I kid you not: My mother and sister are threatening to lock me out of my house if I don't talk to those cutie-Greaser boys next Tuesday. I'll keep you posted on how it goes- if it goes. Wait- I'm getting ahead of myself: There are 3 Greaser boys at college with me. Its fabulous. But I think they're only near my hall on tuesdays; I have one class tuesday so I'll be keeping an eye out.

Josh- Yes, it was disgracefully short. But they might be for awhile- I have a terribly habit of rambling (as seen above) and dragging simple things out and mentioning things that have nothing to do with the plot.
MollyMORPHINE- Your reviews are so encouraging! :D I'm glad you also read my fic "And People Say Love is Simple" Its coming along well- or so I like to think. Have you read "Baby Makes None"? Or "Ruin and Rebirth" by Seinasu? They're amazing!
DBG- -turns head. ignores you-

CHAPTER 10
"In Which Gary's First Phase Comes to Be"

There was silence, Gary liked that- he especially liked how Johnny's face had paled when Gary had explained his plan. Johnny's boys were all looking at their leader, wide, nervous eyes. Childish eyes. Sure, the Greasers were tough- sure, they'd throw down with anyone- sure, they could be prett yintimidating. But, Gary was thinking bigger picture, and these guys never thought pass dinner. Hell, Gary was pretty sure it was Johnny who thought to dinner and the others eagerly followed his lead. Not that that was a bad thing- Oh, no. It was great. Johnny was easily wrapped around the little fingers of his brother and sister, who had been taken by Gary from the incident with the wrench. Thus, the Greasers were at Gary's every command so long as Rusty and Nicky talked Johnny into it- which was relatively easy.

Gary didn't know why, if he had a duo of kids tailing him twnety-four-seven he'd be extremely irritated and unreasonable. But Johnny managed control or something that greatly rsembled control- maybe it was more-so tolerance. That made more sense- being able to put-up with the hyper-active snots. Not to get him wrong, or anything, Rusty was okay. She was.. clingy, at times. At best she was only a child- a little girl, trying desperatley to mimic her big brother but failing. At worst, she was a demon- an absolute demon. The things she'd hiss at people, scream at Johnny, and even snidly comment to Gary were.. horribly insensative and Gary learned she'd be an ally.

Then, oh then.. then there was Nicky. Nicky, Nicky, Nicky. The precious little baby of the Vincent trio. Nicky rarely did any wrong and Johnny was ga-ga for the kid- once even-- Gary had been eavesdropping from the room above Johnny's-- the boy had come in, snivelling about a nightmare and Johnny had allowed him not only in his room- he let him sleep in hsi bed with him! Hell, Gary even heard Johnny singing to him that night. Johnny didn't have that bad a voice, actually, it was really nice.. er.. that was off-subject. The point was: Nicky was the baby, he was scared of everything and sheltered by his big brother and sister- though Rusty was only a few minutes older, she held that role pristinley.

Gary grinned when Johnny looked up at him with heavy, troubeled, chocolate eyes. "Smith- you're fuckin' insane." he said

"I know" Gary smiled in amusment "But thats not our topic, Johnnycake, the topic is: Will you help me?"

Johnny's eyebrow twitched when Gary called him 'Johnnycake' but didn't lunge at him. "I don't think we've got much of a choice" he said at last, "I mean, hey, heavn't you brainwashed my little sista'?"

"..Not really" Gary answered slowly, "Now, Johnny--"

"Add 'cake' and you ain't wakin up tomorrow mornin'!" Norton hissed before Johnny could even tell him to stop and Gary nodded. Any other day- this would seem really weird. Peanut and Lefty stood and pushed Norton back down onto the ratty couch he was sharing with them- on Johnny's right, should he need them.

There was another long pause.

"Alright Smith, you got a deal- but step outta' line once and I'mma let Norton have his way." Johnny motioned to the snarling boy with the hammer near him.

"Alright, Vincent, I'll behave" Gary's lips curled into a cruel smile, and the transaction was finalized.

"When d'we start?" Peanut asked suddenly, eyes narrowed at Gary- first Johnny dates that slut and not- and now this?! Makes a deal with the poster-child for faulty parenting and psychosis? Sometimes he wonders if Johnny's even got a brain, considering who he befriends

"Tomorrow." Gary replies

"Whats the first step?" Hal asks then as well, and Johnny wonders what the heck has his boys' so talkative now

"You. Kick some Preppy ass tomorrow." Gary says pointing at Hal and Lucky

"Why? Thought you said we was gettin' Hopkins expelled, not us." Lucky snapped "You know how much my folks pay so I can come to this dump? I ain't about to get expelled cause'a some psychotic prick!"

"Easy, friend!" Gary hisses, "Its simple- we're going to lead Hopkins there."

"How?" Norton asks

Gary looks at him, "Well, Hammer-boy, Nicky is how."

"Nicky?!" Johnny hisses- now irritated by the suggestion "Why Nicky?!"

"The Bullies pick on him, if Hopkins see's he'll rush to save the day- Nicky runs, the Bullies follow, Hopkins follows- Nicky only has to hide in a trash can until Hopkins beats up the Bullies and Preps letting you guys rush back to the Auto-Shop all comfy, cozy with little Nicky." Gary explained in a slow voice to them

"Thats it? Ge him into one fight?" Johnny asked, "How's that gonna get him expelled?"

"You'll see, Vincent, you'll see. Thats merely phase one."

"Yeah? What the hell's phase two?" Johnny snapped

"Patience, Johnnycake, patience."

--

Of course the next morning Johnny leaned casually against the brick wall out of Nicky's site as the boy walked fearfully acorss the parking lot- immedeatly Johnny heard that prick Trent start taunting his brother. Telling him to go running back to the ghetto and cry to his Greasey-pizza-faced brother. The nerve! Johnny hardly every broke out, like that zit-faced jerk had any room to talk. But Peanut was gripping his jacket so he didn't go flying off the handle. Then, as planned Hopkins arrived as Nicky was beginning to whimper, and Nicky ran, and Trent chased, and Jimmy followed.

Meanwhile, Hal and Lucky were throwing their weight around in front of the Herrington House, getting some kicks as they beat down the Preps. They heard Nicky's high-pitched scream as he ran- and started fighting seriously, when Nicky ran past and leapt into a garbage can. Trent saw the Greasers out of their turf, and he lunged at Lucky, which, in-turn, made Jimmy lunge as well. The Greasers managed to slip out while the Preps, Jimmy, and Trent hammered on each other.

Hal yanked Nicky from the trash can on his way out and over to the Auto-Shop. There Nicky was set down onyl to be immedealty whicked up into the storng arms of his big brother. Immedealty he started crying- and Johnny held him, promising he'd neve make him do that again. Nicky, of course, agreed to this.

"Went down a little fast" Gary sighd from the gate of the Auto-Shop, "Prefects jumped in right when you guys got back here. Next time we;ll have to space it out more."

"There ain't gonna be a 'next time' Smith!" Johnny hissed, but it was obvious he was lying for Nicky's sake, so the other more-or-less ignored him

Nicky snivelled and clung to Johnny for the better portion of the rest of the day. The others kept a distance from Gary, except Rusty who was eagerly bouncing aorund his ankles asking how she could help. Gary said by shutting-up. And, she did. He was busy concocting the next phase of his ingenious plan..

Love.. hate?