Chapter 10: Another Recruit

"How's your eye?" asked Steve as him and Soda left the Curtis house.

"It's fine."

"You weren't grounded or anything?"

"No. My parents took my eye as punishment. It is practically. I'm not going to drink ever again."

"Serious."

"Very serious."

The two got into Steve's car. Soda was going to wait for Steve to ask the guy at the DX gas station if he could get a job there.

"Where are you going to work at?" asked Sodapop.

"The DX."

"Going to get me free gas?"

"You don't have a car."

"Well then some free drinks."

"I'll try to get you that. Why don't you try to get the job?"

"I don't know. I might."

They reached the gas station and Soda sat in the car as Steve walked into the gas station. Soda just made himself more comfortable in the car. Soda looked out the window and saw a couple of girls looking at him. He smiled and mouthed,

'ladies,'

The girls giggled and walked on by. Girls were different with Soda now. Better than the first couple of girls that he and Steve tried to take out. The next day, the same two girls tried to get them to buy lunch, but Steve and Soda blew them off.

Later on, Steve came walking out of the gas station. He had a smile on his face. Steve got into the car and Soda asked,

"Did you get the job?"

"Yup. I start Monday."

"Where to now?"

"I don't know."

"We can find something."

Steve started up the car and drove around their hometown of Tulsa. They didn't drive to the Southside though. There was nothing but socs there. One of the grown ones probably would have called the police, thinking they were going to start trouble.

Soda was daydreaming when Steve suddenly stopped the car. Soda looked at his friend and Steve pointed towards a group of socs surrounding something. Steve and Soda looked at each other. It was obvious that they were trying to jump a greaser.

They stepped out the car. The socs were attacking the person now. But it looked like they were having a hard time trying to jump the person. Soda and Steve both grabbed two socs and gave them a couple of jabs.

Soon enough, the socs ran off, knowing that they couldn't hold off the tough greasers. Soda and Steve then turned to the person. He was dusting his shoulder and arms off. He looked at the two.

"I was handling them you know," he said rudely.

"Sorry for helping. What's your name? I haven't seen you around here before," said Steve.

"Who wants to know?" said the guy pulling his jacket collar.

"We want to?" said Soda with a grin.

The guy looked at the grin. He could barely hold in his smile. He cracked one.

"You're a funny looking character you know," said the guy.

"That's what I'm known for. Name's Soda. And this is Steve."

"Name's Dallas Winston. I came here with my old man from New York."

"All the way up there?" said Steve.

"Yeah."

"What for?"

"My dad had to get away from some people. I don't get into his business. Just as long as he doesn't get into mine."

"What's it like in New York?" asked Soda.

"Man. I love it. The gangs and everything. What do you guys have down here? Who were those guys that tried to jump me? What gang are they in?"

"Why don't we talk in my house? It's starting to get hot out here. I know your temperature must be rising with that jacket on."

"I guess."

The three got into the car and drove over to the Curtis house. Darry and Ponyboy were over there watching television. Mrs. Curtis was out and Mr. Curtis was at work. When they walked in, Soda introduced Dallas. Pony and Darry welcomed him.

"Darry. Me and Steve are going to need to you to explain to Dally here about the soc and greaser thing. You seem to know the most about it."

"Um. Okay. Sit down, Dally."

Soda and Steve walked into the kitchen, hoping that there was some leftover chocolate cake from that morning. It was rare that there were some.

"It's weird how you got that guy to stop acting so cold to us," said Steve leaning against the counter.

"It's the smile," said Soda putting his head into the icebox. He came back out replying,

"There is none left."

They heard the door opening and the two glanced into the living room. Two-Bit and Johnny walked in. Two-Bit had his hands on Johnny's shoulders and Johnny had a look on his face. It was the look of sadness.

"What's wrong with Johnny?" asked Darry looking at the two. Two-Bit explained.

"Johnny spent the night at my house and he went over to his house this morning to change clothes. His mom then chewed him out for something."

Darry nodded and spoke to Johnny.

"Wanta talk to Soda?"

That seemed to calm Johnny sometimes. Talking to the gang. Especially Soda. Yet, Soda and Steve couldn't help but notice Dallas looking at Johnny, with a different look on his face. It wasn't the same mean looking face he had the entire time.