Chapter 2
I think I smoke too much. I mean, everyone in the gang does. They all do it to calm down or look tough. Sure, I do it for that, but I live on them.
I don't know why I was thinking that. I guess it was cause we were all sitting in the diner, and people were kind of staring. I mean I guess I should be used to it by now, but I'm not. I still hate it so much.
The East and West side met right in the middle. And that's where everything is: stores, gas stations, and...diners. It just makes things worse because if you want to go out and get a soda, you're probably going to be surrounded by East Siders. So you never go into town alone...never. The drive- in is there, too. That's where most of the fights start, at the drive-in.
So, us West Siders, in our blue jeans, leather jackets, and t-shirts, sitting in Tibby's on a Friday afternoon, were kind of getting some looks. Plus, I was bruising and my nose had a bloody napkin in it. There were mostly just old people in sweaters, but it still made me uncomfortable. The others guys didn't seem to notice too much.
Milkshake was busy laughing with Spot and Kid, who had his arm around her. And Crutchy was digging into his burger and fries. I'd order the same as him, but with all the people staring and having just gotten the stuffing kicked out of me, I wasn't too hungry.
Kid noticed though, "Hey, ain't you hungry, Race," he clapped me on the back, and my cigarette fell out of my mouth, "You're as thin as the walls in a cheap motel." Milkshake's milkshake bubbled as she laughed. I swear sugar is like beer to that girl.
I groaned, "Blink, you need to get over that arm spas you got there." I tried to rub my back. It stung.
Spot handed me another cigarette, "Yea come on, Blink." But Kid was too busy making Milkshake's milkshake overflow, "But seriously, kid, does Jack know you ain't in school? Does he know where you are at all?" I slammed my head down on the table, "Yea well I ain't going to be the one to tell him," he leaned back and took a long drag on his cigarette, "He'll rip my head of, Race."
I nodded with my head still on the table. I knew Jack would. Spot was colder than Jack, but Jack was the leader. Spot could take Jack, but he had no responsibility at all. And he liked it that way.
I looked up glaring. I really couldn't take anymore of this today, so my voice was a little louder than I meant for it to be, "Look, Spot, would you shut up. I take all this from Jack everyday. And now you're getting in on me," my face was getting hot and I was a little scared Spot was going to hit me with a plate or something, "I know Jack just can't wait till I'm gone. The only reason he tells me what to do is, so the fuzz won't come to the house. He's just worried he'll get taken in, or Baby would be put somewhere."
It was true. If I got in trouble he'd get in trouble with the police, or fuzz as we say. Then they would have to put Baby in a children's home. Jack just wanted me out of his hair, so he wouldn't have to worry anymore. Sometimes I really hated him. And having Spot echo his words just made me so mad. Jack never yelled at Baby. Not the time she stole a beer from his private stash to see what it was like, not ever. Just me, he just yelled at me.
I noticed I had been yelling. Kid and Milkshake had stopped laughing, and Crutchy was staring at me with half a fry in his mouth. I could tell Spot was trying his best not to whip out his own blade on me. He didn't like to take shit from no one.
"No, Race, you got it wrong," Blink tried, but I was still fuming and didn't want to hear it.
"No, you all got it wrong. You don't know," but Crutchy interrupted me.
"I always thought you and Jack got along good," he said as he chewed the rest of his fry. I just couldn't take it anymore.
"No Crutchy. We don't. And how would you know anything. Your parents won't even look at you." I didn't actually have a point there, but I said it anyway. I wish I could take it back. Crutchy looked hurt. I had gone too far and I knew it.
"I think its time to head back to Spot's," Blink said and we all got up.
I didn't want to pick up my head, but I could tell as we left that all the old people were watching.
As we headed back to Spot's I walked up to Crutchy.
"Man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," I tried my best to apologize. I stink at it. But Crutchy knew.
"Yea I know, buddy." See I told you. He made a few fake punches at me, and I laughed as he almost fell cause of his ankle.
When we got to Spot's place we all flopped onto the couch. We had been watching TV when Milkshake jumped up. I felt Crutchy jump when she did. That girl was so hyper. She whipped in front of us. Right in front of the TV. We all groaned real loud and Blink yell, "Woman, I'm trying to watch something here." She scowled and slapped him upside the head. I think I heard her mumble something like "men" under her breath. But soon she was smiling again. She was never mad long.
"I just had the best idea. Do you know what we all need?" she chirped. We all kind of mumbled something you can call "no", but we were too busy trying to see which cowboy on the TV was going to get shot. So, she just walked off into the kitchen. I could hear moving stuff around.
She came back out with a plate of chocolate cake and six beers. I swear that girl is so smart. Either Spot's or my house always had chocolate cake. We might be West Siders, but that doesn't mean we can't buy food. We all grabbed one and watched TV.
The next time I looked at the clock, it was 1:45. Sparrow and Baby got home from school at 2:30. Baby would come to Spot's because I told her that's where I would be. And Jack was coming when he got off work.
Every Friday night we all go to the drive-in. Jack didn't have much time off work, so he went with Sparrow for some "alone time". He and Sparrow were together. They had been for a while now. But boy did it get to Spot. It was kind of funny seeing his ears turn pink when Jack and her kissed. Or at least it was to me.
Sparrow and Baby finally got here. Sparrow smiled and said hi. She went to the kitchen to get a drink. But Baby sat right down on Spot's lap. You could see his eyes widen at the pressure...but he just laugh, "How's it going, kiddo."
And Baby launched into some story about some bitch in her math class.
"Hey, Baby, what about me," and I put on a stupid puppy face for her. She yelled, "Racetrack! Oh, you're in so much trouble. Jack was so mad...he broke off one the knobs on the cabinets..." luckily Sparrow saved me.
"Here, Baby, have some water," she smiled and took a sip from her own glass. Thank god for that. Baby turned around to sit normal on the couch. She soon became absorbed in the TV. I glanced over at Crutchy who just rolled his eyes, and I laughed.
Jack would be there soon. Sparrow went into her room to get ready. Even though it was just the drive-in, Jack and Sparrow liked to look nice for each other. That's how I knew he was there. When my nose became filled with the smell of aftershave.
He walked in, saw me, and pointed, "Who the hell do you think you are," it wasn't a question, it was an opening line, "What the hell did you think you were doing..."
Baby tried to get the attention off me by hugging him, shouting, "Jackie!" He pushed her away. I couldn't take that. He could push me around, but not her. I stood bolt upright. Kid got up and put a hand on my chest to stop me from doing anything stupid. But Sparrow was the one who stopped it all.
She walked out of her room, turned Jack around, and kissed him. They stood there kissing for a while. In which Spot got up and announced, "Um, I'm heading to get a few beers. See you all at the movie," and walked out. See, it makes him uncomfortable. Then Sparrow started pushing Jack out of the door. They always get dinner before they go out.
When he got to the door he turned and pointed threateningly at me. Then Sparrow shoved him outside. She turned to wink at me and shouted "bye" to everyone. I smiled. Jack would cool off by the time the night was over.
Me, Kid, Milkshake, Crutchy, and Baby watched the rest of a sitcom. Then we all got up and headed toward town.
...*...
Shout outs:
Moonlights Sundance: Thanks so much... and hey just tell me if Sparrow isn't to your liking...but I do my best (
Ireland O'Reily: hey doesn't matter how long the review is...any review is a good review...or something like that...yea I don't have chemistry till next year...but it doesn't sound pleasant
Padfootismyhero: glad you like it so much so far...haha...church...new york...woo...anyway...hope milkshake is still ok in the story for you...she cracks me up
Ducks-go-quack-00: yea I did get these two chapters up a lot faster than I thought...army, rowing, barrics, whoa...
Anyway thanks to all my readers and reviewers. And next chapter **trumpet sounds** my East Side girls. Chapter 3 coming soon to readers like you! Cat
I think I smoke too much. I mean, everyone in the gang does. They all do it to calm down or look tough. Sure, I do it for that, but I live on them.
I don't know why I was thinking that. I guess it was cause we were all sitting in the diner, and people were kind of staring. I mean I guess I should be used to it by now, but I'm not. I still hate it so much.
The East and West side met right in the middle. And that's where everything is: stores, gas stations, and...diners. It just makes things worse because if you want to go out and get a soda, you're probably going to be surrounded by East Siders. So you never go into town alone...never. The drive- in is there, too. That's where most of the fights start, at the drive-in.
So, us West Siders, in our blue jeans, leather jackets, and t-shirts, sitting in Tibby's on a Friday afternoon, were kind of getting some looks. Plus, I was bruising and my nose had a bloody napkin in it. There were mostly just old people in sweaters, but it still made me uncomfortable. The others guys didn't seem to notice too much.
Milkshake was busy laughing with Spot and Kid, who had his arm around her. And Crutchy was digging into his burger and fries. I'd order the same as him, but with all the people staring and having just gotten the stuffing kicked out of me, I wasn't too hungry.
Kid noticed though, "Hey, ain't you hungry, Race," he clapped me on the back, and my cigarette fell out of my mouth, "You're as thin as the walls in a cheap motel." Milkshake's milkshake bubbled as she laughed. I swear sugar is like beer to that girl.
I groaned, "Blink, you need to get over that arm spas you got there." I tried to rub my back. It stung.
Spot handed me another cigarette, "Yea come on, Blink." But Kid was too busy making Milkshake's milkshake overflow, "But seriously, kid, does Jack know you ain't in school? Does he know where you are at all?" I slammed my head down on the table, "Yea well I ain't going to be the one to tell him," he leaned back and took a long drag on his cigarette, "He'll rip my head of, Race."
I nodded with my head still on the table. I knew Jack would. Spot was colder than Jack, but Jack was the leader. Spot could take Jack, but he had no responsibility at all. And he liked it that way.
I looked up glaring. I really couldn't take anymore of this today, so my voice was a little louder than I meant for it to be, "Look, Spot, would you shut up. I take all this from Jack everyday. And now you're getting in on me," my face was getting hot and I was a little scared Spot was going to hit me with a plate or something, "I know Jack just can't wait till I'm gone. The only reason he tells me what to do is, so the fuzz won't come to the house. He's just worried he'll get taken in, or Baby would be put somewhere."
It was true. If I got in trouble he'd get in trouble with the police, or fuzz as we say. Then they would have to put Baby in a children's home. Jack just wanted me out of his hair, so he wouldn't have to worry anymore. Sometimes I really hated him. And having Spot echo his words just made me so mad. Jack never yelled at Baby. Not the time she stole a beer from his private stash to see what it was like, not ever. Just me, he just yelled at me.
I noticed I had been yelling. Kid and Milkshake had stopped laughing, and Crutchy was staring at me with half a fry in his mouth. I could tell Spot was trying his best not to whip out his own blade on me. He didn't like to take shit from no one.
"No, Race, you got it wrong," Blink tried, but I was still fuming and didn't want to hear it.
"No, you all got it wrong. You don't know," but Crutchy interrupted me.
"I always thought you and Jack got along good," he said as he chewed the rest of his fry. I just couldn't take it anymore.
"No Crutchy. We don't. And how would you know anything. Your parents won't even look at you." I didn't actually have a point there, but I said it anyway. I wish I could take it back. Crutchy looked hurt. I had gone too far and I knew it.
"I think its time to head back to Spot's," Blink said and we all got up.
I didn't want to pick up my head, but I could tell as we left that all the old people were watching.
As we headed back to Spot's I walked up to Crutchy.
"Man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," I tried my best to apologize. I stink at it. But Crutchy knew.
"Yea I know, buddy." See I told you. He made a few fake punches at me, and I laughed as he almost fell cause of his ankle.
When we got to Spot's place we all flopped onto the couch. We had been watching TV when Milkshake jumped up. I felt Crutchy jump when she did. That girl was so hyper. She whipped in front of us. Right in front of the TV. We all groaned real loud and Blink yell, "Woman, I'm trying to watch something here." She scowled and slapped him upside the head. I think I heard her mumble something like "men" under her breath. But soon she was smiling again. She was never mad long.
"I just had the best idea. Do you know what we all need?" she chirped. We all kind of mumbled something you can call "no", but we were too busy trying to see which cowboy on the TV was going to get shot. So, she just walked off into the kitchen. I could hear moving stuff around.
She came back out with a plate of chocolate cake and six beers. I swear that girl is so smart. Either Spot's or my house always had chocolate cake. We might be West Siders, but that doesn't mean we can't buy food. We all grabbed one and watched TV.
The next time I looked at the clock, it was 1:45. Sparrow and Baby got home from school at 2:30. Baby would come to Spot's because I told her that's where I would be. And Jack was coming when he got off work.
Every Friday night we all go to the drive-in. Jack didn't have much time off work, so he went with Sparrow for some "alone time". He and Sparrow were together. They had been for a while now. But boy did it get to Spot. It was kind of funny seeing his ears turn pink when Jack and her kissed. Or at least it was to me.
Sparrow and Baby finally got here. Sparrow smiled and said hi. She went to the kitchen to get a drink. But Baby sat right down on Spot's lap. You could see his eyes widen at the pressure...but he just laugh, "How's it going, kiddo."
And Baby launched into some story about some bitch in her math class.
"Hey, Baby, what about me," and I put on a stupid puppy face for her. She yelled, "Racetrack! Oh, you're in so much trouble. Jack was so mad...he broke off one the knobs on the cabinets..." luckily Sparrow saved me.
"Here, Baby, have some water," she smiled and took a sip from her own glass. Thank god for that. Baby turned around to sit normal on the couch. She soon became absorbed in the TV. I glanced over at Crutchy who just rolled his eyes, and I laughed.
Jack would be there soon. Sparrow went into her room to get ready. Even though it was just the drive-in, Jack and Sparrow liked to look nice for each other. That's how I knew he was there. When my nose became filled with the smell of aftershave.
He walked in, saw me, and pointed, "Who the hell do you think you are," it wasn't a question, it was an opening line, "What the hell did you think you were doing..."
Baby tried to get the attention off me by hugging him, shouting, "Jackie!" He pushed her away. I couldn't take that. He could push me around, but not her. I stood bolt upright. Kid got up and put a hand on my chest to stop me from doing anything stupid. But Sparrow was the one who stopped it all.
She walked out of her room, turned Jack around, and kissed him. They stood there kissing for a while. In which Spot got up and announced, "Um, I'm heading to get a few beers. See you all at the movie," and walked out. See, it makes him uncomfortable. Then Sparrow started pushing Jack out of the door. They always get dinner before they go out.
When he got to the door he turned and pointed threateningly at me. Then Sparrow shoved him outside. She turned to wink at me and shouted "bye" to everyone. I smiled. Jack would cool off by the time the night was over.
Me, Kid, Milkshake, Crutchy, and Baby watched the rest of a sitcom. Then we all got up and headed toward town.
...*...
Shout outs:
Moonlights Sundance: Thanks so much... and hey just tell me if Sparrow isn't to your liking...but I do my best (
Ireland O'Reily: hey doesn't matter how long the review is...any review is a good review...or something like that...yea I don't have chemistry till next year...but it doesn't sound pleasant
Padfootismyhero: glad you like it so much so far...haha...church...new york...woo...anyway...hope milkshake is still ok in the story for you...she cracks me up
Ducks-go-quack-00: yea I did get these two chapters up a lot faster than I thought...army, rowing, barrics, whoa...
Anyway thanks to all my readers and reviewers. And next chapter **trumpet sounds** my East Side girls. Chapter 3 coming soon to readers like you! Cat