A/N: We're rolling now. Let me know what you think. Was Tim in character? I like him I want to keep writing for him, so let me know what you think.
"Boys, if you don't hurry up we will leave you!" I threaten them from the kitchen. I meant it too. Even if we were only going for a day trip it was still an awful lot of work to get everyone out at one time. Not to mention the sandwiches and the snacks I packed for my four then the extra four. Right as I saw them coming into the kitchen the phone rang.
"Goodness gracious," I sighed reaching for it, but Mary beat me too it. That gave me more time to push the boys outside. "Divide up boys," I didn't care who was in what car there were plenty able drivers at this point, I just wanted everyone in the car.
"Momma," Mary caught my attention. I turned back and face her.
"It's Meghan, she's in a bind at work and they won't let her leave," Mary's voice trailed off after that.
"Well, honey, there will be other games," I knew Meghan must have been crushed. Not to mention how Darry would fee. She was expecting him.
"Don't you think I should go in and cover for her, don't you think he'd rather see her? You know he looks for her in the stands," she had the phone down but she was whispering.
"That's your call, I'm sure he'd want to see you too." I needed to remember to talk to Darrel Sr. about talking to Mary about Darry not wanting to see her. Mary must know that it wasn't that Darry wanted to see Meghan more, it was just different. Wasn't it?
"I dunno about that Mrs. Curtis, I think he'd rather see his girl friend than Princess here, because think about it," Dally started but I cut in.
"Dallas, get in the car or I won't give you a sandwich," I knew that was a better threat than anything. Boys and their food.
"Can you drop me off and pick up Meghan?" Mary asked and I nodded. She hurried off to her room and put on her uniform, and came back out at record speed. I was surprised to see it wasn't on backwards.
"What's going on?" Darrel Sr. asked me as Mary got in the back of the truck.
"Meghan's in a rut, Mary's going to cover for her." When he gave me a puzzled look I was quick to respond, maybe a little too quick, "it was either Meghan or Mary, Mary thought Darry would rather see her," I raised my eyebrows and he gave me a kurt nod before cranking the car.
"Jeeze Marbear, think that skirt could get any tighter?" Two-bit asked.
"Yeah, where do you keep all those tips?" Dally added in pulling on the waist.
"Get your greasy hands off me," Mary swatted at him successfully causing him to dumb his drink on Steve.
"What the hell man!" Steve was steaming. It took so little to made him go off the deep end. Darry Sr. chuckled I wanted to join him, but as a mother you learn how to resist.
"Dallas, Two-bit, keep your mouth shut! Marry keep your hands to yourself, here Steve here's a napkin. Glory how old are ya'll can't leave you alone for two seconds."
xxxxxxxxxxx
"Mary!" Meghan ran up to me I thought she was going to kiss me she looked so happy.
"Hey Megs," I smiled to her, and she grabbed my hand.
"I can't thank you enough, I just don't know what I would do if I couldn't go see him!" She still hadn't let go of my hand.
"You better hurry, they are not going to wait long," I motioned to the car.
"Hey, how'd it go last night?" The way she asked made me know she already knew.
"Let's just say it won't happen again," I told her with no emotion. I certainly wasn't over Franki yet, but I sure as hell would put on a face and act like it.
"Oh no Mar! How rude of me, are you even okay to work?" Meghan was on of those girl that you kinda shake your head and say, 'bless her heart' because she was so out of this world sweet, but sometimes that prevented her from really understanding the most obvious things.
"Don't worry! Go on!" I shooed her.
"Okay, I'll send Darry your love!" She was outside getting in the car like it was Christmas Day. I shook my head going to punch in my card.
"Look at you, saving the day. Such a goodie goodie," James touched my cheek like old ladies did to babies.
"Oh goodie, James I was just really super hoping I was working with you. Prayers answered!" I rolled my eyes sitting down to put on my roller skates. Luckily he disappeared and I picked up where Meghan left off.
"Hi, I'm Meghan, I'm going to be your waitress now, what can I get for you?" I tired not to sound monotone and to put pep in my speech, but after a while it just got so repetitive.
"I want a burger all the way with out lettuce or tomato," the wife told me.
"So you want just the pickle and ketchup?" Why would she say all the way.
"Oh, no, no pickle."
"Just ketchup?" This lady was nuts.
"I'll have a burger with everything, but instead of fries can I have onion rings?" This couple was going to be a lot of work.
"Its a 3 cent charge for onion rings, that okay?" I looked at him hopeful he would say it was fine.
"Can I just have one less onion ring? Could you cut on in half if it's the great big ones?" Could I cut it in half? Who would pay to eat the other half of someone else's onion ring?
"I'm sorry we can't do that, there aren't any substitution. Our onion rings are the best in Tulsa sir, and if I do say so myself they are well worth the extra 3 cent," I squatted down to his level. I had been a waitress since I was 16 and over the years you learn a couple tricks to help you with aggravating people.
"Well, I'm sure you know them best! You have convinced me!" He smiled real big, like he had just made a real life decision. I returned his smile and went to place the order. Truth be told I didn't really like the onion rings, the fries were much better, but that's truly not my problem.
I had an other customer who was high maintenance, but other than that it was mostly kids I knew from school, or at least recognized. They usually weren't problems. The problem kids were when the socs who came in just to cause problems. That didn't really happen too frequently. Normally they would take it outside. Few people actually took pride in getting arrested like Dallas.
The problem with high schoolers coming in was they made a huge mess and I was never sure how. Although at home the guys could make a mess to, so I guess its a guy thing. I was leaning over cleaning up some kind of nasty something off the table when I heard a snicker followed by, "shit I thought she wasn't working today." I hoped if I kept cleaning they would just leave. I should have at least stood up, because although Dallas was just trying to get under my skin about the skimpy uniforms it wasn't a complete lie. When you bent over the way I was you weren't appropriately cover the way your Daddy would probably want.
"She's a fine piece of," his friend started buy Franki cut him off.
"Shut it Man, where's your respect, huh?" Franki seemed like he actually meant what he was saying, but I knew I couldn't believe anything that came out of his mouth anymore.
"Respect huh? Did you all of a sudden get that over night?" I raised my eye brow facing him, trying to be stronger than I felt.
"Something like that," he brushed past me and sat down. I was a little disappointed when he walked by my that easily, I secretly wanted him to apologize or make an excuse, or maybe even try to get back together with me. I didn't think I'd be so easy to just walk past after everything.
As if Franki and his idiot friend being there wasn't bad enough lord and behold if Daniel didn't walk in right behind them. I muttered some Two-bit style language when I spotted him, wishing like hell Meghan would have been there to deal with it, but I was the only waitress on the floor today. Sunday's were usually not too busy, plus the boss came in, and he'd help out if it got out of hand. He wouldn't come out and wait on them just because I was avoiding them. He wasn't the most approachable guy. When I knew I had stalled long enough I went over and tried real hard to act like it was no big deal.
"What can I get ya'll?" I asked reminding myself to be as monotone as possible.
"Mar,shit, hey, I thought you were going to watch Darry," he seemed surprised to see me.
"Plans changed, what'll it be?"
"3 burgers, 3 pepsi, and 4 fries, and tell James to come out, would ya be a doll?" The guy I didn't remember ordered. I nodded heading to leave.
"How can I be sure you won't mess it up on purpose?" Franki grabben my wrist.
"I guess you'll just have to trust me," I gave him a cold look throwing his words back in his face. Daniel chuckled.
"You didn't use that line on her too? Glory when are you going to get more original?" I couldn't believe that Daniel was joking about it too. I guess what Franki told me about him was right.
"Wow," I sighed to my self putting the order in the kitchen. "Your friends are here," I told James leaving before he had a chance to acknowledge me.
I went out and waited on a few tables before I went to return them their food. As I placed everything I stood there for a second waiting for someone to complain about something. When they didn't I left starting a coffee pot for the older gentleman who I knew would come in around 5. Right before closing he would sit in the booth while we cleaned.
"I need some more drink," Franki's friend help up his drink like he were raining his hand in class. I assumed was empty, but as I went by to pick it he lifted it higher and jerked it back down just so that it splattered all over my clothes. I gasped, and at first his friends looked surprised too, but then they all started to laugh.
"You did that on purpose!" I could feel my face turning red.
"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," he grinned at me. " 'sides, not like anyone would believe you, you're just an other easy greaser," he said as Franki told him that was enough.
"I believe it's time for you boys to leave, you've been nothing but trouble since you got here." Boss nudged me out of the way and pushed me towards the kitchen. I continued, but I listened as I walked.
"You can't refuse to serve us," Daniel added.
"I can and I just did. Move you asses before I call the police," they must have thought he was bluffing because they didn't move, until he started towards the phone.
"Punk kids thinking I won't defend my own, the nerve of them. James, you certainly need to get better friends," he walked back to his office mumbling under his breath about kids these days.
James started to talk to me, but I cut him off walking away. What did I see in him. I felt so stupid and ashamed. I shoulda known better. I did know better!
I tried not to let the evening get to me as I finished my shift, but there was only so much pretending you could do. When 5 rolled around and the last customer left I started to grab the mop to clean the front of the store when the boss came out.
"Mary, James has this, go on home," he took it from me. I glanced over to James to see if he had offered, but the look on his face made me know this was news to him.
"I don't mind, I'm in no hurry sir," I could feel my heart starting to beat again.
"I know, but I'm telling you to beat it!" He told me firmly but also with a slight joke as well.
"Okay, thank you," I nodded leaving. I was thankful that he sent me home, I was anxious to get out of there, but I truthfully wasn't in a huge hurry to get home either. I figured they weren't back from Darry's game yet because no one came to get me. I didn't mind taking the bus, I was just in mood. I started towards the bus stop when a truck slowed beside me. I got a bad feeling when it was that close to me. It wasn't as typical for girls to be jumped like it was for the guys, but it still happened. It certainly wasn't uncommon for guys to pull up besides girls and just be real asses. I slowed down turning my head to see Tim Shepard. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Hey, little far from home ain'tcha?" he slowed down and faced me.
"I guess that depends on whose asking?" I felt a little smile pulling on the corners of my lips.
"Get in," he stopped completely searching for a smoke. I paused not really knowing why. I've known Tim my whole life. I wouldn't trust him with my money, but I'd trust him not to kill me on the drive.
"Whatcha waiting on, me to open the door for ya? What is it that Dally calls you these days, Princess?" My chills came back and he knew that he successfully got under my skin.
"How?" Was all I could manage. Dally just gave me that name last night after my rondevu went wrong.
"Oh calm down, you can't think I didn't see you at Bucks!" He pushed open the door and reluctantly I got in. I was silent and he was too. He must have felt uncomfortable because he gave me his smoke.
"I thought ya'll were going to watch Darry play?"
"Yeah, Meghan got stuck at work and needed someone to cover, I thought they'd be back by now, I appreciate this." I added that last part trying to remember my manners.
"That was real nice of you to work for her," he was almost making fun of me the way he said real nice. I got a lot of beef for being nice. I wouldn't consider myself extra generous or anything, but I think as far as greasers go I may be a little more easy going. No reason to go through life angry at the world I suppose.
"Yeah, well, she covered for me last night, so I guess we are even," I exhaled real hard. There was something about taking long drags of a cancer stick that ironically made me feel like I was clearing my head. Some considered it trashy for girls to smoke, but I've done it since I was Pony's age.
Tim looked at me like he was going to say something, but stopped himself for a minute. I just looked at him waiting. "If he ever takes advantage of you again, you let me know ya hear?" When I didn't respond he spoke again. "It don't matter that I'm Angela's brother, or Darry's buddy all that matter is that you get treated right, ya hear me?"
"I don't know what you heard Tim, but Franki didn't do anything wrong. He didn't make me do anything I wasn't too stupid to do on my own!" I didn't know why I was defending Franki.
"Princess, it don't matter if you went along with or not, if you wanted to do it then you wouldn't be sitting here in my car like you just saw a ghost." I was almost annoyed that Tim thought he could just act like he knew what was going on, because he didn't. There was no way he had a damn clue.
"Who died and made you my babysitter?" In my head I was thinking much more insulting remarks, but in the moment I couldn't get them out.
"Someone has to be, and Darry ain't here, so you're stuck with me." He thought awfully high of himself. I just continued to look out the window. We got to my house and I got out thanking him for the ride, not sure that I really meant it.
There still weren't any cars in the back so I just assumed no one was there and I started pulling off my wet and sticky shirt right after I walked in the house. I was half way to the bathroom when I heard laughing. Quickly pulling my head back in through my shirt I looked around. I don't know what made me to go to the noise but I did and I turned the nod scaring the life out of Sandy. Her screaming then scared me so I screamed before Soda spoke up.
"Mary, you're home! I was going to go get you!" He sat up half naked.
"Yeah I can see that!" I couldn't help the shock I was feeling.
"We weren't doing anything, only making out I swear!" Sandy answered the question I wasn't going to ask.
"I don't care Sandy, you're not children. Where's Pony?" My heart was still pounding.
"He's with Two-bit, Mom and Dad were going to take the scenic route home." I didn't want to just turn and leave because I didn't want them to think I was mad, but I shouldn't have told them I didn't care, I'm not sure that was the best thing to say.
"Okay well, I'm going to shower, proceed, or don't, do what you want." I wondered if I should have told them to use protection? They said they were only making out, but were they really? Maybe I would miss Darry more than I thought I would. With that in mind I got in the shower, not able to think about much more. Once I toweled off I started back towards my room. I saw Pony on the couch.
"Hey, bud, how was the game?" He was watching some T.V.
"It was great Mar, they killed 'em, wish you could have been there. Darry told me to tell you thank you for helping Meghan. He said he'd call you tonight." Pony looked up from the T.V. but only briefly.
"Okay, thanks." I smiled walking to my room to change. Soda knocked on my door soon after.
"Yeah, come in," I told him sitting on my bed.
"Mary," he started I could tell he was nervous.
"Soda," I said just to say something.
"I didn't think you'd be home. I was going to leave to meet you at 5:30. I'm real sorry." He smiled his famous smile.
"Soda, it's fine. Better me than anyone else huh?" I laughed a little. It might have been a little forced too.
"We weren't doing what you think," he told me again.
"Soda, you have nothing to prove to me. I promise it's fine. Your secret, is safe with me." I ruffled his hair as he yawned.
"What are you hungry for?" I asked. I was a little surprised my parents weren't back or didn't tell me what to make.
"Anything I'm starved." Soda said like always. You could not fill that kid up. I whipped up some dinner and sat on the couch next to the phone as the boys got ready for bed. Just like Darry promised he called.
"Hello?"
"Hey Mar!" Darry sounded excited.
"Darry, congratulations on your big win!" I tried to sound as excited as him.
"Thanks Mar, and thanks for Meghan too, that was real nice of you. How was work was it okay?"
"Oh yeah, Dar just an other day ya know?" There was no need in telling him the truth, there was nothing he could do about it.
"We'll good. You doing okay?" Darry was never one to be subtle. He knew, and I knew it.
"I assume you're referring to mine and Franki's break up? Yes, I'm fine. No one ever really like him anyway." That was true. No one did like him, but some did hide it better than others.
"Well if you ever need to talk, or to visit. Mar you could totally visit me!" He sounded like he just thought of the idea. I laughed. I hoped he never changed.
"Thanks man," I also joined in his laughing looking at my watch. "Did mom and dad tell you when they'd be home? It's kinda late, and it's a school night?" I wasn't really worried I was more surprised.
"You know them, hopeless romantics. Probably stopped at a bed and breakfast. We better get off incase they are trying to call. Take care Mar, and hey, I love you." He told me. I quickly told him I loved him too and hung up. I shook my head smiling. I was glad he was happy, he deserved it.
"No word form mom or dad?" Pony came out with Soda behind him.
"Darry thinks they may have just stopped somewhere. I'm sure they'll be back soon. I guess we might as well go on too bed," it felt weird going to bed with out them here, but I also figured most kids were use to not knowing where there parents were. So, with out much to say we all three went to bed, I was sleeping pretty good too until I head a loud repetitive knock on the door. I was disoriented when I stumbled out of my room. Soda had the same expression on his face.
"Officer, is something wrong?" I tried to hide the panic in my voice.
