Slashed Tires Chapter 24
A/N: It's a little long, a little weird, but it's almost done! Three more chapters, tops. Er...I think.
~
BLEEP! BLEEP!
Cherry groaned, pressing her hands over her ears. That horn had to be the most obnoxious noise in the world.
Bleep. BLEEEEEEP!
"Ah, be quiet!" she hissed under her breath.
Bleep.
BLEEEEEEEEP!
"WHOOEEE!" A familiar voice called out. "Hot chick, 12 o'clock!"
She was most certainly the only girl sitting outside. Scowling, Cherry, looked up to see an old beat up tan T-Bird (going at least 85) skid to a stop, spraying gravel in waves that almost reached the picnic table she was seated at. Two-Bit Matthews was leaning out of the driver's window, grinning crazily. He caught her eye and winked, hoping out of the car and loping over to her. Cherry's gaze slid past him, to where Dallas was still clutching the dashboard in a ten-finger death grip, gasping slightly from the ride. He scrambled quickly from the steaming car, and stumbled past Two-Bit into the restaurant. Cherry watched him go, smiling slightly. He looked like he was going to be sick.
She looked up as Two-Bit plopped himself down on the opposite end of the bench. He grinned at her.
"How's it goin' doll?" She had to smile.
"I'm alright. How are you?"
"Dandy." The greaser looked around himself, lazily taking in his surroundings. "So what you doing here in a sleazy ass place like this? Pardon my French."
"I'm eating," she replied, pointing obviously to the almost empty small fries container and small diet coke in front of her.
"Here?" Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow.
"Yes. It's my rebellious nature." Two-Bit laughed loudly. Cherry smiled absently, her gaze caught by a flash of brilliantly blond hair. Dally was hurrying, best he could, through the mess of doors. She let her gaze roam around him aimlessly, noting that his clothing was wrinkled, and his hair probably hadn't been combed in a week.
"He's a little hottie ain't he?" Cherry jumped and gave the greaser a dirty look. Two-Bit had followed her gaze, and was now smirking knowingly at her. "Don't you just love that unattractive, beat-up, mangy cat look?" Cherry stifled a giggled. His description of Dallas was flawless.
"Really, girl, why would you go for that bedraggled idiot, when you could have a real stunner like me?" Two-Bit gave her a ridiculously large smile, and Cherry couldn't help laughing at him. Two-Bit glanced back to the doorway of the fast-food place, wondering what was taking his friend so long. Dallas was caught in the revolving door, turning round and round in confusion. Two-Bit snorted and pointed him out to Cherry.
"Look there: now he thinks he's a hamster. Stupid git."
Cherry's eyes watered. Two-Bit grinned watching her laugh. "I am still the master," he said airily, watching Dally make it out the door.
"What's your rush, PODNER?" he called out in a cowboyish drawl as the blond tore across the gravel towards them.
Dallas made a dash for the table, trying to seat himself behind Two-Bit so quickly he tripped.
"Having a bad day?" Two-Bit asked sweetly.
"That's the last time I let you drive, you road raged moron!" Two-Bit chuckled. Dallas glanced behind him. "Sylvia's in there," he muttered, handing Two-Bit the order slip. "New boyfriend...and I ain't your partner!" Looking up he caught Cherry's questioning gaze. "I, uh, there was a spider," he stammered, pointing back at the door. Cherry's expression nearly made him slap himself.
"Nice going. Real smooth," Two-Bit said sarcastically.
"Shut up."
The three waited in awkward silence.
"So...who's Sylvia?" Cherry asked, nonchalantly picking up a fry.
"No one," Dally snapped, just as Two-Bit said "Ex-girlfriend." Cherry almost dropped the fry.
Dally glared at the other greaser, who gazed back as innocently as he could manage. "Oh, sorry. Was that supposed to be a secret?"
"Shut up," Dally said through gritted teeth.
"Sure didn't seem like a secret," Two-Bit plucked the uneaten fry from Cherry's limp grasp. "Seein' as you people were always making out everywhere..."
"Shut UP."
"Making out." Cherry raised her eyebrows.
"...and you seein' as you were always bragging about what went on with y'all in the bedroom..."
"Two-Bit..."
"Oh, the bedroom." Cherry's eyes were boring holes into Dally's.
"...and seeing as how you were all mad before when you said y'all broke up and she threw that ring back at you."
"SHUT UP!"
"A ring!" Cherry was smiling stiffly at Dallas, but her eyes were daggers, directed at his very own sinful soul. "So this was serious then!"
"Not THAT kind of ring," Dally protested weakly.
There was a tense pause.
"Anyway, our order's probably ready!" Two-Bit chirped, ignoring the look of deadly hatred Dallas directed at him. "Be back in a jiffy! Leave you two kids to chat." He leapt up from the table and was at the revolving door before either of the teens could say anything else.
Cherry gazed unblinkingly at Dally, a cheerful smile still plastered on her face. Dally stared at his hands, but he could feel her gaze on him, her eyes sizzling with anger.
`What is this?' Cherry thought. She had no right to be jealous. There was nothing between her and the tow-headed greaser. In fact, she really hadn't tried to start anything. In fact, she'd declined his offer to start something between them. In fact, she'd promised herself that she wouldn't get involved, and, in fact, just last night she had convinced herself that she was over him. `And it's his ex for God's sake!' she berated herself. `And you knew he couldn't be a virgin. At least this proves that he can be part of a relationship.' The last thought was a bit of a stretch from the actual truth, but (in fact) it was this thought exactly that comforted her the most.
`What is this?' Dally thought, picking absentmindedly at a hangnail. He was furious with himself. No girl was supposed to have this kind of hold on him. He didn't have to answer to her. He was Dallas Winston! He didn't have to give a crap about the opinion of anybody, and certainly no Soc-girl. And it was his life, after all. He could date whomever he wanted to. And he wasn't even involved with Sylvia anymore! `And what, did she want me to stay a virgin forever?' he thought angrily. Still, he couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye. He'd already made her mad twice before, and he wasn't about to make a fool of himself yet again. A thought occurred to him: why was she even angry? Was she just disgusted with him, or was she actually jealous? The thought gave him enough courage to say (without looking at her):
"We weren't making out ALL the time. I mean, she wasn't that good..."
Cherry bit her lip, her expression softening. Why was it that boys always said the stupidest things when trying to keep girls from getting mad at them? And why (oh, why) was it that these stupid things were always what made the potentially angry girl bite her lip and think `oh, he's so ignorant and cute' and then automatically forgive the boy? Why? WHY?
"So do you hate her, or are you scared of her?" she asked suddenly, helpless to stop the flood of warmth and laughter in her tone. Dallas looked up.
"I ain't scared of her. But until I get another girl, every time I see her with another kid, I have to beat the living crap outta the other guy, if I want to keep my rep that is," Dally explained matter-of-factly.
Cherry stopped herself from rolling her eyes. She reminded herself that it was expected to give your ex's new girlfriend a cold look and then insult her outfit, if you were a girl. `But at least that doesn't break any bones,' she thought.
"And the guy she was with looked like he'd be a pretty good fight. But if I wanna do the rumble, I gotta keep my strength up and all," Dally added. Cherry didn't seem mad. This thought sent a quiver of warmth through his body (though he scolded himself for it), and upped his confidence a few notches. And then Two-Bit came back, and it dropped quickly.
"Howdy y'all, get everything patched up?" Two-Bit plopped a tray, loaded with greasy food, down on the table. "Help yourselves," motioning at the two. There was plenty enough for all.
Cherry gazed at the mountain of grease, her stomach aching. But she shook her head - for one, she was on a diet, and she wasn't about to gorge herself in front of any boy, greaser or Soc. `ESPECIALLY not if I might like him,' she thought, glancing shyly at Dallas. Hormones had waged war with her reasonable self, but the prospect of young love had won hands down.
"Come on. You ain't on some diet or something?" Cherry jumped; Two-Bit had read her mind.
"No," she lied, and took a chip as proof. Dally took a one too, chewing slowly. He was too tense to eat, with Two-Bit and his giant-sized mouth chomping (and talking) away beside him.
"You know, I really shouldn't have said all that," he said pointing a fry at Cherry. "About Dallas and Sylvia and all."
Dally choked on his Pepsi. He tried to tell Two-Bit to shut the hell up for Pete's sake, but the greaser gave him a hearty whack on the back, sending him into another coughing fit.
"I was kinda off." When Two-Bit didn't say any more, Dally relaxed. He reached over Cherry's arm (she was picking out another of their chips to nibble on) and grabbed a burger. Two-Bit waited until he had his mouth full to say:
"I mean, he probably only slept with her about 20 timesssoooww!" The greaser reached down, rubbing his shin. "That was spiteful Dallas."
Dally snorted. "Using big words today huh?" He watched as his friend inspected his leg, his watch catching to light.
"You know, I'm probably going to get a bruise there-" Two-Bit's complaint was cut short when Dally grabbed his arm.
"Fu...um...darn!" he gasped, staring at the time. It was nearly 1 p.m. "I gotta get going. Later Cherry." He hurried across the gravel to the car they'd borrowed from Buck.
"Hold up! How'm I supposed to get home?" Two-Bit yelled.
"Walk!" Dally replied, starting the T-Bird up with a roar. "See y'all later!" he shouted, speeding the old car out of the lot. Two-Bit groaned.
Cherry watched him go, not even waving. She sighed, picking up a fistful of fries. Two-Bit raised his eyebrows at her sudden change in eating habits but said nothing. Cherry glanced up at him and gave him a small smile. Two-Bit grinned.
"Guess it's just me an' you, darlin'," he said, helping himself to the rest of Dally's burger.
A/N: It's a little long, a little weird, but it's almost done! Three more chapters, tops. Er...I think.
~
BLEEP! BLEEP!
Cherry groaned, pressing her hands over her ears. That horn had to be the most obnoxious noise in the world.
Bleep. BLEEEEEEP!
"Ah, be quiet!" she hissed under her breath.
Bleep.
BLEEEEEEEEP!
"WHOOEEE!" A familiar voice called out. "Hot chick, 12 o'clock!"
She was most certainly the only girl sitting outside. Scowling, Cherry, looked up to see an old beat up tan T-Bird (going at least 85) skid to a stop, spraying gravel in waves that almost reached the picnic table she was seated at. Two-Bit Matthews was leaning out of the driver's window, grinning crazily. He caught her eye and winked, hoping out of the car and loping over to her. Cherry's gaze slid past him, to where Dallas was still clutching the dashboard in a ten-finger death grip, gasping slightly from the ride. He scrambled quickly from the steaming car, and stumbled past Two-Bit into the restaurant. Cherry watched him go, smiling slightly. He looked like he was going to be sick.
She looked up as Two-Bit plopped himself down on the opposite end of the bench. He grinned at her.
"How's it goin' doll?" She had to smile.
"I'm alright. How are you?"
"Dandy." The greaser looked around himself, lazily taking in his surroundings. "So what you doing here in a sleazy ass place like this? Pardon my French."
"I'm eating," she replied, pointing obviously to the almost empty small fries container and small diet coke in front of her.
"Here?" Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow.
"Yes. It's my rebellious nature." Two-Bit laughed loudly. Cherry smiled absently, her gaze caught by a flash of brilliantly blond hair. Dally was hurrying, best he could, through the mess of doors. She let her gaze roam around him aimlessly, noting that his clothing was wrinkled, and his hair probably hadn't been combed in a week.
"He's a little hottie ain't he?" Cherry jumped and gave the greaser a dirty look. Two-Bit had followed her gaze, and was now smirking knowingly at her. "Don't you just love that unattractive, beat-up, mangy cat look?" Cherry stifled a giggled. His description of Dallas was flawless.
"Really, girl, why would you go for that bedraggled idiot, when you could have a real stunner like me?" Two-Bit gave her a ridiculously large smile, and Cherry couldn't help laughing at him. Two-Bit glanced back to the doorway of the fast-food place, wondering what was taking his friend so long. Dallas was caught in the revolving door, turning round and round in confusion. Two-Bit snorted and pointed him out to Cherry.
"Look there: now he thinks he's a hamster. Stupid git."
Cherry's eyes watered. Two-Bit grinned watching her laugh. "I am still the master," he said airily, watching Dally make it out the door.
"What's your rush, PODNER?" he called out in a cowboyish drawl as the blond tore across the gravel towards them.
Dallas made a dash for the table, trying to seat himself behind Two-Bit so quickly he tripped.
"Having a bad day?" Two-Bit asked sweetly.
"That's the last time I let you drive, you road raged moron!" Two-Bit chuckled. Dallas glanced behind him. "Sylvia's in there," he muttered, handing Two-Bit the order slip. "New boyfriend...and I ain't your partner!" Looking up he caught Cherry's questioning gaze. "I, uh, there was a spider," he stammered, pointing back at the door. Cherry's expression nearly made him slap himself.
"Nice going. Real smooth," Two-Bit said sarcastically.
"Shut up."
The three waited in awkward silence.
"So...who's Sylvia?" Cherry asked, nonchalantly picking up a fry.
"No one," Dally snapped, just as Two-Bit said "Ex-girlfriend." Cherry almost dropped the fry.
Dally glared at the other greaser, who gazed back as innocently as he could manage. "Oh, sorry. Was that supposed to be a secret?"
"Shut up," Dally said through gritted teeth.
"Sure didn't seem like a secret," Two-Bit plucked the uneaten fry from Cherry's limp grasp. "Seein' as you people were always making out everywhere..."
"Shut UP."
"Making out." Cherry raised her eyebrows.
"...and you seein' as you were always bragging about what went on with y'all in the bedroom..."
"Two-Bit..."
"Oh, the bedroom." Cherry's eyes were boring holes into Dally's.
"...and seeing as how you were all mad before when you said y'all broke up and she threw that ring back at you."
"SHUT UP!"
"A ring!" Cherry was smiling stiffly at Dallas, but her eyes were daggers, directed at his very own sinful soul. "So this was serious then!"
"Not THAT kind of ring," Dally protested weakly.
There was a tense pause.
"Anyway, our order's probably ready!" Two-Bit chirped, ignoring the look of deadly hatred Dallas directed at him. "Be back in a jiffy! Leave you two kids to chat." He leapt up from the table and was at the revolving door before either of the teens could say anything else.
Cherry gazed unblinkingly at Dally, a cheerful smile still plastered on her face. Dally stared at his hands, but he could feel her gaze on him, her eyes sizzling with anger.
`What is this?' Cherry thought. She had no right to be jealous. There was nothing between her and the tow-headed greaser. In fact, she really hadn't tried to start anything. In fact, she'd declined his offer to start something between them. In fact, she'd promised herself that she wouldn't get involved, and, in fact, just last night she had convinced herself that she was over him. `And it's his ex for God's sake!' she berated herself. `And you knew he couldn't be a virgin. At least this proves that he can be part of a relationship.' The last thought was a bit of a stretch from the actual truth, but (in fact) it was this thought exactly that comforted her the most.
`What is this?' Dally thought, picking absentmindedly at a hangnail. He was furious with himself. No girl was supposed to have this kind of hold on him. He didn't have to answer to her. He was Dallas Winston! He didn't have to give a crap about the opinion of anybody, and certainly no Soc-girl. And it was his life, after all. He could date whomever he wanted to. And he wasn't even involved with Sylvia anymore! `And what, did she want me to stay a virgin forever?' he thought angrily. Still, he couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye. He'd already made her mad twice before, and he wasn't about to make a fool of himself yet again. A thought occurred to him: why was she even angry? Was she just disgusted with him, or was she actually jealous? The thought gave him enough courage to say (without looking at her):
"We weren't making out ALL the time. I mean, she wasn't that good..."
Cherry bit her lip, her expression softening. Why was it that boys always said the stupidest things when trying to keep girls from getting mad at them? And why (oh, why) was it that these stupid things were always what made the potentially angry girl bite her lip and think `oh, he's so ignorant and cute' and then automatically forgive the boy? Why? WHY?
"So do you hate her, or are you scared of her?" she asked suddenly, helpless to stop the flood of warmth and laughter in her tone. Dallas looked up.
"I ain't scared of her. But until I get another girl, every time I see her with another kid, I have to beat the living crap outta the other guy, if I want to keep my rep that is," Dally explained matter-of-factly.
Cherry stopped herself from rolling her eyes. She reminded herself that it was expected to give your ex's new girlfriend a cold look and then insult her outfit, if you were a girl. `But at least that doesn't break any bones,' she thought.
"And the guy she was with looked like he'd be a pretty good fight. But if I wanna do the rumble, I gotta keep my strength up and all," Dally added. Cherry didn't seem mad. This thought sent a quiver of warmth through his body (though he scolded himself for it), and upped his confidence a few notches. And then Two-Bit came back, and it dropped quickly.
"Howdy y'all, get everything patched up?" Two-Bit plopped a tray, loaded with greasy food, down on the table. "Help yourselves," motioning at the two. There was plenty enough for all.
Cherry gazed at the mountain of grease, her stomach aching. But she shook her head - for one, she was on a diet, and she wasn't about to gorge herself in front of any boy, greaser or Soc. `ESPECIALLY not if I might like him,' she thought, glancing shyly at Dallas. Hormones had waged war with her reasonable self, but the prospect of young love had won hands down.
"Come on. You ain't on some diet or something?" Cherry jumped; Two-Bit had read her mind.
"No," she lied, and took a chip as proof. Dally took a one too, chewing slowly. He was too tense to eat, with Two-Bit and his giant-sized mouth chomping (and talking) away beside him.
"You know, I really shouldn't have said all that," he said pointing a fry at Cherry. "About Dallas and Sylvia and all."
Dally choked on his Pepsi. He tried to tell Two-Bit to shut the hell up for Pete's sake, but the greaser gave him a hearty whack on the back, sending him into another coughing fit.
"I was kinda off." When Two-Bit didn't say any more, Dally relaxed. He reached over Cherry's arm (she was picking out another of their chips to nibble on) and grabbed a burger. Two-Bit waited until he had his mouth full to say:
"I mean, he probably only slept with her about 20 timesssoooww!" The greaser reached down, rubbing his shin. "That was spiteful Dallas."
Dally snorted. "Using big words today huh?" He watched as his friend inspected his leg, his watch catching to light.
"You know, I'm probably going to get a bruise there-" Two-Bit's complaint was cut short when Dally grabbed his arm.
"Fu...um...darn!" he gasped, staring at the time. It was nearly 1 p.m. "I gotta get going. Later Cherry." He hurried across the gravel to the car they'd borrowed from Buck.
"Hold up! How'm I supposed to get home?" Two-Bit yelled.
"Walk!" Dally replied, starting the T-Bird up with a roar. "See y'all later!" he shouted, speeding the old car out of the lot. Two-Bit groaned.
Cherry watched him go, not even waving. She sighed, picking up a fistful of fries. Two-Bit raised his eyebrows at her sudden change in eating habits but said nothing. Cherry glanced up at him and gave him a small smile. Two-Bit grinned.
"Guess it's just me an' you, darlin'," he said, helping himself to the rest of Dally's burger.