Chapter 3: Soc and Greaser
They all got into pickup truck. Cathy was the only one that didn't go. She went to a restaurant to have dinner with friends.
Everyone got into the truck and took off towards the Nightly Double. When they got out Soda yelled out,
"Two-Bit!"
A man with a beer in his hand came running up to them.
"Hey Soda. Hi kiddies."
Everyone said hi and then he looked at Danny. He then remarked,
"Soda. Don't you have enough kids?"
"Shut-Up. This is Trix's kid. His name's Danny."
"'Sup,"
"Hey little rabbit."
"What!"
"Hey Soda, I'll see you later. I got go pester some broads."
After Two-Bit left, Danny asked,
"Is he drunk or something?"
"You never can tell. You kids go ahead and watch the movie. I'll go find Steve."
Jack then spoke up,
"Dad. I'm nineteen. I'm not a kid anymore."
"Whatever you say."
"Steve's your best friend?" Danny asked.
"Yup."
The four walked on to the movie and sat down. Houston seemed to be a real quiet guy. Rachel went to look to see if she knew anyone, Jack and Danny then started to get to know each other.
"How were things back in Atlanta?"
"Shoot. Every week I was into somethin'."
Danny then started to reminisce his wild times.
"You know, you reminded me of someone my dad knew back then."
"Who?"
"Dallas Winston."
Danny looked at him.
"Dally? What do I have in common with him?"
"Dally said the same thing about New York."
"Well there's still a difference. He's from up north. I'm dirty south all the way."
Jack just laughed and Rachel came back.
"Find anyone?" asked Jack.
"No. Some guy tried to slap my butt though. I gave him a good swing before I left. Two-Bit was over there laughing. Why are we watching this? This movie is dull."
Houston finally spoke up,
"Sodapop wanted to see it."
"I don't. Let's go see if we can go ahead home. He should be having too much fun with Steve anyway. That okay with you new kid?"
"Don't treat me like I don't who you are."
"Whatever. Let's go."
They all got up and found Sodapop. He was eyeing chicks with Steve.
"Hey Steve," said Jack as we walked up to them.
"Hey guys. That's Danny right there?" he asked pointing to Danny.
"Yeah. I'm Danny."
Steve looked at him.
"Looks pretty tuff."
"On the outside and inside," Danny replied back. Rachel then cut in.
"Soda, can we go ahead home. The movie's dull."
"Sure. I'll see you there.
As they walked on, Danny asked,
"Do you guys always go by a first name basis?"
Jack answered him.
"Yeah. My dad and Ponyboy are cool about it. But Uncle Darry prefers to be called the 'proper' way."
At that moment, an old school jaguar rolled up to them. The car looked pretty nice. It had a slick black color with the Jaguar sticking out in the front. Everything was pretty clean.
"Great," mumbled Rachel.
Danny wondered what she was talking about. Three teenagers around their age got out of the car. They looked pretty neat. They had on button up shirts. They walked up to them and said aloud.
"Looks like we found some lost greasers."
Danny didn't know who that guy thought he was talking to.
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"You, grease. Just like your little friends right here. And your mom."
Danny just snapped on the guy and started punching the daylights out of the guy. No one should talk about his family. Especially his mom.
Rachel and Jack pulled Danny off of the teenager.
"Be lucky I don't have time for you guys," he yelled and Danny yelled back,
"Be lucky I'm not strapped!"
The teenagers drove off and Danny asked.
"Who were those guys?"
"Socs. They always pick on Greasers."
"So they still do that! They just assumed I'm a greaser! I just got here!"
"You were walking with us, and you live on the North side. That's just the way it is."
The North Side. This reminded Danny of how they rep their neighborhoods in Atlanta.
"Let's just go."
They all walked home in silence. 'So I'm a greaser' thought Danny. Looks like I'll be getting into some stuff around here.
They finally reached the house. When Rachel was in the bathroom, Jack leaned over to Danny.
"The soc you beat up earlier. Rachel used to go out with him. He was a greaser and my best friend. Then he won some money and just turned his back on us."
Danny looked at Jack.
"Is that why she's always so bitter?"
"Uh-huh."
Later on that night Cathy came home and told them to go to bed. Danny would start his new school tomorrow. He walked out of the bathroom, he took his showers at night. He liked to avoid the morning rush. He walked in and saw Houston lying on his bed. He had his arms folded behind his head and he was staring at the ceiling.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Danny breaking into his thoughts.
"Oh. Nothing. Good night."
"Night."
Danny cut off the light and lied down on his bed. He would have to get to know more people around here. Back in Atlanta, he learned that the more people you know that have your back, the safer you are.