I woke up to the damn sun and a throbbing eye. The more I looked around, the more I realized that I was in my own room; in my own bed and in my own blood stained t-shirt. I looked over at the clock. Twelve thirty.
"Damn." I forced myself out of bed and to the bathroom. After I splashed my face with ice cold water, I examined the real damage. That god damned bastard gave me a black and blue eye. At least it wasn't swollen; that would really make me feel like shit. Yeah, things could have been better, but at least they weren't worse. I climbed into the shower; letting hot stinging water wash away the dry blood that still was on my cheek and neck. I Quickly scrub the slick soap over my body and in my dark hair, then washed it off and stepped out of the shower and into the steamed filled bathroom. I roughly dried off and slipped back into my bedroom. Putting on first a pair of underwear, then some faded jeans. I yanked a white wife beater out of a drawer and slipped it on, enjoying how it clung to all my muscles and showed what I was really made of. I checked the clock again. One fifteen.
The drive-thru isn't hopping. Only a few hoodlums and scum are hanging around, sipping cokes spiked with vodka and laughing like idiots. I was sitting quietly in a booth in the corner, watching the activity. By two I'm really bored and agitated. School gets out at three. What the hell could I do for one hour? Maybe I would bust someone yearly. Yeah, I would do that. But who? Rusty hair and wild green eyes cross my mind. I didn't give a damn if her brother just beat the shit out of me last night.
She leaned against the gate, in her little group of friends. She wasn't there, though. Those grey-green eyes were staring at something into the distance. A girl with dirty blonde hair called her back, giving a nervous laugh as Joni gave her a stare that sent chills down my back.
What was I thinking? Wanting to pick her up? I never saw a girl twice in a row. Well, there was Dusty; but that's a whole different matter. No, I couldn't…wouldn't take Joni out tonight. I decide to cruise by the high school and consider my options.
Stacy? Too chattery.
Nancy? Too needy.
Linda? Too damn stupid.
Donna? I rubbed my stubby chin and thought of the brown haired babe. She would let me do the talking, and wouldn't ask me where the hell I didn't call her. She would just open her legs and sit in a chair. Not perfect; since screwing around with a girl with Donna's reputation made you no better than an street rat. But I sure as hell wasn't going to hand around a chatterbox, cling wrap, or clueless.
"Hey, baby." I call out the window at the girl in tight jeans and a boat neck top. "What're you doing tonight?" Donna says something to her friends and then comes over and leans into the window, smirking with a look of sympathy.
"Heard you screwed little Joni Mathews." I make a face.
"Who gave you that idea?" Donna's gaze becomes harder and harder by the second.
"It's all over school. God, Curly! You're one sick bastard for fucking a thirteen year old!" I lean my head out the window and make sure no one heard Donna's outburst.
"I didn't fuck her! We just made out." Donna leans back and bites her lip.
"Whatever. I'm doing nothing tonight."
"Then why the hell aren't you in the car?" She smiles and slides in. We drive around for an hour or so; then crash a party at James Rack's house. The music is loud, the bodies wet, the beer flowing like the Nile.
"Wanna go upstairs?" She yells over the music. I take her in my arms and force my lips against hers.
"See this, Joni? See this? This is what this bastard is all about." I tear my lips away and turn my head to see Joni, Being forced to watch me make out with another girl. She flinches as Donna grabs my butt, but keeps her cold grey-green eyes on me. "This good enough for you?" Two-Bit is looking down at his sister with fierce sympathy. She jerks her arm away and walks straight up to me. Donna's still nipping at my neck as I push her away.
"Joni…" Before I can say another word, she brings that small hand back and slaps it across my face. The hot sting burns across my flesh. Donna's disappearing into the shadows; along with all the other people in the room. It's just me and Joni; both hurt. I shake the sting away and lift my own palm; bringing it crashing down onto her face. She hits the floor but lifts her head.
"You bastard!" My gut twisted as I see tears sliding down her face. I dropped to my knees and wrap my arms around her shoulders; rubbing vigorously. She tries to push me away, but I don't lay up.
"Shepard, you have ten seconds to step away from her…" I sigh in boredom at te voice of Ponyboy Curtis. I turn my head in annoyance.
"What the hell are you going to do if I don't?" I expected to face Ponyboy's innocent eyes. Instead I faced a gun barrel and a hood's glare. Ponyboy loaded the gun.
"Eight seconds, Shepard." I look down at Joni. Her adoring eyes aren't on me anymore. Their on her knight in shining armor. I stand with reluctance and back away towards the for, knocking away every cup within reach. I turn my head one last time. Maybe Joni was bitch slapping Curtis for my amusement.
Instead she's clinging to his waist, looking tired and relived. Another twist to the guts. I run out and jump into the car; tearing my way down road to te only place I could go at this point.
Home sweet home. With the stale taste of beer in the air and the occasional pot bag on the counter, nothing welcomes you to the Shepard house like all of your criminal habits under your nose. No sound of crashing beer bottles. Great sign. I make my way up the stairs and see a pair of lady's panties lying on the floor; and they sure as hell aren't mine. As I get closer to the rooms, I can make out faint moans coming from Angela's room. Sick, sick, sick. I quickly go into my room and shed my clothing. I hop under the covers and cover them over my head to block the sounds of my damn sister.
What was a fifteen year old guy supposed to think about while lying in bed? My guess is the last girl he had a serious make out session with. Joni came hurling into my mind like a trucker on rote 66. The last broad that I wanted to have on my mind. Just thinking of the way she looked at Curtis started the twisted guts all over again. And when she was wrapped around his waist…
I dug my nails into my sheets to keep from punching the wall. This broad was driving me mad, and her kiss was the only thing that would keep me sane. But I wouldn't taste those lips again. Not after I smacked them senseless.
Joni was gone. Gone with the waist of Ponyboy Curtis to keep her company.
Was I going to make that bastard pay?
You bet.