Yes, I know, I combined stuff from the movie and the book and stuff I made up. I like the next chapter a lot more so bare with me. This one doesn't have that much different stuff in it. But the next one's better!
Chapter Twelve
The only people in the seats were two girls down front. Dally led us down the aisle and sat right behind them.
"I'm freezing, man!" Ponyboy groaned, rubbing his arms.
"Why didn't you bring a coat, stupid?" Dally spat, trying to light a cigarette.
"I forgot."
Dally finally got it lit and leaned back in his seat coolly. "Some cute redhead, huh?" he said to Pony who didn't say anything. Dally grinned and bent forwards to put his mouth close to the redhead's ear. "Are you a real redhead? Huh?"
I was starting to feel revolted. Johnny fidgeted in his seat.
"Come on, Dal," he said quietly.
Dally either didn't or pretended not to hear him. "Are you real? How can I find out if this is your … your real red hair?"
"Aw, cut it out, Dal." Johnny was sitting straighter in his seat, nervous.
"If this is the same red hair that you have on your … your … this eyebrow?" He leaned back again and put his feet up on her chair.
"Cut it out Dal, huh!" Johnny moaned.
Pony looked over at him kind of surprised. Johnny didn't just tell Dally to do stuff. He admired Dally! But I was glad he was saying something.
The redhead whipped around heatedly. "Get your feet off my chair and shut your trap!!" she snapped.
"Who's gonna make me huh?"
Johnny glanced over at me and saw that I was just as creeped out as him. He turned back to Dally and Pony and stood up. "We're going to get a Coke!"
Dally still didn't hear him. "Your boyfriend?"
"Leave her alone, Dal," said Pony.
I got up and tagged along behind Johnny.
"Get me one, Johnny!" Pony said as we shuffled past him and Dally.
Johnny and I slowly wandered up to the concession and got in the long line-up. We didn't say anything which wasn't very surprising.
"Three Cokes," Johnny ordered softly and the girl behind the counter nodded.
I reached in my pocket and pulled out a few coins which I shoved into Johnny's hand.
"Huh?" he asked, looking at it.
"What? For my Coke."
"You don't have to."
I narrowed my eyes. "Yes, I do." I smiled.
He shrugged and put it on the counter. The girl set the three Cokes in front of us and Johnny pushed all the money to her. He grabbed two of the Cokes, I grabbed one, and we slowly walked back down the aisle. Dally was gone, and Cherry and Marcia were turned around in their seats, talking to Ponyboy.
"He works in a gasoline station right? A DX, I think?" Cherry was saying.
"Yeah, that's him." Pony scooted back, letting Johnny and me through. Johnny handed him his Coke.
"Soda's the cute one," Marcia said, grinning.
Cherry smiled. "He's a doll. Shoulda known you's brothers."
Johnny turned to me. "Wonder where Dal went."
I nodded. "Probably'll be back."
"Definitely!"
"I just hope he doesn't continue that dirty talk!"
His eyes wandered around all the seats but I knew he was listening and he agreed. Some girl screamed behind us followed by laughs and Johnny twitched harshly. Just then, sure enough, Dally appeared with three Cokes. He handed one to Marcia, sat down beside Cherry, and gave her one.
"Here, I thought this might cool you off."
She stared at him incredulously, pulled out the straw, and dumped it all on him. "Maybe that'll cool you off greaser!! When you learn to talk and act decent I might cool off too!!"
Dally wiped his hand down his face and looked at her, his eyes blazing. Then he smiled and tried to get an arm around her. "Fiery huh? Just the way I like 'em!"
Cherry struggled with him. "Get – offa me!"
I noticed Johnny getting jumpy and saw him watching them horrified. Soon he couldn't take it anymore and stood up. "Look, leave her alone, Dal!"
Dally stopped and stared at him, his mouth open. "What'd you say?"
I could tell Johnny regretted it immediately. "Come on, you heard me. Leave her alone."
Dally looked at Cherry then back at Johnny. "What'd you say, you little shit? What'd you say to me?!"
"Come on," Johnny whispered.
"Wise-ass!" Dally spat and got up. Glaring furiously, he turned and stalked off.
Johnny sat back down and sighed in relief. I grinned at him gratefully and a hint of a smile appeared on his face before he turned back to the movie.
Cherry turned around in her seat again. "Thank you. He had me scared to death."
Johnny looked over at her. "Sure didn't show it. Ain't nobody talk to Dal like that."
"From what I saw you do!"
He looked a little uneasy, if not guilty. I noticed Cherry eyeing me up too. I didn't look like the other greaser girls and I sure didn't look like a soc or even middle class. I felt extremely self-conscious under her criticizing gaze.
"Why don't y'all come sit up here with us," said Marcia sweetly. "You can protect us."
Johnny looked from me to Pony.
"Might as well," Ponyboy said, starting to beam.
I knew he thought this was going to be a great story to tell the gang. We all got up and climbed over the seats. Ponyboy sat by Cherry, Johnny beside Marcia, and me beside Johnny. I felt so filthy and … greasy, and worthless sitting in the same row as two clean 'nice' soc girls.
"How old are y'all?" asked Marcia, looking around at all of us.
"Fourteen," said Pony.
"Sixteen," Johnny muttered.
"Sixteen," I said under my breath. She didn't care how old I was. It was Johnny and Ponyboy: the nice innocent greaser guys she cared about.
"Huh! I thought you were all f-…"
"Sixteen," Cherry interrupted, smiling at Pony.
Yeah, I knew I looked fourteen. I got told that quite frequently. That was yet another reason Johnny and I got along so well: we both looked younger than we actually were.
"How come y'aren't scared of us like you was Dally?" Johnny asked.
Cherry smiled. "Y'all are too sweet to scare anyone."
Pony said something back but I zoned out and watched the movie.
Like I said, the next one's better. So yeah, I won't be able to update until ... the 25th or 26th cuz I'll be at camp. So yes. I have not ditched this!!
