Disclaimer: I own Holly and her mother. Please review! :)
Chapter 7
My mom was on the living room couch reading a book when we entered. She looked up and said, "Hey honey! Hello, Two-Bit!"
"All the parents like you," Two-Bit mumbled, and I tried to hold back a laugh.
"Hey mom! How was work?"
She made a face. "Fine for the most part. Until a young woman showed up, about twenty, and started to demand that some of the other working ladies and I pick up her food for her. She claimed that it was our job to serve people like her. Ooh, I wanted to teach her a lesson right then and there!"
I told you my mother hated rudeness. "Are you serious? What a witch!" I cried, and Two-Bit asked if she was a Soc. My mom nodded sadly.
"Yes, Two-Bit, she was. It's really a shame that people like that treat people like us differently.
Two-Bit leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Where's the bathroom?"
I giggled and pointed off to the left. "Second door on the right," I whispered back, and he grinned and walked off.
"So, I take it you're going to spend the day with the gang?" my mom smiled at me. I nodded and sat down next to her.
"Where did you stay during the night? I came home to an empty house! I almost panicked! But I figured you either went out early and forgot to leave a note…" she glanced at me with that you-did-something-you-weren't-supposed-to look and continued, "…or just stayed over at someone's house."
"Yeah, I slept over at Two-Bit's," I replied, looking away. I knew she was looking at me suspiciously, and if I made eye contact she would know I liked him.
"Do you have a crush on Keith Mathews?" she asked, amused. I hate how parents know everything! But I would have told her eventually…perhaps.
I sighed and let a grin form on my face. "Maybe…" I drawled, then said, "Yeah, I do! He's always been there for me and he's really sweet and funny and…" I trailed off as Two-Bit came out of the bathroom. I cleared my throat and went on, "Yeah, Cousin Kenny is a really cool guy…"
My mom stifled a laugh and I blushed deep red as Two-Bit grinned at us and sat next to me. "What did I miss?" he asked.
"Nothing," I replied, "Let's get going, I bet the gang needs us…" I trailed off again for the millionth time, remembering Soda and Johnny.
"What's wrong?" my mom asked us, and Two-Bit and I filled her in on what the Socs had done.
She gasped. "Oh, my Lord! They didn't! That's positively dreadful! I'm going to make some chicken soup right this instant! Holly, you invite those boys over-yes all seven of them-in about an hour. I'll have the soup ready by then and you all can have some," she sprang up from the couch and started to rummage around in our pantry, muttering about ingredients and horrible stuck-up teenage boys. Two-Bit and I said goodbye, and we walked out the door.
We walked in silence for a bit until Two-Bit spoke up. "What…who were you and your mom talking about while I was gone? It didn't sound like your cousin to me," he said, and I blushed again. Two-Bit laughed and put his arm around me.
"Uh, uh, well," I stuttered, but was cut off by Two-Bit's mouth on mine. When he pulled away, I answered (still blushing), "Um, you."
He grinned smugly. "I'm just too ravishing to resist, aren't I?"
I laughed and shoved him lightly. We talked about Mickey Mouse all the way to Soda's house. Did you know that Mickey was going to originally be called Mortimer? Interesting…
Two-Bit swung open the screen door and I followed him inside. Soda and Johnny had gotten presumably better since the last time we've seen them; they were running around and chasing Ponyboy, who had stolen Soda's DX hat. They finally caught him, and knocked Pony to the floor. Ponyboy grabbed Soda's leg, so he fell over Pony, and Johnny tripped over Soda so they all ended up in a pile in front of Two-Bit. Two-Bit grinned. "Hey, yall. Having fun?"
Soda grinned and Johnny laughed. "We feel better," Soda stated, and stood up. He offered a hand to Ponyboy and Johnny, and lifted them up too.
"Hey, guys, my mom wanted everyone to come over for dinner," I told them and they all agreed. "Where are Dally, Steve and Darry?"
"Darry's working, so count him out, and Steve went with Dally to Shepard's house to talk to Tim, so I don't think they'll be able to come either."
"Alright. So just the five of us?" I asked, and looked at them all. They nodded, and Two-Bit turned on the TV and slumped on the couch. Johnny and I sat next to him, and Soda sat on Darry's chair. Ponyboy went upstairs to do homework, and told us to call him down when we were ready to leave. I had finished all of my math homework in study hall; I never get any other homework in any other classes. Which is good, I guess, because math is my best subject. I think it's fun, even though you don't really use it when you're a kid. But my mom said it's a necessity when you're older.
We watched TV and talked the rest of our time. Soda told us that he was going to pick up Sandy when he got off work tomorrow, and Johnny asked Soda if he could sleep on the couch tonight. Soda instantly agreed, and shot Johnny a grin. "Just as long you don't sleep in my bed…we wouldn't wanna look like Two-Bit and Holly!" Soda cackled and Johnny laughed and blushed at the same time. Two-Bit fired a pillow at Soda, and put an arm around me.
Soda continued to grin so wildly I started to laugh. Soda can make anyone laugh. Or fall asleep. Heck, Soda can do everything!
An hour passed quickly, and Johnny yelled for Ponyboy to come down. We headed out the door to my house, shoving our hands in our pockets and trying to look tuff at passing cars. It's funny to see their shocked and surprised reactions when we glare menacingly and slouch. People look at us like we're diseased, which is funny sometimes but utterly annoying other times.
Two-Bit and I also told Soda, Pony and Johnnycake the whole story about Todd and Parker. Soda frowned and Pony and Johnny shook their heads. "What a bunch of jerks!" they all agreed on. Soda even cussed them out, which made Pony's ears go red. I giggled, and Ponyboy lightly punched my arm.
We arrived at my house, and I opened the door. I could smell the chicken soup before I even entered. Boy, did it smell good!
My mother smiled at the five of us. "Hello! Why don't you all take a seat…Holly, can you and Ponyboy hand out bowls? Thank you."
Pony and I walked over to the kitchen cabinets and took out five bowls. "Are you having any, Mom?" I asked, waiting to take out another bowl.
"No, sweetie, when I finish making the soup I'm going to head on over to work. I'll be gone until 10:00 again," she smiled sympathetically at me, "Oh, I know you hate when I'm gone at night, but that was the only shift available. I don't mind if you spend the night again somewhere, or if someone sleeps here."
She gave me a wink and I nearly punched her. I knew she was thinking along the lines to Two-Bit. I felt my cheeks grow hot as Pony and I passed out the bowls and spoons.
I sat down next to Soda and Johnny, with Two-Bit and Ponyboy across from us. Two-Bit was kicking my feet under the table, and I tried not to laugh as I kicked him in the shins. He muffled an "Ow!" and a curse word.
My mom came by and dumped some soup into each of our bowls, and set the empty dishes in the sink. She told me not to worry about them, that she would clean them up when she got home before grabbing her coat and walking out the door.
"Boy, this is some good soup!" Johnny exclaimed, shoving spoonfuls into his mouth, "I gotta come over more often, Holly!"
Soda nodded eagerly and Pony grinned. Two-Bit grabbed one of my legs in between his own and rubbed it with his shoe. I laughed out loud. "Two-Bit! Stop!" I giggled, trying to kick his feet away with my free leg. Soda, Pony and Johnny all stole glances at one another and snorted into their soup. Soda started to sing, "Love Is In The Air."
I playfully punched Soda's arm, and we all finished the last of our soup in peace. Soda and Johnny said they were tired, so they headed back to Soda's house to go to sleep. Two-Bit and I stayed here, washing the dishes.
I turned the water on and clogged the drain. Two-Bit poured in way too much dish soup, so the whole sink was flooded with bubbles.
"Two-Bit!" I screeched, half laughing, "Now look what you did!"
He cupped his hands and dipped them into the suds. "What? Bubbles are cool," he said grinning.
All of a sudden he dumped them all on my head. "Aah!" I yelled, franticly trying to brush them off. I took more bubbles in my hand and threw them at Two-Bit. We had a bubble war until the whole kitchen was a mess and so were we.
Two-Bit was covered in bubbles. I mean, head to toe. It was so amazingly funny I started to snort, and finally broke out in uncontrollable laughter. Two-Bit started laughing too, because I'm sure I looked about the same as him.
We were still laughing even after we had cleaned up the kitchen. "So," Two-Bit said, once he had calmed down, "You wanna sleep with me again tonight?"
I smirked at him. "Excuse me?"
He grinned that famous grin he made his trademark. "Come on, you know you want too."
"Well," I drawled, "I was thinking of going to Dally's house…" I giggled as he pretended to be jealous. "But fine, if you insist. I'll come over again."
He smiled and put his arm around me. "Good."
After casting one last look around, making sure we had cleaned up everything, we started to walk to Two-Bit's house. "You know, my mom and Madison won't be home again today," he said innocently, "We have the house to ourselves…" he traced a finger up my arm and I giggled and shoved him away.
He laughed, then tried to look serious. "What?" he asked, then grinned again.
The house was pitch black when we got there. Two-Bit unlocked the door and walked inside. I stumbled in after him. We kept knocking into each other and laughing, until finally Two-Bit turned on a light. I looked at the kitchen clock; it read 10:22. We had spent an hour throwing bubbles at each other!
We strode into his room and I decided to just sleep in my clothes. He sprang onto his bed and pulled off the covers, then motioning for me to come in. I laughed and did so. He wrapped the covers tightly around me, pushing me against his chest. Putting his arms around me, he signed and said, "Mmm. This is nice."
I giggled and turned around and laid my head against his chest. He pulled me close. "Ooh, this is better."
I hit him lightly and he got the picture. "Ok, I'll shut up now so we can get some sleep."
I snuggled against him and we soon fell asleep.