Chapter 2: Something's Up

We went back to school. It was the usual. Some girls went for me. But I really had a crush on one girl. I feel bad about this crush though. I like that girl Cherry Valance. She's Bob's girl. Well, was Bob's girl. I guess this makes her available, but I didn't want to make a move for her. What? Just cause I like jumping greasers doesn't mean I can't be polite to women.

After school, I hung out with everyone as usual. We were all sitting at Tyler's house talking about a party this weekend.

"I bet there are gonna be some pretty looking broads there," said Rick.

"I'm thinking about picking up a couple of cheerleaders."

"You have to forget one of them," started Tyler. "One cheerleader is that 'Cherry' girl. She's was Bob's girl."

See what I mean. I think that it'll be a long time before she dates anyone. I mean, her boyfriend died.

"You could pick up her friend," I mentioned.

"Dean. Who are you talking about?" asked Tyler.

"Marcia. That girl?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know. I heard she's a little silly."

Tyler didn't like silly girls. He thinks they played around too much. But Rick likes them. Well, that's because he's just as silly.

"Yeah," cut in Rick. "Plus I heard she gave her number to a greaser."

I decided to change the subject before I let it slip that I had a crush on Cherry. They would either talk about me, or give me one of their stupid pointers about women. I don't want any advice from them. Yeah, they've had the most girls, but they couldn't keep any of them.

"Did you guys ever win those track meets?" I asked.

"Yeah. We won them. But that Pony kid didn't show up. They said he was in the hospital or something."

"I heard that someone really worked him over at the rumble," I point out. "I think it was stupid for him to come. He would have been the main target since he was one of the guys that killed Bob."

"I heard that the black-headed kid was the one that stabbed him though," said Rick.

"Yeah, well that other kid must have helped him."

"What about the other greaser? The one that was helping the two hide."

"He was at the rumble. And he was getting murdered over there."

Suddenly, the clock struck and I looked at it. It was time for me to go home since it was Thursday. I could be out real late on Friday. My mom didn't care.

"Hey. I got to go. I'll see you guys tomorrow morning."

"Alright," said Tyler.

I walked over to the door. Then I quickly turned around.

"Are you giving me a ride to school?"

"Yeah. No problem."

"Okay."

I then walked out the door and walked towards my house. It was only a couple of minutes away. Then I felt a breeze come through. It felt nice. I looked up. Then for the first time in a while, I saw the stars. I don't know. I guess I got caught up in all this soc and-. What the heck am I saying? I can't stare at the stars and all that bull. I'm a devoted soc.

I reached the house and opened the door with my key. When I walked into the living room, my mom was sleeping on the sofa. She looked stressed out. I went over and shook her.

"Mom?...Mom?"

She woke up. She looked like she had been asleep for hours.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. I'm okay, Dean. Just had a bad day at work."

She walked up the stairs and into her room without saying goodnight or anything. She must have had a real bad day. Probably got into an argument. That was bad. She loved her job.

I decided to just forget about it and I walked up to my room. I really didn't have much homework. I just had to finish this Math worksheet. Two problems. I finished them in about four minutes.

Mom didn't cook dinner either. Now that was weird. She usually has a plate waiting for me whenever I hang out in the afternoon. I could tell that she hadn't even touched the stove that night.

I heated up some leftovers, ate and locked up the house. I went up to my room and went to sleep.