(Two-Bit)
I stapled a flier to the bulletin board in the main hallway, catching my sleeve in the process. Frustrated, I tugged on it, causing the fabric to rip and hang limply down my arm.
"Third time you've done that this week," Steve laughed from across the lobby.
"Just shutup," I snapped, ticked because it was true: that was the third shirt I'd torn hanging damn fliers. The Curtis' needed donations: teachers had already made announcements during morning assembly, but the school was split because of the trouble with Pony, Johnny, and the Socs. Some kids were overly-eager to help; others practically cheered his illness. Steve had punched one of them outside the school. I had a feeling there'd be more fights soon.
"Hey Two-Bit?" a familiar female voice asked from behind me. I spun around to see Cherry hovering behind me.
"Glory Cherry, you trying to scare the life outta me?"
"Sorry," she tried to smile. "Look...I heard that Pony's sick...is it true?"
"Yeah," I said shortly, gesturing to the flier I'd made during study hall advertising for donations. Cherry nodded, but she suddenly looked near tears.
"How bad is it?"
I looked into her moist green eyes and didn't know how to answer. The truth seemed too harsh. I shrugged and looked away. "You gonna help?"
"I'll give him everything I have," she said passionately, "I'll get my parents to make a donation. I'm sure Randy will too. And Marcia. I'll do anything I can." She looked at me pleadingly. "Just tell me...does he have a chance?"
I looked at the determined set to her face: she sure was one hell of a chick. It was good to have her on our side; not only because she was kind, but because she may be able to convince a lot of the rich kids and their parents to help rather than hate Pony.
"Yes," I said calmly. We all had to believe that.
I stapled a flier to the bulletin board in the main hallway, catching my sleeve in the process. Frustrated, I tugged on it, causing the fabric to rip and hang limply down my arm.
"Third time you've done that this week," Steve laughed from across the lobby.
"Just shutup," I snapped, ticked because it was true: that was the third shirt I'd torn hanging damn fliers. The Curtis' needed donations: teachers had already made announcements during morning assembly, but the school was split because of the trouble with Pony, Johnny, and the Socs. Some kids were overly-eager to help; others practically cheered his illness. Steve had punched one of them outside the school. I had a feeling there'd be more fights soon.
"Hey Two-Bit?" a familiar female voice asked from behind me. I spun around to see Cherry hovering behind me.
"Glory Cherry, you trying to scare the life outta me?"
"Sorry," she tried to smile. "Look...I heard that Pony's sick...is it true?"
"Yeah," I said shortly, gesturing to the flier I'd made during study hall advertising for donations. Cherry nodded, but she suddenly looked near tears.
"How bad is it?"
I looked into her moist green eyes and didn't know how to answer. The truth seemed too harsh. I shrugged and looked away. "You gonna help?"
"I'll give him everything I have," she said passionately, "I'll get my parents to make a donation. I'm sure Randy will too. And Marcia. I'll do anything I can." She looked at me pleadingly. "Just tell me...does he have a chance?"
I looked at the determined set to her face: she sure was one hell of a chick. It was good to have her on our side; not only because she was kind, but because she may be able to convince a lot of the rich kids and their parents to help rather than hate Pony.
"Yes," I said calmly. We all had to believe that.