Chapter 22: White Trash (Darry's Point of View)
This week has been pretty good thus far, for a number of reasons. The main on being, all my brothers are back at school, and I haven't got anymore phone calls from the principal yet. Sky seems to be trying harder, actually doing school work, and him and Pony are getting along well. Soda seems to get along with him too, which is good. They've all actually been sleeping together this week, because of Pony's nightmares. Sky starts off in his bed, but Pony screams for him like he does for Soda and I. I think Soda likes it when Sky sleeps with them too, though he doesn't say anything about it.
Soda and I got into a fight on Tuesday, when he declared he was 'dropping out of high school to get a full time job'. I nearly lost it. I hate it that he thinks he has to help out. I really wish he would juts stay in school. But he made it clear that he hated it, that he was no good at it, and that he was dropping out no matter what I said. Of course, I did have some things to say about it, and Pony took Soda's side as always. Sky did the smart thing and stayed out of it, but eventually I gave in. I mean, I don't think I really had much of a choice, since Soda was at the age where he could drop out if he wanted too, but I'm still kind of upset about it.
The whole gang is over now, which I guess isn't all that surprising. Johnny, Pony, and Sky are in Pony and Soda's room doing who-knows-what, while the rest of the gang is tearing up the house. I'm trying to cook dinner, since it's already six, and Soda is on the phone with Sandy. Two-bit is flipping through the TV channels, Steve is making a pyramid of cards, and Dally is lighting up his fifth cigarette.
Someone knocks on the door and Two-bit rushes to it before I can even get out of the kitchen.
"We don't buy timeshare!" He announces, opening the door to a smiling Kate.
"Good, cause I aint sellin'." She answers. "Can I come in?" She asks to me. I nod and wonder why she didn't bother calling. She steps in and waves to Chris and Danny to follow. Great, this is just what I need.
"How are you guys?" Kate asks. I wonder if she even remembers the fight we had last time I saw her. If she does, she doesn't act like it.
"We're fine. 'Course, not near as fine as yourself." Two-bit answers. She blushes and gives Two-bit a friendly shove.
"Gimme a break. Where's Lex?" She asks. I nod to the room they're in, and Kate tells Chris and Danny that they can go say hi. They wander off down the hall.
"You want to stay for dinner?" I ask out of politeness. Her smile widens and she nods her head.
"Oh can I? I'd love to. I'm sure Danny and Chris would too. How's everything with you Dally?" Kate asks, sitting down on the couch beside her brother. I can't help but notice what a short attention span she has.
"Fine. Sylvia was being a little bitch earlier tonight, but what's new. She's always been a little bitch." Dally answers. So that's what his problem is.
"Hey, don't worry about her. I told you time and time again that you're too good for that whore." Kate answers, and I remember how Sky and his friends talked about Kate that day at her house. I wonder if anything they said was true. Sometimes Kate did look like a whore, and other times she didn't. Tonight was one of the times she didn't. She is wearing jeans and a blue top that goes well with her eyes.
"Yeah I know. Don't remind me." Dally answers bitterly. I go back to the kitchen to finish dinner, surprised to see Kate following me in.
"You need some help?" She asks real friendly. I shrug and point to the potatoes.
"You know how to peel potatoes?" I ask. She gives me an 'are-you-kidding-me look.
"Of course I do. You won't find a better potato peeler in all of Oklahoma." She tells me in a playfully arrogant way. I can't help but laugh.
"Okay then. I'm holding you to a high standard then." I tell her. She winks at me starts peeling.
"You just-" She starts, but is interrupted by a loud bang from the boys room.
"What in Gods name was that?!" Dally yells.
Johnny's Point of View
As soon as the words came out of Danny's mouth, I knew there was going to be trouble. Especially after last night with that girl. I've been called white trash quite a few times before, and I don't ever get worked up about it, but Lexan wasn't having his family called that by Danny. He grabbed Danny up my his shirt and flung him off the bed so hard, he smashed his head against the wall when he landed. Danny Hardly had time to stand up before Lex was on top of him, punching the daylights out of him.
"Hey, stop. Lexan let go!" Pony yells trying to break them up. I just stand by and watch, not wanting to get involved.
"What the hell?!" Darry screams, barging in the room. Lex turns around to explain, and Danny takes the chance to tackle him to the ground. Darry grabs Danny off of Lex, and Dally rushes into the room, hauling Lexan off the floor. Kate and the rest of the gang watch from the doorframe, wide-eyed.
"Someone want to explain what's going on here?" Darry yells. Pony stands against the wall beside me, and every is looking to Danny and Lex for answers. Neither one of them look like they intend on answering.
"It was something Danny said." I whisper, and everyone turns to me. Great, I had to open my mouth.
"What did he say?" Darry asks accusingly.
"What did you say Daniel?" Kate asks quietly but angrily.
"Nothing that wasn't true." Danny answers, and Lex lunges at him. Luckily, Dally tightens his grip around him before Lex can hit him. Honestly, I don't think Danny stands much of a chance against Lex, even though he's older. Lex has quite a temper.
"Fuck you!" Lexan Screams.
"Skywriter!" Darry yells, hushing him up.
"Danny-" Kate starts again.
"I said they were white trash! I don't regret it either, because it's true. Everyone here, with the exception of Chris, is white trash." Danny yells. Chris's eyes go wide at the mention of her name. She's been quiet since the fight started.
"Just get him outta my house." Darry says, I guess for lack of anything else to say. I feel like that a lot of times. Not really sure of what to say.
"You know Lexan, you've turned into a real prick since you moved here!" Danny yells, as Kate drags him out of the house by his wrist. Chris follows without saying a word.
"A real prick! You're not my friend anymore!" Danny continues to scream all the way out to the car. Kate runs back inside, apologizes to Darry, and then runs back out to car, starting it up and driving away. We all just stand there for a minute, not saying anything.
"I need a smoke." Lex says finally, breaking free of Dally's grasp and walking onto the first porch.
"Man. I didn't even get her number." Two-bit says, following him.