Part 9 – Love is in the air? A girl named Freja
Steve went inside the shop from the garage to take a Pepsi. He and Soda had worked in the garage the whole day and it was a very cold day too. Steve stopped when he saw a guy in the shop. The guy was looking out the window. He had wheat-gold hair and had the same kind of haircut as Dallas with just a little grease in it. His eyes were a kind of dark green and he wore light blue jeans, a white poloneck sweater, black boots and a black leather jacket with chains on the shoulders and back. Steve knew the guy was new in town but still felt like he recognized him.
"Sorry I didn't hear ya come in", Steve said and the guy jumped. "What can I do for ya?" The guy flashed him a smile and looked Steve over. He frowned as if thinking hard on something. But suddenly his smile widened and he said:
"What could a half-hoodlum-mechanic that is cocky yet sweet do for me?"
Steve blinked a few times.
"No way", he said and smiled. "It can't be…"
"Wait, did I forget to say smart… at least smarter than a gold fish!" They broke out laughing.
"Fre", Steve yelled and hugged the guy hard. "It's good to see ya girl. I barely recognized you!"
"Same here Steve-o!"
"Soda", Steve yelled. "Get your sorry ass out here!"
"What ya going on about", Soda said as he entered. "Eh… Who's this?"
"Aw don't say ya don't recognize me Trocatello", Fre said.
"Freja!" Soda exclaimed happily and hugger her tight. "Darn girl I didn't recognize ya!"
Freja, or Fre as her friends called her laughed.
"I barely recognize you two klutzes either."
"Klutzes", Steve asked and threw his arm around her shoulders. "Well in that case we picked it all up from ya."
"Oh I'm so flattered."
The door opened and Goodman came in.
"Hey Goody look who's back", Soda said happily. "It's Freja!"
"Oh no", Goodman said and sighed heavily, from the bottom of his heart. "Are ya back here?"
"Yup for good this time", Freja answered beaming.
"I better get the bug spray then… Steve Soda get the hell out of here now, Jake and Frank will be in any second and take that… girl with ya."
"Aw Goody I thought you liked me", Freja said and pouted.
"Like a mosquito at night when I try to sleep. Now get out…"
The three 21-year-olds ran down the street laughing.
"I don't know what ya did to Goody", Soda said smiling. "But he sure as hell doesn't like ya."
"And it takes a lot for that to happen", Steve stated.
"Eh Goody is just a grumpy old girls-should-have-long-hair-so-you-know-they're-girls kinda guy", Freja said and smiled. "So tell me how things been going? I got your letters but it's better hearing it in person."
Steve and Soda took turns telling her about all that happened since they last saw her. Freja Lincoln had been an exchange student from England when Steve and Soda were in seventh grade. Her grandparents and the whole family on her mother's side were Swedish and her dad's side was all Englishmen. Freja got her name from the Norse goddess Freja and used to spend her summers in Sweden with her grandparents. That's why she called Soda Trocatello, after the two Swedish soft drinks Trocadero and Portello. When she was an exchange student she was first thought to be a boy, looking as she still does, and the first ones to find out about it was actually Soda and Steve. They'd befriended her and walked home to the family she lived with to hang out. The mother there had said that it was nice of them to walk a young woman home. Steve and Soda had been shocked but she'd just smiled and they still hung out. The boys then classed her as the coolest girl in town since she was as interested in cars as they are. She fought, she swore, she played football and listened to the same bands as Steve and Soda and one of the funniest moments they had was when the rest of the gang found out she was a girl.
Flashback
"Hi y'all", Freja said as she walked towards the guys.
"Hi Fre", Soda called and smiled. "We're gonna go and play some football wanna join us?"
"Sure", she said and smirked. "But don't say I didn't warn ya. I'm on fire today!"
"Ha", Dallas taunted. "Ya sure are full of yourself."
"Better that than being full of shit." The guys laughed at Dallas' angry face. "So what teams?"
It ended up being Steve, Soda, Two-Bit and Freja against Darry, Dallas, Johnny and Pony. It was a pretty even match and Freja's team was only leading with 2 points when Darry suggested that next team to take a point wins. Steve threw the ball long and Freja caught it and ran. Darry took off against her and tackled her hard to the ground.
"Darrel Shane Curtis Jr.", Mrs. Curtis' voice reached all of them and Darry stood up.
"Yes mom", he asked confused.
"Don't play so rough on girls", Mrs. Curtis scolded.
"What", Darry asked and looked down on Freja who just blinked in confusion. "Mom this is just Fre not a girl."
"Oh dear", Mrs. Curtis said as she helped Freja up. "Don't you think I recognize young girls Darry? Fre dear are you okay?"
"Yes Mrs. Curtis I'm fine. I'm used to rougher things than this."
Johnny and Pony had been eyeing her, embarrassed and curious at the same time.
"Are ya really a girl", Pony asked shyly.
"Yup", Freja said and ruffled his hair.
"No", Steve said and flung his arm around her shoulders. "You're the coolest girl in this town."
"Ya knew about this", Dallas growled at Steve.
"Uh hu", Freja said and smiled sweetly at him.
"So I guess ya knew too", Darry turned to Soda angrily.
"Yup", Soda answered from his place beside Steve and Freja. The other boys' eyes narrowed and they looked really mad. "Uh guys I think we better get out of here."
Soda, Freja and Steve took off down the street with the others chasing them. Darry was so mad at them because he'd been so rough on a girl, scolded by their mom and not watched his language around Freja. The others were just mad because they'd been so embarrassed but Dallas was also mad that Freja had walked in on him naked once. It hadn't bothered her and not Dallas either since he thought she was a guy.
End of flashback
"Man guess if they gang will be happy to see ya", Soda said as they got to the house.
"Wait don't tell them", Fre said and smiled evilly. "Let me help them figure it out."
"I love it when you're mean", Steve said and they walked inside. Everyone was there even Sean and Miley. Marcus had to work so he'd left them there to wait for Steve to get off work.
"Hi guys", Soda said as he kicked off his shoes and got answers from the others.
"Who's that", Two-Bit asked and eyed the new guy. "A new friend?"
"Kinda", was all Steve said.
"So this is the Curtis house", Fre said and looked around. "It's messier now."
"Ya been here before", Darry asked and raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"Yup a long time ago. Don't ya remember me Muskelberg(it's swedish and means mountain of muscles)?"
Darry just blinked and stared at her. Freja smiled and her eyes fell on Dallas.
"At least this time I didn't walk in on ya naked Dally, ya look nicer with your clothes on", she said. She saw that Two-Bit was cocking an eyebrow and laughed. "Nice one Keith but can ya do this?" She first cocked her right eyebrow then set it down and cocked the other one and did the same thing over again a few times. Two-Bit stared at her too. Johnny and Pony was both wide eyed.
"Look at the quiet duo", Freja went on smiling. "Cats caught your tongues again or did they ever let go in the first place?"
"No way", Darry said and smiled wide. "It can't be Fre Lincoln."
"Well it is Muskelberg", Freja said and smiled. "Gimme a hug!" Darry walked over to her and engulfed her in a bearhug. "Darry... I... Can't.... BREATH!"
"I never thought I'd see ya again", Darry said when he released her. "What are ya doing back here in Tulsa you obnoxious little tomboy?"
"Hey I'm not obnoxious…" Freja pouted. "I'm just special."
"Yeah as special as a cop's butt", Dallas said and got two punches on his arms from both of the twins.
"Don't ya dare talk like our bro like that", Sean stated angrily.
"Geez man I forgot", Dally spat.
"So these must be the mini-Randles then", Freja said and walked over. "Hi there I'm Freja Lincoln but my friends call me Fre." She shook their hands as the told her their names.
"Steve and the gang has told us all about ya", Miley said cheerfully.
"Yeah", Sean said. "You're a cool girl."
"Thank you mini-Steve", Fre said and Sean smiled with pride. He loved looking a lot like Steve. "Ya seem to dig okay."
"So Fre", Soda said and sat down at the table. "Ya told Goody you're back here for good."
"Uh hu I got a job in a music store in town and an apartment. Now all I lack is a boyfriend."
"If anyone want ya", Dallas said.
"I can make someone want me", Fre said. "But there is no one I want."
But Miley, Sean and Soda saw the look she cast Steve. Soda remembered that she'd had a thing for him back then and that Steve had had one for her and he began wondering if those feelings were still there.
"So Steve", Fre went on. "I heard ya break up with the wicked-witch-from-the-east."
Steve rolled his eyes. Fre had met Evie while she was an exchange student; although Steve and Evie hadn't been together then Fre still hated the girl and thought she was a fake and a cheap bitch.
"I wrote that to ya didn't I", Steve said.
"Yup, I also heard that someone told the wicked-witch-of-the-west off some years back. Good going Ponyboy."
"I didn't tell her off much… Soda and Steve did that", Pony mumbled shyly.
"Same thing different name."
The guys laughed.
"So what is everyone gonna do tonight", Darry asked. Since it was Friday everyone used to have different plans.
"Johnny, Pony, Sean and I are gonna head to the movies", Miley said and looked at Steve. "If it's okay?"
"Sure", Steve said and smiled. "Johnny make sure the kids get home in time."
"Will do", Johnny said ignoring Pony's and the twins' protests after being called kids.
"Dally and I will head over to Buck's", Two-Bit said. "To hunt some girls and action."
"Evelyn and I'll go on a date", Soda said getting a couple of awes from the gang. Evelyn and Soda had been going out since Soda came back from Vietnam.
"I'm gonna go to a dinner for the roofers I work with", Darry said.
"That only leaves you guys", Sean said to Steve and Fre. "You can go on a date!"
"Wanna go out ya half-hoodlum-mechanic", Freja asked and batted her eyes. She stuck her arm under one of Steve's and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Ya can show me around town and maybe hunt some action."
"Sure ya obnoxious tomboy", Steve said with a shrug and Soda winked at Sean. Soda and the twins had tried to get Steve to date this Christmas break.
"I told ya I'm not obnoxious", Freja said and crossed her arms and pouted. "I'm special."
"Yeah like a single snowflake you're unique and there is no one more like ya in the entire world", Steve said and grinned. "You drift along with the wind to find your place to be and fit in with the rest of your people, although no one is like you in comparison 'cause you are all unique and no one can be like you."
"Aw we got a romantic in the room", Two-Bit teased. "Say something more! Something sweeter…"
"They lovers are like swans, they stay true to their partners for the rest of their life?"
"If it gets any sweeter I'm gonna puke", Dallas said. "Where the hell did ya pick that up?"
Steve shrugged.
"Hey Stevie's a poet", Soda teased. "Ya should've seen the English teacher when we were gonna wrote poems."
Steve glared at him.
"Really", Miley asked and smiled brightly. "How did the poem go?"
"Don't remember… But I guess the author have memorized it."
"Nope", Steve said and put his hands deep in his pockets.
"Wait is it the one you read to us through the phone", Sean asked beaming and Steve's eyes went wide. "I memorized that!"
"Ya wouldn't dare…" Steve growled.
"Just watch me big bro…" Sean rose and cleared his throat.
"Arms around each other they are bound in a ring
Like the cranes dancing in the early spring
Love is good for those who won
But no love is like that of a swan
Their love lasts forever
They never leave their partner, ever
Together they are caught in their dance
Forever together in a dreamy stance
The lovers' eyes are glistening
And only the wind is listening
As they whisper sweet words to the other
Not even the chilly rain can them bother
The swans choose but never regrets
There is never any forgets
The love of a swan lasts forever
Will we understand how ever?
Only death can tear them apart to hunt anew
Will I ever have that with you?"
Steve was red in his face in embarrassment but he didn't catch the dreamy look Freja cast him, but Miley, Soda and Sean did.
"That was so sweet I almost cried", Two-Bit teased and pretended to brush away tears.
"Shut up Zit-Nit", Steve growled.
"If I remember correctly ya had the teacher in tears", Soda said.
"Anything could have her in tears."
"Yeah but you certainly had!" He looked at the watch on the wall. "Oh I gotta go pick up Evelyn. See ya!"
Later that evening Steve and Freja walked towards the Dingo when a mustang pulled up and five socs came out.
"Shit", Steve cursed. "Your first night back and we'll have to fight socs."
"Aw what better way to welcome me back to the neighborhood? Besides I need the practice, there is no socs to beat on in London." Freja said as she cracked her knuckles and neck.
"Ya're strange girl."
"You become like the ones ya hang out with."
Steve laughed.
"What so funny greaser", one of the socs asked. He was tall, almost as tall as Darry but not as muscular. Steve knew he would be able to take him.
"Must be your clothing", Steve said and smirked. "Did ya mom really let you out looking like that? Ya look like a couch!"
"Did yours", a socs asked and Steve tilted his head.
"What about their hair", Freja said and smiled and leaned on Steve with one arm on his shoulder. "It looks like something crawled onto their heads and died."
"Ya telling me", Steve said and smiled.
"Get them", the socs' leader yelled and they flew at Steve and Freja.
Steve took on three at the same time, in his right hand he held a switch and held them away. But they were all drunk so it made them do stupid things and more dangerous. Freja was doing pretty good. She was slugging one of them and had just kicked the other one below the belt. One of the socs ran up to Steve and caught his jaw with a hit. Steve dropped his switchblade and was rushed by the other two. He slugged and kicked them as good as he could and banged his head in the face of a soc that tried to hold his arms behind his back. The guy fell to the ground bleeding and the other two soon joined him after that Steve knocked their heads together. Steve turned to look how it was going for Freja and saw her sit on a trashcan smoking while at her feet the other two socs were squirming.
"Comfy", Steve asked her and she shrugged. "Ya know if you were don before me you could've lend me a hand."
"Why I like having my hands where they are", Freja answered sweetly. "Look out!"
The socs' leader, the one Steve had banged his head against, had taken Steve's switchblade from the ground and ran forward to stab Steve in the back. Steve caught the guy's arm and pulled him over his head. The soc fell to the ground with a bang and lay there. Then Freja and Steve heard sirens.
"Aw great the fuzz", Steve muttered and put away his switchblade.
Marcus sighed as he left the car and saw that Steve and another guy were there with five socs lying at their feet.
"Okay what's going on here", Marcus' partner Nick asked. Nick was two years older than Marcus and had the same opinion on the greasers vs. socs feud.
"They came at us", Steve explained. His cheek was bruised and he had a small cut on his arm but other than that he looked unharmed. "We were just walking when they came up in their fancy car and attacked us."
"That's not true", one of the socs that Freja had beaten up said.
"Yeah it is", Freja said and put her foot at his chest and pressed him down. "And you're a lowlife 'cause ya beat on a girl and a half-hoodlum-mechanic."
Marcus looked at Steve with wide eyes.
"Where's the girl", he asked his brother. Steve just smiled and pointed at Freja. "That's not a girl."
"I'm a girl", Freja objected.
"Yeah right", Nick said as he pulled one of the socs to their feet.
"I am!"
"She's actually an obnoxious tomboy", Steve said still smiling.
"Oh yeah", a soc said as Marcus hauled him to his feet. "Then prove it."
Freja jumped off the trashcan and Steve felt his cheeks go red when he realized what she was about to do. Freja, without feeling embarrassed took hold of her sweater and pulled it up so the others could see her breasts.
"Now ya believe me", she asked angrily.
"I… I… I", Nick stuttered and Marcus cleared his throat.
"Uh you aren't badly hurt are you miss?" he asked, red in his face of embarrassment and Freja took her shirt down.
"No these idiots came off worse than us. Now if ya excuse me officer I have a date with this half-hoodlum-mechanic and a burger waiting for me at the Dingo good night." With that she slung Steve's arm around her shoulders and started to walk away.
"You're horrible ya know that", Steve hissed to her.
"I thought I was obnoxious."
"I thought you were special." They were quiet and then broke out laughing.
They still laughed as they sank down in a booth at the Dingo. They ordered their food and just as the waitress left Soda and Evelyn came in together with Dally and Two-Bit.
"Soda", Steve called and waved them over.
"Hi man how's it going?" Dallas asked.
"Good", Steve answered.
"What happened to your face", Two-Bit asked. "Did Freja slug ya?"
"No we ran into some socs", Freja answered. "Or they ran into us."
"Oh", Evelyn said. "So where is this Freja girl you're talking about?"
"It's me", Freja said and reached out her hand. "Freja Lincoln, nice to meet ya. Soda told me 'bout ya in his letters. I must say ya look better than the wicked-witch Sandy."
"Thanks", Evelyn said and smiled cheerfully. Steve and the guys started talking about rumors of a rumble and Evelyn lowered her voice. "So how's your date with Steve?"
"If ya count being round town with a cute guy, meeting some old friends and new ones, beat up some socs and show the police your breasts so they'll know you're a girl it is perfect!"
"Ya did what", Evelyn asked.
"Pulled up my shirt and showed my breasts for the fuzz so they would realize I'm a girl."
The guys were now looking at her with big eyes and then started to question her and Steve. Steve told them the whole story and just as he was done the door to the Dingo opened and Evie came in. She was on her own and looked devastated.
"Uh oh", Freja said and looked down. "The-wicked-witch-of-the-east has arrived."
"Shit", Steve said and sighed. He glanced at the door and saw her looking for someone. The person turned out to be him because when she saw him she walked over.
"Hi Steve", she said sweetly.
"Hi", Steve answered short.
"Can I talk to you?"
"Can you", Steve asked and saw the hostile looks the others cast her.
"Don't be like that, please Steve."
"I'm listening."
"In private…"
"Nope", Steve leaned back and flung his arm around Freja's shoulders. "If ya have anything to say ya can say in front of the guys and girls here."
"Girls", Evie looked at them. "The only girl I see is Lyn."
"Aw ya don't recognize me Nighty", Freja teased and used the nickname she'd given Evie. "Well what do ya expect from a stupid cow anyway?"
"You", Evie spat at her. "That dreadful girl from England!"
"Now I'm dreadful", Freja said and pouted.
"Isn't it better than obnoxious", Steve asked.
"Shut up. So Nighty what do ya wanna tell us hm?"
"I won't talk to you… you…"
"What", Freja asked and smirked. "Tomboy?"
"At least I know what sex I am", Evie said and smiled smugly. Freja raised her eyebrows and did something unexpected she turned to Steve and kissed him and threw her arms around his neck to tangle her fingers in his hair. Steve was so stunned he didn't know what to do but he felt a tingle go down his spine and realized he liked being kissed by Freja. So he kissed her back, to Freja's and Soda's pleasure and Evie's frustration. When Freja pulled away she batted her eyes at Evie and said:
"What was it ya wanted Nighty?"
Evie just stared at her with tears in her eyes and ran out from the diner.
"Ya can thank me now", Freja said to Steve and kissed his cheek before she rose. "By walking me home."
"Sure", Steve said and Freja took his hand in hers. "Bye guys se y'all later."
"Bye", the others called.
"So", Steve said as they reached Freja's apartment. "Eh it was fun."
"Yep very funny", Freja smiled at him. "I see ya around hoodlum."
"Freja wait", Steve said and she turned.
"What?"
"Eh at the diner… did ya only kiss me to get rid of Evie?"
Freja was quiet at first then sighed. "No… I kissed ya 'cause I felt like it."
"Ya know what I feel like?"
"No."
Steve walked up to her and planted his lips on hers and kissed her passionate. Freja felt all warm and bubbly inside and kissed him back with just as much love.
"How come ya never see what's before your eyes", Steve asked when they parted and he ran his fingers through her short hair.
"You tell me hoodlum."
Steve smiled. "I don't know Snowflake."
She blushed and he kissed her cheek before leaving for the Curtis house to pick up the munchkins.
Over there they were everybody hearing about Steve and Freja's fight with the socs, Freja's little demonstration and the kiss.
"I don't know about you but I'm hearing wedding bells", Miley said to Sean who smiled like a maniac.
"Am I good or am I good", he asked her and she swapped him on the arm.
"You're good", Soda said and smiled. "Oh here he comes!"
Steve entered the house and everyone was looking at him.
"What", he asked.
"So how did it go", Miley asked tilting her head.
"What ya talking about Miley?"
"Walking Freja home after kissing her ya idiot!"
Steve looked at Soda, Two-Bit and Dallas and narrowed his eyes.
"We're innocent", Soda said smiling. "It was Evelyn who told 'em."
"It's true", Pony said.
"It went well", Steve said and took a glass of water.
"And…" Miley said. "Don't keep us in the dark here."
"The light is on how can ya be in the dark?"
"Steve!"
Steve just smiled. "Ya two munchkins ready to go?"
Sean and Miley sighed but guessed they could pump him on information while he drove them back to Marcus' house. At the door Soda whispered to Steve:
"Was it worth waiting for?"
"Totally", was Steve's reply. "The coolest girl in town is now my girl."
Soda smiled wide and Steve left.
Author's note: Portello is mostly found in the north of Sweden and has a brown-red color and tastes caramel, Trocadero is a mixture of apple and orange.