It wasn't long before Two-Bit pulled up next to the curb in his car. Steve was sitting in the front seat next to him, looking at me like I was wasting his time as I climbed into the back seat.
"Hey, kid." Two-Bit greeted me. "Anything exciting happen?"
"Nah, just the usual stuff." I replied. Two-Bit may like school, but he doesn't understand a lot of what goes on there.
"Well, where are we going?" Two-Bit asked. "We can't sit here for the whole lunch period."
"Just drive to the DX." Steve sighed. "It looks like your car needs a fill up anyway."
I stared out the window. I don't talk much when Steve's around. Especially when I think he's not in the mood to listen to me and this was one of those times. I really don't understand how Soda can be friends with him because they're so different from each other. But, somehow, they get along.
Two-Bit drove to the DX station in record time. When he pulled up to the pumps, Soda looked up in surprise.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Soda asked.
"Fill her up!" Two-Bit said with a grin.
"Are the checks in yet?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, they got here a few minutes ago." Soda said as he unscrewed the gas cap and started put gas in the car. ""Why don't you go see if the boss will give you your check now since you're here."
"That was the plan, buddy." Steve said as he got out of the car.
"Pony, do you want a Pepsi since you're here?" Soda asked me. He finished filling Two-Bit's car and leaned against the door.
'Sure." I replied. I knew he was going to get me a Pepsi anyway.
"What about you, Two-Bit?" Soda asked.
"A Pepsi is fine." Two-Bit said as he handed Soda some money for the gas and his Pepsi.
Soda left and retuned a minute later with two Pepsies and Steve following behind, staring at his check.
"I wish we got paid more." Steve was mumbling as he got back in the car.
Soda just looked at him and shook his head. He hears this every two weeks when Steve gets his check. Soda, on the other hand never complains about the amount he makes. He's just glad that he can do something to help Darry out.
"We should head back to school." I said. Lunch was almost over and we liked showing up in time to hear the socs blame the greasers for the mess they made in the cafeteria. It starts off the rest of the school day with a good laugh.
"All right, I'll see y'all later." Soda told us. "And Pony? Darry called and said he'd be late tonight, so don't start making dinner till around six."
I nodded as Two-Bit drove off. Steve waved absently, still looking at his check and muttering about how he didn't make enough money. I drank my Pepsi and looked out the window again. It wasn't long before we were back at the school and walking inside the building where the cafeteria was.
"It was the greasers." A soc was saying to a teacher when we entered the building. "They're always making a mess."
"Yeah, they always have to be in filth, it makes them feel at home." Another said.
I exchanged amused grins with Two-Bit.
"I saw you two throwing the food, so how can you say someone else did it?" The teacher, who was not amused, asked.
"But it was the greasers!" The first soc said. He pointed at us.
The teacher looked at us and back at the soc. "Those three left campus for lunch. I saw them pull into the student parking lot a few minutes ago. Now, are you going to clean up your mess or not?"
"We didn't do it!" The second soc insisted.
The teacher sighed and I knew from the look in his eyes that he had had enough of the two socs. "Clean up your mess and be here on Saturday for detention."
"But, we can't be here on Saturday!" Both socs exclaimed.
The teacher glared at them. "Make that this Saturday and next Saturday."
The two socs stomped off, both cussing out the teacher under their breaths. Two-Bit, Steve, and I didn't stick around to see if they would clean their mess or not. We didn't have to. They'd been caught red handed by a teacher who refused to put up with their little stories. We just wandered the halls until it was time to go to class.