A/N: Here we go, hopefully it's going ok. It's heading in the right direction, just I'm not sure if it's exciting enough...
I groaned as I turned my alarm off. 6am Monday morning, was just not the best time of the week. Not to mention I tossed and turned all night after my visit from Dally. I was really going to have to start drinking warm milk or something before bed. All these late nights of worry were catching up to me. I hopped in the shower and then got dressed, jeans and a t-shirt as usual, but made sure I had my jacket, it was getting colder every day now.
I banged on the boys' doors as I went past to start making breakfast. No one was here yet but I figured I'd best cook some extra for Two-Bit and Steve. Two may not have been going to school today but I figured he'd turn up for food at some point. I noticed Soda was first to have a shower this morning, unlike him, I wasn't really keen on spending any time alone with him so I was hoping the other two would be ready before him. I hadn't properly spoken to Soda since saturday night and I really couldn't be bothered with it right now.
Unlucky for me Soda came through well before the other two were ready, he helped himself to some eggs and toast and plopped down on the seat next to me, still half dressed as usual. I just sipped on my coffee, pretending to ignore him.
"Look Blue I'm sorry about saturday night. I shouldn't have gotten angry at you."
"No you shouldn't."
"The situation just caught me off guard that's all."
"Caught you off guard!? You weren't the one with Steve Randle's tongue down your throat!"
"Yeah alright fair enough, but he copped a couple punches so let's call it even."
"Pfff whatever Soda, Dally caught the brunt of the fall out. I just feel like the whole Dally situation was blown out of proportion yet the Steve forcing himself on me side was totally fine. You're my twin brother Soda you should be looking out for me and listening to my side of the story!" I got up to go through to my room to finish getting ready. But stopped when Soda started his next sentence.
"Well I thought you being my twin and all would tell me something big like that, I mean come on you slept with Dally and you didn't say a word, you decided you had these feelings for him and didn't say a word-"
"I didn't say a word Soda because I didn't know what was going on myself! After it happened after the Rodeo, I had to rush to get to work, we didn't have time to talk. And then he was pretty scared of the fall out and he was confused about everything so we didn't even see each other till Saturday night. I didn't know what was going to happen between us until I saw him and I didn't want to tell you about the Rodeo because you'd just jump to conclusions and start a fight. Once everything happened on saturday at Buck's and we decided to go steady we were gunna tell you but Steve beat us to it, he was literally there like 2 seconds after we decided what was going to happen. But I bet you're believing everything he's saying."
"It still doesn't change anything. You and Dal just can't happen. Yeah if you dated anyone else in the gang we'd be annoyed cos they're meant to be our best mates, but with Dal he's just bad news. You don't want mixed up in what he's got and as his girl you'll be dragged in."
"Then why don't you tell me what the hell is going on so I can make an informed decision, cos right now Soda I'm so angry with you and Darry I don't believe a word that comes outta your mouths! How come I don't get to know huh?"
"You wouldn't understand. Look we are protecting you, you don't wanna know."
"Oh cos I'm such a precious little girl I couldn't possibly have the same worries as a man. Whatever Soda, have fun at work." I stormed off into my room. This was not going to be a good day, Soda and I never fought like this. I was kind of angry that I'd let Dally come between us, but at the end of the day if Soda and Darry wanted to keep secrets then it's their doing.
Pony knocked on my door a little while later saying Darry had left to drop Soda at work and head off to work himself. Steve still hadn't turned up so we just cleaned up and waited for him. I was glad Steve was taking his time, meant that I didn't have to spend as much time with him. Luckily Steve was only at school part time, so he came on Mondays and Thursdays, we were both Juniors but luckily only shared English class together. Which meant I'd have to sit next to him for an hour today. But Ms Wilkinson never let us talk so I could just freeze him out.
"C'mon you two let's go!" Steve just honked his horn at us from the driveway. I shoved Pony into the passenger seat and I climbed in the back. Steve kept looking at me in the mirror the whole way to school and when he pulled up he told me to stay back. I did. Mainly just to see if he'd give me another excuse to punch him in the face.
"I am sorry about what happened on Saturday. I don't know what came over me."
"Whatever Steve I'm not interested. I really like Dal and you blew that for me. I wanted to come clean to Soda and Darry and do it all properly but now you've taken that chance of happiness and thrown it away just cos you were jealous."
"Yeah at first it was about the jealousy. But Soda told us some stuff on the way home, he wouldn't go into detail, but now I get it and I know you shouldn't be with him."
"Sure, well you guys can have your opinions but until you realise that I'm a big girl now and you can actually tell me things that make an impact on my life then ya'll are just gunna make me angrier and angrier." I opened the door and grabbed my bag before leaning back in, "And if you ever try it on with me again Randle, it won't just be your face that cops a punch." With that I slammed the door and walked off to class.
xxxx xxxx
Monday and Tuesday dragged on and on. I couldn't wait till Wednesday so I could sort everything out with Dally. I was missing him, it was unfair that we'd just realised we liked each other and now it was up in the air. Like everything else. I was on slightly better terms with Soda, we just agreed to disagree on the Dally subject. Our birthday was in just under 3 weeks time, but we had been planning a party for next week seeing as end of semester exams were coming up for Pony around our real birthday, plus Christmas was only a 6 weeks after our birthday so we kind of had to space things out a bit. I was a bit worried if everything would still go ahead. But we were getting there. Darry was still ok with us having the party so it looked like it'd go ahead. I was just hoping I could have Dally there seeing as Soda had Sandy, even if they were on the rocks and Pony and Diane were getting close seeing as she had split up with David... But things weren't looking as peachy for me, I had just over a week to convice Darry that Dally was not the anti-christ.
Everything was in motion for today though, I got up slightly earlier and put a little bit more effort into my school appearance than normal, but not enough to get Darry suspicious. I spoke to Two-Bit last night and he was fine with everything, I had told Pony to tell the absentee lady at reception that I was sick today and wouldn't be coming in so everything was good. Steve wouldn't be at school and Johnny hadn't been at school Monday or Tuesday so I'm guessing he was still with Dally. I was really hoping he wasn't going to be with us today. I was kind of looking forward to spending some 'alone' time with Dal, and I was wearing a nice skirt and everything...
As I walked over to Dally's car, well it wasn't really his but whatever, my stomach was in knots.
"Lookin' good dollface, how's it goin' at the Curtis Compound?" He threw his cigarette butt out the window and roared the engine as I hopped in.
"Not bad I guess, still no one will tell me what's going on, who'd you swipe this from then Dal? Chevvy Corvair huh?"
"You know it! I have my ways."
"So where we goin'?"
"You'll soon see..."
xxxx xxxx
We pulled up in some country picnic place not too far out of town, the drive hadn't been too bad, we just listened to the radio and enjoyed the breeze blowing through the open windows. I wasn't really sure what we'd be doing here all day but I was hungry and I doubt Dally had brought a picnic... he wasn't exactly the picnic and roses kinda guy, I don't think any Greasers were. Their idea of a crash hot romantic date was buying you your own popcorn at the drive in.
"So..."
"First things first Doll, I've been wanting to do this for a couple days." He pulled me closer and brought his lips to mine. I could tell he'd missed me, not that he'd ever admit to it...
After a few minutes I was swung over so that my legs were either side of him on the driver's seat and he reclined it a few inches, things got very heated very quickly, let's just say I'm glad I wore a skirt, it made things a hell of a lot easier.
When we'd finished Dally got out the car and lit a smoke, sitting down on the grass behind the car. I joined him, head on his lap and lay down lighting my own smoke. I felt satisfied and happy and peaceful, it was nice.
But then I had to spoil it.
"So what's been going on? Where have you and Johnny been staying? In fact where is he now?"
"Nothin' and nowhere."
"That's specific."
"Look you don't need to know alright, just chill, I'm here, Johnny's safe he just couldn't be bothered goin' to school that's all."
"Well seein' as you're my boyfriend I'd kinda like to know where you've been all week, I worry."
"Yeah, well, 'girlfriend' you just needa butt out." I really did not like the way he emphasised girlfriend.
"Huh, I see. So I'm not your girlfriend? I thought we'd been through this." I got up, turning to look at him.
He took a long drag and sighed. "Fuck, Curtis, I ain't exactly a hot shot in the girlfriend department so just cool it. I ain't seein' no one else if that's what you're worried about, I'm not like that, but we are what we are, that's if your brothers'll let us."
I guess that's as good an answer as I was going to get, so I took it. He was in a shitty mood now though, he didn't really like being put on the spot like that, or talking about feelings and stuff, although what guy did.
"Ok fair enough, but what is this deal with my brothers? What's with all the secrecy?"
"You don't wanna know babe." He got up and walked back over to the car, ignoring my calls for an explanation. "Just get in the car Curtis, I'm hungry."
By the time we got to the Dairy Queen it was just after lunch. Dally still wouldn't tell me anything and he got angrier every time I asked. Dally wouldn't budge on it, I knew that, he was pretty good at keeping secrets and ignoring other people's feelings so I figured I'd just have to get it out of Darry or Soda. However Dally did buy me lunch which was probably the most romantic gesture he was capable of. So I let it drop and just enjoyed being with him, taking in the rare smiles he'd shoot my way, and his distinctive laugh when I observed other people's misfortunes as we spied on people at the mall. It was a nice glimpse of what could be.
That was until we got back to my place. The plan had been to drop me off at school and Two-Bit take me home, but we didn't make it in time. Luckily Darry wasn't usually home by this point, but today he'd just seemed to have made an exception and when we pulled up his truck was in the drive and Pony was out having smoke on the porch and shot me an apologetic look when I got out the car, after giving Dally a fairly intense kiss first.
I could tell it was about to kick off, so Dally made himself scarce... luckily Two-Bit's car was still here so I'd at least have some friendly allies.
I took a deep breath and marched past Pony and in to face the music...
