"GAAAAAAAAAAH!" Ice ice ice ice ice ice cooooooooold. I jumped out of bed and dumped the ice cubes out of my shirt as quickly as I could. "Oh my gosh, cold," I yelped.
Laughter. Wait, I know that laughter. I spun around to see Soda and Steve doubled over. Soda was laughing so hard his face was red and he was silently shaking. Steve slapped me hard on the back, laughing about how that was the best they'd gotten me in a long time. Wonderful Steve. "What gives," I asked them.
Darry stuck his head around the corner. "Time for school, kiddo."
I groaned inwardly. Second week of school, and I'm still not used to it. I tested out of 9th grade last year, before Mom & Dad died, so this year I'm a sophomore at Nathan Hale High School. I guess this is what it feels like when you transfer to a new school in a new town. I've seen some of these kids around town, but I don't really know any of them. I've got Johnny, Two-Bit, and Steve to talk to, so I guess I'll survive. Oh, and Dally, if he ever feels like showing up.
I took a quick shower and greased my hair up. I hear Soda announce that he was driving and couldn't help but grin. We could leave 5 minutes before last bell and I'd still make it to class on time.
The hours dragged by. We were having a test in English today. Mr. Symes' not bad, he used to be a drama teacher so he likes to try to get us involved in everything. It feels like kindergarten sometimes. Like last week. He had us listen to some recording of a story while our eyes were closed, and then afterwards we were supposed to draw a picture of some part of it. Kiddie stuff, you know? Well, he had put me in the back of the room, so I had leaned my head against the wall while I was listening to it, and I kinda fell asleep. I couldn't help it, I was tired and the story was boring. He was sorta angry about that. So anyway, today we were having some test.
I stopped for a minute to stare around the room and try to ease my boredom. I was tapping my pencil eraser on my desk when I glanced over at Two-Bit. Anyway, he caught me looking over and suddenly grinned. I watched him kick off his shoes, stand up, take off his jeans, and sit back down in his boxers. That's all he did. He just went back to working on his test.
"Two-Bit," Mr. Symes said sternly. Two-Bit looked up at him innocently.
"Yessir?"
"Put your pants on, Two-Bit."
He pointed down at his lap. "But these're my lucky boxers, sir."
Mr. Syme's covered his eyes. "Two-Bit, now."
He just shrugged, stood up and put his pants back on, and went back to working on his test. I was trying to keep my laughter in the entire time. Most of the class had their mouths hanging open, and some of the girls just looked really embarrassed. I bet Soda would have stayed in school to see that, I thought.
History class was bad, but it was the last class before lunch. Johnny and me sit right next to each other so if nothing else we can at least pass a few notes. I came in a few minutes late, I had gotten held up by a couple making out at my locker. No joke, right up against it. I walked over to my desk and dumped my books on the floor and slumped down in my chair, hoping Mr. Davis wouldn't notice I came in late. He just raised an eyebrow at me and continued his lecture. World War 2, of course, his favorite subject. War and politics. I'd rather hear about why different groups of people act the way they do, like treat us like dirt just because we weren't fortunate enough to be born into rich families. I glanced over at Johnny. He grinned at me and his bangs disappeared under his eyebrows. "He's extra-boring today," he whispered to me. I just laughed. Johnny went back to focusing on the hole he was drilling into the top of his desk with a dart.
"Hey, what are we doing at lunch?" I whispered to him.
He shrugged again, still watching his dart, "I dunno. Probably swing by the DX with Steve & Two-Bit." We never ate in the cafeteria. We had tried that once, and the Socs wouldn't leave us alone long enough to get our food down.
After class, we met up with Two-Bit.
"Hey y'all, going to see Soda? Steve already took off, I'm guessing we'll find him there. Poor guy can't stand to stay away from work!"
When we got to the DX, Soda was just finishing filling up some old lady's car, and then he and Steve ran up to us.
"Hey, Two-Bit, remember that one blonde broad that Soda picked up last week, the real good lookin' one?" Steve asked
"She ain't a broad, Steve," Soda interrupted.
"Yeah, what, she wants my number, well, tell her its 627.." Two-Bit answered, started to scribble his phone number on a scrap piece of paper.
"Whatever, Two-Bit. Na, Sodypop here called her up this morning and he's taking her out tonight!"
I stared at Soda for a few seconds. "I thought you were going with that Ashley girl?"
He shook his head. "Na, she decided to take up with some super Soc who had the capability to constantly buy her stuff and take her out to nice restaurants every night." For a split second, I thought I saw Soda's eyes blaze with anger, tinted with humiliation. "This girl, Sandy, she seems real nice. She's our kind, you know, but better than that."
We stood around for a while longer, until Johnny noticed the time. "Hey, c'mon Pony, we should get back."
"Yeah, I guess. You guys comin'?"
Steve shook his head and Two-Bit answered, "I'll probably come on up in an hour or so. Y'all don't have too much fun."
True to his word, after the end of my next class, we saw Two-Bit racing through the hallways with a principal on his heels. The principal stopped and leaned against the wall, panting. "SLACKER!" he yelled after Two-Bit.
History was my last class of the day. The class was mostly juniors and seniors, but there were a few of us sophomores in there, too. The teacher is pretty laid-back so we can get away with almost anything there. This one middle-class girl used to sit by me, but I somehow managed to scare her because after the first week, she had her desk moved over to the other side of the room. She still gives me these scared glances every now and again. My seat was right behind this big Soc football player, so I used his size as an opportunity to take a nap for most of the class. The homework is written on the chalkboard before class starts, so I just write down the chapter and the homework and do it all at home.
Johnny was waiting for me after class. We ran into Dallas outside the bathrooms near the front entrance. For some reason, he looked like a wild cat stalking prey.. He saw us walk up and grinned. "Hey, Johnnycake, hey Pony," he greeted us.
"Hey, Dal, you showed up to school today."
Dally shook his head, "Na, I just got here. I overslept a little."
"A little," I exclaimed incredulously.
He gave me a look. "Yeah, kid. A little. Hey, check out what I swiped from the corner store this morning." He pulled out a small yellow and brown box. Across the top of the box it said "Suppository Laxatives."
"Laxatives?" Johnny asked.
"Aw, man, Dally, I don't want to hear about your health problems," I groaned, looking away.
Dally just laughed at me. "Watch this," he demanded, grinning. He dropped the box on the floor and kicked it towards the girl's bathroom. A few seconds later, this good looking Soc walked out. Dallas waited for her to get a few feet away, then stepped over to the box of laxatives on the floor. Within a few gliding steps, Dally had caught up to the Soc girl. He tapped her on the shoulder and loudly said, "Excuse me miss, I think you dropped these laxatives on your way out from the bathroom." She turned beet red and gasped as she ran away.
Me and Johnny were laughing along with Dally. I'm not much for trying to make other people feel stupid, but it was a pretty good joke.
Dally tossed the laxatives in a nearby trash can and we all walked outside. He turned to look at us. "So, what plans do y'all have for today?"
I looked at Johnny, then back at Dallas. "I've got track practice in 5 minutes. One of you tell Darry if you go by my house?"
Dally nodded, lighting a cigarette and offering some to us. I turned them down, smoking doesn't do well for track. I'd probably just have one after I got home. Johnny took a cigarette and said that he was probably going to go to the arcade for a few hours. Dally slung his arm around Johnny's shoulders and told him he'd keep him company.
I watched them walk off and felt lonely again. I almost wished I had taken the cigarette, it would have helped calm me down before heading for practice. I guess that's how everything in life is; You've got to choose between what you want and what's good for you.
Laughter. Wait, I know that laughter. I spun around to see Soda and Steve doubled over. Soda was laughing so hard his face was red and he was silently shaking. Steve slapped me hard on the back, laughing about how that was the best they'd gotten me in a long time. Wonderful Steve. "What gives," I asked them.
Darry stuck his head around the corner. "Time for school, kiddo."
I groaned inwardly. Second week of school, and I'm still not used to it. I tested out of 9th grade last year, before Mom & Dad died, so this year I'm a sophomore at Nathan Hale High School. I guess this is what it feels like when you transfer to a new school in a new town. I've seen some of these kids around town, but I don't really know any of them. I've got Johnny, Two-Bit, and Steve to talk to, so I guess I'll survive. Oh, and Dally, if he ever feels like showing up.
I took a quick shower and greased my hair up. I hear Soda announce that he was driving and couldn't help but grin. We could leave 5 minutes before last bell and I'd still make it to class on time.
The hours dragged by. We were having a test in English today. Mr. Symes' not bad, he used to be a drama teacher so he likes to try to get us involved in everything. It feels like kindergarten sometimes. Like last week. He had us listen to some recording of a story while our eyes were closed, and then afterwards we were supposed to draw a picture of some part of it. Kiddie stuff, you know? Well, he had put me in the back of the room, so I had leaned my head against the wall while I was listening to it, and I kinda fell asleep. I couldn't help it, I was tired and the story was boring. He was sorta angry about that. So anyway, today we were having some test.
I stopped for a minute to stare around the room and try to ease my boredom. I was tapping my pencil eraser on my desk when I glanced over at Two-Bit. Anyway, he caught me looking over and suddenly grinned. I watched him kick off his shoes, stand up, take off his jeans, and sit back down in his boxers. That's all he did. He just went back to working on his test.
"Two-Bit," Mr. Symes said sternly. Two-Bit looked up at him innocently.
"Yessir?"
"Put your pants on, Two-Bit."
He pointed down at his lap. "But these're my lucky boxers, sir."
Mr. Syme's covered his eyes. "Two-Bit, now."
He just shrugged, stood up and put his pants back on, and went back to working on his test. I was trying to keep my laughter in the entire time. Most of the class had their mouths hanging open, and some of the girls just looked really embarrassed. I bet Soda would have stayed in school to see that, I thought.
History class was bad, but it was the last class before lunch. Johnny and me sit right next to each other so if nothing else we can at least pass a few notes. I came in a few minutes late, I had gotten held up by a couple making out at my locker. No joke, right up against it. I walked over to my desk and dumped my books on the floor and slumped down in my chair, hoping Mr. Davis wouldn't notice I came in late. He just raised an eyebrow at me and continued his lecture. World War 2, of course, his favorite subject. War and politics. I'd rather hear about why different groups of people act the way they do, like treat us like dirt just because we weren't fortunate enough to be born into rich families. I glanced over at Johnny. He grinned at me and his bangs disappeared under his eyebrows. "He's extra-boring today," he whispered to me. I just laughed. Johnny went back to focusing on the hole he was drilling into the top of his desk with a dart.
"Hey, what are we doing at lunch?" I whispered to him.
He shrugged again, still watching his dart, "I dunno. Probably swing by the DX with Steve & Two-Bit." We never ate in the cafeteria. We had tried that once, and the Socs wouldn't leave us alone long enough to get our food down.
After class, we met up with Two-Bit.
"Hey y'all, going to see Soda? Steve already took off, I'm guessing we'll find him there. Poor guy can't stand to stay away from work!"
When we got to the DX, Soda was just finishing filling up some old lady's car, and then he and Steve ran up to us.
"Hey, Two-Bit, remember that one blonde broad that Soda picked up last week, the real good lookin' one?" Steve asked
"She ain't a broad, Steve," Soda interrupted.
"Yeah, what, she wants my number, well, tell her its 627.." Two-Bit answered, started to scribble his phone number on a scrap piece of paper.
"Whatever, Two-Bit. Na, Sodypop here called her up this morning and he's taking her out tonight!"
I stared at Soda for a few seconds. "I thought you were going with that Ashley girl?"
He shook his head. "Na, she decided to take up with some super Soc who had the capability to constantly buy her stuff and take her out to nice restaurants every night." For a split second, I thought I saw Soda's eyes blaze with anger, tinted with humiliation. "This girl, Sandy, she seems real nice. She's our kind, you know, but better than that."
We stood around for a while longer, until Johnny noticed the time. "Hey, c'mon Pony, we should get back."
"Yeah, I guess. You guys comin'?"
Steve shook his head and Two-Bit answered, "I'll probably come on up in an hour or so. Y'all don't have too much fun."
True to his word, after the end of my next class, we saw Two-Bit racing through the hallways with a principal on his heels. The principal stopped and leaned against the wall, panting. "SLACKER!" he yelled after Two-Bit.
History was my last class of the day. The class was mostly juniors and seniors, but there were a few of us sophomores in there, too. The teacher is pretty laid-back so we can get away with almost anything there. This one middle-class girl used to sit by me, but I somehow managed to scare her because after the first week, she had her desk moved over to the other side of the room. She still gives me these scared glances every now and again. My seat was right behind this big Soc football player, so I used his size as an opportunity to take a nap for most of the class. The homework is written on the chalkboard before class starts, so I just write down the chapter and the homework and do it all at home.
Johnny was waiting for me after class. We ran into Dallas outside the bathrooms near the front entrance. For some reason, he looked like a wild cat stalking prey.. He saw us walk up and grinned. "Hey, Johnnycake, hey Pony," he greeted us.
"Hey, Dal, you showed up to school today."
Dally shook his head, "Na, I just got here. I overslept a little."
"A little," I exclaimed incredulously.
He gave me a look. "Yeah, kid. A little. Hey, check out what I swiped from the corner store this morning." He pulled out a small yellow and brown box. Across the top of the box it said "Suppository Laxatives."
"Laxatives?" Johnny asked.
"Aw, man, Dally, I don't want to hear about your health problems," I groaned, looking away.
Dally just laughed at me. "Watch this," he demanded, grinning. He dropped the box on the floor and kicked it towards the girl's bathroom. A few seconds later, this good looking Soc walked out. Dallas waited for her to get a few feet away, then stepped over to the box of laxatives on the floor. Within a few gliding steps, Dally had caught up to the Soc girl. He tapped her on the shoulder and loudly said, "Excuse me miss, I think you dropped these laxatives on your way out from the bathroom." She turned beet red and gasped as she ran away.
Me and Johnny were laughing along with Dally. I'm not much for trying to make other people feel stupid, but it was a pretty good joke.
Dally tossed the laxatives in a nearby trash can and we all walked outside. He turned to look at us. "So, what plans do y'all have for today?"
I looked at Johnny, then back at Dallas. "I've got track practice in 5 minutes. One of you tell Darry if you go by my house?"
Dally nodded, lighting a cigarette and offering some to us. I turned them down, smoking doesn't do well for track. I'd probably just have one after I got home. Johnny took a cigarette and said that he was probably going to go to the arcade for a few hours. Dally slung his arm around Johnny's shoulders and told him he'd keep him company.
I watched them walk off and felt lonely again. I almost wished I had taken the cigarette, it would have helped calm me down before heading for practice. I guess that's how everything in life is; You've got to choose between what you want and what's good for you.