Title: Losing Grip
A/N: Yes, I know, the first chapter was like the beginning of "Spiderman". I get it. Pony's Kirsten Dunst and Jara is Tobey Mcguire....lol.
To Lil Chaos Angel: I'm sorry that you happened to find so many mistakes in my story. The first chapter wasn't supposed to be a real one; I was just sort of setting the mood of this fic, parody of "She's All That" or even Spiderman, Whatever. I'm glad you gave me some constructive criticism though. And yes, all your questions on what Jara's looks and bio will be answered in this chapter.
Still A/N: Oh! I know, Sodapop is a little ooc but not necessarily. In the novel, the part where Pony is at the drive-in with Johnny and Dally, he said that if Soda was there. He'd probably join Dally in all the crude comments he was making to Cherry and Marcia. So, we all know that Soda's a sweetheart but he's not an angel. Anyway, hopefully he'll be acting like "the Sodapop we all love" in the next chapters.
STILL A/N(You guys are tired of me bitchin'): This is for Rina, or any die hard Sodapop fans. SANDY WILL NOT BE IN THIS FIC! Maybe, a little apperence but that's it. Zippo, nada, finito!
Also, I know Pony is only 13 but I'm bumping him up to 14. Jara is the same age for the first half of the fic(Yes, I hoped you already guessed it)
Soda is still 17. The thing is, he JUST turned 17.
SODA'S POV
Monday
The day we students go back to school. The day you see your friends and just brag about your weekend. Me on the other hand, I already see my friends everyday so, I always skip the weekend part.
I head straight to my favorite class.
Which is.....Lunch!!
It's not like I was starving, I was able to at least have 2 slices of chocolate cake before the guys came and ate the rest.
I was just eager to see a certain someone. No, it wasn't Sandy.
It has been over a year now since she moved away to Florida. I haven't dated as much after she left but it doesn't mean I haven't flirted as well either.
Hey, what can I say? I love women.
But "she" was different. She was beautiful, sexy, smart,....AND TOTALLY OFF MY LIMITS!!!
The thing about her, that flaw. Was that she was a Soc
And unfortunately, not one of those poor little girls who don't care at all about money but have been raised in the luxury of......Blah,blah,blah...Like I said, She wasn't one of those either.
She was a full-on Soc. I mean, her brother, which I will leave unnamed for now and I'll just refer to him as "Madras Moron", is practically the leader of the Soc's and I just know if I ever asked her out he'd probably send a couple of his rich but still lazy friends to pounce on me.
I don't want to end up Soc meat if you get what I'm saying, which you probably don't.
Not that I'm afraid of those ass-holes but you got to keep into consideration that.....One against five is not fair.
Unless I was superman or better yet, Spiderman!(A/N: hehehe)
So, again, and I'll just put it in a First grade kind of way.
Soc-y Girl + Grease-y Boy + Soc-y Girl's bro = A really bad kicking of Grease-y Boy's ass.
I look around the crowded cafeteria and soon spot her sitting by the window.
Her long blonde hair shines especially with the sun beaming on it, She's with a group of her friends and is giggling about something.
Then....
Her eyes are suddenly on me, and I can't stop staring back at her big blue eyes.
She smiles brightly and starts waving at me, or is she waving me over?
Me being the complete idiot I am, I wave back and I then feel someone walk from behind me and say "Hey, Tracy! Sorry, I'm late. Mr. Giffin wanted to talk about my History project and how the progress of eye-make-up from the 18OO's is not exceptable.."
She's talking to Tracy, the girl I've been gushing about.
So, she wasn't waving at me and she wasn't smiling at me either.
Damn.....
I sigh and take what's left of my dignity, and trudge over to a semi-empty part of the long cafeteria table.
I sit down, just to be greeted by big smiles, this time directed to me.
"Hey, Soda" Cassandra, the head of the Drama club said to me.
"Hi, Sodapop. You look really good with that shirt today" and Karla, the president of the Spanish club greeted, shyly to me.
I just grin.
Yup, there's nothing wrong with Sodapop Curtis. I still got it.
"Hey, girls' I reply, looking back at Tracy Gardner.
Tracy. What a...OK, it was a pretty ordinary kind of name but right now, her name was the least on my mind.
"Soda, Soda, Soda" Steve repeated at he sat down next to me.
I turned to him "Yeah?"
"You're still checking that Soc girl out, aren't you?" He asked, taking a bite out of his sandwich, he must of gone ahead and brought it at the Deli down the street.
"You know me too well" I simply replied, as I snatched the coke he had next to him.
"I do, but when Super Soc finds out you're all over his lil sis....."
I interrupted "I'll be dead, I know the story already" I said, shaking my head.
"Just need to warn ya, you know how you are, you see a pretty face and you just have to have them" Steve replied.
"I do not" I muttered but knew I was lying to myself.
"Yeah, yeah" Steve said "Whatever you say" He finished shoving another piece of the sandwich into his mouth.
"Hey, Grease" Suddenly there were about three or four Soc surrounding us. They sat down, one next to me and another by Steve's side.
The other two sat across the table, putting their arm around the two girls that had been "friendly" with me just moments before.
"I see you're still staring at my little sister, Grease" Bob said, looking over at the table near the window and then back at me, a weird smile on his face.
I looked over Bob's shoulder to Steve and gave him the "There goes the him finding out scenario" expression.
Steve nodded then glared at the Soc next to him who took a piece of his ham sandwich.
"What of it?" I shot back, raising my chin. I wasn't going to let a couple of rich kids get to me.
Bob rose an eyebrow "I bet you'd like to ask her out, wouldn't you?" He asked. That punch in the face I was expecting any moment still not coming.
"Why would I tell you" I replied, crossing my arms.
He laughed. An odd sort of loud snort really.
He put an arm around my shoulders and said "Well, I got a great deal for you"
"Deal?" I heard Steve blurt out.
"What kind of deal?" I asked, shrugging his arm off me.
"A bet" Bob replied. I heard the Soc across the table snicker.
I looked at him then back at Bob "Why in the hell do you think I would make a bet with you?" I huffed.
"...Fine, then that date with my sister is out of the question. Come on, guys let's go find a couple of other Greasers that are more interested....." Bob said, getting up and his groupies doing the same.
"I could find another girl," I blurted out.
I felt Steve poke me hard in the ribs and I just looked at him "Ow" I hissed.
"Are you out of you mind!?" He whispered but before I could answer him, Bob sat back down.
"Oh, really? That easy?" He asked, skeptical.
I stared at him and with both my eyebrows raised and the cockiest grin I learned from Dally, I said "Yeah, that easy"
He laughed, and soon his little gang followed suit.
"You hear that guys? this Greaser thinks he can find someone better than my sister, is it just me, or am I the only one who's not buying that?" He asked out-loud.
"It's not you, Bob" A couple of his trained lap dogs replied.
"I thought so. I hated when people say things like that, I just hate it" Bob said, leaning forward so that he was merely inches away from my face.
"Isn't that a shame,......I could find *anyone * better than you're sis" I managed to say back.
I knew I was lying. Tracy was a fox, one of the prettiest girls in school compared to Cherry Valance.
I saw a flash of anger appear on Bob's face then it was replaced with an un- readable expression.
"You mean, "anyone"? Any girl?" He asked, sitting back.
I nodded "You heard me"
"Hmmm....Sorry, but I'm a little challenged...."
I interrupted "Oh, we ALL know that"
Steve laughed "Aint' that the truth" He commented. The Soc next to him, who I'm pretty sure is named Randy, pushed him.
I swear, I thought Bob was going to slug me right there and than but clenching his fists, he continued.
"Like I was saying, before being rudely interrupted...If I were to say.....you see that girl over there......no, not her, yeah her....that she was your next conquest, would you still be saying that she was better than Tracy?"
Bob pointed to a small redhead, with curly hair and freckles. She was in my Chem. Class, Her name was Catherine.
"Not unless he's blind" I heard Randy say. This time Steve pushed him.
"Sure. A little make-up, a bottle of gel, and you got a knock out" I said to Bob, ignoring the fight that was beginning to un-ravel behind him.
He laughed 'you got guts, Soda" He said.
"How about that girl over there?" The snickering Soc across the table chimed in.
I looked back, and saw a pretty hefty girl with long brunette hair walk by.
"Hmmm" I hummed, thinking, my tongue on the side of my mouth.
"Give her two or three months at the gym, a hair-cut, the right clothes, and you got yourself another Audrey Hephurn look-a-like"
"Audrey Hephurn!?" He said, wide-eyed.
"Yeah, You see how she's got the little pointed nose thing going on?......"
"Care to put some money where your mouth is?" Bob piped in once more.
I looked at him "Money......in my mouth. Sorry, I don't speak Soc"
He rolled his eyes "I got an idea......But's a bet" He said.
"Again with this bet thing" I sighed.
"What kind of bet?" Steve suddenly asked.
I looked at him, not believing that he was actually even asking.
"What? He did mention some money," He said, innocently.
Money, Hmm, that didn't sound too bad actually.
"Go on" I told Bob, nodding.
"Well, you just showed us that you could make any girl into a knock- out...."
"Right.." I pushed.
"...The prom, it's coming up in two months. I say, we pick a girl that you have to transform into Miss. Popularity. You show her to us at The Prom and you win the bet"
"What do we win?" I asked, still not buying all of this.
"Two-hundred bucks..."
Bob said, taking out the money right in front of our Greaser eyes and placing it on the table.
"He'll do it!" Steve quickly agreed, slamming his hand down on the money.
"Hey! You don't get the money until I see the girl" Bob said, slapping his hand away "How stupid do you think I am" He added.
"How much stupid is there?" Steve muttered, rubbing his hand.
"Let me get this straight. You're saying that I have to give some strange chick a freakin' makeover and I get two hundred bucks. Thank but no thanks" I replied, shaking my head.
Steve sighed noisily
".....Wait, there's more. You bring the broad to the Prom and if you did everything we told you. You get the money AND.....Well, it is the Prom, isn't it?....You get to.....I don't know..,,.Dance the night away with Tracy or whatever."
This got my attention. "You're bluffing."
"Believe me. This is not my way of bluffing," He said.
"And if I lose?" I asked, but I knew the decision was already made in my head.
"If you lose....We'll tell you when you do" Bob answered, laughing. His trainees as well.
"Maybe, you're right, Soda. This bet is stupid" Steve said but before I could give his comment a second thought, I was already shaking hands with Bob and saying "Take you're pick!"
________________________________________________________________________
STEVE'S POV
I thought this was a good idea at first but as I hear more and more about it, I cannot help but keep thinking, "Soda can't make some chick into Miss. Popularity. He can't even match his own clothes, how the hell was he going to transform this "victim" into something that has at least shaved legs?
We were walking now; Soda was in front with Bob, who was talking so hard that I didn't have to be ahead to hear.
I glared some more at Randy, as we continued to walk down the School hallway.
"Your buddy doesn't even know what he's getting himself into" I heard him say.
"Why don't you think a little more about you're awful hair and a little less on my friend" I said, looking ahead once more.
"Hmm....Nope!" Bob shook his head as he looked at another broad.
"Just pick the damn chick already!" I suddenly burst.
He looked back at me and said "Patience, Grease. I can't just pick one so easily, then what's the fun in that?"
What he really meant was "I have to pick the ugliest most nerdish girl in school so, that it's IMPOSSIBLE for Soda to do anything with her and he'll be able to cave in, in two weeks"
I almost didn't want to know what was going to happen to Sodapop if he did lose the bet.
It was our last year at this dump.
We were finally seniors, and this was the year I thought we were going to blow everything off, kick back, and count the days 'till Graduation.
But no.
No, Soda has to go give Make-up lessons to some chick, and since he's been my best friend since fourth grade, I have to watch his back!!
I see Jara Pagan trudging somewhere, probably to the library where nerds like her deserve to be, ahead of us.
Then it hit me......
Please, don't let it be what I think is going to happen.....
"Guy's, I think we found our victim" I hear Bob say.
SODA'S POV
"Who?" I asked, looking around.
"Her!" Bob answers, pointing ahead.
"Where?" I still couldn't see the broad he had picked, just some loser in an over-sized sweater walking by with books up to their chin.
"Her! Are you blind?" He said, pointing directly at the person I had been looking at the whole time.
My face went pale and I realized who that nerd was. The queen of all losers.
"Jara Pagan!" I practically yelled "Are you trippin'!? I can't make her popular in two months, she's way over the edge, She 's gone, actually. Gone!" I was babbling now, shaking my head and still...nope....yes!.....Still babbling.
"Shut-up, Soda" Steve said stepping in front of me; I had my jaw to the floor at this point.
"Pick someone else. That girl, is.......is......She's not even considered a girl, Soda cannot, no, NOBODY can make anyone want her....." Steve said for me.
"And we're not telling you to make anyone want her. I said, you have to make her popular" Bob said, I could the other Socs laughing hysterically now.
"Well, I won't do it" I managed to say, shaking my head
"You already made a deal. If you back out now, that means, no money, no date with my sister, and I really don't want to tell you what we got in store for you if you don't do it"
I looked down at my feet now, loss in words
"What are you going to do, Sodapop?" Steve asked me.
Maybe I was making a big fuss out of nothing, yeah, that's it.
With some tweezers, a bath, and sexy-clothes I could make her into someone, yes, someone.
And I know, she'd need that.
Plus, come on! This was a date with Tracy jeopardizing , the girl I've been fantasizing about for months!
"Soda?" Steve brought me out of my thoughts.
I looked up at him then turned to Bob, straightening up, I said.
"I'm going to make you eat your words."
JARA'S POV
I walk through the hallways, arms full of books. My Algebra book, my Literature book, and the two others are just for my entertainment. I feel my thick glasses begin slipping down my nose and I try to push them back up. As I shift the books in my arms, I managed to reach towards my face.
I was suddenly shoved by some ass-hole and stumbled forward. Actually, to be totally truthful, I fell forward. My books and novels scattering across the floor.
My glasses fell as well and as I tried getting up, I felt a tear at my long skirt. I could hear laughing from all around me but I never turned to them.
The tear wasn't big, just to my side but that still didn't mean that my mom wasn't going to have a fit when she finds out that my new skirt was already torn.
But why was I kidding myself, like my mom would notice. She never notices anything I do anymore.
I quickly tucked my dark-brown hair behind my ear- that had become loose from the braid I wore. My hair was too long for me to let it loose. At least, that was what I thought.
I would always notice the other girls walk by, flipping their long hair behind their shoulders with THAT expression on their face.
That expression, that looked as if they loved being there, being at school, being with their friends,....being in their life.
I sighed, loudly as I began picking up my contents but apparently the stupid Socs or Greasers thought it would be fun to kick them around.
I saw my glasses near by and as I leaned forward to pick them up, someone quickly snatched them.
I saw two very stylish boots standing before me and as I looked up, I saw Randy, the big-time Soc staring back down at me, a grin on his face.
"Look what I found," He taunted, waving them around.
"Give them back," I said, but I wasn't mad nor was I sad. I felt nothing, nothing at all.
I was beginning to be frightened of myself; I was beginning to think I hated being here, this damn life of mines. Why? Why must I be treated like this?
"What's the magic word?" Randy asked.
"Please" I replied.
"...That's a good girl, here" He dropped the glasses onto the floor and as I was reaching for them, he dropped his boot right along with it, smashing my glasses.
"What the hell is your problem? What did I ever do to you?" I suddenly asked, getting up.
I was getting mad now. I guess, I had emotion after all.
"Maybe you being born is one part" He replied.
I glared at him, but what surprised me more was the tear I felt roll down my pale cheek.
"Aw, Am I hurting the little girl's feeling's?"
I looked down at the floor, the laughter of other people surrounding me.
I think I was the only thing both Soc's and Greaser's agreed on.
They both hated me.
Or at least taunted me numerous of times.
"Back off, Soc. Leave her alone"
Woah, was this someone actually standing up for me?
And was that Ponyboy's brother!?
"What are you going to do about it, Grease?" Randy said, pushing Soda backwards.
"This" The Greaser ran forward, slamming Randy against the locker.
"Fight, fight, fight!" Everyone chanted. Could we get anymore cliché?
The Soc and Greaser wrestled on the floor but I knew those two were nowhere near hurting each other. Was it I? Or were they both fighting for a show?
I rolled my eyes and began picking up my books once more, but it didn't take long before Soda was helping me.
I looked over his shoulder and saw Randy walking away with some other guys who were snickering non-stop.
"Here" He handed me my novel, and I just took it, staring at him, cautiously.
"That guy is a real pain in the ass, thinks he can boss anyone around" He continued talking to me.
Was I in the Twilight Zone or something?
"What?" He asked, noticing me gawking at him.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Huh?"
"You're talking to me like we're.....talking buddies!" I said
"I just thought I'd help you pick up your books"
"Well, thanks but I didn't need your help" I got up now, holding my things in my arms once more.
"....Wait, I just got in a fight for "that"?" Soda asked me, with a raised eyebrow
"You don't look hurt" I eyed him down and nodded "No scratches, blood, nothing"
He sighed, "That's not the point..."
"Then what is? You expect me to call you my hero or something?" I interrupted.
"....Well...yeah" He said.
I looked at him as if he was mental and with a disgusted snarl, I began walking away.
"Wait. I didn't mean it like that!" He called from behind me, now following.
"Ok, I get it, now, leave me alone. Go, shoo!" I shoosed him away, if that was even a word! I can't believe Pony's bro was actually speaking more than two words to me.
"I need to talk to you," He said, now walking by my side.
"Isn't that what we're already doing?"
"You're right, now let me get down to the point," He said, taking me by the arm.
"Point? There's a point?" I babbled, yanking my arm back.
I didn't trust him, even if he was the relative of the most angelic boy in this school.
"I need your help" He replied, looking down at me. He was a bit taller but nothing out of the ordinary, I was tall for 14 and a half.
"What kind of help?" I asked, now remembering that I had left the pieces of my glasses back near the lockers.
"Um......uh.....Homework! Yeah, homework" He said, nodding and smiling.
I began walking once more "If you think I'm going to do your homework just because I'm a so-called loser, you're in for a rude awakening" I muttered.
He started following me once more; we made it out of the entrance doors of the school and were now standing outside.
"No, no, I didn't mean it like that! God, are you always this hostile?" He asked me, rolling his eyes.
"You call this hostile? I can give you hostile!" I raised my voice but my attempt as a bad girl faded when I almost dropped my books again, and let out a small yelp.
Soda suddenly took some of them in his arms. "Hey, give them back!" I said
"Whole you're horses, Ms. Queen Of the Dammed, I'm helping ya" He said, pushing me lightly back.
I glared at him
"Now, where was I? Oh yeah, I need some.....tutoring" He went back to his proposal.
"In what?" I asked, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.
"In.....um......Art" He blurted out.
"I don't take Art.....And how can anyone tutor someone in that class?" I replied back, shaking my head.
"Oh!.....Did I say Art? I meant.....umm.....er" He was standing there, with his mouth open and these weird noises coming out of it.
"Any day now?" I hurried; my mom was going to be here any minute now.
"I don't exactly know, but I thought I could go over your house and we'd could study....everything, I'm really....really.....flunking in my classes"
"I never took you as the type who cares about their school work"
"Hell no.......I mean! Yeah, school's number one for me, yup, that's me, they call me "Studying Curtis"......cause I like to.....um.....study" He flashed me a huge smile.
I blinked "Studying Curtis.....hmm, clever" I said, sarcastically.
"So, what do you say?" He asked.
"I say......I don't know"
"What? Come on"
"I don't think this is a good idea, go find another nerd"
"But you're the nerd that was picked......I mean! You're the only one I know"
"You don't know me," I said, taking my books from him.
He grabbed them back.
"Yeah, of course, I do.....(pause).....I hear about you from Pony all the time" He smirked at me.
I felt my arms start becoming light, and my mouth gaped a bit "Ponyboy? He- he talks about me-me" I stuttered, like a love-stuck teenager, which I'm guessing I was.
Soda continued to smirk "Yeah, Jara this, Jara that.....Hey, maybe he likes you"
"Likes me? Really?" I said, wide-eyed.
But then, what the hell was I hearing. I couldn't buy this, unless he thought I was an idiot.
My shoulders slumped a little "You're lying, Pony would never talk about someone like me..."
Then the most unexpected thing happened.
Ponyboy, himself walked by
"Hey, kid brother" Soda said, high-fiving him.
He had that bright smile of his face.
"We better hurry up, Two-Bit's in the car waiting," He said.
"Yeah, I'll be there in a sec. Just talking to Jara, you know her" Soda said, gesturing towards me and mouthing, "I told you" to me.
I tensed and smiled nervously.
"Oh, hi, Jara." Pony said, giving Soda an odd look and then smiling slightly at me.
Smiling.....at me!
"Well, I got to go, tomorrow, after-school. You're place" I could hear Soda saying to me but I was only half-listening and too absorbed in Ponyboy. I was like a mindless zombie, as I stood there.
I felt him dump the books back on my stack and lean into my ear, whispering "You're drooling a little, and everyone knows you're in-like with my brother" and with that, he put Pony in a head-lock and walked off.
My jaw dropped "I'm not obvious.....wait, did he just say he was going to be at my place after school?"
I then heard the continues honking from my mother's car and with a couple of blinks for me to comprehend what just happened, I left the school courtyard.
Tomorrow.
I feared tomorrow.
A/N: Yes, I know, the first chapter was like the beginning of "Spiderman". I get it. Pony's Kirsten Dunst and Jara is Tobey Mcguire....lol.
To Lil Chaos Angel: I'm sorry that you happened to find so many mistakes in my story. The first chapter wasn't supposed to be a real one; I was just sort of setting the mood of this fic, parody of "She's All That" or even Spiderman, Whatever. I'm glad you gave me some constructive criticism though. And yes, all your questions on what Jara's looks and bio will be answered in this chapter.
Still A/N: Oh! I know, Sodapop is a little ooc but not necessarily. In the novel, the part where Pony is at the drive-in with Johnny and Dally, he said that if Soda was there. He'd probably join Dally in all the crude comments he was making to Cherry and Marcia. So, we all know that Soda's a sweetheart but he's not an angel. Anyway, hopefully he'll be acting like "the Sodapop we all love" in the next chapters.
STILL A/N(You guys are tired of me bitchin'): This is for Rina, or any die hard Sodapop fans. SANDY WILL NOT BE IN THIS FIC! Maybe, a little apperence but that's it. Zippo, nada, finito!
Also, I know Pony is only 13 but I'm bumping him up to 14. Jara is the same age for the first half of the fic(Yes, I hoped you already guessed it)
Soda is still 17. The thing is, he JUST turned 17.
SODA'S POV
Monday
The day we students go back to school. The day you see your friends and just brag about your weekend. Me on the other hand, I already see my friends everyday so, I always skip the weekend part.
I head straight to my favorite class.
Which is.....Lunch!!
It's not like I was starving, I was able to at least have 2 slices of chocolate cake before the guys came and ate the rest.
I was just eager to see a certain someone. No, it wasn't Sandy.
It has been over a year now since she moved away to Florida. I haven't dated as much after she left but it doesn't mean I haven't flirted as well either.
Hey, what can I say? I love women.
But "she" was different. She was beautiful, sexy, smart,....AND TOTALLY OFF MY LIMITS!!!
The thing about her, that flaw. Was that she was a Soc
And unfortunately, not one of those poor little girls who don't care at all about money but have been raised in the luxury of......Blah,blah,blah...Like I said, She wasn't one of those either.
She was a full-on Soc. I mean, her brother, which I will leave unnamed for now and I'll just refer to him as "Madras Moron", is practically the leader of the Soc's and I just know if I ever asked her out he'd probably send a couple of his rich but still lazy friends to pounce on me.
I don't want to end up Soc meat if you get what I'm saying, which you probably don't.
Not that I'm afraid of those ass-holes but you got to keep into consideration that.....One against five is not fair.
Unless I was superman or better yet, Spiderman!(A/N: hehehe)
So, again, and I'll just put it in a First grade kind of way.
Soc-y Girl + Grease-y Boy + Soc-y Girl's bro = A really bad kicking of Grease-y Boy's ass.
I look around the crowded cafeteria and soon spot her sitting by the window.
Her long blonde hair shines especially with the sun beaming on it, She's with a group of her friends and is giggling about something.
Then....
Her eyes are suddenly on me, and I can't stop staring back at her big blue eyes.
She smiles brightly and starts waving at me, or is she waving me over?
Me being the complete idiot I am, I wave back and I then feel someone walk from behind me and say "Hey, Tracy! Sorry, I'm late. Mr. Giffin wanted to talk about my History project and how the progress of eye-make-up from the 18OO's is not exceptable.."
She's talking to Tracy, the girl I've been gushing about.
So, she wasn't waving at me and she wasn't smiling at me either.
Damn.....
I sigh and take what's left of my dignity, and trudge over to a semi-empty part of the long cafeteria table.
I sit down, just to be greeted by big smiles, this time directed to me.
"Hey, Soda" Cassandra, the head of the Drama club said to me.
"Hi, Sodapop. You look really good with that shirt today" and Karla, the president of the Spanish club greeted, shyly to me.
I just grin.
Yup, there's nothing wrong with Sodapop Curtis. I still got it.
"Hey, girls' I reply, looking back at Tracy Gardner.
Tracy. What a...OK, it was a pretty ordinary kind of name but right now, her name was the least on my mind.
"Soda, Soda, Soda" Steve repeated at he sat down next to me.
I turned to him "Yeah?"
"You're still checking that Soc girl out, aren't you?" He asked, taking a bite out of his sandwich, he must of gone ahead and brought it at the Deli down the street.
"You know me too well" I simply replied, as I snatched the coke he had next to him.
"I do, but when Super Soc finds out you're all over his lil sis....."
I interrupted "I'll be dead, I know the story already" I said, shaking my head.
"Just need to warn ya, you know how you are, you see a pretty face and you just have to have them" Steve replied.
"I do not" I muttered but knew I was lying to myself.
"Yeah, yeah" Steve said "Whatever you say" He finished shoving another piece of the sandwich into his mouth.
"Hey, Grease" Suddenly there were about three or four Soc surrounding us. They sat down, one next to me and another by Steve's side.
The other two sat across the table, putting their arm around the two girls that had been "friendly" with me just moments before.
"I see you're still staring at my little sister, Grease" Bob said, looking over at the table near the window and then back at me, a weird smile on his face.
I looked over Bob's shoulder to Steve and gave him the "There goes the him finding out scenario" expression.
Steve nodded then glared at the Soc next to him who took a piece of his ham sandwich.
"What of it?" I shot back, raising my chin. I wasn't going to let a couple of rich kids get to me.
Bob rose an eyebrow "I bet you'd like to ask her out, wouldn't you?" He asked. That punch in the face I was expecting any moment still not coming.
"Why would I tell you" I replied, crossing my arms.
He laughed. An odd sort of loud snort really.
He put an arm around my shoulders and said "Well, I got a great deal for you"
"Deal?" I heard Steve blurt out.
"What kind of deal?" I asked, shrugging his arm off me.
"A bet" Bob replied. I heard the Soc across the table snicker.
I looked at him then back at Bob "Why in the hell do you think I would make a bet with you?" I huffed.
"...Fine, then that date with my sister is out of the question. Come on, guys let's go find a couple of other Greasers that are more interested....." Bob said, getting up and his groupies doing the same.
"I could find another girl," I blurted out.
I felt Steve poke me hard in the ribs and I just looked at him "Ow" I hissed.
"Are you out of you mind!?" He whispered but before I could answer him, Bob sat back down.
"Oh, really? That easy?" He asked, skeptical.
I stared at him and with both my eyebrows raised and the cockiest grin I learned from Dally, I said "Yeah, that easy"
He laughed, and soon his little gang followed suit.
"You hear that guys? this Greaser thinks he can find someone better than my sister, is it just me, or am I the only one who's not buying that?" He asked out-loud.
"It's not you, Bob" A couple of his trained lap dogs replied.
"I thought so. I hated when people say things like that, I just hate it" Bob said, leaning forward so that he was merely inches away from my face.
"Isn't that a shame,......I could find *anyone * better than you're sis" I managed to say back.
I knew I was lying. Tracy was a fox, one of the prettiest girls in school compared to Cherry Valance.
I saw a flash of anger appear on Bob's face then it was replaced with an un- readable expression.
"You mean, "anyone"? Any girl?" He asked, sitting back.
I nodded "You heard me"
"Hmmm....Sorry, but I'm a little challenged...."
I interrupted "Oh, we ALL know that"
Steve laughed "Aint' that the truth" He commented. The Soc next to him, who I'm pretty sure is named Randy, pushed him.
I swear, I thought Bob was going to slug me right there and than but clenching his fists, he continued.
"Like I was saying, before being rudely interrupted...If I were to say.....you see that girl over there......no, not her, yeah her....that she was your next conquest, would you still be saying that she was better than Tracy?"
Bob pointed to a small redhead, with curly hair and freckles. She was in my Chem. Class, Her name was Catherine.
"Not unless he's blind" I heard Randy say. This time Steve pushed him.
"Sure. A little make-up, a bottle of gel, and you got a knock out" I said to Bob, ignoring the fight that was beginning to un-ravel behind him.
He laughed 'you got guts, Soda" He said.
"How about that girl over there?" The snickering Soc across the table chimed in.
I looked back, and saw a pretty hefty girl with long brunette hair walk by.
"Hmmm" I hummed, thinking, my tongue on the side of my mouth.
"Give her two or three months at the gym, a hair-cut, the right clothes, and you got yourself another Audrey Hephurn look-a-like"
"Audrey Hephurn!?" He said, wide-eyed.
"Yeah, You see how she's got the little pointed nose thing going on?......"
"Care to put some money where your mouth is?" Bob piped in once more.
I looked at him "Money......in my mouth. Sorry, I don't speak Soc"
He rolled his eyes "I got an idea......But's a bet" He said.
"Again with this bet thing" I sighed.
"What kind of bet?" Steve suddenly asked.
I looked at him, not believing that he was actually even asking.
"What? He did mention some money," He said, innocently.
Money, Hmm, that didn't sound too bad actually.
"Go on" I told Bob, nodding.
"Well, you just showed us that you could make any girl into a knock- out...."
"Right.." I pushed.
"...The prom, it's coming up in two months. I say, we pick a girl that you have to transform into Miss. Popularity. You show her to us at The Prom and you win the bet"
"What do we win?" I asked, still not buying all of this.
"Two-hundred bucks..."
Bob said, taking out the money right in front of our Greaser eyes and placing it on the table.
"He'll do it!" Steve quickly agreed, slamming his hand down on the money.
"Hey! You don't get the money until I see the girl" Bob said, slapping his hand away "How stupid do you think I am" He added.
"How much stupid is there?" Steve muttered, rubbing his hand.
"Let me get this straight. You're saying that I have to give some strange chick a freakin' makeover and I get two hundred bucks. Thank but no thanks" I replied, shaking my head.
Steve sighed noisily
".....Wait, there's more. You bring the broad to the Prom and if you did everything we told you. You get the money AND.....Well, it is the Prom, isn't it?....You get to.....I don't know..,,.Dance the night away with Tracy or whatever."
This got my attention. "You're bluffing."
"Believe me. This is not my way of bluffing," He said.
"And if I lose?" I asked, but I knew the decision was already made in my head.
"If you lose....We'll tell you when you do" Bob answered, laughing. His trainees as well.
"Maybe, you're right, Soda. This bet is stupid" Steve said but before I could give his comment a second thought, I was already shaking hands with Bob and saying "Take you're pick!"
________________________________________________________________________
STEVE'S POV
I thought this was a good idea at first but as I hear more and more about it, I cannot help but keep thinking, "Soda can't make some chick into Miss. Popularity. He can't even match his own clothes, how the hell was he going to transform this "victim" into something that has at least shaved legs?
We were walking now; Soda was in front with Bob, who was talking so hard that I didn't have to be ahead to hear.
I glared some more at Randy, as we continued to walk down the School hallway.
"Your buddy doesn't even know what he's getting himself into" I heard him say.
"Why don't you think a little more about you're awful hair and a little less on my friend" I said, looking ahead once more.
"Hmm....Nope!" Bob shook his head as he looked at another broad.
"Just pick the damn chick already!" I suddenly burst.
He looked back at me and said "Patience, Grease. I can't just pick one so easily, then what's the fun in that?"
What he really meant was "I have to pick the ugliest most nerdish girl in school so, that it's IMPOSSIBLE for Soda to do anything with her and he'll be able to cave in, in two weeks"
I almost didn't want to know what was going to happen to Sodapop if he did lose the bet.
It was our last year at this dump.
We were finally seniors, and this was the year I thought we were going to blow everything off, kick back, and count the days 'till Graduation.
But no.
No, Soda has to go give Make-up lessons to some chick, and since he's been my best friend since fourth grade, I have to watch his back!!
I see Jara Pagan trudging somewhere, probably to the library where nerds like her deserve to be, ahead of us.
Then it hit me......
Please, don't let it be what I think is going to happen.....
"Guy's, I think we found our victim" I hear Bob say.
SODA'S POV
"Who?" I asked, looking around.
"Her!" Bob answers, pointing ahead.
"Where?" I still couldn't see the broad he had picked, just some loser in an over-sized sweater walking by with books up to their chin.
"Her! Are you blind?" He said, pointing directly at the person I had been looking at the whole time.
My face went pale and I realized who that nerd was. The queen of all losers.
"Jara Pagan!" I practically yelled "Are you trippin'!? I can't make her popular in two months, she's way over the edge, She 's gone, actually. Gone!" I was babbling now, shaking my head and still...nope....yes!.....Still babbling.
"Shut-up, Soda" Steve said stepping in front of me; I had my jaw to the floor at this point.
"Pick someone else. That girl, is.......is......She's not even considered a girl, Soda cannot, no, NOBODY can make anyone want her....." Steve said for me.
"And we're not telling you to make anyone want her. I said, you have to make her popular" Bob said, I could the other Socs laughing hysterically now.
"Well, I won't do it" I managed to say, shaking my head
"You already made a deal. If you back out now, that means, no money, no date with my sister, and I really don't want to tell you what we got in store for you if you don't do it"
I looked down at my feet now, loss in words
"What are you going to do, Sodapop?" Steve asked me.
Maybe I was making a big fuss out of nothing, yeah, that's it.
With some tweezers, a bath, and sexy-clothes I could make her into someone, yes, someone.
And I know, she'd need that.
Plus, come on! This was a date with Tracy jeopardizing , the girl I've been fantasizing about for months!
"Soda?" Steve brought me out of my thoughts.
I looked up at him then turned to Bob, straightening up, I said.
"I'm going to make you eat your words."
JARA'S POV
I walk through the hallways, arms full of books. My Algebra book, my Literature book, and the two others are just for my entertainment. I feel my thick glasses begin slipping down my nose and I try to push them back up. As I shift the books in my arms, I managed to reach towards my face.
I was suddenly shoved by some ass-hole and stumbled forward. Actually, to be totally truthful, I fell forward. My books and novels scattering across the floor.
My glasses fell as well and as I tried getting up, I felt a tear at my long skirt. I could hear laughing from all around me but I never turned to them.
The tear wasn't big, just to my side but that still didn't mean that my mom wasn't going to have a fit when she finds out that my new skirt was already torn.
But why was I kidding myself, like my mom would notice. She never notices anything I do anymore.
I quickly tucked my dark-brown hair behind my ear- that had become loose from the braid I wore. My hair was too long for me to let it loose. At least, that was what I thought.
I would always notice the other girls walk by, flipping their long hair behind their shoulders with THAT expression on their face.
That expression, that looked as if they loved being there, being at school, being with their friends,....being in their life.
I sighed, loudly as I began picking up my contents but apparently the stupid Socs or Greasers thought it would be fun to kick them around.
I saw my glasses near by and as I leaned forward to pick them up, someone quickly snatched them.
I saw two very stylish boots standing before me and as I looked up, I saw Randy, the big-time Soc staring back down at me, a grin on his face.
"Look what I found," He taunted, waving them around.
"Give them back," I said, but I wasn't mad nor was I sad. I felt nothing, nothing at all.
I was beginning to be frightened of myself; I was beginning to think I hated being here, this damn life of mines. Why? Why must I be treated like this?
"What's the magic word?" Randy asked.
"Please" I replied.
"...That's a good girl, here" He dropped the glasses onto the floor and as I was reaching for them, he dropped his boot right along with it, smashing my glasses.
"What the hell is your problem? What did I ever do to you?" I suddenly asked, getting up.
I was getting mad now. I guess, I had emotion after all.
"Maybe you being born is one part" He replied.
I glared at him, but what surprised me more was the tear I felt roll down my pale cheek.
"Aw, Am I hurting the little girl's feeling's?"
I looked down at the floor, the laughter of other people surrounding me.
I think I was the only thing both Soc's and Greaser's agreed on.
They both hated me.
Or at least taunted me numerous of times.
"Back off, Soc. Leave her alone"
Woah, was this someone actually standing up for me?
And was that Ponyboy's brother!?
"What are you going to do about it, Grease?" Randy said, pushing Soda backwards.
"This" The Greaser ran forward, slamming Randy against the locker.
"Fight, fight, fight!" Everyone chanted. Could we get anymore cliché?
The Soc and Greaser wrestled on the floor but I knew those two were nowhere near hurting each other. Was it I? Or were they both fighting for a show?
I rolled my eyes and began picking up my books once more, but it didn't take long before Soda was helping me.
I looked over his shoulder and saw Randy walking away with some other guys who were snickering non-stop.
"Here" He handed me my novel, and I just took it, staring at him, cautiously.
"That guy is a real pain in the ass, thinks he can boss anyone around" He continued talking to me.
Was I in the Twilight Zone or something?
"What?" He asked, noticing me gawking at him.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Huh?"
"You're talking to me like we're.....talking buddies!" I said
"I just thought I'd help you pick up your books"
"Well, thanks but I didn't need your help" I got up now, holding my things in my arms once more.
"....Wait, I just got in a fight for "that"?" Soda asked me, with a raised eyebrow
"You don't look hurt" I eyed him down and nodded "No scratches, blood, nothing"
He sighed, "That's not the point..."
"Then what is? You expect me to call you my hero or something?" I interrupted.
"....Well...yeah" He said.
I looked at him as if he was mental and with a disgusted snarl, I began walking away.
"Wait. I didn't mean it like that!" He called from behind me, now following.
"Ok, I get it, now, leave me alone. Go, shoo!" I shoosed him away, if that was even a word! I can't believe Pony's bro was actually speaking more than two words to me.
"I need to talk to you," He said, now walking by my side.
"Isn't that what we're already doing?"
"You're right, now let me get down to the point," He said, taking me by the arm.
"Point? There's a point?" I babbled, yanking my arm back.
I didn't trust him, even if he was the relative of the most angelic boy in this school.
"I need your help" He replied, looking down at me. He was a bit taller but nothing out of the ordinary, I was tall for 14 and a half.
"What kind of help?" I asked, now remembering that I had left the pieces of my glasses back near the lockers.
"Um......uh.....Homework! Yeah, homework" He said, nodding and smiling.
I began walking once more "If you think I'm going to do your homework just because I'm a so-called loser, you're in for a rude awakening" I muttered.
He started following me once more; we made it out of the entrance doors of the school and were now standing outside.
"No, no, I didn't mean it like that! God, are you always this hostile?" He asked me, rolling his eyes.
"You call this hostile? I can give you hostile!" I raised my voice but my attempt as a bad girl faded when I almost dropped my books again, and let out a small yelp.
Soda suddenly took some of them in his arms. "Hey, give them back!" I said
"Whole you're horses, Ms. Queen Of the Dammed, I'm helping ya" He said, pushing me lightly back.
I glared at him
"Now, where was I? Oh yeah, I need some.....tutoring" He went back to his proposal.
"In what?" I asked, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.
"In.....um......Art" He blurted out.
"I don't take Art.....And how can anyone tutor someone in that class?" I replied back, shaking my head.
"Oh!.....Did I say Art? I meant.....umm.....er" He was standing there, with his mouth open and these weird noises coming out of it.
"Any day now?" I hurried; my mom was going to be here any minute now.
"I don't exactly know, but I thought I could go over your house and we'd could study....everything, I'm really....really.....flunking in my classes"
"I never took you as the type who cares about their school work"
"Hell no.......I mean! Yeah, school's number one for me, yup, that's me, they call me "Studying Curtis"......cause I like to.....um.....study" He flashed me a huge smile.
I blinked "Studying Curtis.....hmm, clever" I said, sarcastically.
"So, what do you say?" He asked.
"I say......I don't know"
"What? Come on"
"I don't think this is a good idea, go find another nerd"
"But you're the nerd that was picked......I mean! You're the only one I know"
"You don't know me," I said, taking my books from him.
He grabbed them back.
"Yeah, of course, I do.....(pause).....I hear about you from Pony all the time" He smirked at me.
I felt my arms start becoming light, and my mouth gaped a bit "Ponyboy? He- he talks about me-me" I stuttered, like a love-stuck teenager, which I'm guessing I was.
Soda continued to smirk "Yeah, Jara this, Jara that.....Hey, maybe he likes you"
"Likes me? Really?" I said, wide-eyed.
But then, what the hell was I hearing. I couldn't buy this, unless he thought I was an idiot.
My shoulders slumped a little "You're lying, Pony would never talk about someone like me..."
Then the most unexpected thing happened.
Ponyboy, himself walked by
"Hey, kid brother" Soda said, high-fiving him.
He had that bright smile of his face.
"We better hurry up, Two-Bit's in the car waiting," He said.
"Yeah, I'll be there in a sec. Just talking to Jara, you know her" Soda said, gesturing towards me and mouthing, "I told you" to me.
I tensed and smiled nervously.
"Oh, hi, Jara." Pony said, giving Soda an odd look and then smiling slightly at me.
Smiling.....at me!
"Well, I got to go, tomorrow, after-school. You're place" I could hear Soda saying to me but I was only half-listening and too absorbed in Ponyboy. I was like a mindless zombie, as I stood there.
I felt him dump the books back on my stack and lean into my ear, whispering "You're drooling a little, and everyone knows you're in-like with my brother" and with that, he put Pony in a head-lock and walked off.
My jaw dropped "I'm not obvious.....wait, did he just say he was going to be at my place after school?"
I then heard the continues honking from my mother's car and with a couple of blinks for me to comprehend what just happened, I left the school courtyard.
Tomorrow.
I feared tomorrow.
