Chapter 4: Calculus professor?

Disclaimer: Do I really have to put one for each chapter? It's a waste of my time. All Outsiders stuff belongs to S.E. Hinton. And I got most of this chapter's jokes and tidbits from a Hindi movie called "Main Hoon Na." Sorry, kind of forgot to mention that last time.

Darry walked up to the kid, who looked terrified for some reason. The kid tugged nervously at his long, unwashed hair. Darry, the poster boy for cleanliness, suppressed a shudder at the sight of it.

"Hello," Darry said, trying to break the ice. "I'm Darrel Curtis. Can you help me?" The kid looked up at Darry, who was a good three inches taller than him. "Uh, sure, um, Mr. Curtis."

"Can you tell me where the admissions office is?" The kid pointed behind Darry. "That first building there, third door to your left."

Lucky tried not to laugh. Sure, the guy was big, but he was harmless. He wondered briefly what happened to his shirt. It was covered with applesauce. As Darrel thanked him and turned, Lucky gave him a hard shove.

Darrel lost his balance and fell to the ground. His papers flew everywhere. Back at the table, everyone burst out laughing and cheering.

Lucky threw his head back and laughed. He bent over where Darrel was still on the ground, picking up his papers and dusting himself off irately and put out a hand. "Sorry, man. It was a bet."

Darry ignored his hand and stood up, glaring sternly. The kid reminded him of Two-Bit Matthews. He was grinning like the Cheshire cat. "What's your name, kid?"

The kid laughed. "Why? Gonna report me to the principal? Good luck," he laughed, turning away. Darry pulled him back around by the shoulder. "I asked you a question," he said in an almost threatening tone, kind of like a teacher dealing with a student.

Lucky's grin faded. "What, you don't like the way your face looks? No problem, man, I can change it for you."

Back at the table, A.J. was observing the scene worriedly. Lucky was cocky and arrogant, and had an ego the size of Mt. Everest and the common sense of a bungee jumper without a harness.

Her friend Andy leaned over and whispered urgently to her, "A.J.! What if that's the new Calculus professor?"

A.J. felt like she had been slapped. "What?" she shrieked, horrified. "Oh, God, Lucky!" She leapt off the table and ran towards Lucky before he got himself expelled for fighting a teacher. She just hoped he wouldn't try his "judo" skills.

The kid rolled up his sleeves even further and spread out his arms, taking a stance. "Haieee-yah!" he shouted, hopping up and down on one foot. "Hai-hai-hai!" he yelled, punching the air by Darry.

"What are you doing?" Darry demanded, staring at him. "Watch it, man!" The kid yelled loudly. "I'm a judo expert, man! Don't mess with me!"

Just then, a small, dark haired, dark skinned girl ran up. She pushed the kid away from Darry. "Don't mind him, he's just stupid, it's just a game, just a game…" she said quickly and pleadingly.

"Wha-zai!" The kid hollered, leaping up again, but the girl pushed him down again. "Behave yourself!" she snapped at him. She turned back to Darry apologetically.

"I'm so sorry, it's just a game." She turned to the kid, who had turned away form them, his arms crossed. "Say sorry. Lucky, say sorry!" she hissed, smacking him.

"Sorry," Lucky said grudgingly. "It's okay," Darry said amiably. If these were his classmates, he didn't want to be their enemies. He held out his hand.

"Hello, I'm Darrel Curtis, but you can call me Darry." The girl shook his hand awkwardly. "Hello, um, Mr. Curtis. I'm A.J."

"And I'm Lucky. C'mon, A.J., lets split." They turned to go, but Darry stopped them. "Excuse me, A.J., can you show me to the admissions office?" Darry had a strong suspicion that Lucky had told him the wrong place to go.

"It's the first building, third door to your left," A.J. said. Darry stopped, embarrassed. "Oh," was all he could say.

"See you later, Mr. Curtis," A.J. said before turning away. "Call me Darry," Darry called after her. She turned back, shocked.

"Are you serious? Just call you by your first name like that?" she sounded and looked astonished. "Yeah, so? What's the big deal?" Darry asked, confused.

"Well, we generally don't call our professors by their first name!" A.J. laughed.

Darry's mind froze. "P-professor?" he stuttered. He didn't think he looked that old. "Yeah," A.J. said. "You're the new Calculus professor, aren't you?"

"No! I'm a student here. I couldn't start college when I was supposed to, so I'm back at school." A.J. looked embarrassed.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry. It's just that…never mind. Well, good for you coming back to school. I guess I'll see you later, Darry." She smiled and walked away.

Darry shook his head and turned to walk to the admissions office. Imagine, thinking he was a professor! It's a long way from Tulsa, he thought gloomily. Things are different around here. New generation of college kids, new places, new culture.

He walked up the stone steps and into the building. He found the third door to his left. Sure enough, it said "Admissions Office."

Darry knocked. A voice shouted, "Come in!" Darry went in. The doorknob stuck a little, and the door was heavy and wooden. The paint was peeling. Darry remembered reading that the University of Chicago was over eighty years old.

An old lady looked up at him. "I'm Darrel Curtis," he said politely. "Oh, yes! Here are your forms, your books, your schedule, and your dorm information and key. Oh, and the principal just called. He asked if you would stop by at his office."

Darry thanked her and left the office staggering under his books. He left the building and realized he had no idea where the principal's office was. He stopped a student and asked him.

Darry walked to the third building and up three flights of stairs with his books. He wished he had thought to drop them off at his dorm first. He reminded himself of Ponyboy sometimes. When he finally reached the principal's office, he was ready to collapse.

He set his books down on the bench outside and knocked on the door. "Come in!" A voice shouted from inside.

Darry entered and saw a middle aged, slightly balding, slightly overweight man reading "Pride and Prejudice." He looked up at Darry over his glasses. "How can I help you, young man?"

"Sir, you called for me. I'm Darrel Curtis." Realization dawned on the principal's face. "Oh yes! You are starting twelve years late, because of some family responsibility, am I right, Daniel?"

"Yes, sir," Darry said respectfully. "And I'm Darrel, not Daniel." The principal seemed not to have registered the last remark.

"Alright then, I will come to your class this afternoon and announce your position to the students. Anything else I can do for you, Dennis?"

"No, sir, and I'm Darrel, not Dennis." The principal nodded. Darry nodded back and raised a hand in a gesture of farewell. "See you later, sir," Darry said on his way out.

"Right. Whatever you need, just come see me, Damien!" Darry sighed and didn't bother to correct him.

This is going to be an interesting experience, Darry thought to himself. If Pony and Soda were here, they'd laugh their heads off.

So? Whaddya think? Please review. I don't care of you're mean or nice, I want your honest opinion.