A/N: Hey y'all!! Just a random chapter. I had to make it so the rumble will be in Cross' POV. (duh duh duuuuuh!!)
Songs for this chapter: ummm… most songs are about girlfriend/boyfriend stuff, and there isn't so much stuff about that in here, so… yeah… D: sorry!! I'll try next time!! :D :D
It was your typical Wednesday. I got out of bed, had breakfast, and went to school. Not much else to say except for what happened the night before; the arrangements for a rumble with the Socs. Tim, using his usual temper, blew up in Cross' face thinking that she can't fight. I know she can… that really bugs me when people judge the book by it's cover.
The rumble's gonna be at the far West side of town at midnight, and it's gonna be skin. If it would be anything else, anything at all, Darry would not let me participate. I'm one hundred percent sure of it. Cross wouldn't be able to participate if we didn't do skin, either.
For homework that night I had Biology, Science, English, and Math. It was ten thirty p.m. and Soda was telling me to finish already.
"I'm almost done, just two more questions," I told him over my Math homework. I've been doing way better in school since I wrote that paper for Mr. Syme. I didn't just get a C for that project, I got an A. 'It's so good, it should be published!' he had told me. I told him not to try to get it published, though. I didn't want to become more known than I already am. I like being alone sometimes.
When I finished my homework, I plopped onto the bed next to Soda. I tried to get to sleep but couldn't. To break the awkward silence, he asked me a question.
"Ponyboy, do you like fights?" he asked me. He was probably thinking of before the last rumble, when I surveyed all the guys why they liked fighting.
"I don't know exactly. I don't see the point to fighting except for self defence," I told him.
"Okay," Soda said. "that's cool,"
"Are you upset that I'm not sure if I like fights or not?" I asked him. He sure sounded like he was.
"Naw… did I sound like I was?" he asked.
"Yeah," I told him.
"Well, I'm just tired, okay?" he said as he yawned. I yawned, too.
"Blast it, now I'm yawning because of you!" I said, pretending to be angry for the fun of it.
"Yeah, I'm evil that way," he said, then performed his own evil laugh, followed by a fake cough. He put his arm around me and we slept soundly after that.
*****
"Come on, lazy bum, it's time for breakfast!" I heard Darry call from the kitchen. I didn't want what happened on Monday morning to happen again, so I got up as fast as I could, which wasn't very fast. Sodapop came in and nearly yelled 'Ponyboy, time to get up!' and tickle me to death before he realised I was already up.
"Is that as fast as you can really go?" he asked me. "I thought you were gonna be a future track star!"
"Yeah, well I guess us 'future track stars' can also be kinda lazy at times," I told him. He grinned and motioned me to get up.
"Darry'll skin you if you don't get up soon!" he told me playfully. I shuddered at the thought as I got up onto my feet in two seconds flat. I yawned as I scratched the back of my neck and went downstairs.
"Morning, sleeping beauty," Darry said as he placed my breakfast in front of me after I sat down. "Or should I say rise and shine!" he said, ruffling my hair.
"It's almost back to normal, Darry!" I said, thinking of the little blonde patches mixed in with my actually normal hair.
"Yeah, yeah…" Darry said as he sat down to have breakfast. "Look, you guys try to get as worn out as possible today, alright?" he said.
"Uh… why?" Soda asked him, wearing a confused look on his face.
"Because, we've gotta get as much sleep as we can tonight; the rumble tomorrow is gonna be at midnight, and if we're worn out it'll be way easier to sleep," Darry explained. I agreed. I would tell Cross that, too, so she would know.
Soda drove me to school again, and we picked up Cross every day now. She was one of us now; we had to protect her. We had our usual chat, basically just talking about more Star Trek and movies and books. Soda groaned… as usual. He wished we'd talk more about cars, but of course Cross didn't know anything about cars, so we never really talked about them. We got to school and we each had English first. We sat next to each other, as usual, and Mr. Syme walked in a few seconds later.
"Good morning, class," he said. "Please, turn to chapter five of your grammar books, please," we were doing a lot of grammar lately in class. There were some 'new' words we were learning about from 'Gone With The Wind'. Every time I think about the book now reminds me of Johnny. And Johnny reminds me of Dally.
While we were silently working, Cross slid a note onto my desk. It said For Ponyboy on it, so I opened it quietly. It said:
I don't know why I'm even telling you this right now, but I can't wait till the end of class to. I know you already know, but I can't wait till Saturday night.
Love, Cross
Saturday was the night of the dance. I really hoped I would be up for it after a rumble and all. I turned and smiled at her anyway, even though I was thinking I hope it goes okay.
A few minutes later, the bell rang so we walked out. I had Biology next. Cross wasn't in that class. I knew would feel awful scared in that classroom with all those Socs right before a rumble. Then again, Cross had P.E. class. That would be real rough.
After Biology, I had Lunch, luckily. Cross, Two-Bit and I went to the DX and had Cokes and Pepsis and other stuff like that. There were a few Soc's walking around town, and even though I knew they weren't allowed to jump us, I was shaking like a leaf.
"Is somethin' wrong, Ponyboy?" Soda asked, performing Two-Bit's famous eyebrow cock.
"Oh, it's nothin' really…" I said, my voice shaking ever so slightly.
"You know they can't hurt you right now," he said, his caring eyes staring into mine. I tried to look away, but he turned me around. "They won't hurt you," he repeated.
"I know. I'm just a little paranoid, that's all," I said.
"Oh, just suck it up boy! They ain't gonna hurt you before a rumble!" Steve yelled, nearly exploding.
"Steve, calm down, okay?" Soda said, turning to Steve. "He's just a little shaken up is all,"
"Yeah, so you can just shut your trap, Steve Randle!" to my surprise, Cross said. Steve gave her his look of hatred, growled, and turned back to his Coke and started drinking again. It was brave of her to do that; if Steve didn't know her and it wasn't before a rumble, he would've killed her.
We walked back to school together and we each had the next two classes together, luckily. We survived and walked back home together. We talked and talked and were having such a good time Cross nearly missed her house. She hugged me as she ran inside and I walked the rest of the way home in silence. I was enjoying the views it was tough for me to walk back into my house. Darry was home, as I thought he would be, and he seemed tired out.
"Darry, I'm home," I said.
"Hey, Pony," he said as he sighed. I read for a while and did some more homework to tire myself out. After a few hours, Soda came home.
"Hey, y'all," he said as he jogged in.
"Why are you jogging?" Darry asked.
"So I can tire myself out more! Duh!" Soda replied.
"Where's the car, then?" Darry asked.
"Don't worry, I'm not that much of an idiot!" Soda said. "It's outside!"
"Good," Darry said.
"I just jogged around the car for a bit to tire myself out," Soda explained as he plopped onto the couch.
"It's your turn to cook tonight," Darry said.
"Oh, come on Darry, can't you just let me skip a night since we'll be fuller if you cook so it'll easier to sleep?" Soda complained, sounding like a three year old kid.
"Sure, sure, whatever," Darry said, taking the bait as he walked up to the fridge and took out some meat to cook.
After dinner, I finished my homework and slept with Soda. I was awful tired.
A/N: Okay, so not much to say here.
I say that a lot, don't I?
Anyways, just remember to R&R and put on faves if you liked it!! :D :D
