A warm breeze blew as we hung in Darry's front yard. Bailey and Dally were
sitting on the old proch swing and Darry and Pony Boy were on the porch
steps. Soda and Steve were doing aerobics in the front yard. Two-Bit leaned
against a tree, sipping a beer, watching the aerobics thoughtfully. Johnny
and I got up and joined the duo.
I did a front flip over Soda (he was sitting) and as soon as I felt the slight touch of ground beneath my feet, I rebounded into a backflip. Landing that I did a back handspring...landing that also. Then I went to finish it off with a front roundoff kick. As I was going to switch my hand position, something...someone...caught my eye and I lost my concentration.
My hand slipped out from under me and I started to fall. The seconds seemed endless and when i thought I was going to die, I felt strong hands warp around me. Two-Bit had ran over and caught me. It took me a minute to realize his arms were around me because I saw what had nearly cost me my life.
A middle class girl I saw once or twice at school was watching us with awe. I glared at her with a colder glare than I usually gave Two-Bit. When I made amove to go towards her, Two-Bit tightened his grip and held me back. I fought for a minute; then realized I wasnt going to win, so I leaned back against him. That's when I realized, I didnt hate Two-Bit as much as I thought. His hands were warm and soft. His touch was tender.
"h-hi," the girl said weakly.
"Middle class?" bailey sneered at the girl.
"yes...my name is l-leslie," she replied smiling meekly when she saw Soda.
"well Leslie ," Bailey got up and walked over next to me and Two-Bit, "you're on the wrong side of town."
"hey bailey, leave h.." sodapop started saying but was cut off by a very angry looking girl walking across the lawn putting a heater...gun...back into her pocket.
"I HATE HIM! I'M NEVER GOING BACK TO THAT GANG!" she yelled angirly sitting on the porch.
"what they do this time tanika?" bailey immediatley forgot about leslie.
" tim took my switchblade away-my brand new switchblade-and threatened me with the fuzz," tanika replied. She's the...I guess you could say independant badass of the gang and she always got something to brag about. Everyone watched her, knowing she wasnt finsihed. she stretched back on the steps, "so I shot him in the foot...stupid bastard."
"well, your welcome to stay with us," steve put in a little too hopefully.
"sure, i...what's with middi?" tanika just noticed leslie who backed away uneasily. "man can we just leave her alone? she aint no Soc," Sodapop said somewhat angirly.
"sure, sure, we'll leave her alone Soda," i said sarcasticly,"i mean, she only nearly killed me."
"I...hey lora," tanika changed what she was going to say when she looked at me. Now she had a playful smile on her face, "i didnt know you liked Two- bit."
"I don..." I realized I was still in his arms and i ducked out of them quickly. "Two-Bit..you sonofagun!"
"hey, I did catch ya pretty lady," he replied smiling. I glared at him and shooced him away. he grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. That was a first. I didn't try to resist him, didnt shooce him away. That shokced everyone-except Johnny, Bailey, Soda, or Tanika. They were shocked the next moment though because I leaned up and kissed Two-bit lightly.
When we pulled apart, everyone was silent for a minute, then they all started laughing and cheering.
" that's the way to do it!" steve laughed.
Soda left the group and walked over to Leslie.
"hey, you don't gotta be nervous, we're harmless...well most of us." he said smiling at her and slinging an arm around her shoulders. Leslie smiled back and began to feel comfortable as Soda showed her around and introduced her to us. * * * * * * *
I did a front flip over Soda (he was sitting) and as soon as I felt the slight touch of ground beneath my feet, I rebounded into a backflip. Landing that I did a back handspring...landing that also. Then I went to finish it off with a front roundoff kick. As I was going to switch my hand position, something...someone...caught my eye and I lost my concentration.
My hand slipped out from under me and I started to fall. The seconds seemed endless and when i thought I was going to die, I felt strong hands warp around me. Two-Bit had ran over and caught me. It took me a minute to realize his arms were around me because I saw what had nearly cost me my life.
A middle class girl I saw once or twice at school was watching us with awe. I glared at her with a colder glare than I usually gave Two-Bit. When I made amove to go towards her, Two-Bit tightened his grip and held me back. I fought for a minute; then realized I wasnt going to win, so I leaned back against him. That's when I realized, I didnt hate Two-Bit as much as I thought. His hands were warm and soft. His touch was tender.
"h-hi," the girl said weakly.
"Middle class?" bailey sneered at the girl.
"yes...my name is l-leslie," she replied smiling meekly when she saw Soda.
"well Leslie ," Bailey got up and walked over next to me and Two-Bit, "you're on the wrong side of town."
"hey bailey, leave h.." sodapop started saying but was cut off by a very angry looking girl walking across the lawn putting a heater...gun...back into her pocket.
"I HATE HIM! I'M NEVER GOING BACK TO THAT GANG!" she yelled angirly sitting on the porch.
"what they do this time tanika?" bailey immediatley forgot about leslie.
" tim took my switchblade away-my brand new switchblade-and threatened me with the fuzz," tanika replied. She's the...I guess you could say independant badass of the gang and she always got something to brag about. Everyone watched her, knowing she wasnt finsihed. she stretched back on the steps, "so I shot him in the foot...stupid bastard."
"well, your welcome to stay with us," steve put in a little too hopefully.
"sure, i...what's with middi?" tanika just noticed leslie who backed away uneasily. "man can we just leave her alone? she aint no Soc," Sodapop said somewhat angirly.
"sure, sure, we'll leave her alone Soda," i said sarcasticly,"i mean, she only nearly killed me."
"I...hey lora," tanika changed what she was going to say when she looked at me. Now she had a playful smile on her face, "i didnt know you liked Two- bit."
"I don..." I realized I was still in his arms and i ducked out of them quickly. "Two-Bit..you sonofagun!"
"hey, I did catch ya pretty lady," he replied smiling. I glared at him and shooced him away. he grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. That was a first. I didn't try to resist him, didnt shooce him away. That shokced everyone-except Johnny, Bailey, Soda, or Tanika. They were shocked the next moment though because I leaned up and kissed Two-bit lightly.
When we pulled apart, everyone was silent for a minute, then they all started laughing and cheering.
" that's the way to do it!" steve laughed.
Soda left the group and walked over to Leslie.
"hey, you don't gotta be nervous, we're harmless...well most of us." he said smiling at her and slinging an arm around her shoulders. Leslie smiled back and began to feel comfortable as Soda showed her around and introduced her to us. * * * * * * *