"Johnny, Are you coming with us?" Two-Bit asked the next day. It was noon and half the school was on their lunch period. "We're going to the Dingo."
"Of course he's coming with us," Soda said. He looked at Steve. "Right?"
Steve nodded. "We can't let Johnny stay here with all the socs."
I don't have any money on me," I said softly.
That's okay," Two-Bit told me. "I'll pay for your lunch."
I looked at him. "You don't have to do that, Two-Bit, I know you don't have much money either."
"Don't worry about it, Johnny," Two-Bit replied. By then we had reached his car, so I just shrugged my shoulders and got in the front seat next to Two-Bit.
"When I get a car, I'll drive us to wherever we decide to have lunch," Steve said from the back seat where he sat next to Soda. He already had his drivers license. Now all he needed was a car.
"I'll drive, too," Soda spoke up. "I'll be getting my license soon."
"You need a car, Soda," Steve told him. "You can't drive without one."
"I have to bring my grades up anyway," Soda sighed. "My parents are really starting to get on me about school work. I wish they could understand that I'm just not smart like Darry and Pony are."
"I wish my parents could be concerned about my grades," I said. "At least yours care enough to want you to do well."
"Speaking of your parents," Soda said slowly. "My mom wanted to call the fuzz last night because of their arguing. We could hear them at our house."
"Yeah, I know," I replied. "I ended up going to Buck's with Dally."
"Speaking of Dally," Two-Bit glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "Why didn't he come to school today?"
"He said he didn't feel like going today," I replied. "He had more important things to do."
Two-Bit pulled into the Dingo and found a place to park. There were only two cars besides the one we were in. The Dingo doesn't get that busy on week days because most of it's business is in school. But on the weekends, you were lucky if you could get your car into the parking lot much less find a space to park in.
A girl with a blond ponytail that swayed side to side as she walked approached the car. She was one of the car hops that worked there and was not much older than us. "Whatt can I get for you?"
"Your number," Two-Bit replied with a flirtacious grin.
The girl blushed and I felt my own cheeks get hot. Leave it to Two-Bit to ask for a girl's number whenhe didn't know who she was. If a girl had blond hair, Two-Bit wouldn't hesitate to ask for her number and to flirt with her.
"So, are you going to give me your number?" Two-Bit asked. "Or will your boyfriend get jealous?"
"I'm supposed to be taking your order," The girl said, trying to avoid answering Two-Bit's questions.
"But, you never answered my question," Two-Bit replied.
The girl blushed again. "Give me your order and I'll think about giving you an answer."
"Well, I guess it's a deal," Two-bit said. He gave her his order and the rest of us did the same. Once she was gone, Two-Bit turned to us. "She's pretty cute, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she is," Soda agreed and Steve nodded. "Don't you think she's cute, Johnny?"
I felt my ears get hot as I tried to think of something to say. I never know what to say about girls and I'm too shy to actually talk to one. Suddenly, I was wishing that Ponyboy was with us, but he was still in junior high. So, I just looked at the hole in my jeans and hoped that someone would change the subject or thar our food would come.
"It's okay to think that a girl's cute, Johnny," Two-Bit said. "They won't bite if you do."
"I know," I mumbled as the girl returned with our order. I unwrapped my sandwhich and startedeating it while Two-Bit went back to flirting with the girl.
"Hey Johnny," Soda said and I turned to look at him. "Pony has a track meet at his school today. Do you want to come with me to watch him?"
I nodded while Steve looked at Soda. "The kid's running track?"
"Yeah," Soda replied. "Do you want to come, too?"
"No, I think I have to do something," Steve answered.
"What do you have to do that's more important than watching Pony at his track meet?" Two-Bit asked, joining the conversation. "I'll go with."
"Why do we always have to watch what that kid does?" Steve grumbled. "It's not like we don't have anything better to do."
Soda sighed and glared at Steve; something you don't see him do often. "That kid is my brother and I want to be there to cheer him on. If you don't want to come with, that's fine. But that's no reason to be saying mean things about him."
"That's right," Two-Bit agreed. "Pony's a good kid. He'd be there to watch you, Steve."
"Probably because he'd beg Soda to go," Steve said through a mouthful of his double cheeseburger.
"He doesn't ask to join us," Soda told Steve. "I invite him to come along."
That was true. Soda was always trying to include Ponyboy. Even when we were younger he would try to include Pony in our football games or invite him to go trick or treating with us on Halloween. If it weren't for Soda, Pony and I wouldn't be friends. But it always bugged Steve that Pony always got invited to cme along.
Two-Bit and Dally were also known for inviting Pony to come along. Although, I think Dally sometimes invites Pony because he knows I'll go with if Pony goes. And Two-Bit sort of feels like an older brother to Ponyboy since he's known Pony since he was a baby. I guess they seem kind of protective of Pony. Just like they're protective of me. Only Pony's the youngest and I have a bad home life.
"Well, I guess we should head back to school," Two-Bit said, starting the engine of his car. He looked over at me. "Are you ready for a few more hours of school, Johnnycake?"
"I'm thrilled," I said sarcastically and Two-Bit grinned.
"Yeah, me too," Soda chimed in as he reached forward and messed up my hair. "Johnny and I get to sit through another history lecture together."
"Sounds like fun," Two-Bit remarked as he turned his car onto the street.
Steve laughed and soon he and Soda were talking about his new job at the DX station. The discussion a few minutes earlier about Ponyboy was forgotten or at least pushed aside. Not that I was surprised. Soda and Steve rarely get upset with each other; and when they do, they're quick to get over it.