PONYBOY'S P.O.V. (Later That Day) "What?" I asked of JC, rather surprised. Why would the cool, calm and collected leader of an infamous gang want to be just like me? I was just some fourteen-year-old creep named Ponyboy, but here JC was, asking me to teach him how to be like me. Me of all people! I expected him to have some desire to live up to Dallas's legacy, but JC Panther wanting to be like me? What was so special about me anyway? Well, you're smart, and a lot of girls think you're good looking and you're nice too. But JC? JC wasn't what I'd call good looking, like Sodapop, but he had this aura to him that made people admire him. He just looked wild. His eyes were what made him look wild though. JC's right eye was blazing blue, and the other one was smoky gray. I hadn't noticed it before, but up close his eyes glowed, dangerously. His hair and face were wild too. His hair was jet black and long, down the nape of his neck and it stuck out evenly on either sides of his head. His shaggy bangs covered up his eyes and the bridge of his oddly pointed nose. His chin and cheeks were pointed too as were his ears, and I could've guessed easily enough that his teeth were pointed. "I said I wanna be just like you." JC persisted. When I just stood there, my mouth wide open, he persisted again, "You know. I wanna be smart and act like a gentleman and, well..." I could tell that he was actually close to tears, and it just didn't look right on his strong face. "I just wanna be... normal. I've always been pretty weird kid. I mean, I've looked wild since the age of three, and I was wild at eight, when I decided that I wanted to be just like Dallas." I smiled inside. Dally certainly would've been proud of JC if Dally were still alive. "And ya know what, kid?" JC asked, interrupting my thought. "I became just like him, and now that he's gone, I wanna be just like you. Other wise, I might not have anyone anymore. I don't wanna wake up knowing that I got nobody, you dig?" I nodded my head, absently. So that was his silent fear? That he would die empty-handed? I shook my head, but I smiled and closed my eyes. I had to give in. JC was persuasive. Then it came into my mind. "What did you say your name was again, JC?" I asked him and the minute I said it, I knew it sounded dumb. I mean, I had just said his name. But I meant his real name. "Your real name..." I added shortly. If he was going to be normal, he would have to have a normal name. "Well, legally my real name is JC now, but I can have that changed. But it used to be Weston Cole. Or West..." 'West' said, gazing out of the window. West might have been his real name, and he might've been called JC in his gang, but to me he was a wilder version of Dally. To me, JC, or West, or whatever, to me, he was Dallas. JC's P.O.V. The Curtis's were great people. Really nice and caring. I was going to be staying for dinner and after that, we were going to play truth or dare with a group of girls, one of them being Steve's girl, Evie, and the others were a bunch of chicks that Two-Bit had dragged around. I know that truth or dare is childish, but it was fun all the same. By the end of the night, I had kissed two blondes, three brunettes and had mooned a total of eight cars on the Curtis's sidewalk. Two-Bit had come up with the most wild dares and it ended with Ponyboy almost getting laid and an angry Darry lecturing us all on all kinds of junk (I wasn't paying attention. Two-Bit was cracking too many jokes) and it all truly ended with us all having to go home. Steve and Evie went off to Evie's place and the other chicks went home. After Two-Bit and I said good-bye to Darry, Soda and Ponyboy, we went over to a party at some guy's place. The guy, Buck Merril, was a real asshole. I had jockeyed for Buck once before and I definitely didn't like the guy, but there was free booze and blondes, so I couldn't object. The only thing that got on my nerves was Hank Williams playing in the background: Hey, hey, good lookin',
Whatcha got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
Hey, sweet baby,
Don't you think maybe
We could find us a brand new recipe?
I got a hot-rod Ford and a two-dollar bill
And I know a spot right over the hill.
There's soda pop and the dancin's free,
So if you wanna have fun come along with me.
Hey, good lookin',
Whatcha got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me? "Two-Bit..." I whined as the song played. "Either turn that damn music off for me or get me a shot of Vodka." I said, still whining. Vodka would block out that damn music. I'm gonna throw my date-book over the fence
And find me one for five or ten cents.
I'll keep it 'til it's covered with age
'Cause I'm writin' your name down on every page.
Hey, good lookin',
Whatcha got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me? "TWO-BIT!" I bellowed, truly annoyed. He just gave me a funny look and cracked a grin, before stumbling off to get me some vodka. "Make it Citron!" I yelled at him as he went to find it. He just absent-mindedly nodded his head without a care in the world, just a grin on his face and a Mickey Mouse tee on his chest. Mickey Mouse was funny though, and about the only worth while thing on t.v. to watch. Peligo and DJ would always laugh at me for watching Mickey on a Saturday morning, but I couldn't help myself. I mean, the only thing that they ever watched was American Bandstand. "Here..." Two-Bit said, handing me an entire bottle of Citron. I could've jumped up and hugged him if I hadn't been at a party. I hadn't had anything to drink in ages. I had stopped going to beer blasts and parties when the gang wars died. I was just really bummed out when the wars were over. Fighting had been a passion for me, because it was the one bad thing that my mother let me do. She had even told me to fight. Flashback: "Did those boys beat you up again?" my mom asked, handing me an uncooked steak to put over my black eye. I nodded my head, grateful for my mother's love. I had been grateful then at least. I held the steak against my eye and felt the cold blood in it. It was soothing and I had stopped crying by then. "You gotta stick up for yourself Weston Cole." My mother said gently, smiling. I smiled too even though I did cringe when she said Weston Cole. In those days I just went by West. "I am giving you permission to go out and fight! You just beat their blocks off West, and if ya find ya can't, go find your brother Ryan. I had smiled even brighter then. I had looked up to my older brother Ryan back in those days. The days before I met Dallas (I was only seven when this was happening.) "Hey West," Two-Bit said, using my 'respectable name.' "You're drunk and ya haven't even drunken from the damn bottle yet!" he said, cracking that comical grin. Two-Bit was a good ol' buddy to have, and I had to admit that, even if he annoyed me. I figured since it was the first day of us being friends that eventually I would get used to his smart-assed remarks. God, I hoped so. I didn't think I could take one more damn joke, but the vodka was helping me. Citron Vodka was just the best. It was like pop with a zing to it. It made me feel like I was a friggin' school boy again. I was feeling really jumpy. Things were starting to spin and I held onto Two-Bit for dear life. He was cracking up in laughter and I wanted to tell him to shut up, but I instead felt myself puking. Like I said, I hadn't drunken anything in a long time, and right then I had drunken way too much. Two-Bit was pushing me to the door and when I felt the breeze come to me I puked again. It's not a pleasant thing to meet air immediately when you're drunk. It makes you feel woozy inside. I was just getting hysterical then and started cracking up in laughter. I was just ranting and raving, but I could tell that Two-Bit thought it was funny, and was catching onto every word I said as to torture me with those words later. "Hank Williams, for Pete's Sake, Two-Bit!" I said bursting into a fit of laughter. A group of girls were watching me with what looked like interest, but I didn't care. "Yeah! Hank Williams. In that there song, they said soda pop. Maybe be should tell Soda that he was in a song so that he can sue. Ya think he'd get any money outa it?" I asked, laughing. I was own the verge of passing out and I knew it, and I laughed my head off until I did just that. Passed out cold. The ground just met me quickly and it seemed like the last thing I heard was Two-Bit's wild laughter Thank you Banana4422 again for reviewing! I know my story is pretty lame so far, but it'll get interesting, I assure you all! Otay! Later on in the story, Ponyboy will do something rebellious (please give me suggestions of what Pony should do, should he come home drunk, or high or should he get laid or whatever!) There will be a new character, but never fear. It won't be corny, like some girl that Pony or JC falls in love with or that corny junk and it won't be one of the Curtis's long lost sisters or whatever, so don't worry.n Also I'll be adding JC's older brother, Ryan, into the story. Also, I am going to be writing a story about JC in his 'prime' (ya know, when the gang wars were still on) and that should be really interesting. The greaser gang won't be in it (sorry!) but Steve might be. Well, that's all for now! Keep reading and reviewing! Love, SP1 Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders L but I do own the drop dead gorgeous JC Panther and his friends and family. I also own any other characters you are not familiar with.