*I do not own The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton or It's Now or Never by Elvis Presley! You guys should really listen to that song, it's so good. =^-^=
"Hey Mom!" I said as I walked in the front door with my brother right behind me. I saw my mom grabbing her keys and coat. "Where ya goin?" I asked.
"Work, night shift," She said gently. "I'll see you later hon." She gave me a kiss on the cheek along with my brother and headed out the door.
I flopped down on the couch. "Damn, ever since I got here I've barely gotten to see Mom. Hey, tomorrow's Monday right?" I asked as Two-Bit cracked open a beer.
"Yup." He sat down on the floor and switched on Mickey Mouse.
"Don't people have school tomorrow?" Two-Bit nodded. "What grade are you in? Wait, you're eighteen right?"
"Yup." Two-Bit repeated.
"So you should have graduated by now, right?" Two-Bit nodded. "Have you?"
"Nope." Two-Bit still stared at the TV.
"What? What grade are in then, senior?"
"Nope. Junior." I almost choked.
"Junior?! Why? How have you gotten held back that much?"
Two-Bit stood up without turning off the TV. "I just like school and don't want it to end! All of my friends are there. Ponyboy, Johnny, Steve sometimes because of work, and Dallas if you can catch him."
Two-Bit sat down beside me. "What about Sodapop?"
"Dropped out when his parents died. Works full time at the DX while Steve works part-time," Two-Bit put an arm around me. "And you young lady, are going to get registered tomorrow. If you're stayin here than you're gonna go to school. And that's not a request, that's an order. Am I clear?"
"Sir yes sir!" I yelled and Two-Bit laughed. "What time is it?" I asked.
Two-Bit looked at the clock. "About ten thirty."
I didn't answer my brother, only snuggled closer to him and let the sound of Mickey Mouse lull me to sleep and the warmth of my big brother.
X
"And your name is?" The assistant principle asked me as I requested to get registered.
"Quinn Malory Mathews. I go by Malory though..." I sat down in the chair.
"No problem sweetie," The lady looked up from her papers and glared at me. "Mathews?"
I nodded. "Yes..."
She pointed her pen in my direction. "Are you by any chance related to Keith Mathews?"
"He's my brother." I answered. The lady smiled delightfully.
"Then how come I've never seen you around here?"
I smiled in return. "Oh, our parents got a divorce a while ago when I was about six and our dad moved to California, and I had to move with him. I came back here and now I'm living with my mom and my brother along with our younger sister."
The assistant principle started writing stuff down and sorting through papers. "You're a very lucky lady Miss Mathews. Keith is such an eye opener. He has such a sense of humor and never fails to put a smile on my face even though he's in here about every other day."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "What do you mean by that?"
"Always ditching class, starting fights, failing classes," She looked at me. "If you could, you should try and get him under control Malory. He's been held back way too much, and if he doesn't pass this year and go into his Senior year, I'm afraid Mr. Jackson and I, who is the principle, are going to have to kick Mr. Mathews out of high school."
My eyes widened. "Really?"
She nodded. "Yes. We cannot have Keith be a permanent resident here. And we all know he's only here for "kicks" and his friends. High school is about learning and preparing students for college; not a hot spot for a hang out."
I nodded in understanding. "Exactly."
She started handing me some papers. "Oh, pardon me but my name is Mrs. Ramsey. These are just some papers to get filled out by your parents/guardian. If you could have them back as soon as possible, then I'll have you schedule and you can start Wednesday as a sophomore."
"Thank you so much." I shook Mrs. Ramsey's hand and got up from the chair.
As I was walking out the door Mrs. Ramsey called my name. "Malory," I looked back at her. "Are you too just here for kicks?"
I shook my head. "No ma'am. I was forced." And I left with a half cocked smile on my face.
I started off down the hallway when I heard the pounding of hurried footsteps behind me. "Malory!" Someone yelled.
I turned around and saw my brother running towards me. "Hey Two-Bit." I said as he started to slow down and walk beside me.
"How'd it go?"
I showed him the papers. "I start Wednesday, sophomore!" I said with a smile. Two-Bit hugged me.
"I knew it!"
I shoved away from his grip. "And you're not off the hook so easy pal."
"What?" Two-Bit said as he opened the front building doors for me. "Ya wanna come with me down to the DX for some lunch?"
"What about Ponyboy and Johnnycake?"
We started walking. "Johnny ditched today and Ponyboy's already there. I was waiting for ya and that's why I didn't go with him."
"Oh," I said. We were walking down the sidewalk in the warm weather when I started up. "Two-Bit, you're gonna have to straighten yourself up and get your act together."
Two-Bit looked at me. "What?"
"Mrs. Ramsey was talking to me and said that if you don't start taking high school seriously, she's gonna kick you out. Her and Mr. Jackson."
Two-Bit chuckled. "Mrs. Ramsey, that old hag? Gosh Mal she's just sayin that cause she hates me!"
I shook my head. "No she doesn't Keith. She actually told me she enjoy's your sense of humor and she's gonna be really disappointed if she does have to kick you out."
"Really?" Two-Bit asked with sincere sympathy and concern in his voice.
"Yeah," Two-Bit sighed and started kicking a rock as we slowly approached the DX where Sodapop and Steve were. "She said you're gonna have to start passing classes to make it to your senior year, and if you don't graduate Junior year, she really is."
"Damn, I thought I could get away with it." Two-Bit said as we walked up to the small building.
"Keith, this isn't elementary school anymore. This is big time, the real world." Two-Bit huffed as I kept a firm hold on my papers.
We walked into the gas station and saw Sodapop behind the front counter. "Good morning sexual! How can I help you siblings today?" Sodapop greeted, full of energy.
I flicked him off and leaned against the counter as Two-Bit hocked a pack of smokes. "Where's Steve?" I asked normally.
Soda pointed to the garage. "Working on a car. Be careful though, it's dirty and oily and I don't want you to get your dress dirty."
"Thanks Pepsi-Cola." I said and made my way to the garage.
X
The dress I was wearing today was a black dress with white flowers on it. The sleeves stopped down about around my elbows and the dress itself stopped around my knees. I looked around the car that was parked and noticed a pair of legs sticking out from underneath it. { search?q=black+dress+with+white+flowers&rlz=1CAACAC_enUS568US568&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=657&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=9y5jVZ3oJcfbsATqvoPIDQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg#tbm=isch&q=1960s+dresses&imgrc=VNlJ8tQtAwbLAM%253A%3BHhtAjzLp0J694M%3Bhttp%253A%252F% .com%252Ffashion% %3Bhttp%253A%252F% .com%252Ffashion% %3B140%3B237 }
I skipped over to them and noticed an assortment of tools beside the car. I reached down and picked up a wrench, something I didn't really know what it was. I looked at the car and studied it. It looked awfully familiar.
Wait, this is my car! I thought. It was! My '57 Chevy Bel Air! I smiled in delight and checked inside the car to make sure it was my car. I noticed the interior and saw mysterious stains in the backseat, confirming it was my car. I jumped in joy.
"What the fuck?" I heard Steve say to himself as he reached out and tried to grab a tool. "Soda!" He yelled.
Sodapop came strolling out. "Yeah?"
"Where's the wrench?" Soda looked at me and saw I was holding it. I shook my head no.
"I don't know, why don't you come out and look for it."
"Whatever." Steve mumbled and Soda went back inside.
I strolled around the garage, unnoticed by my boyfriend and saw a radio. I flicked it on and the song that was on was Little Bitty Pretty One by Frankie Lymon. I began singing along to it.
Little Bitty Pretty One,
Come on and talk to me,
Lovey Lovey Dovey One,
Come sit down on my knee.
I was strolling around, dancing by myself when I heard Steve rolling out from underneath my car. I stopped and hopped down behind the car, hiding from him. "What the hell?"
He walked over to the radio and I shot up. "No! I like this song!" I said with a smile on my face.
Steve turned around. "Fuck! You scared me!" He said. He laughed and walked over to me. "What are you doin here?"
He tried to put an arm around me, but I backed away. "Don't! You're all dirty." I said.
I walked away from him but he followed teasingly. "Come on Mal! I thought you loved me!"
"So did I! But apparently you don't love me!" I twirled the wrench in my hand.
"And why would I think that?"
"Because you wanna get my dress dirty!" Steve noticed the tool looming around in my fingers.
"Where'd you get that?" I pointed to the pile of tools. "Give it back." He said as he came dangerously close to me.
"How do I know it's yours?" I joked.
"Are we really gonna do this again?"
"What do you mean?"
"The wallet thing. Just give it here."
I shook my head no as I bit my lip. Steve sighed, noticing his turn on. He made his way towards me and as I backed away and around the car, I dropped the wrench. I screamed and moved away from it to avoid the heavy object from hitting any on my toes.
"Whoops..." I said with a laugh and looked at Steve who had his arms crossed and was tapping his toes, obviously annoyed.
"See? Consequences doll," I slowly walked over to him and reassuring the grip on the school papers. I hopped onto the hood of my car and Steve walked towards me, standing in front of me he pointed to the papers. "What are those?"
"Papers."
"For what?"
"School."
"School?"
"I start Wednesday."
"Really?"
"Sophomore."
"Why?"
"Two-Bit forced me."
"I see."
Everything was quiet until Elvis Presley's song It's Now Or Never came on the radio. I laughed. "Well this sure brings backs some memories now doesn't it?" I said, remembering me and Steve's time the other night ago with my "surprise."
Steve laughed. He backed away from me. "Come here."
"Why?"
Steve grabbed my hand and helped me off the car. "Dance with me."
"Why?" I repeated.
Steve pulled me close and put an arm on my waist as I put one on his shoulder, loosely. He grabbed my hand and held it to the side, loosely too. I could tell he was too lazy to actually do a real waltz, so I just went along with.
Steve started to move around here and there and I couldn't help but laugh at his attempts at matching Elvis' voice.
It's now or never,
Come hold me tight.
Kiss me my darling,
Be mine tonight,
Tomorrow, will be too late,
It's now or never...
My love won't wait.
Steve pulled me close to him and held my chest against his. I found it very amusing and hilarious at what he was doing. I could tell he didn't care about how dirty he was and I honestly didn't care either. Steve looked down at me. "Why don't you sing Malory?"
I looked at him. "I don't sing."
"But I heard you sing the song before this and it was great." I let out a weak sigh.
"What?" I said horribly. "Nah, no... that, that wasn't me!"
"Come on Mal. For me?"
I sighed.
It's now or never,
come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling,
be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late,
it's now or never
My love won't wait.
When I first saw you
with your smile so tender
My heart was captured,
my soul surrendered
I'd spend a lifetime
waiting for the right time
Now that your near
the time is here at last.
It's now or never,
come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling,
be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late,
it's now or never
My love won't wait.
Just like a willow,
we would cry an ocean
If we lost true love
and sweet devotion
Your lips excite me,
let your arms invite me
For who knows when
we'll meet again this way
It's now or never,
come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling,
be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late,
it's now or never
My love won't wait.
Steve stared at me. I had rested my head on his shoulder and sang like that. I finished the song. "It's Now or never... my love won't wait!" I felt Steve staring at me and I looked up at him.
"Malory... you have a beautiful voice." He said impressed.
"Thanks, I don't think so though."
Steve sighed. "Yes, you do!"
"Mmmkay..." I said in a whisper and let Steve slowly waltz until I heard someone behind us clear their throat forcefully.