. I took it from his library...you know how he gets...please, Buck, just give it back to me, will ya! "
"Maybe..." Buck started deliberately, "maybe I'll kick it down these steps." His voice dropped a register, "You like kicking things around, don't ya..."
"Just give it back, please, Buck," Kathleen pleaded.
"You heard the lady, you filthy injun'! Give Kathleen her book back, before I put you six feet under," Rance growled as he walked up and faced Buck.
Buck's eyes sliced over Rance Burgess, then he laughed. "I'd like to see ya try, Burgess." With snake like reflexes, he quickly pulled the book away from Kathleen and yanked open the school door.
"How badly do you want it back, Kathleen?" Buck smiled maliciously.
Kathleen's eyes grew wide, "You wouldn't dare..."
"Try me..." Buck's dark eyes flashed, as they held hers.
"Fetch!"
Buck threw the leather bound book through the open door and watched it go skidding down the main hallway of Rock Creek High.
Bekka, standing several feet away, let out a tiny yelp no one paid any attention to.
"Noooo! Buck Cross!" Kathleen grabbed hold of his arm and looked on, horror struck, as it got kicked further down the hall by several jocks.
"You're going to pay for that...I swear, Buck Cross! Do you have any idea how much that book cost?...Father's going to kill me...you're the biggest creep...I hate you, Buck!" Kathleen screamed.
"Feeling's mutual, Kathleen," Buck snarled. Pulling his arm away from her grasp, he let the school door close.
"Why you insolent son of a ..." Rance rushed Buck, grabbing hold of the front of his leather jacket.
Buck saw the Silver coming out of the corner of his eye. Taking hold of his letterman's sweater, he allowed Rance to push him back, then Buck used the momentum to his advantage, swung himself and the Silver around and shoved Rance hard against the door.
"Buck, no!" Jimmy hollered out as he watched Buck's hand whisk past his boot. Steel flashed sharp in the morning sun.
"Looks like I'll be the one putting you six feet under," Buck growled, backing his threat up with his switchblade that hovered inches from Rance's cheek.
Lowering his voice his dark eyes bored into Rance, "Don't ever think of laying another hand on Bekka Joe, savvy?"
Rance simply stared Buck dead in the eye while twisting his mouth into a cruel, wry grin, "Yeah."
"Buck! Principal Shannon's coming!" Alice shouted.
Shoving Rance away, Buck slipped his blade back into his boot then snapped the collar of his jacked up as if nothing happened. Turning, he was in time to see Mrs. Shannon walking up the brick steps.
"Good Morning, ladies," She passed her eyes over the cheerleaders, hovering a moment on Kathleen, then lingered on the pair of Scarlet Angels.
"Mrs. Shannon," Kathleen spoke up, still incensed over her book.
"Yes?"
"I have suffered the most grievous ..."
"Hush! And kill the dramatics,Kathleen," Bill hissed in her ear.
Looking from Kathleen to Bill Barlow and Rance Burgess, Emma asked, "Is there a problem that needs addressing?"
"No, Mrs. Shannon," Kathleen replied as she struggled to swallow her ire, while her eyes sliced through Buck.
"No ma'am. No problem, no problem at all." Rance quickly answered, not wanting Mrs. Shannon on his case. "I need to get to my locker."
Good. I suggest you young ladies head on along before you're late for homeroom, that goes double for you Mr. Burgess and Mr. Barlow." Emma coolly replied.
The Silvers wasted no time getting inside the school building.
"Gentlemen," her sharp eyes now took note of each of the Rattlers still lingering at the entrance.
"Don't you all have somewhere you need to be? Bell's about to ring." She eyed Buck, her steady gaze falling first on his leather jacket, then on his earring. Arching a brow, Emma brushed a strand of hair behind her left ear, finger subtly tapping against her lobe. Next she sized up Jimmy, Noah and Ike wearing their Rattlers' jackets as well.
They all knew what that look from Mrs. Shannon meant as she passed through the school entrance.
Bekka slowly walked up the school steps, trailing behind her mother. Her mind was busy turning over and over the events she had just witnessed.
The steel blade flashing open. Bekka had never seen a real switchblade before, and only in the movies did she actually see one poised at another person's throat.
If it hadn't been for Jimmy hollering out, Bekka would have missed seeing the switchblade in Buck's hands, everything happened so quick. Although being several feet away from him, the look that burned deadly in Buck's dark eyes with knife poised at Rance's face caused a momentary shiver of fear to rush through her. Bekka took an involuntary step back.
It was a solid reminder to her that Buck wasn't just some dreamboat of a guy, who played at being cool and tough. Buck Cross was tough and cool, with a real lethal edge. He was a Rattler and from that moment, Bekka didn't doubt for a second that Buck knew exactly how to use the blade he held close to Rance's cheek.
Bekka should have been scared of Buck. She should have turned tail and ran. Strangely, she wasn't fearful of him, not really. She had seen a softer side to Buck and knew the warmth and safety his strong arms held.
But Rance Burgess was another story. Seeing him, even with Buck's switchblade poised at the side of his face, sent a tremor through her. There was something singular about Rance that frightened her like nothing else on this earth ever had. Bekka couldn't put her finger on what it was that left her feeling that way, but catching Rance's wry grin, she wanted to run to the safety of Buck's arms and cling to him.
For a half a moment, as Bekka continued watching Buck and Rance together, she wondered if the baleful look Buck bore into Rance was out of a need to protect her?
As soon as the thought left her head, Bekka pushed the ludicrous notion out of the way. There was more to Buck's dark vengefulness than a need to defend an insignificant square of a girl such as herself.
There was no love loss between Rance and Buck, that much Bekka could tell. Now Kathleen, well she hurt Buck, maybe even broke his heart. But there was more to it, she could tell, but what exactly, Bekka didn't know. But for her part, personally she felt the two Silver's got what they deserved. But the book...not the poor leather bound book, never the book.
From Bekka's vantage point on the sidewalk, she could tell it was a beautiful, pristine edition of what she thought she heard Kathleen say was Jane Eyre.
Even if the novel did belong to Kathleen, Bekka still held a strong affinity, almost a kinship to books. She loved them, they were her cherished friends. They took her, with just a turn of a page, by the hand and showed her exciting new worlds filled with an array of interesting places, people, and new experiences. In their world she lived free and soared high. To watch Buck so cruelly and without a thought, throw that book down the hall was like watching him throw one of her...Bekka didn't want to think any more about it, so she pushed all her thoughts aside and tried to refocus on the chances of remaining in auto shop.
All she could hope was that her mother didn't see Buck's knife, or the momentary scuffle. That would be the final nail in the coffin.
As she neared the top of the the stairs she felt, rather than saw, someone intently watching her every step. Raising her gaze, she found herself staring into Buck's dark brown eyes. They no longer held the chilling malefic glint of a moment ago. Instead they were soft, and smiling as they held onto hers.
*Hey, check it out, Buck.* Ike nudged his friend, nodding in the direction of the two women walking up the steps.
"Will you look at that," Cody mused. "She looks like one of those glamorous ladies in those fashion magazines my mom's always reading."
They all took in Dorthia Cooper's shapely legs, black sling back heels, narrow waist. She was dressed in a classy black and white polka dotted day dress, with dainty white gloves adorning her tiny hands.
While the others were riveted on Bekka's mother, Buck's eyes were more focused on the pretty sight of his little ball of fire. His mouth curled upward when he briefly caught and held Bekka's gaze before her hazel eyes drifted back down on her saddle shoes.
"That's Bekka's old lady ?" Noah asked.
Despite themselves, the guys were affected by how attractive Bekka's mother was.
"Seems like it." Buck mumbled as the blonde haired, petite woman coldly brushed past him with a deliberate air of icy contempt. It was a stark reminder of what side of the tracks Bekka Joe came from and the walls that barred him from her.
As Bekka passed by she stole a glance in Buck's direction. "I'm sorry..." she mouthed.
He shrugged with calloused indifference at her.
Furrowing her brow, Bekka couldn't hide her confusion and hurt as she watched Buck's expression harden. Turning away, she continued following her mother.
"Come along, Bekka! Don't pay those hoodlums any mind." Doritha ushered her daughter past the leather jacket clad boys.
"Here, allow me." Billy Cody gave the pair one of his most dazzling smiles as he gallantly held the main door open for the ladies to pass through.
Doritha breezed through without so much as a acknowledgment or a simple thank-you.
As Bekka passed through, she looked back at the boys, and whispered a soft "Thank-you, Billy", and smiled warmly at the blond.
Buck's scowl deepened. Why, he wondered to himself, did he always manage to get it wrong with Bekka and act like a jackass with her? Didn't matter, she wasn't interested in him. It was obvious, she clearly had eyes for Cody.
"Bekka Joe, what did I tell you? Ignore them."
"I'm not going to simply ignore good manners, mother. You didn't have to be so rude..." The remainder of her words died as the school door swung closed.
"Now, that's what I call a real Silver. I don't think that chick has a ounce of red blood running through her veins. " Noah remarked.
"She's a force of nature, that's for sure." Cody added.
*What do you think is going on, with Bekka?* Ike asked.
"My guess Ike, she's trying to get my little Bekka doll pulled from shop." Cody grumbled.
Ike raised a brow at Cody, *Your little 'Bekka doll'?*
"Well, you know what I mean, Ike." His gaze followed Ike's.
Staring silently at the door, Buck's stoic face broke out into a half grin. "Bekka's old lady can try, but trust me, Bekka's the real force to be reckoned with." Somehow Buck knew Bekka wouldn't let herself get pulled out of shop if she could help it. Neither would she let his surly attitude towards her go unnoticed.
The final bell rang. *We're going to be late,* Ike signed.
"Wouldn't mind being a fly on Principal Shannon's office, right about now." Noah laughed as they headed inside.
Buck was determined to make it up to Bekka, before he found himself once more on the receiving end of one of her tongue lashings.
Kid was running late as he pulled his Deuce into the High School drive. The engine rumbled low as he passed the main entrance causing several heads to turn admiringly his way. Kid smiled. The new set of glass packs he saved a whole summer's wages for were installed. His hot rod was finally starting to sound as tough as Jimmy's truck.
Noticing his fellow Rattlers on the top of the school steps giving the Silvers grief, caused Kid to laugh. "Give em' hell..."
Turning into the student parking lot, he spotted Lou's car, parked along side Buck's ragtop and Cody's roadster at the end of the lot. His good humor left him as he pulled in next to Jimmy's truck.
He still couldn't accept that Lou was no longer his girl, and no longer wore his ring. At the beginning of the week they started off their morning making out in his car before classes started. Now,...Kid shook his head ruefully.
They should have had a good make out session going on before meeting up with the rest of the gang. It should have been Lou and Kid up there with the Rattler's and Scarlet's giving those silvers what for. Instead...he arrived just late enough so he wouldn't have to face Lou in the hallway before homeroom.
He wanted the pain to go away, he wanted Lou back, he wanted things the way they were...The way they were...what was that? Arguing, butting heads, neither seeing eye to eye...Kid slammed his hand hard on the steering wheel as he bit back a curse. Lou was right, it was for the best...but it still hurt like hell.
Fumbling with the combination on his locker, Kid tried to shrug out of his coat. First bell had already rung and he was going to be late for homeroom.
"Damn it!" He muttered as his US Government book fell on the floor.
"I believe you dropped this."
"Thanks." Kid replied as he worked on shoving his leather jacket in his locker while looking for his Economics book. Pulling it out from the bottom heap of books, he slammed the locker door shut and turned to take the offered book. His jaw slackened. Standing in front of him was Samantha Edgars.
Kid would have been lying to himself if he said he never drew designs on the dark haired paper shaker. Her skin held a golden glow that he had never seen before while her voice held a soft southern lilt that left him transfixed. He honestly believed he could listen to that voice forever.
Samantha Edgars had transferred into Rock Creek High last year from down south. New Orleans, Kid seemed to recall.
She never really seemed like the others, but then again she was a Silver and readily took up with the Devlin chick and her pack of pom-poms. That made her no different than the rest of that nickel plated set, in his eyes.
"Like I said, thanks," Kid replied coolly, as he took the offered book. In spite of his strong dislike for Silvers, her sweet smile left him weak.
"You're welcome, Kid."
"Yeah." He eyeballed her good, wondering what she was up to, lingering around. Samantha had never really bothered to give him the time of day before.
"You're not like the rest, are you, Kid?"
He looked hard into her dark eyes. "Like the rest of what?"
"The rest of the Rattlers. Why do you hang out with them, Kid? You're smart and thoughtful, nothing like those hoods."
"We're not hoods!" Kid flared back a little harsh. "If you bothered to take a moment to get to know us, you'd see that...shoot! I ain't got time for this. I gotta go." Throwing his hands up in disgust he walked away. She was no different than the rest of the Silvers.
"Kid, wait. I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said." Samantha reached out placing a staying hand on his arm.
"Yes you did."
"Maybe...I'm sorry about that..." She slowly moved her hand down Kids' arm till her fingers rested over his hand. "What can I do to make things right?"
Kid's breath hitched at the gentle warm contact. Looking up at Samantha he couldn't help noticing the genuine apology resting in the dark depths of her pretty eyes.
"Don't worry 'bout it. Every one assumes we're hoods."
"I won't assume that any more, Kid. Though, I'll still say you're nothing like those Rattlers you hang around with. You didn't join in this morning when they taunted us and blocked our way into school. And they said such horrible things to us, not to mention humiliating poor Kathleen and Sarah."
"I would've been right there with 'em, if I hadn't been late," Kid remarked indifferently.
"I don't believe that. Since l first arrived here in Rock Creek, I've had my eye on you, Kid. You're different. You're a real gentleman." Coyly she batted her thick dark lashed at him.
"You've noticed me?" He swallowed hard, she was even prettier up close.
" Umm, humm...I have, Kid..." Samantha let her smile widen as her fingers started stroking the back of his hand.
"You think I'm gentleman? I don't know about that, Samantha. I'm a Rattler, remember."
"Oh, I remember, but you are so much more of a gentleman, Kid. You would never have lifted a girl's skirt like that blond boy did. And you certainly never would have pulled out a knife on another student like that...that savage Indian did."
What ever spell Samantha was weaving around him, with her soft southern voice, and sweet, sunny smile, just snapped in two. What on earth was he thinking, letting this Silver undo him like this.
"They're my friends. Good friends. Better friends than any Silver knows how to be. And they have names. Billy Cody and Buck Cross. I'd think twice before calling Buck a savage to my face again." Kid growled as he pulled his hand away from hers.
Samantha drew back from Kid when she caught the fiery flash within his blue eyes.
"I didn't mean any offence, I'm sorry, Kid..."
He quickly cut her off, "You don't know me, Samantha and don't try to suppose you do. I'm late, I gotta split.
"You know, Kid, I could say the same to you," Samantha called out.
Kid paused and turned back to look at her.
A pleased grin spread across her face as she slowly walked towards the sandy haired Rattler. "You don't know a thing about me either, Kid. Just because I'm a cheerleader doesn't make me anything like those other girls."
"Could've fooled me. From what I've seen, you act just like 'em."
"Just like you act like a Rattler but you're not really one, deep down, are you?" Her dark eyes roamed over Kid's face as a smile formed. Her words hit a nerve.
Had things been different, had Kid's father not lost the farm to Jack Devlin...he'd be like his brother Jed. He'd be a jock wearing a letterman's sweater instead of a greaser hoodlum in a black leather jacket.
Kid shook his head to dislodge the thought. It didn't matter because things weren't different. And when his life had turned south, it wasn't the Silvers who had been there for him. It was the Rattlers who had been there to take him into their circle.
"I don't know what kind of game you're playing at, Samantha, but it aint workin' on me." Kid turned and walked away, cursing himself left and right for acting like a fool.
Stamping her foot on the ground, Samantha huffed out a frustrated sigh and went after Kid.
"Kid, wait up."
Kid growled inwardly, she sure was a persistent Silver. "Don't you have to be in homeroom? Or do they give all you Silvers a free pass?"
Samantha stopped dead in her tracks like she had been slapped. "I suppose I deserve that."
"Look, I'm sorry 'bout that. What is it you want?"
She walked up to Kid and they fell into step together. "I'm not playing at any games, Kid. I just want a chance to get to know you, to talk to you, to show you I'm not like the others. I want to show you that I'm different... like you. That's all, Kid. Whatta say?" She brushed up against him and gave him a dazzling smile.
Given her a sideways glance he considered her offer. He wasn't with Lou any more, what would it hurt, just talking to her? Maybe she's like Bekka Joe. She couldn't help who her parents were, and Buck had insisted that Bekka wasn't like the other Silvers, perhaps Samantha was the same.
"I say, you're going to be late. I'll catch ya in Gov, dollface."
With that, Kid gave her a wink and ducked into his homeroom class.
Samantha stood in the hall for a moment, twirled around, nearly squealing out in delight. Kid was a tough, stubborn one, that was for sure.
The Rattlers were about to fall, the others were making sure of that. With Lou out of the picture, the time was perfect for Samantha to make her move. She could save him from going down with that gang and then he'd be hers, all hers.
A interesting start to another day at Rock Creek High. Hang onto your hats dolls...the day's not over yet.
I found when I started this chapter that it sort of grew as the school day went on...so I broke it up. There will be two more chapters for this day...so much going on. I hope you will continue to stick around for what happens next. :)
I must thank Hortense for all her amazing help and insight into the world of 1954/ 55. This story and chapter wouldn't be anything without her awesome talent and skill. Hugs to you doll!
And the wonderful ladies at the Plus...I can't thank all you dolls enough for all your loyal support with this story and awesome suggestions and help. You all are the most. :)
I can't forget you wonderful, wonderful readers who have stuck with this ride with the Rattlers and Scarlets through Senior year 1955...huge hugs to you all. Thank you for continuing to follow this story that has become so dear to my heart.
So now I'm off to get the next chapter out...hope not to have such a huge gap in time between postings in the future.
Got to find out what happens when Principle Emma Shannon encounters Doritha Cooper...And poor Buck...Just can't seem to get it right...will Bekka forgive him? And will the Rattlers find out about the devious plot the Silvers have to take down the Rattlers? And there is so much more... So, Kiddos stay tuned...
From the Rattlers and Scarlet Angels, along with the rest of the RCH gang...as well as myself, happy wishes to all you dear readers the very best for 2014. :)
