"Seriously," I pushed again. I really wanted to know. "What were you doing at the Dingo? You would've been able to tell it was a hoods hangout when you went in, so why didn't you turn back?" Christina just looked down at her well-polished shoes, almost like she was ashamed to answer.
"I was looking for my brother." she finally fessed up. I was still confused though. Why would her soc brother be at the Dingo? "He''s a hood." she continued, almost reading my mind. I do that to a lot of people, which I know makes them feel weirded out. I can't actually read their minds, I just think the same way as every other hood.
"Your brother''s a hood? I probably know him then." I told her with a smirk, so proud that I knew every hood on this side of town. "What's his name?" I asked her, cocking one eyebrow. Braxton wasn't a familiar name in my book, but a lot of hoods go by nicknames, so maybe he didn't go by the last name Braxton.
"Chewy Braxton." Christina replied to me, curtly. "He lives up in Brumly, but he's always going to the Dingo with his gang leader, JC Panther." I jumped then, shocked. Her brother was a Street Panther? A Street Panther for Pete Sake's! JC Panther was the leader of the gang, the Street Panthers, and he was one of the toughest hoods I knew. Well, I didn't really know him. Steve did though, back when he lived in Brumly he and JC used to buddy around.
"Your brother, Chewy, and his friend JC are two classy hoods." I said with surprise in my voice. I didn't know about Chewy, but JC had a lot of class. He reminded me of the southern gentlemen that Ponyboy would always talk about, with their great manners and them being so gallant, the southern gentlemen I mean. Whenever JC picked up a girl, he always treated her right, like she was in charge of the world. He got a job just so he could take his chicks out on shopping spree's!
"Classy?" Christina said, stifling a giggle. I was glad, I hated it when girls giggled. "Chewy is definitely not classy. He's a pig who eats way too much." then she looked up at the sky, and added as an after thought, "JC is pretty classy though. Every Saturday he goes down to that diner, what's it called? Oh yeah, Borders. Well, anyway, he goes to Borders to read a book and grab a coffee and then every Sunday he's in church."
JC Panther definitely wasn't like any other hood I had ever heard of. Ponyboy and Johnny had gone to church together before Johnny died, and I had never known why. Maybe some guys are just born with classiness, I guess (the lucky fools.) And I was kind of jealous of JC then. I mean, the way Christina was rambling on about him, you'd have thought of him as a saint instead of the leader of a greaser gang that got kicks by jumping five-year-old soc 's.
"I heard that JC kid is a blasted pansy... " I said in my own defense, pouting. "I mean what kind of a greaser drinks coffee and goes to church for crying out loud?" I knew I shouldn 't have said anything though. She just gave me a real mean look and we walked to the west end of town in silence.
I felt really uncomfortable on the west end, I mean, it being soc filled and all, who could blame me? But all the same, I continued walking, just following Christina to make sure she got home okay. Her house was really big though, with a swimming pool and everything and a question came to mind, "Hey Christina, " I began, baffled, " If you''re a soc, how is Chewy a greaser?"
Christina just laughed and said, "Chewy likes to act and apparently he 's real good at it with his play of, 'I 'm a big tuff greaser with nothing but a bad rep, ' but he lives here with me. His friends drop him off at a place they think is the apartment we live in, but then Chewy comes down here." then she suddenly stopped smiling and said, "But JC found out." I just looked down at my shoes. I thought I knew where this was leading, some tragic story of JC bashing Chewy's face in, but Christina continued, "JC was fine with it. He actually taught me and Chewy something. There's more than being a spoiled rotten brat like us. That's why I was looking for Chewy. He ran away a couple of days ago and has been living with different members of the gang ever since."
I couldn't believe it. Maybe this JC character really wasn't famous for his bad rep. Maybe he really was, like I heard Ponyboy say about the southern gentlemen, maybe JC Panther was gallant. And he wasn't weak for showing his feelings, no. He was the damn most powerful person on this earth at that moment. Right then I felt a sudden triumph and I felt like shouting, 'That's right, we greasers have JC on our side, so stay back! He's ours!'
"It was real nice of you to have walked me home Two-Bit." Christina said, actually hugging me. Miss super soc, hugging me, a greasy hood! "And I hope I see you soon too." she added quickly. Then a wicked grin spread across her face and she kissed me on the cheek, before running through her front door, yelling over her shoulder at me, "Thanks Keith Mathews!" and I just couldn't help but stand there and laugh. And that's all I did...
It was about eleven o' clock by that time and I really had nothing to do. I hadn't been to Buck Merrill's in ages to avoid all memories, but I was really in the mood for a quick drink, and a place to lay over so I wouldn't have to put my sister to bed. It was annoying because she would always make me read her Alice in Wonderland. I practically had that damn book memorized for god sakes!
I stumbled up to Buck's 'humble abode' about a half hour later and when I entered I coughed from the heavy smell of smoke. I had always been around a couple of guys that smoked, but it had been awhile since I had been in a closed room with about twenty people smoking at the same time. It can really kill your lungs.
I decided to seek out Ponyboy and this Dana girl he was with just to make sure they were up to no mischief, even though I knew Ponyboy would never do anything like that. Maybe those two were talking, or some other stupid thing that someone of my own stature would not dream to do at a party such as this one.
Buck was stumbling around with a can of beer in his hand and a corny grin on his face. I grabbed him by the shoulder before he could slip away and asked sharply, "Have ya seen a blond kid and a chick with him?"
Buck just stared at me blankly and then said, "Oh, you mean horse boy. Him and his girl went upstairs to talk or sumthin'." his words were slurring, but I wasn't surprised. Buck always got more drunk than anyone at his parties. It was like a rule of his or something, that no one could get more drunk than him.
I grabbed a beer from some broad who was about to open one, and I myself took a sip of it before walking up the steps to the many bedrooms in Buck's house. I wasn't sure what bedroom Pony would be in. All I knew was that I would hear talking instead of... Well, you know.
Anyway, I didn't hear any talking, so I opened each bedroom door one at a time, constantly closing them the second I'd peered inside, and then I came to the sixth room and I opened the door and there Ponyboy and Dana was, but they weren't talking. They were... Aww, hell. You know what they were doing!
"Ponyboy! What in god's blazes are ya doing!" I shrieked out in surprise. I had never, never expected Pony to have been doing something so immature, but then again I was around his age my first time....
"Two-Bit! I swear, we weren't doin' nuthin'!" Ponyboy cried out in desperation. I just gave him a stern look, trying to be serious about something like that but it just wasn't working. I just couldn't help but burst out in laughter.
"Weren't doin' nothing huh? Kid, Darry'll kill ya when he finds out, ya know that, don't ya? If I hadn't been young and stupid and doin' the same thing, you would've been gettin' a lecture from me too."
Ponyboy just rolled onto his side and groaned. Then he said something definitely unexpected, "If you've gotta tell him, tell him. But can I at least finish up?" I let out the longest laugh I ever had in my life. Ponyboy had gotten caught... YOU KNOW! And he wanted to finish up? But I gave in. What could I say? I still had to tell Darry though. It wouldn't be right if I didn't.
"Alright. You finish up Ponyboy, but I still have to at least tell Darry and Sodapop. They'll be worrying about ya soon. Sorry buddy, but they've gotta know..." Ponyboy just nodded glumly.
"It was nice ta meet ya Dana, I 'm just sorry it was in this kind of way." I said to Pony 's chick, smiling. Dana laughed a real soft laugh and I thought to myself, at least he chose a sweet broad. And I knew Ponyboy would be alright, if Darry didn' t skin him...
I left Buck 's at that time. I didn' t even wanna imagine Ponyboy ' finishing up' so I decided to get away from there, not to mention that I 'd have to be telling Darry and Sodapop. Steve would probably comment something like, 'It 's about time. ' and Sodapop would just say, 'No way!' but Darry... Darry would flip his wig big time.
"Hey guys!" I said walking into the front door. I was actually in the mood to crack a joke. What a surprise! "Have I got some interesting news for you!" Darry was sitting in the armchair, watching television with Steve and Sodapop. I was surprised he wasn 't angry looking. It was passed Pony' s curfew and he was at Buck Merrill' s!
"What is it?" Sodapop asked like an excited puppy, so damn hyper! "Come on Two-Bit, tell us! Please??? " I couldn 't help but give in. He is so hyper sometimes.
"Alright, I 'm only telling you because I have to. It' s my responsibility as Ponyboy 's brother of sorts. But Darry, " I said, looking sternly at Darry. "Don 't you touch Pony when I tell you. I 'm only telling you for the good of Ponyboy but,............................................................... "
Discalimer: I do not own the Outsiders, I only own JC, Chewy, Christina and any other characters not recognized.
priceless advice: Thank 's for reviewing! I appreciate it all the time!
Sodapop' s#1gurl: Will do! Thanks!
MrsHoldenCaulfield: Yes! GREAT possibilities! And I chose one. Hope you enjoyed
Loree: Thanks! I like original stories, and I thought this one would be good!
Mom: I edited. Thanks for the great advice! I've been looking stuff up. Love ya!