*Lights turn on and show Angel and Chibi Angel all cuddled up in a blanket. Angel looks up
and smilez.* Hey, everybody! So you came back, huh? Yay! *gigglez* Me and Cheebz made
up, if it isn't obvious enough! *Chibi Angel gigglez, too.*
Well, here's chapter two!!! I hope you like it. Thnx, Aqua, for the awesum review and friendship!
Pattie, major snaps for sanding my f-a project for me! Thnx to everyone who reviewed! Oh
ya, and this is the character list for the story--so far. I'm not quite done yet. For those of you
who've read The Outsiders.
Ponyboy--Darien
Darry--Seiya
Soda--Andrew
Two-Bit--Ken
Dally--Chad
Johnny--Greg
Steve--Yaten
Cherry--Serena
Marcia--Molly
Sandy--Mina
Evie--Raye
Sylvia--Lita
Well, enjoy chapter two!
The Outsiders
Chapter Two
Friday night found Chad waiting for Greg and me at the corner of 95th and 96th ave. Since
we had time to kill, we headed over to the drugstore in the mall to screw around for a bit.
We bought Cokes and walked around, eyeing stuff out in the open, until the manager
remembered that we were teenage boys--greasers, no less--and suggested we leave. Okay,
maybe demanded was a better word. He was too late, though--Chad walked out with two
packs of Players Lite under his coat.
Then we went down 96th to Ecstasy, a rave that all the greasers hang out in front of. We
rarely go in, though--Ecstasy is one dead club. Out front, though, it's a pretty rough hang-out
and there's always a fight going on. Once, a girl even got shot--that was pretty bad. The club
almost got shut down after that.
We strode around aimlessly, talking to all the greasers and hoods that we knew. We leaned
in car windows, hopped in back seats--we knew almost everyone there. Going down to
Ecstacy is always a good idea because we get caught up on all the dirt--who's running away,
who's in the slammer, who's trying to score with who, and who stole what and why. There
was a pretty cool fight between this huge buffed-out greaser, around twenty-three, and this
Mexican hitchhiker. We bounced as soon as the blades came out, though--the police would
be there soon, and no one thinking clearly wants to be around when the cops show.
We crossed back up to 96th and cut around Tommy--this warehouse Tommy Hilfiger store--
and then chased a couple of elementary kids across a field for a few minutes. By then, it
was dark enough to sneak into the Nightly Double, so we retraced our steps and climbed
over the back fence of the drive-in theatre. It's the biggest in town--shows 10 movies a night,
15 if it's the weekend. We all had the money to get in--it only costs four bucks if you're not
in a car--but according to Chad, he'd "be damned" before he did things the legal way. He
likes to show that he doesn't care if there's a law or not, and that he doesn't give a damn if
the cops arrest him. I mean, the guy goes around *trying* to break the law.
The only people there were two girls sitting way down in the front row. Chad eyed them coolly
before striding down the aisle and sitting down directly behind them. I had a sick feeling that
he was up to his old tricks--trying his hardest to embarrass any pretty girl he could find.
I was right.
He started talking, loud enough for the girls in front of us to hear. He started out bad before
getting worse. Chad can talk pretty dirty when he wants to, and I guess he wanted to then.
I could feel my face turning red. Ken and Yaten and even Andy would've gone right along
with him, just to see if they could irritate or embarrass the girls, but I rarely do. I think it's
mean and degrading to the female generation in general. So I just sat there, dumbstruck,
and Greg made a hasty exit while mumbling about getting a Coke.
I wouldn't have felt so embarrassed and ashamed if they were greaser girls--I might've even
helped Chad. Well, maybe. Probably not, though. But the thing is, they were Socs. Real
classy girls, dressed to kill and incredibly hot. One had short red hair, the other had long
blonde hair in a very...Unusual style--two twin buns stuck on the top of her head, with long
golden streamers flowing from them. They looked maybe sixteen or seventeen.
The blonde was either getting really mad, or really scared. She was sitting up straight and
chewing her gum with a snapping velocity. The other one was obviously pretending not to
hear Chad, staring at the screen and loudly sucking on her soda. Chad started getting
impatient, so he stuck his feet up on the back of the blonde's chair and beat his own record
for saying something crude. The one with meatballs turned around and gave him a cool stare.
"Take your overgrown feet off my chair, and shut the hell up." I gaped at her. She was this
tiny little thing, maybe 5'5" to Chad's 6'4", but not in the least bit afraid of him. It was a little
weird, too--seeing this little angel swearing at the infamous Chad Winston.
I recognized her suddenly. Her name was Serena Tsukino and she was a cheerleader at
my high school, real popular. She dated the first string quarterback for the football team,
and if my brain was still functioning correctly, she was the captain of her cheering squad.
It might've been inactive, though--my brain, I mean--because she was *so* hot. I'd always
privately thought she was stuck up before this, but she sure didn't seem at all prick-ish.
Chad simply returned her stare, not moving his feet. "Who's gonna make me, hotstuff?"
The other one turned around and looked at us. "Hey, Sere, that's the greaser that jockeys
at the Cutting Edge club sometimes," she said in a New York accent, as if we couldn't hear
her or something.
I've heard that tone so many times. "Greaser...Greaser...Greaser..." Hell, yes. I have heard
that tone *far* too many times.
*What are these two rich snobs doing here without a car?* I suddenly wonders. Sure, the
two.were gorgeous--but way too bitchy for my tastes.
"Hey, I know you two. I've seen you around rodeos." Chad said to the girls.
"It's a shame you can't ride bull as well as you can talk it," snapped Serena before turning
back around.
That didn't bother Chad in the slightest. "So you barrel race, huh, sexy?"
"You'd better leave us alone," Serena bit out. "Or I'll call the cops!" She pulled out a small,
pink face-plated cell phone and gestured it wildly towards us.
"Oh, my God." Chad looked bored. "You oughta see my record sometimes, baby. Guess
what I've been in for?" he grinned slyly. "Here's a hint--starts with an r, it ends with an e, and
it's illegal everywhere."
That was a lie. Chad's never been busted for raping someone--he claims it's too evil, even
for him, and it's definitely the truth. Besides, his little baby sister, Rini, died when she was
ten because she got raped by this fourty year old hood. Man, did Chad beat the crap out of
that guy--we all did, when we finally caught up with the chicken-shit bastard. We all loved
Rini, she was such a sweet kid. (AN: I'm truly sorry, Rini fans. And I know Chad's reference
to rape was a little crass, and definitely crude. But Dally--the character that Chad is based
off--is definitely a crude character.)
"*Please* leave us alone," Serena pleaded. "Why don't you be nice and leave us alone?"
"I'm never nice." Chad grinned roguishly. "Want a Coke?"
She was pissed by then. "I wouldn't drink it if I was dying of dehydration in the desert! Get
lost, hood."
Chad merely shrugged and strode off.
The girl looked at me. I hate to admit it, but *damn*, was I scared of her! How embarrasing.
Scared shitless by a five-foot cheerleader. *Hey,* my pride protested. *She's intimidated!
Leave us alone!* But then, I'm scared shitless of all nice girls--especially Socs.
"Are *you* going to start in on us?" Serena asked, crossing her arms over her surprisingly
well developed--*stop! You hentai!* Screamed my decent side.
My eyes wide, I shook my head like an obedient puppy. "N-n-no."
Suddenly, she smiled. God, she was hot. "You don't look the type. What's your name, cutie?"
I blushed, to my utter horror. "Darien Shields."
Serena smiled. "That's a lovely name."
Lovely. I haven't heard that in awhile. I guess it's an original word.
I guess Serena's an original girl.
"My name's Serena, but everyone calls me Sere, or Rena."
"I know," I answered. "We go to the same school."
"Oh, yeah. Y'all don't really look old enough to be in high school." The red-head replied.
My face turned red. "I got put up a year in elementary."
Serena, sensing I was uncomfortable, changed the subject. "Sometimes I'm called Rini,
too--not much, but sometimes."
I felt my face drain of color. "Rini?" Come to think of it, she did have the same unique hair
style as Chad's baby sister. Could this be Rini, reincarnated? I gave myself a mental slap.
*Don't be stupid. Besides, you don't believe in that stuff, Dare.*
Serena and her red-headed friend were staring at me, strange expressions on their angel-
blessed faces.
"Yeah, Rini," This blonde goddess in front of me said slowly. "Are you okay, Darien? You
look kinda...funny."
Not answering her, I let my mind drift. When I told you about Rini, there was something I
neglected to say. As I mentioned, she died when she was ten. What I didn't tell you is, I was
only eleven at the time, and she was my girlfriend. And even though she was my first,
(AN: Girlfriend, you hentais! GIRLFRIEND!!!) I knew I loved her. I was so sure we were meant
to be together, but then God went and did it all again. He mocked me, taunted me--waved
this angel in front of my face, and let me have her for a brief while, then snatched her away
from me again. (AN: I'm sorry, that sounds so very, incredibly anti-God. I'm sorry. I truly didn't
mean for it to sound like that...Tay? Sowy!) When she died, I felt as though a part of myself
had been ripped from myself; something crucial--something like my soul. For weeks, I didn't
eat or sleep, just sat staring at the wall. Twice a day, Andy would physically force something
to drink down my throat, just so I didn't dehydrate myself and die. Finally, Seiya apparently
got sick of watching me mope around, so one day he slapped me hard across the face and
told me to get over Rini, that there'd be other chicks and the 'little pink-haired brat' wasn't
coming back. Much as it stung, I had to admit he was right and got over her...Sort of. I never
really got rid of the pain--it remained buried there, sharp slivers of glass that cut and hurt. But
I just kept forcing the hurt down, deeper and deeper inside of me until it was just a hard, bitter
lump in the pit of my stomach.
"Darien?" I shook my head, crashing back to Earth, and looked at Serena, who was staring
at me with concern on her face. She quickly reached out her slim, pink-polished hand and
pressed it to my forehead. A deep shudder racked through my body, though I tried not to let
it show. She saw, of course, though, and came to sit beside me. Once she did, a comforting
warmth spread from my thigh--which her own was pressing up against--down to my toes,
and then up through the rest of my body until I was all cozy and just the right temperature--
not too hot, no longer cold.
"Are you all right?" she asked softly, resting her hand on my leg. A jolt ran through my leg,
though, thankfully, this time.I didn't jerk with the force of it. Instead, it coursed through my
veins with an intensity that startled me--I hadn't realized I could feel this way about a girl. I'd
never felt like this, not even with Rini. Of course, we were only kids...
"Darien?!" Serena's voice began to sound a little more frantic, and she shook my leg where
she grasped it. "Are you okay?!" In front of us, her friend bolted to her feet, then stood in the
next row uncertainly.
"Molly," my own private nurse-maid angel barked at the red-head. "Go get...Management
or whoever. I think something's really wrong! He can't seem to talk. It's like he's in shock
or something."
The Molly-formerly-known-as-Red-Head jumped over a few seats and headed towards the
front desk. Worried, because I'd snuck in, and also because I wasn't really in need of help
or anything, I flew to my feet and rushed over to grab her arm.
"No, it's okay, Sere. I just spaced out for a minute." She smiled at the use of the nickname,
then looked uncertain.
"Well...Okay," she said at last, gesturing at us to come sit down beside her. "But you have
to tell us if you start feeling trippy. Tight?"
"Tuff enough," I answered, releasing Molly's arm and sauntering over like it was nothing big
to sit with a couple of hot girls--Soc's, at that--in a movie theatre by myself.
BY MYSELF! I checked my watch. Greg had gone to get a soda twenty minutes ago! I
silently cursed myself for getting so involved in everything else. What if the Socs had gotten
a hold of him? Maybe they were pissed that we were scamming on their girls. What if Greg
was hurt? What if he was...What if he was dead?
Frantically, I looked around. Molly noticed. "What's wrong?" She asked, leaning over Serena
to tap my knee. I didn't feel the jolt of electricity this time, so I just waved my hand at her briefly.
I had to find Greg! I jumped to my feet quickly and started to head for the concession stand.
"Darien?"
"Just a minute, Sere. I'll be back in a sec." I snapped impatiently, not bothering to turn around.
I was too worried to notice that the voice was a male's.
"*Darien!*"
"WHAT?!" I finally snapped again, spinning around. There, standing beside a confused looking
Serena, was Greg, turning red from supressed laughter.
"You thought I was..." he sputtered. Unsure, Molly stood up and the girls started to giggle
uncertainly.
I shook my head, not finding it in the least bit funny.
"Oh, come on, Dare," Greg finally gasped, coming up to me and throwing an arm around my
shoulder. "Think about it--You're all worried about me, you start coming to find me--leaving
these incredibly hot girls alone--" he added to me in a low voice. "Then you turn around and
I'm behind you!" When he explained it that way, it did seem kind of funny. Really funny, in fact.
I started to smirk, and then a chuckle worked it's way from my throat. Then suddenly I was on
the ground, laughing hysterically with the relief that he was okay. The girls, getting the joke--I
guess the laughter must've been contagious, 'cause the event really wasn't that funny--starting
laughing, too--real hard. I never thought I'd see a rich, classy Soc girl, rolling around in the
grass at the drive in.
"Darien?" Serena asked suddenly awhile after we had stopped laughing and sat back down
in our seats--Sere and Molly in the front row, me and Greg in the second.
"Uh huh?"
"Does your brother, work at a gas station? An Esso, I think?" I nodded. "Man, your brother
is one doll!" (AN: I know that's not quite /01 slang, but I like it. I think it sounds neat--your
brother is one doll! *gigglez with Cheebz*) "His name's Andrew, right? I should've guessed
you were brothers. You look alike."
I grinned with pride--I don't think I look a think like Andy, but it's not everyday I hear Soc telling
me my brother is "one doll".
"Didn't he used to ride in rodeos?" Molly asked, hanging casually over Serena's shoulder.
"Uh huh," I nodded. "Dad made him quit when he broke a leg, but we still hang out around
them lots. I've seen you two around. You're hotstuff on the barrel race." Sere blushed, but
Molly acknoledged it with a smile, a nod, and a wink--as though she knew her and Serena
were the hottest stuff in the race. Imagine being that sure of yourself! (AN: *Gigglez* I am
that sure of myself. Ask Princess! All I ever talk about is how great I am. Just kidding! But
I do it a lot. Not totally conceited, though. Honest. Really, I'm not!)
"Thanks," Sere said, and Molly asked, "How come we don't see your brother at school?
He can't be any more than sixteen or seventeen--is he?"
I winced inside. I told you I can't stand it that Andy quit school. "He dropped out, I said roughly.
Beside me, Greg was silently watching the movie. Now, he turned to pay attention, maybe
noting my harsh voice.
Before anyone could say anything, Chad came striding back with an armful of Cokes. He
handed one to each girl and shoved me over so he could jump into the seat next to Sere.
"Here, sexy," He grinned suggestively at her. "This might cool you off."
Beside him, Serena shot him an incredulous look and cracked open her soda. I thought she
was actually going to drink it, but then she dumped it over his head and said bitingly, "This
might cool *you* off, greaser. After you wash your mouth out and learn to act decent, maybe
I'll cool off, too." She sent him a withering glare--I truly believe anyone but Chad would've
dropped dead on the spot.
Chad wiped the Coke off his face with his sleeve and smiled dangerously. Inwardly, I
shuddered, and I felt Greg stiffen beside me. I knew that smile, and if I were Serena I would've
run out of there, screaming for the polic.
"Fiery, eh? Good--that's the way I like 'em. Smokin' hot." He went to put his arm around her,
but suddenly Greg spoke up.
"Leave her alone, Chad."
"Huh?" Chad was taken off guard, staring at Greg in disbelief. Greg can't say "Shut up!" to
a bird, yet he'd just stood up to the toughest member of our gang. For a girl, no less. Normally,
he's terrified around girls--in fact, the last girl he'd talked to had been Rini, when I was eleven
and Greg was thirteen.
Greg swallowed hard and the color drained from his face, but he stood his ground. "You heard
me, Chad. Leave her alone."
Chad scowled for a second. If it had been me, or anyone but Greg, he would've flattened them
without thinking about it for five seconds. You just don't tell Chad Winston what to do. But
Greg's the gang's pet, and he couldn't just slam him. He was Chad's pet, too.
Chad got up and stormed off, with his fists jammed in his pockets and a frown on his pissed
face. You could just tell he wanted to deck Greg, but he didn't come back.
Sere sighed, sounding relieved. "Thanks. He had me scared to death."
Though he himself looked scared to death, Greg managed to grin admiringly. "You sure didn't
show it," he said in a respecting tone. "No one talks to Chad like that."
The girls giggled. "From what I could see, y'all do," Molly flirted.
Gred's ears were red. I was still staring at them. It took more than guts to stand up to Chad like
that--he worshipped the ground Chad walked on, and I'd never heard him talk back to anyone.
Much less his hero.
Molly grinned at us. She was a little bigger than Sere. She was cute, but that Serena Tsukino
was a real Betty. "Y'all sit up here. I'm thinkin' you could protect us, while y'all and us are waitin'
to see if he'll come back."
Greg looked at me, his eyebrows raised. *Would we ever have a story to tell the boys!* His
eyes clearly said. We had picked up two girls, and classy ones at that, mo greaser-girls like
Lita and Raye for us, but Socs! Andy would go postal when I flicked that bit of information at
him. (AN: Eek! Sowy, L & R fans! *sniff* I hope I don't lose readers from my burns. :( I love
them both, too.)
"Okay," I said, as if it was an everyday occurance that two gorgeous Socs asked us to sit
with them.
I took the seat Chad had previously occupied, and Greg sat, shyly, next to Serena.
"How old are y'all?" Molly drawled languildly.
"Fourteen," I replied.
"I'm sixteen," Greg added quietly.
"Really?" she asked in disbelief. "I thought y'all were both--"
"Sixteen." Sere finished firmly, and I shot a grateful look at her. She'd immediately picked up
on Greg's insecurity--he looked fourteen and he knew it. It pissed him off, bad.
He grinned. "How come you weren't scared of us, like you were of Chad?"
Sere sighed. "You and Darien are too sweet to hurt anyone. Besides, you didn't join in when
he was bad mouthing us, and you made him leave us alone. Then, when we asked you to
sit with us, you didn't act like it was an invitation to mack for the rest of the night."
"Not to mention," Molly added, "We've heard about Chad Winston's reputation. We've heard
nothin' 'bout y'all. Y'all must be way different greasa's then him. Plus, y'all just don't look mean,
y'all dig?" (AN: Y'all, y'all, y'all... *Giggle*)
"Sure," I murmured, a little pissed. "We're too young and innocent."
"No, not innocent." Serena cast me a searching glance. "You've seen too much to be innocent.
Just...Not 100% evil."
"Chad's okay," Greg said defensively, and I agreed as I crossed my arms over my chest.
Even if you don't like someone in your gang, you stand up for them. If we didn't, we'd be as
bad as Amara and Jedite Tenous's gang--twins, respectively, a girl and a guy, that ran an
outfit hard as nails. They were hoods more than greasers, but we got along fine most of
the time. I like Amara just fine, for a hood girl--she's tough and knows how to keep her mouth
shut good. One time, a guy slipped me crack and I didn't know what it was. Almost got busted
for possession, but she took the knock for me. Said she didn't want me getting hard like all
the others, and I've kind of thought of her as a sister since. She's always there for me when
I need to talk, although she sometimes get pissed at our gang and smashes me one good.
Their group backstabs and gossips, and we can't figure it out--how they stay together, I mean.
But they do, and they're good to have in a fight against the Socs.
"He'd leave you alone if he knew you," I told Sere, which was true. When Yaten's cousin came
down from California, he watched his mouth and treated her decent. We all do around cousin
and sisterly type chicks. I can't explain it, 'cause I don't really get it. We try to be nice to those
kinds of girls, but when we see a nice chick on the street, we'll say all kinds of bad shit about
her. At least, the others do. Me and Greg try and stay out of it.
"Well," Molly said with finality, "I'm glad he's gone. I didn't like him."
"I kinda admire him," Sere said softly--so softly only I heard--and we settled down to watch
the movie.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. We found out why they were there.with no car--they'd come with
their boyfriends, but walked out when the boys got drunk and started feeling them up. The
guys got pissed and left. I felt a little disappointed that Serena had a boyfriend, until I shook
myself. *What's up, man? She's just some random hot chick, you just met her. Don't tell me
you're falling in love with her!* The macho part of me laughed loudly, as if to show what a
dumb idea it was. *Why not?* Insisted a quieter part of me--my heart, I assumed. *She's real
pretty, super nice...Why shouldn't we like her?* Mr. Macho couldn't answer that one, so he
slunk into a dark corner, admitting defeat...For now.
"I don't care if they did leave," Serena said, sounding pissed. "It's not my idea of a good
time, sitting in a drive-in and watching guys get drunk before attempting to rape me."
You could tell by the way she said it that her idea of a good time was probably high class and
real expensive, but they'd decided to stay and watch the movie anyway. It was one of those
beach-party blankets with no plot and bad acting, but it had lots of girls.in bikinis and some
decent songs, so it was aight. The four of us were sitting there in silence, when suddenly a
strong hand came down on Greg's shoulder, and another one on mine, and a deep voice
said, "Aight, greasers, you've had it!"
I almost ran screaming for the hills. It was like having someone jump out from behind a door
and scream "BOO!" at you.
I looked, scared shitless, over my shoulder, and there was Ken grinning like that stupid cat
in Alice in Wonderland.
"God, Ken, scare me shitless or what?" He's phat at voice imitations and had sounded for
the Gods of me like a snarling Soc, foaming at the mouth. Then I looked at Greg. His eyes
were shut and he was white as a ghost, his breath coming in smothered gasps. Ken knew
better than to scare him like that, but I guess he forgot. He can be kind of a dumbass at times.
Greg opened his eyes, weakly, and said in a quiet voice, "Hey, Ken."
Ken tousled his hair. "Sorry, kid, I forgot."
He climbed over the chair and landed with a low thud next to Molly. "Who's this, your
great-aunts?"
"Great-grandmothers, twice removed," Cherry shot back smoothly.
I couldn't tell if he was drunk or not, it's kind of hard to tell with him. He acts smashed when
he's sober sometimes.
He raised an eyebrow like he does when somethings puzzling him, or bothering him or if
he just feels like saying something smart.
"Damn, girl, you're a ninety-six if you're out of a hundred." He directed to the red-head on
his left.
"I'm out of ninety-six," Molly replied brightly.
Ken stared at her admiringly. "Damn, you're a hot one. How'd y'all ever get picked up by
m' little boys like Dari and Greggie here?"
I groaned. He's always calling me Dari. "Ke-en..."
"*We* picked them up," Molly asserted. "We're really Arabian slave traders and we're
thinkin' about jackin' y'all--y'all worth at least ten camels each."
"Five," Ken disagreed. "None of us talk Arabian, I don't think. Say something in Arabian,
Greggie-Greg." Ken and his nicknames.
"Aw, shove it..." Greg broke in. "Chad was bugging them and when he left they wanted us
to sit with them and protect them. Against smart-ass greasers like you, probably."
Ken grinned, because Greg never gets insolent like that. We actually think we're doing good
if we get him to talk at all.
"Where is Chad, anyways?"
"He went looking for some action, I guess--booze or chicks or fights or all of the above. I
hope he doesn't get jalied again; he just got out."
"He'll find the fight," Ken stated cheerfully. "S'why I came over, Amara and Jedite are looking
for whoever slashed their car's tires, and since their little brother--y'all remember Zoicite,
right?--saw Chad doing it...well...Does he have a blade?
"Don't think so," I amended. "He's got a piece of pipe--I think--but he busted his blade this
morning.
"Good. Amara will make Jed fight fair if Chad doesn't pull a blade on them; he shouldn't have
any trouble.
Sere and Molly were staring at us, their lip-glossed mouths hanging open. "You don't believe
in playing rough or anything, do you?" Serena asked sarcastically.
"A fair fight ain't rough," Ken said. "Blades are rough, and so are chains, guns, pool sticks,
and rumbles. But skin figthing isn't rough, it just blows off steam. Nothing wrong with throwing
a few punches. Socs are rough. They gang up on one or two, or they rumble each other with
their social clubs. Us greasers stick together, but when we do fight against each other; it's
a fair fight between two. Besides, Chad deserves whatever he gets, 'cause slashed tires
aren't a joke when you've gotta work to pay for them. He got caught, too, and that was his
fault. Our one rule, besides Stick Together, is Don't Get Caught. He might get beat up, he
might not. Either way, there's not going to be any blood feud between our gang and the
Tenou's. If we needed them tomorrow, they'd show. If Jed smashes Chad's head in, then
asks us tomorrow for help in a fight, we'd show. Chad was getting kicks, he got caught, he
pays up. No sweat." Finished his little tirade speech, Ken sat back and crossed his arms
over his buff chest.
"Oh yeah," Serena said sardonically. "Real simple.
"Besides," Molly added cynically--unconcerned by the whole deal. "If he.gets killed or
something, you just bury him. No sweat."
"You dig okay, baby." Ken grinned and lit a cigarette. "Anyone want a smoke?"
I looked at Ken admiringly. He sure puts stuff into words good. Maybe he was still a junior
at eighteen and a half, and maybe his sideburns are too long, andm aybe he does get drunk
too much, but he understands shit.
Sere and Molly shook their heads at his offering of a smoke, but Greg and I reached for one.
Speaking of Greg, his color was back and his breathing was regular, but his hand was
shaking ever so slightly. A cigarette would steady it.
"Darien, could you come with me to get some popcorn?" Serena asked.
I leapt up, only too willing, and tossed down the smoke. I probably would've jumped off a
cliff if she asked me to, I was that gone on her at that moment.
"Sure!" I blurted, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. "You guys want any?"
"I do," Molly replied. She was finishing the Coke Chad had gaven her. I realized then that
Sere and Molly weren't alike. Serena said she wouldn't drink it if she was dying, and she
meant it. It was the principal of the thing. But Molly didn't see a reason to throw away a free
drink.
"Me, too," said Ken. He tossed a ten at me. "Get Greg some, too. I'm buying," he added
as Greg started to reach into the pockets of his jeans.
Serena and I headed over to the snack stand, and as usual, there was a huge line so we had
to wait. Lots of kids turned to look at us--you don't see a greaser kid and a Soc cheerleader
hanging out much. Sere didn't seem to notice as she asked me, "Your friend--with the side-
burns--he's okay?"
"He's not dangerous like Chad if that's what you mean. He's aight."
She smiled, but her eyes were distracted. "Greg...He's been hurt bad sometime, hasn't he?"
It was more of a statement than a question. "Hurt and scared..."
"It was the Socs," I told her in as low a voice as i could manage--there was lots of Socs
hanging around and a lot of them were giving me pointed looks, like I shouldn't be there with
Serena. And besides, I don't like to talk about it--Greg getting beat up, I mean. But I started
talking, faster than normal because I don't like to think about it either.
"It was around four months ago. I walked down to the Esso station to see Yaten and Andy,
'cause they'll always buy me a couple of bottles of pop and let me help them work on cars.
I don't like to go on weekends, 'cause then there's always a bunch of girls down there flirting
with Andy--Socs, too--,and I'm not gone on girls yet. Andy says I'll grow out of it; he did." I
chuckled to myself--now I was gone on a girl, too. How ironic.
"It was a real nice spring day, the sun shining and all that, but it was a little cold and kind of
dark by the time we left for home. We were walking, 'cause Yaten's car's brakes were shot
and we'd left it at the station. At the corner of our blcok, there's this big field where we play
football and chill. It's a good place for rumbles and fights. We were passing it, kicking rocks
down the street and swigging out of our last Pepsi's. Then Yaten noticed something lying
on the ground and picked it up. It was Greg's jean jacket, the only jacket he had.
" 'Looks like Greg forgot his coat again,' Andy said casually as Yaten slung it over his
shoulder. He stopped in his tracks beside me and stared, deadly pale, at the rust-colored
stain on the jacket's collar. A few feet ahead of us, Andy stopped, turned around, and looked
at us.
" 'What's wrong?' Andy asked easily before noticing our faces, drained of color. 'Yaten?
Dare? What's wrong?!' he reiterated, stepping towards us.
"Wordlessly, Yaten held up the the jacket for Andy's inspection. Almost immediately, his
face, too, went ghostly white and his eyes searched our faces frantically. 'Is that...?' He
licked his dry lips, his voice strange and hoarse.
"Slowly, Yaten and I nodded. I was staring at the ground, and I guess Andy noticed my jaw
drop open. 'Dare?! What is it?!' He grabbed my arm and shook me, then followed my gaze.
Blood--Greg's blood--was staining the ground. I think we all heard the groan and saw the
motionless body at the same time, and we were off running. Suddenly, the whole gang was
there. Seiya had seen us from the porch of our house and came sprinting. Ken was there,
and for once his face was serious as we dashed towards Greg's deadly still body.
"Andy reached him first, and gently turned him over. I took a deep breath and willed myself
not to puke, and Seiya grabbed me and roughly shoved my face into his jacket. I guess he
didn't want me to see my best friend like that.
"We've all seen Greg messed up before--his dad gets pissed and hits him sometimes--but
those times were nothing like this. His face was cut up, bruised, swollen--you name it. There
was a huge gash stretching from his cheekbone up to his temple. He still has that scar; Seiya
says he always will. He had on a white T-shirt. I can still see it, all covered in blood, splattered
with red.
"I just stood there, shuddering with sudden fear. I was cold, *so* cold. I was sure he must be
dead--how could anyone take a smashing like that and still be alive? Yaten's eyes closed
and he muffled a groan as he fell onto his knees beside Andy. Chad was there, too. He
swore under his breath, and turned away looking sick. I remember thinking, *Hey, this is
weird. Chad's seen people brutally killed and gang beaten on the streets of West Side
New York; he'd even been the cause of some of them. So why did he look sick now?
" 'Greg? Hey, Greggie-Gregs,' Andy lifted him up and gave the limp body a gentle shake.
I guess that nickname isn't so uncommon.
"Greg didn't open his eyes, but he managed a soft question. 'Andy?'
'Yeah, it's me. Don't talk, you're gonna be okay.'
'There was a whole bunch of them,' Greg told us, ignoring my brother's command. "A blue
Ford full of them, even the trunk (AN: You know, on trucks, that giant thingy in the back that's
soooo much fun to sit in?). I was so scared...' He tried to curse, but suddenly started crying
and fighting to control himself, then sobbing all the more since he couldn't. I wish he hadn't;
it made me even more freaked out. I've seen him take a slam froma two-by-four by his old
man and not even cry out. It made him worse to see him break down now.
"Andy just held him and pushed Greg's hair out of his eyes. 'It's aight, Greggie-Gregs. They're
gone now, it's okay." (AN: I know the nickname is retarded, but give me a break. In the book,
they call him Johnnycake. It's HARD to come up with a nickname for Greg!!!)
"Finally--between sobs--he finally choked out his story. He'd been looking for our football to
practice a few kicks when the blue Ford pulled up, around ten Socs in it. He tried to run, but
they caught him and one had lots of rings on his hand. That's what cut him up so bad. It wasn't
just that they'd smashed him half to death; Greg could've taken that. They scared him. They
threatened him with everything in this world.
"He's my best friend and I know he was already highstrung, but they made it so much worse.
I wanted to *kill* those Socs!" I punched my palm with my fist, a little scared of my aggressiveness.
"Nervous wreck from getting beaten everytime he turned around; and from hearing his 'rents
fight all the time. I don't know why the hell those two didn't just get a divorce.
"Living like that probably would've turned anyone else bitter and hard, like Chad; but instead
it was killing Greg. He's never been a coward, and he's a good man in a rumble. He sticks
up for the gang, and keeps his mouth shut good around the cops. But after that night, he
was jumpier than ever. I don't think he'll ever entirely get over it--he won't even walk by himself
to the corner now. And Greg, the most law-abiding out of all of us...Now carries a blade in
his back pocket. A six-inch blade, no less. He'd use it, too, if he ever got jumped again--they
scared him that bad, Sere! He'd kill the next person who jumped him. No one's ever gonna
beat him like that again, not over his dead body. Which is just what I'm afraid of."
I'd almost forgotten Serena was listening to me, and when I came crashing back down to
Earth I was amazed to find her dead-white.
"All Socs aren't like that!" she begged frantically. "You've got to believe me, Darien. Not all
of us are like that!"
I was surprised by her outburst, and covered it like I always do--cynicism. "Sure," I muttered
sarcastically.
"That's like saying all you greasers are like Chad Winston. I'd bet my cheerleading
captainship that he's jumped a few people," Serena pleaded, sounding strangely desperate.
I wondered: Why did my opinion matter so much to her? Could it be...She felt--at least a
little--like I do? Could she possibly like me? Mentally, I shook myself. *Don't be stupid, Darien.
She's a Soc.*
I remembered the horrifying stories Chad had told us about the muggings in New York, the
gruesome tales he seemed to enjoy telling us.
She was right. Not all of us were like that.
Serena no longer looked sick. Just sad. "I guess you think us Socs have it made. We're rich
kids, the West side Socs. I'll tell you something, Darien, and it might come as a surprise.
We've got troubles you've never even thought of. You wanan know something?" She looked
at me, straight in the eye. "Things are rough all over." I couldn't help thinking how incredibly
similar she was to Rini--my first girlfriend never let me get away with saying something she
thought wasn't right.
"I believe you," I murmured, touching her arm to try and placate her. A jolt of electricity ran
through me at the touch of her silky skin, and I wondered if she felt it, too. A resounding gasp
coming from her assured me she did.
I was staring at my grip on her arm before I snatched my hand away like I'd been burned.
"Come on," I said, my voice strangely low and gruff. "We'd better get back out there with
the popcorn, or Ken's gonna think I ran off with his money."
We went back and watched the movie in silence. Molly and Ken were hitting it off fine; both
had the same twisted sense of humor. But Sere and Greg and I just sat there, staring at the
screen and not talking. I stopped worrying about everything and thought about how nice it was
to sit with a girl without having to listen to her swear every other word, or to have to practically
force her off with a forklift. I know Greg liked it, too. He doesn't talk to chicks much. Once,
when Chad was in reform school, Lita started hanging all over him and sweettalking him.
Then Yaten got ahold of her and told her if she tried to pull her shit on Greg, he'd personally
kick her ass. He would've done it, too. Then he gave Greg a lecture on girls and how a
sneaky little slut like Lita would get him into tons of trouble. After that, he didn't talk to girls
much, but I'm not sure if that's 'cause he's scared of Yaten or 'cause he's shy. (AN: Urg!
There's another burn! -_-6 I'M SO SOWY! I'm gonna apologize EVERY time someone gets
insulted.)
I know what the lecture said, in jist, because I got the same talk from Ken when we picked
up a couple of chicks downtown one day. I thought it was funny, because girls are one subject
even Seiya thinks I use my head about. And it really *was* hysterical, because Ken was
half-smashed when he gave me the talk, and he told me some stories that made me wanna
crawl into a hole, or something--especially since he was shouting them out in the middle of
a busy street. But he'd been talking about girls like Lita and the sluts he and Chad and the
rest pick up at drive-ins and downtown, not about Soc girls. So I figured it was aight to be
sitting with them. Even if they did have their own problems, I couldn't really see what the Socs
would have to worry about--good grades, good cars, good girls, silk, Porches, and convertibles...
Damn, I thought, if I had problems like that, I'd consider myself a god.
I know better now.
IT'S FINALLY DONE!!!!! It took like 100 years, because I have to base this off the book, so
I'm sitting here with The Outsiders in front of me... Urgh. *gigglez and sweatdrops* Anyway,
me and Cheebz have to apologize for all the cuts on Lita and Raye, right, Cheebz? *silence*
A-hem! Chibi-Angel! *Elbows C-A in the ribs and C-A jerks awake* -_-6 Cheebz, just bcuz
it's almost 1 a.m. does *not* mean you can be sleeping on the job! Baby, I'll put you to bed
soon! *Pushes one of Cheebz's blonde pigtails away from her blue eyes and smilez fondly
at her* I promise. Aight, so, let's say we're sorry, okay? *C-A nods* On 3!
One! *Chibi holds up a finger* Two! *Chibi puts up another* THREE! *Chibi raises the third
and gigglez out," We're sowy! *Both Angels grin* Very sowy. Peaz don't get mad? Peaz,
peaz, peaz come back? Peaz review? PITY peaz???
Oh, and when I say it's finally done...I mean Ch. 2, not the story. *gigglez* Peace!
\\//
(---)
and smilez.* Hey, everybody! So you came back, huh? Yay! *gigglez* Me and Cheebz made
up, if it isn't obvious enough! *Chibi Angel gigglez, too.*
Well, here's chapter two!!! I hope you like it. Thnx, Aqua, for the awesum review and friendship!
Pattie, major snaps for sanding my f-a project for me! Thnx to everyone who reviewed! Oh
ya, and this is the character list for the story--so far. I'm not quite done yet. For those of you
who've read The Outsiders.
Ponyboy--Darien
Darry--Seiya
Soda--Andrew
Two-Bit--Ken
Dally--Chad
Johnny--Greg
Steve--Yaten
Cherry--Serena
Marcia--Molly
Sandy--Mina
Evie--Raye
Sylvia--Lita
Well, enjoy chapter two!
The Outsiders
Chapter Two
Friday night found Chad waiting for Greg and me at the corner of 95th and 96th ave. Since
we had time to kill, we headed over to the drugstore in the mall to screw around for a bit.
We bought Cokes and walked around, eyeing stuff out in the open, until the manager
remembered that we were teenage boys--greasers, no less--and suggested we leave. Okay,
maybe demanded was a better word. He was too late, though--Chad walked out with two
packs of Players Lite under his coat.
Then we went down 96th to Ecstasy, a rave that all the greasers hang out in front of. We
rarely go in, though--Ecstasy is one dead club. Out front, though, it's a pretty rough hang-out
and there's always a fight going on. Once, a girl even got shot--that was pretty bad. The club
almost got shut down after that.
We strode around aimlessly, talking to all the greasers and hoods that we knew. We leaned
in car windows, hopped in back seats--we knew almost everyone there. Going down to
Ecstacy is always a good idea because we get caught up on all the dirt--who's running away,
who's in the slammer, who's trying to score with who, and who stole what and why. There
was a pretty cool fight between this huge buffed-out greaser, around twenty-three, and this
Mexican hitchhiker. We bounced as soon as the blades came out, though--the police would
be there soon, and no one thinking clearly wants to be around when the cops show.
We crossed back up to 96th and cut around Tommy--this warehouse Tommy Hilfiger store--
and then chased a couple of elementary kids across a field for a few minutes. By then, it
was dark enough to sneak into the Nightly Double, so we retraced our steps and climbed
over the back fence of the drive-in theatre. It's the biggest in town--shows 10 movies a night,
15 if it's the weekend. We all had the money to get in--it only costs four bucks if you're not
in a car--but according to Chad, he'd "be damned" before he did things the legal way. He
likes to show that he doesn't care if there's a law or not, and that he doesn't give a damn if
the cops arrest him. I mean, the guy goes around *trying* to break the law.
The only people there were two girls sitting way down in the front row. Chad eyed them coolly
before striding down the aisle and sitting down directly behind them. I had a sick feeling that
he was up to his old tricks--trying his hardest to embarrass any pretty girl he could find.
I was right.
He started talking, loud enough for the girls in front of us to hear. He started out bad before
getting worse. Chad can talk pretty dirty when he wants to, and I guess he wanted to then.
I could feel my face turning red. Ken and Yaten and even Andy would've gone right along
with him, just to see if they could irritate or embarrass the girls, but I rarely do. I think it's
mean and degrading to the female generation in general. So I just sat there, dumbstruck,
and Greg made a hasty exit while mumbling about getting a Coke.
I wouldn't have felt so embarrassed and ashamed if they were greaser girls--I might've even
helped Chad. Well, maybe. Probably not, though. But the thing is, they were Socs. Real
classy girls, dressed to kill and incredibly hot. One had short red hair, the other had long
blonde hair in a very...Unusual style--two twin buns stuck on the top of her head, with long
golden streamers flowing from them. They looked maybe sixteen or seventeen.
The blonde was either getting really mad, or really scared. She was sitting up straight and
chewing her gum with a snapping velocity. The other one was obviously pretending not to
hear Chad, staring at the screen and loudly sucking on her soda. Chad started getting
impatient, so he stuck his feet up on the back of the blonde's chair and beat his own record
for saying something crude. The one with meatballs turned around and gave him a cool stare.
"Take your overgrown feet off my chair, and shut the hell up." I gaped at her. She was this
tiny little thing, maybe 5'5" to Chad's 6'4", but not in the least bit afraid of him. It was a little
weird, too--seeing this little angel swearing at the infamous Chad Winston.
I recognized her suddenly. Her name was Serena Tsukino and she was a cheerleader at
my high school, real popular. She dated the first string quarterback for the football team,
and if my brain was still functioning correctly, she was the captain of her cheering squad.
It might've been inactive, though--my brain, I mean--because she was *so* hot. I'd always
privately thought she was stuck up before this, but she sure didn't seem at all prick-ish.
Chad simply returned her stare, not moving his feet. "Who's gonna make me, hotstuff?"
The other one turned around and looked at us. "Hey, Sere, that's the greaser that jockeys
at the Cutting Edge club sometimes," she said in a New York accent, as if we couldn't hear
her or something.
I've heard that tone so many times. "Greaser...Greaser...Greaser..." Hell, yes. I have heard
that tone *far* too many times.
*What are these two rich snobs doing here without a car?* I suddenly wonders. Sure, the
two.were gorgeous--but way too bitchy for my tastes.
"Hey, I know you two. I've seen you around rodeos." Chad said to the girls.
"It's a shame you can't ride bull as well as you can talk it," snapped Serena before turning
back around.
That didn't bother Chad in the slightest. "So you barrel race, huh, sexy?"
"You'd better leave us alone," Serena bit out. "Or I'll call the cops!" She pulled out a small,
pink face-plated cell phone and gestured it wildly towards us.
"Oh, my God." Chad looked bored. "You oughta see my record sometimes, baby. Guess
what I've been in for?" he grinned slyly. "Here's a hint--starts with an r, it ends with an e, and
it's illegal everywhere."
That was a lie. Chad's never been busted for raping someone--he claims it's too evil, even
for him, and it's definitely the truth. Besides, his little baby sister, Rini, died when she was
ten because she got raped by this fourty year old hood. Man, did Chad beat the crap out of
that guy--we all did, when we finally caught up with the chicken-shit bastard. We all loved
Rini, she was such a sweet kid. (AN: I'm truly sorry, Rini fans. And I know Chad's reference
to rape was a little crass, and definitely crude. But Dally--the character that Chad is based
off--is definitely a crude character.)
"*Please* leave us alone," Serena pleaded. "Why don't you be nice and leave us alone?"
"I'm never nice." Chad grinned roguishly. "Want a Coke?"
She was pissed by then. "I wouldn't drink it if I was dying of dehydration in the desert! Get
lost, hood."
Chad merely shrugged and strode off.
The girl looked at me. I hate to admit it, but *damn*, was I scared of her! How embarrasing.
Scared shitless by a five-foot cheerleader. *Hey,* my pride protested. *She's intimidated!
Leave us alone!* But then, I'm scared shitless of all nice girls--especially Socs.
"Are *you* going to start in on us?" Serena asked, crossing her arms over her surprisingly
well developed--*stop! You hentai!* Screamed my decent side.
My eyes wide, I shook my head like an obedient puppy. "N-n-no."
Suddenly, she smiled. God, she was hot. "You don't look the type. What's your name, cutie?"
I blushed, to my utter horror. "Darien Shields."
Serena smiled. "That's a lovely name."
Lovely. I haven't heard that in awhile. I guess it's an original word.
I guess Serena's an original girl.
"My name's Serena, but everyone calls me Sere, or Rena."
"I know," I answered. "We go to the same school."
"Oh, yeah. Y'all don't really look old enough to be in high school." The red-head replied.
My face turned red. "I got put up a year in elementary."
Serena, sensing I was uncomfortable, changed the subject. "Sometimes I'm called Rini,
too--not much, but sometimes."
I felt my face drain of color. "Rini?" Come to think of it, she did have the same unique hair
style as Chad's baby sister. Could this be Rini, reincarnated? I gave myself a mental slap.
*Don't be stupid. Besides, you don't believe in that stuff, Dare.*
Serena and her red-headed friend were staring at me, strange expressions on their angel-
blessed faces.
"Yeah, Rini," This blonde goddess in front of me said slowly. "Are you okay, Darien? You
look kinda...funny."
Not answering her, I let my mind drift. When I told you about Rini, there was something I
neglected to say. As I mentioned, she died when she was ten. What I didn't tell you is, I was
only eleven at the time, and she was my girlfriend. And even though she was my first,
(AN: Girlfriend, you hentais! GIRLFRIEND!!!) I knew I loved her. I was so sure we were meant
to be together, but then God went and did it all again. He mocked me, taunted me--waved
this angel in front of my face, and let me have her for a brief while, then snatched her away
from me again. (AN: I'm sorry, that sounds so very, incredibly anti-God. I'm sorry. I truly didn't
mean for it to sound like that...Tay? Sowy!) When she died, I felt as though a part of myself
had been ripped from myself; something crucial--something like my soul. For weeks, I didn't
eat or sleep, just sat staring at the wall. Twice a day, Andy would physically force something
to drink down my throat, just so I didn't dehydrate myself and die. Finally, Seiya apparently
got sick of watching me mope around, so one day he slapped me hard across the face and
told me to get over Rini, that there'd be other chicks and the 'little pink-haired brat' wasn't
coming back. Much as it stung, I had to admit he was right and got over her...Sort of. I never
really got rid of the pain--it remained buried there, sharp slivers of glass that cut and hurt. But
I just kept forcing the hurt down, deeper and deeper inside of me until it was just a hard, bitter
lump in the pit of my stomach.
"Darien?" I shook my head, crashing back to Earth, and looked at Serena, who was staring
at me with concern on her face. She quickly reached out her slim, pink-polished hand and
pressed it to my forehead. A deep shudder racked through my body, though I tried not to let
it show. She saw, of course, though, and came to sit beside me. Once she did, a comforting
warmth spread from my thigh--which her own was pressing up against--down to my toes,
and then up through the rest of my body until I was all cozy and just the right temperature--
not too hot, no longer cold.
"Are you all right?" she asked softly, resting her hand on my leg. A jolt ran through my leg,
though, thankfully, this time.I didn't jerk with the force of it. Instead, it coursed through my
veins with an intensity that startled me--I hadn't realized I could feel this way about a girl. I'd
never felt like this, not even with Rini. Of course, we were only kids...
"Darien?!" Serena's voice began to sound a little more frantic, and she shook my leg where
she grasped it. "Are you okay?!" In front of us, her friend bolted to her feet, then stood in the
next row uncertainly.
"Molly," my own private nurse-maid angel barked at the red-head. "Go get...Management
or whoever. I think something's really wrong! He can't seem to talk. It's like he's in shock
or something."
The Molly-formerly-known-as-Red-Head jumped over a few seats and headed towards the
front desk. Worried, because I'd snuck in, and also because I wasn't really in need of help
or anything, I flew to my feet and rushed over to grab her arm.
"No, it's okay, Sere. I just spaced out for a minute." She smiled at the use of the nickname,
then looked uncertain.
"Well...Okay," she said at last, gesturing at us to come sit down beside her. "But you have
to tell us if you start feeling trippy. Tight?"
"Tuff enough," I answered, releasing Molly's arm and sauntering over like it was nothing big
to sit with a couple of hot girls--Soc's, at that--in a movie theatre by myself.
BY MYSELF! I checked my watch. Greg had gone to get a soda twenty minutes ago! I
silently cursed myself for getting so involved in everything else. What if the Socs had gotten
a hold of him? Maybe they were pissed that we were scamming on their girls. What if Greg
was hurt? What if he was...What if he was dead?
Frantically, I looked around. Molly noticed. "What's wrong?" She asked, leaning over Serena
to tap my knee. I didn't feel the jolt of electricity this time, so I just waved my hand at her briefly.
I had to find Greg! I jumped to my feet quickly and started to head for the concession stand.
"Darien?"
"Just a minute, Sere. I'll be back in a sec." I snapped impatiently, not bothering to turn around.
I was too worried to notice that the voice was a male's.
"*Darien!*"
"WHAT?!" I finally snapped again, spinning around. There, standing beside a confused looking
Serena, was Greg, turning red from supressed laughter.
"You thought I was..." he sputtered. Unsure, Molly stood up and the girls started to giggle
uncertainly.
I shook my head, not finding it in the least bit funny.
"Oh, come on, Dare," Greg finally gasped, coming up to me and throwing an arm around my
shoulder. "Think about it--You're all worried about me, you start coming to find me--leaving
these incredibly hot girls alone--" he added to me in a low voice. "Then you turn around and
I'm behind you!" When he explained it that way, it did seem kind of funny. Really funny, in fact.
I started to smirk, and then a chuckle worked it's way from my throat. Then suddenly I was on
the ground, laughing hysterically with the relief that he was okay. The girls, getting the joke--I
guess the laughter must've been contagious, 'cause the event really wasn't that funny--starting
laughing, too--real hard. I never thought I'd see a rich, classy Soc girl, rolling around in the
grass at the drive in.
"Darien?" Serena asked suddenly awhile after we had stopped laughing and sat back down
in our seats--Sere and Molly in the front row, me and Greg in the second.
"Uh huh?"
"Does your brother, work at a gas station? An Esso, I think?" I nodded. "Man, your brother
is one doll!" (AN: I know that's not quite /01 slang, but I like it. I think it sounds neat--your
brother is one doll! *gigglez with Cheebz*) "His name's Andrew, right? I should've guessed
you were brothers. You look alike."
I grinned with pride--I don't think I look a think like Andy, but it's not everyday I hear Soc telling
me my brother is "one doll".
"Didn't he used to ride in rodeos?" Molly asked, hanging casually over Serena's shoulder.
"Uh huh," I nodded. "Dad made him quit when he broke a leg, but we still hang out around
them lots. I've seen you two around. You're hotstuff on the barrel race." Sere blushed, but
Molly acknoledged it with a smile, a nod, and a wink--as though she knew her and Serena
were the hottest stuff in the race. Imagine being that sure of yourself! (AN: *Gigglez* I am
that sure of myself. Ask Princess! All I ever talk about is how great I am. Just kidding! But
I do it a lot. Not totally conceited, though. Honest. Really, I'm not!)
"Thanks," Sere said, and Molly asked, "How come we don't see your brother at school?
He can't be any more than sixteen or seventeen--is he?"
I winced inside. I told you I can't stand it that Andy quit school. "He dropped out, I said roughly.
Beside me, Greg was silently watching the movie. Now, he turned to pay attention, maybe
noting my harsh voice.
Before anyone could say anything, Chad came striding back with an armful of Cokes. He
handed one to each girl and shoved me over so he could jump into the seat next to Sere.
"Here, sexy," He grinned suggestively at her. "This might cool you off."
Beside him, Serena shot him an incredulous look and cracked open her soda. I thought she
was actually going to drink it, but then she dumped it over his head and said bitingly, "This
might cool *you* off, greaser. After you wash your mouth out and learn to act decent, maybe
I'll cool off, too." She sent him a withering glare--I truly believe anyone but Chad would've
dropped dead on the spot.
Chad wiped the Coke off his face with his sleeve and smiled dangerously. Inwardly, I
shuddered, and I felt Greg stiffen beside me. I knew that smile, and if I were Serena I would've
run out of there, screaming for the polic.
"Fiery, eh? Good--that's the way I like 'em. Smokin' hot." He went to put his arm around her,
but suddenly Greg spoke up.
"Leave her alone, Chad."
"Huh?" Chad was taken off guard, staring at Greg in disbelief. Greg can't say "Shut up!" to
a bird, yet he'd just stood up to the toughest member of our gang. For a girl, no less. Normally,
he's terrified around girls--in fact, the last girl he'd talked to had been Rini, when I was eleven
and Greg was thirteen.
Greg swallowed hard and the color drained from his face, but he stood his ground. "You heard
me, Chad. Leave her alone."
Chad scowled for a second. If it had been me, or anyone but Greg, he would've flattened them
without thinking about it for five seconds. You just don't tell Chad Winston what to do. But
Greg's the gang's pet, and he couldn't just slam him. He was Chad's pet, too.
Chad got up and stormed off, with his fists jammed in his pockets and a frown on his pissed
face. You could just tell he wanted to deck Greg, but he didn't come back.
Sere sighed, sounding relieved. "Thanks. He had me scared to death."
Though he himself looked scared to death, Greg managed to grin admiringly. "You sure didn't
show it," he said in a respecting tone. "No one talks to Chad like that."
The girls giggled. "From what I could see, y'all do," Molly flirted.
Gred's ears were red. I was still staring at them. It took more than guts to stand up to Chad like
that--he worshipped the ground Chad walked on, and I'd never heard him talk back to anyone.
Much less his hero.
Molly grinned at us. She was a little bigger than Sere. She was cute, but that Serena Tsukino
was a real Betty. "Y'all sit up here. I'm thinkin' you could protect us, while y'all and us are waitin'
to see if he'll come back."
Greg looked at me, his eyebrows raised. *Would we ever have a story to tell the boys!* His
eyes clearly said. We had picked up two girls, and classy ones at that, mo greaser-girls like
Lita and Raye for us, but Socs! Andy would go postal when I flicked that bit of information at
him. (AN: Eek! Sowy, L & R fans! *sniff* I hope I don't lose readers from my burns. :( I love
them both, too.)
"Okay," I said, as if it was an everyday occurance that two gorgeous Socs asked us to sit
with them.
I took the seat Chad had previously occupied, and Greg sat, shyly, next to Serena.
"How old are y'all?" Molly drawled languildly.
"Fourteen," I replied.
"I'm sixteen," Greg added quietly.
"Really?" she asked in disbelief. "I thought y'all were both--"
"Sixteen." Sere finished firmly, and I shot a grateful look at her. She'd immediately picked up
on Greg's insecurity--he looked fourteen and he knew it. It pissed him off, bad.
He grinned. "How come you weren't scared of us, like you were of Chad?"
Sere sighed. "You and Darien are too sweet to hurt anyone. Besides, you didn't join in when
he was bad mouthing us, and you made him leave us alone. Then, when we asked you to
sit with us, you didn't act like it was an invitation to mack for the rest of the night."
"Not to mention," Molly added, "We've heard about Chad Winston's reputation. We've heard
nothin' 'bout y'all. Y'all must be way different greasa's then him. Plus, y'all just don't look mean,
y'all dig?" (AN: Y'all, y'all, y'all... *Giggle*)
"Sure," I murmured, a little pissed. "We're too young and innocent."
"No, not innocent." Serena cast me a searching glance. "You've seen too much to be innocent.
Just...Not 100% evil."
"Chad's okay," Greg said defensively, and I agreed as I crossed my arms over my chest.
Even if you don't like someone in your gang, you stand up for them. If we didn't, we'd be as
bad as Amara and Jedite Tenous's gang--twins, respectively, a girl and a guy, that ran an
outfit hard as nails. They were hoods more than greasers, but we got along fine most of
the time. I like Amara just fine, for a hood girl--she's tough and knows how to keep her mouth
shut good. One time, a guy slipped me crack and I didn't know what it was. Almost got busted
for possession, but she took the knock for me. Said she didn't want me getting hard like all
the others, and I've kind of thought of her as a sister since. She's always there for me when
I need to talk, although she sometimes get pissed at our gang and smashes me one good.
Their group backstabs and gossips, and we can't figure it out--how they stay together, I mean.
But they do, and they're good to have in a fight against the Socs.
"He'd leave you alone if he knew you," I told Sere, which was true. When Yaten's cousin came
down from California, he watched his mouth and treated her decent. We all do around cousin
and sisterly type chicks. I can't explain it, 'cause I don't really get it. We try to be nice to those
kinds of girls, but when we see a nice chick on the street, we'll say all kinds of bad shit about
her. At least, the others do. Me and Greg try and stay out of it.
"Well," Molly said with finality, "I'm glad he's gone. I didn't like him."
"I kinda admire him," Sere said softly--so softly only I heard--and we settled down to watch
the movie.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. We found out why they were there.with no car--they'd come with
their boyfriends, but walked out when the boys got drunk and started feeling them up. The
guys got pissed and left. I felt a little disappointed that Serena had a boyfriend, until I shook
myself. *What's up, man? She's just some random hot chick, you just met her. Don't tell me
you're falling in love with her!* The macho part of me laughed loudly, as if to show what a
dumb idea it was. *Why not?* Insisted a quieter part of me--my heart, I assumed. *She's real
pretty, super nice...Why shouldn't we like her?* Mr. Macho couldn't answer that one, so he
slunk into a dark corner, admitting defeat...For now.
"I don't care if they did leave," Serena said, sounding pissed. "It's not my idea of a good
time, sitting in a drive-in and watching guys get drunk before attempting to rape me."
You could tell by the way she said it that her idea of a good time was probably high class and
real expensive, but they'd decided to stay and watch the movie anyway. It was one of those
beach-party blankets with no plot and bad acting, but it had lots of girls.in bikinis and some
decent songs, so it was aight. The four of us were sitting there in silence, when suddenly a
strong hand came down on Greg's shoulder, and another one on mine, and a deep voice
said, "Aight, greasers, you've had it!"
I almost ran screaming for the hills. It was like having someone jump out from behind a door
and scream "BOO!" at you.
I looked, scared shitless, over my shoulder, and there was Ken grinning like that stupid cat
in Alice in Wonderland.
"God, Ken, scare me shitless or what?" He's phat at voice imitations and had sounded for
the Gods of me like a snarling Soc, foaming at the mouth. Then I looked at Greg. His eyes
were shut and he was white as a ghost, his breath coming in smothered gasps. Ken knew
better than to scare him like that, but I guess he forgot. He can be kind of a dumbass at times.
Greg opened his eyes, weakly, and said in a quiet voice, "Hey, Ken."
Ken tousled his hair. "Sorry, kid, I forgot."
He climbed over the chair and landed with a low thud next to Molly. "Who's this, your
great-aunts?"
"Great-grandmothers, twice removed," Cherry shot back smoothly.
I couldn't tell if he was drunk or not, it's kind of hard to tell with him. He acts smashed when
he's sober sometimes.
He raised an eyebrow like he does when somethings puzzling him, or bothering him or if
he just feels like saying something smart.
"Damn, girl, you're a ninety-six if you're out of a hundred." He directed to the red-head on
his left.
"I'm out of ninety-six," Molly replied brightly.
Ken stared at her admiringly. "Damn, you're a hot one. How'd y'all ever get picked up by
m' little boys like Dari and Greggie here?"
I groaned. He's always calling me Dari. "Ke-en..."
"*We* picked them up," Molly asserted. "We're really Arabian slave traders and we're
thinkin' about jackin' y'all--y'all worth at least ten camels each."
"Five," Ken disagreed. "None of us talk Arabian, I don't think. Say something in Arabian,
Greggie-Greg." Ken and his nicknames.
"Aw, shove it..." Greg broke in. "Chad was bugging them and when he left they wanted us
to sit with them and protect them. Against smart-ass greasers like you, probably."
Ken grinned, because Greg never gets insolent like that. We actually think we're doing good
if we get him to talk at all.
"Where is Chad, anyways?"
"He went looking for some action, I guess--booze or chicks or fights or all of the above. I
hope he doesn't get jalied again; he just got out."
"He'll find the fight," Ken stated cheerfully. "S'why I came over, Amara and Jedite are looking
for whoever slashed their car's tires, and since their little brother--y'all remember Zoicite,
right?--saw Chad doing it...well...Does he have a blade?
"Don't think so," I amended. "He's got a piece of pipe--I think--but he busted his blade this
morning.
"Good. Amara will make Jed fight fair if Chad doesn't pull a blade on them; he shouldn't have
any trouble.
Sere and Molly were staring at us, their lip-glossed mouths hanging open. "You don't believe
in playing rough or anything, do you?" Serena asked sarcastically.
"A fair fight ain't rough," Ken said. "Blades are rough, and so are chains, guns, pool sticks,
and rumbles. But skin figthing isn't rough, it just blows off steam. Nothing wrong with throwing
a few punches. Socs are rough. They gang up on one or two, or they rumble each other with
their social clubs. Us greasers stick together, but when we do fight against each other; it's
a fair fight between two. Besides, Chad deserves whatever he gets, 'cause slashed tires
aren't a joke when you've gotta work to pay for them. He got caught, too, and that was his
fault. Our one rule, besides Stick Together, is Don't Get Caught. He might get beat up, he
might not. Either way, there's not going to be any blood feud between our gang and the
Tenou's. If we needed them tomorrow, they'd show. If Jed smashes Chad's head in, then
asks us tomorrow for help in a fight, we'd show. Chad was getting kicks, he got caught, he
pays up. No sweat." Finished his little tirade speech, Ken sat back and crossed his arms
over his buff chest.
"Oh yeah," Serena said sardonically. "Real simple.
"Besides," Molly added cynically--unconcerned by the whole deal. "If he.gets killed or
something, you just bury him. No sweat."
"You dig okay, baby." Ken grinned and lit a cigarette. "Anyone want a smoke?"
I looked at Ken admiringly. He sure puts stuff into words good. Maybe he was still a junior
at eighteen and a half, and maybe his sideburns are too long, andm aybe he does get drunk
too much, but he understands shit.
Sere and Molly shook their heads at his offering of a smoke, but Greg and I reached for one.
Speaking of Greg, his color was back and his breathing was regular, but his hand was
shaking ever so slightly. A cigarette would steady it.
"Darien, could you come with me to get some popcorn?" Serena asked.
I leapt up, only too willing, and tossed down the smoke. I probably would've jumped off a
cliff if she asked me to, I was that gone on her at that moment.
"Sure!" I blurted, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. "You guys want any?"
"I do," Molly replied. She was finishing the Coke Chad had gaven her. I realized then that
Sere and Molly weren't alike. Serena said she wouldn't drink it if she was dying, and she
meant it. It was the principal of the thing. But Molly didn't see a reason to throw away a free
drink.
"Me, too," said Ken. He tossed a ten at me. "Get Greg some, too. I'm buying," he added
as Greg started to reach into the pockets of his jeans.
Serena and I headed over to the snack stand, and as usual, there was a huge line so we had
to wait. Lots of kids turned to look at us--you don't see a greaser kid and a Soc cheerleader
hanging out much. Sere didn't seem to notice as she asked me, "Your friend--with the side-
burns--he's okay?"
"He's not dangerous like Chad if that's what you mean. He's aight."
She smiled, but her eyes were distracted. "Greg...He's been hurt bad sometime, hasn't he?"
It was more of a statement than a question. "Hurt and scared..."
"It was the Socs," I told her in as low a voice as i could manage--there was lots of Socs
hanging around and a lot of them were giving me pointed looks, like I shouldn't be there with
Serena. And besides, I don't like to talk about it--Greg getting beat up, I mean. But I started
talking, faster than normal because I don't like to think about it either.
"It was around four months ago. I walked down to the Esso station to see Yaten and Andy,
'cause they'll always buy me a couple of bottles of pop and let me help them work on cars.
I don't like to go on weekends, 'cause then there's always a bunch of girls down there flirting
with Andy--Socs, too--,and I'm not gone on girls yet. Andy says I'll grow out of it; he did." I
chuckled to myself--now I was gone on a girl, too. How ironic.
"It was a real nice spring day, the sun shining and all that, but it was a little cold and kind of
dark by the time we left for home. We were walking, 'cause Yaten's car's brakes were shot
and we'd left it at the station. At the corner of our blcok, there's this big field where we play
football and chill. It's a good place for rumbles and fights. We were passing it, kicking rocks
down the street and swigging out of our last Pepsi's. Then Yaten noticed something lying
on the ground and picked it up. It was Greg's jean jacket, the only jacket he had.
" 'Looks like Greg forgot his coat again,' Andy said casually as Yaten slung it over his
shoulder. He stopped in his tracks beside me and stared, deadly pale, at the rust-colored
stain on the jacket's collar. A few feet ahead of us, Andy stopped, turned around, and looked
at us.
" 'What's wrong?' Andy asked easily before noticing our faces, drained of color. 'Yaten?
Dare? What's wrong?!' he reiterated, stepping towards us.
"Wordlessly, Yaten held up the the jacket for Andy's inspection. Almost immediately, his
face, too, went ghostly white and his eyes searched our faces frantically. 'Is that...?' He
licked his dry lips, his voice strange and hoarse.
"Slowly, Yaten and I nodded. I was staring at the ground, and I guess Andy noticed my jaw
drop open. 'Dare?! What is it?!' He grabbed my arm and shook me, then followed my gaze.
Blood--Greg's blood--was staining the ground. I think we all heard the groan and saw the
motionless body at the same time, and we were off running. Suddenly, the whole gang was
there. Seiya had seen us from the porch of our house and came sprinting. Ken was there,
and for once his face was serious as we dashed towards Greg's deadly still body.
"Andy reached him first, and gently turned him over. I took a deep breath and willed myself
not to puke, and Seiya grabbed me and roughly shoved my face into his jacket. I guess he
didn't want me to see my best friend like that.
"We've all seen Greg messed up before--his dad gets pissed and hits him sometimes--but
those times were nothing like this. His face was cut up, bruised, swollen--you name it. There
was a huge gash stretching from his cheekbone up to his temple. He still has that scar; Seiya
says he always will. He had on a white T-shirt. I can still see it, all covered in blood, splattered
with red.
"I just stood there, shuddering with sudden fear. I was cold, *so* cold. I was sure he must be
dead--how could anyone take a smashing like that and still be alive? Yaten's eyes closed
and he muffled a groan as he fell onto his knees beside Andy. Chad was there, too. He
swore under his breath, and turned away looking sick. I remember thinking, *Hey, this is
weird. Chad's seen people brutally killed and gang beaten on the streets of West Side
New York; he'd even been the cause of some of them. So why did he look sick now?
" 'Greg? Hey, Greggie-Gregs,' Andy lifted him up and gave the limp body a gentle shake.
I guess that nickname isn't so uncommon.
"Greg didn't open his eyes, but he managed a soft question. 'Andy?'
'Yeah, it's me. Don't talk, you're gonna be okay.'
'There was a whole bunch of them,' Greg told us, ignoring my brother's command. "A blue
Ford full of them, even the trunk (AN: You know, on trucks, that giant thingy in the back that's
soooo much fun to sit in?). I was so scared...' He tried to curse, but suddenly started crying
and fighting to control himself, then sobbing all the more since he couldn't. I wish he hadn't;
it made me even more freaked out. I've seen him take a slam froma two-by-four by his old
man and not even cry out. It made him worse to see him break down now.
"Andy just held him and pushed Greg's hair out of his eyes. 'It's aight, Greggie-Gregs. They're
gone now, it's okay." (AN: I know the nickname is retarded, but give me a break. In the book,
they call him Johnnycake. It's HARD to come up with a nickname for Greg!!!)
"Finally--between sobs--he finally choked out his story. He'd been looking for our football to
practice a few kicks when the blue Ford pulled up, around ten Socs in it. He tried to run, but
they caught him and one had lots of rings on his hand. That's what cut him up so bad. It wasn't
just that they'd smashed him half to death; Greg could've taken that. They scared him. They
threatened him with everything in this world.
"He's my best friend and I know he was already highstrung, but they made it so much worse.
I wanted to *kill* those Socs!" I punched my palm with my fist, a little scared of my aggressiveness.
"Nervous wreck from getting beaten everytime he turned around; and from hearing his 'rents
fight all the time. I don't know why the hell those two didn't just get a divorce.
"Living like that probably would've turned anyone else bitter and hard, like Chad; but instead
it was killing Greg. He's never been a coward, and he's a good man in a rumble. He sticks
up for the gang, and keeps his mouth shut good around the cops. But after that night, he
was jumpier than ever. I don't think he'll ever entirely get over it--he won't even walk by himself
to the corner now. And Greg, the most law-abiding out of all of us...Now carries a blade in
his back pocket. A six-inch blade, no less. He'd use it, too, if he ever got jumped again--they
scared him that bad, Sere! He'd kill the next person who jumped him. No one's ever gonna
beat him like that again, not over his dead body. Which is just what I'm afraid of."
I'd almost forgotten Serena was listening to me, and when I came crashing back down to
Earth I was amazed to find her dead-white.
"All Socs aren't like that!" she begged frantically. "You've got to believe me, Darien. Not all
of us are like that!"
I was surprised by her outburst, and covered it like I always do--cynicism. "Sure," I muttered
sarcastically.
"That's like saying all you greasers are like Chad Winston. I'd bet my cheerleading
captainship that he's jumped a few people," Serena pleaded, sounding strangely desperate.
I wondered: Why did my opinion matter so much to her? Could it be...She felt--at least a
little--like I do? Could she possibly like me? Mentally, I shook myself. *Don't be stupid, Darien.
She's a Soc.*
I remembered the horrifying stories Chad had told us about the muggings in New York, the
gruesome tales he seemed to enjoy telling us.
She was right. Not all of us were like that.
Serena no longer looked sick. Just sad. "I guess you think us Socs have it made. We're rich
kids, the West side Socs. I'll tell you something, Darien, and it might come as a surprise.
We've got troubles you've never even thought of. You wanan know something?" She looked
at me, straight in the eye. "Things are rough all over." I couldn't help thinking how incredibly
similar she was to Rini--my first girlfriend never let me get away with saying something she
thought wasn't right.
"I believe you," I murmured, touching her arm to try and placate her. A jolt of electricity ran
through me at the touch of her silky skin, and I wondered if she felt it, too. A resounding gasp
coming from her assured me she did.
I was staring at my grip on her arm before I snatched my hand away like I'd been burned.
"Come on," I said, my voice strangely low and gruff. "We'd better get back out there with
the popcorn, or Ken's gonna think I ran off with his money."
We went back and watched the movie in silence. Molly and Ken were hitting it off fine; both
had the same twisted sense of humor. But Sere and Greg and I just sat there, staring at the
screen and not talking. I stopped worrying about everything and thought about how nice it was
to sit with a girl without having to listen to her swear every other word, or to have to practically
force her off with a forklift. I know Greg liked it, too. He doesn't talk to chicks much. Once,
when Chad was in reform school, Lita started hanging all over him and sweettalking him.
Then Yaten got ahold of her and told her if she tried to pull her shit on Greg, he'd personally
kick her ass. He would've done it, too. Then he gave Greg a lecture on girls and how a
sneaky little slut like Lita would get him into tons of trouble. After that, he didn't talk to girls
much, but I'm not sure if that's 'cause he's scared of Yaten or 'cause he's shy. (AN: Urg!
There's another burn! -_-6 I'M SO SOWY! I'm gonna apologize EVERY time someone gets
insulted.)
I know what the lecture said, in jist, because I got the same talk from Ken when we picked
up a couple of chicks downtown one day. I thought it was funny, because girls are one subject
even Seiya thinks I use my head about. And it really *was* hysterical, because Ken was
half-smashed when he gave me the talk, and he told me some stories that made me wanna
crawl into a hole, or something--especially since he was shouting them out in the middle of
a busy street. But he'd been talking about girls like Lita and the sluts he and Chad and the
rest pick up at drive-ins and downtown, not about Soc girls. So I figured it was aight to be
sitting with them. Even if they did have their own problems, I couldn't really see what the Socs
would have to worry about--good grades, good cars, good girls, silk, Porches, and convertibles...
Damn, I thought, if I had problems like that, I'd consider myself a god.
I know better now.
IT'S FINALLY DONE!!!!! It took like 100 years, because I have to base this off the book, so
I'm sitting here with The Outsiders in front of me... Urgh. *gigglez and sweatdrops* Anyway,
me and Cheebz have to apologize for all the cuts on Lita and Raye, right, Cheebz? *silence*
A-hem! Chibi-Angel! *Elbows C-A in the ribs and C-A jerks awake* -_-6 Cheebz, just bcuz
it's almost 1 a.m. does *not* mean you can be sleeping on the job! Baby, I'll put you to bed
soon! *Pushes one of Cheebz's blonde pigtails away from her blue eyes and smilez fondly
at her* I promise. Aight, so, let's say we're sorry, okay? *C-A nods* On 3!
One! *Chibi holds up a finger* Two! *Chibi puts up another* THREE! *Chibi raises the third
and gigglez out," We're sowy! *Both Angels grin* Very sowy. Peaz don't get mad? Peaz,
peaz, peaz come back? Peaz review? PITY peaz???
Oh, and when I say it's finally done...I mean Ch. 2, not the story. *gigglez* Peace!
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