The day everyone waits for finally arrived for me. The first day of high school. The school was so much bigger, with so many more people. I walked around looking for my friends. Darry pulled up in a new truck, though Soda and Steve were the only ones to come out. Keith came in his mom's old car. They all saw me and strutted their way to me. I laughed and met them halfway.
"What are you doing walking like that?" I asked, still laughing.
"Making a good impression." Keith joked. "Have you seen Kathie at all?"
"I don't even know a Kathie." I said. It was silent until Travis came over to us. He was making sure that nobody saw him with us and somewhat hid behind me.
"What do you want?" Soda asked in a tough tone.
"I didn't want to be standing alone and I found you first." Travis explained.
"Well you're not wanted here!" Keith shouted.
"Calm down, Greaser!" Travis yelled back. They began to fight but I held them back. Some other Soc came over and punched Keith in the back of his head. Keith fell the ground but got up quickly and hit the Soc. All of a sudden Soda, Steve, Travis, and some other people joined in the fight. I backed away and watched. I wasn't enjoying it; I just didn't know what to do.
Finally, a teacher or adult came over to stop the fight. He pealed Keith and the Soc off each other first and then the rest seemed to stop when the man came into sight.
"Hey, hey! Stop! What in the world do you think you're doing?" The man yelled.
"This idiot started it; he punched me in the back of my head!" Keith accused.
"And you thought it would be okay to fight back?" The man, who I found out, was the principal: Mr. Gordon lectured.
"Do I honestly look like the kinda of person that would go down without a fight?" Keith argued. It was true; Keith wouldn't go down without a fight. He always had to get his two-bits worth in. That should be his name. Mr. Gordon took both boys away and the others that were fighting followed.
So once again I was left alone. The crowd that once encouraged the fighting dispersed. I did too when the bell rang. What a start to the first day of school. My first class was English. There were only Socs in my class. I walked in and everyone stared at me. I honestly didn't know half the class. I took a seat in the back, away from everyone else.
At lunch I was able to be relieved because I was away from all the people I didn't want to be surrounded by. Soda and Steve met me where we met this morning. They were there first and waiting for me.
"You guys don't mind being seen with me do you?" The worry was noticeable in my voice.
"Nah, don't worry about it. C'mon, let's eat." Sodapop said and put his arm around my shoulder and led me to a table. People stared at us. They just couldn't put up with seeing a Soc and a Greaser together. People just don't understand the beauty of friendship. I ignored them, as did Soda and Steve, and we kept on walking.
I smiled; enjoying the position I was in, surrounded by Soda. It seemed that the girls staring at us were staring at Soda more than the Soc and Greasers together. They would stare, whisper to one another, and smile. For a moment I felt like the luckiest girl because I was with Sodapop Curtis, the cutest sophomore at Will Rogers High School. For the first time I was the one being envied. I smiled, at last I was happy.
"Are you two dating?" Some girl said to Soda and me.
"Uh, no." Steve interrupted.
"Oh…" The girl batted her eyes and kissed Soda on the cheek. I was angry once again and I fought to give her a good punch in the face but Soda and Steve were able to keep me away.
We finally found a table. I sat down first and Soda and Steve sat down on either side of me.
"So, what happen to Keith?' I asked; only to start conversation.
"He and that other kid got suspended for three days." Steve said.
"Jeez. It was bound to happen. He always has to get his two-bits worth in." I said.
"Yeah." They said in unison. We ate in silence until the bell rang.
The rest of the day was a blur. Nothing important, but if it was, I would have remembered it. I was afraid to face my dad afterschool but there was nothing I could do to prevent it. I walked up to the car and got into the back seat. I didn't say hi or anything. We waited in silence for Travis.
When he did arrive, Dad drove off immediately. Travis was sitting in the front seat, talking up a storm. I wasn't paying any attention to what he was saying and I pretty sure Dad wasn't either. Dad just nodded his head and smiled. We got home and I was the first one out the car. I just went right up stairs.
I was out with the boys hanging out downtown. They were messing around and being stupid but that was typical of them. It was so far the perfect day. School had been a breeze and there was no trouble with my parents about hanging out with my friends. Keith was drunk but Darry was able to keep them in line. All the boys would hit on every girl that walked by, whether their kind or not. I was enjoying myself just watching them. Pony and Johnny kinda kept to themselves in the back but they enjoyed being with each other. I mainly hung out with Steve and Soda but it was a good time altogether. Around ten o' clock Darry drove me home.
When I walked in, Dad was screaming at the top of his lungs at Travis. Poor Travis was bawling. I had never seen him cry so much. Mom came toward the door with Maxy and said, "Honey, I'm gonna take Max to get some ice cream and then take him to my girlfriend's house for the night. Do you want to come?"
"Um, I actually tired so I'm just gonna go to bed."
"Okay." She took Max by the hand and led him outside. I looked at Dad and Travis in the living room. I could barely understand what he was saying. I went right to my room and tried to tune out my dad so I could sleep.
Two days later, I read in the paper about what had happened. Travis was a part of some robbery and murder.
Drunken Teens Crash and Kill
Local teen, Daniel Hastings, was at a party Saturday night and illegally drinking. Around nine-thirty he gathered himself and a few friends (Ashton Carter, Travis Taylor, and Ricky Thompson). The friends of Daniel that had joined him had also been drinking.
After driving for about five minutes, it was too much for Travis and he jumped out of the car. He does not suffer from any serious injuries, just a sprained ankle. Travis was found twenty minutes later by Officer Ron Cherwell. Daniel continued driving with two in the back seat. He came up to a stop light and ran a red light therefore hitting a crossing vehicle. Inside the victim's car was only George Andrewson. Mr. Andrewson, along with Ricky Thompson, was killed in the crash. Daniel and his friend, Ashton, were injured and hospitalized. They do not suffer from injury but suffer the consequence of juvenile hall and regret.
It was now March. As I was getting older, I was becoming more attracted to boys. Especially Bobby Richardson, he is the second cutest boy in school, in my opinion. I was home by myself and had nothing to do. I was just watching TV, practically falling asleep. It wasn't until I heard a big bang coming from upstairs that I woke up. I was hesitant to go upstairs and see who it was. It could have been anyone. Then I heard someone swearing, the voice sounded familiar. So I ran up stairs, starting on my parent's side of the hall, making my way down. I saw nothing in any of the rooms, my room still remaining. I slowly opened the door to find someone lying on the floor with things from on top of my dresser scattered around him. After looking at the stranger more carefully, I was able to tell that the stranger was Dallas Winston. It took me a second to absorb his arrival.
"Oh, my gosh! Dallas!" I yelled and I went over to help him up.
"Why in the world did you move your dresser under the window?" Dallas argued.
"I don't know. I forgot you always come in through the window." He got up off the floor and I ran to hug him. After about five seconds I let go, realizing he hated hugs.
"I'm just so happy to see you." I smiled. "So why were you in New York for three years?"
"Just really getting into trouble. I was arrested three times—"
"Arrested? What'd you do that was stupid enough to get you arrested?"
"I robbed two stores, got involved in a murder—I didn't have nothing to do with it though—and jumped an old man for this ring." He showed me his ring which he called a Christopher. "Then I found my mom."
"Wow, that's great."
"Yeah, well, I also met a girl. She cheated on me though when I was in jail. So, I dumped her so she could live with that fool she so happily wanted to be with."
"Ah, you met a girl." I awed.
"I really had no interest in her; she just wanted to be with me."
"You left a boy and came back a man."
"Yeah." He pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.
"What are you doing?" I screamed.
"Smoking, is that a problem?" He asked.
"Uh, yeah, it is a problem. If my dad even smells it, he will kill me! So put it away!" I shouted.
"Alright, calm down."
"You came just in time for the dance." I started a new conversation.
"When is it?" He asked.
"Next month. Are you gonna come?" I begged for him to come, even if we just went in a big group.
"Yeah, I guess I will, for you." He agreed. Now all I had to do is get Soda to ask me to the dance.
"Well you better go, my parents are gonna be home soon." I said.
"Sure. See ya later, Curtis."
"What?" I asked, surprised to hear him call me that.
"Nothing… Taylor." He climbed out through the window as I watched him.
April came quickly and all the guys were asking girls to the dance. A number of boys asked me but I turned them down for I was waiting for the right guy to ask me: Sodapop Curtis.
"Typhani, hi. Do you wanna go to the dance with me?" This boy was not Soda so I had to reject him.
"No, sorry Bryan, I'm going with someone else." I rejected.
"Oh, who with?" Bryan asked. Bryan Kent has been in love with me since he saw me in eighth grade.
"Sodapop Curtis." I answered back. Though it was not quite true yet, I was absolutely going with Soda even if he wasn't my date.
"Darn his charming good looks." Bryan said and walked away. Soda finally came up to me.
"You'll never believe it. I'm going to the dance with Beverly Gracen." Soda cheered.
"You're right I would have never believed it." I said.
At lunch everyone was so flustered trying to find a date to go to the dance with. For me, whether Soda had a date or not we were all still going as a group, so I did have people to go with. Keith was going with the Kathie girl he always talked about, Steve was going with a girl he meant last year: Evie, and Dallas and I were just coming along. I guess we could go together.
After about a week or so, everyone had a date and things weren't as crazy. It was coming to the end of lunch and Soda still had something to say to me.
"Hey, Typhani." Soda said.
"Hey, where's Beverly?" I asked. Ever since he said he was going to the dance with Beverly, he seemed to be hanging out with her a lot more.
"Uh, well that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Gary Allright asked her out and she said yes. She came and explained to me that she really liked him. She asked me to the dance before I got the chance to ask the person I wanted to ask." He explained.
"Who did you wanna ask?"
"You. Typhani, do you wanna go to the dance with me?" He asked.
"Uh, well, yeah I'll go with you. I've been waiting for you to ask me this whole time." I cheered. I was so excited that I was going to the dance with Sodapop.
Lunch came to an end and I couldn't stop smiling. The only thing that could ruin my mood was P.E. and I had P.E. next.
High school P.E. is like a class made just to be humiliated. The boys show off and girls stand there and look pretty but when you're P.E. teacher was an ex-marine it's not the greatest thing in the world. The best part was that Steve and Soda were both in my class and I wasn't that bad at the sports we were forced to play.
We were playing football and that was one sport I wasn't good at. Yeah, sometimes I would play with the boys but I was mainly messing around and getting tackled half the time. For now we were just supposed to throw the football back and forth. I paired up with Steve because some girl snatched Soda before I could. He just couldn't say no.
I was doing horrible and Steve was pointing out ever flaw. Soda and his partner were standing next to me and Steve. I could obviously tell that Soda's partner was doing bad on purpose but Soda was just getting frustrated.
I was staring at Soda from time to time because he was so cute but I had to focus because Steve was throwing the ball whether I was looking or not. While I was stupidly staring at Soda, Steve threw the ball and I was instantly struck by the ball right in the head. I stumbled back and put my hand to my forehead where it hurt the most.
"Are you okay?" Soda came over.
"Oh, gosh. What was that for?" I yelled at Steve, who was making his way over as well.
"Well, maybe if you were paying attention and not staring at Soda you would've seen the ball coming." Steve was laughing so hard, he could hardly talk. I pushed him on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Soda asked again.
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Hey, you three: take a lap! Quit messing around!" The P.E. teacher yelled at us.
"Way to go, Steve." I said.
After school the first person I told about Soda asking me was Steve.
"Steve, guess who I'm going to the dance with." I said.
"Soda." He guessed correctly.
"How'd you know?"
"You wouldn't be this excited if you were going with anyone else." Steve explained.
"Good point. See ya later." I walked to my Dad's car.
"Bye."
At home I couldn't wait to tell Travis and Mom about Soda asking me. I didn't want to tell my dad because he would do everything in his power to not let me go with him. I had a dress picked out and everything, so I wasn't going to let my dad ruin the night for me.
"Travis, I'm going the dance with Soda!" I shared with him.
"That's great." He said sarcastically.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Wendy doesn't want to go with me anymore. She wants to go with some other guy." He sighed.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Are you still going?"
"No!" He shouted.
"Alright, alright, I'll just go." I responded to his anger. I went downstairs to tell Mom the good news.
"Mom, I'm going to the dance with Soda!" I cheered.
"Oh, honey, that's great." Mom said excited for me.
"No you're not." Dad interrupted.
"What?"
"You are not going to the dance with that boy. You can go with anyone else but those boys." Dad demanded.
"Dad, come on I'm almost sixteen. Are you trying to ruin my life?" I argued.
"Ruin your relationship with your friends." Dad whispered. He meant to only say it to himself but I heard him. Mom started yelling at him and then everything was a mess. I wasn't going to let him ruin my special night.
It was the night of the dance. I was sneaking out of the house so no one would ask about my date, who was still Sodapop. I was ready to go and almost out the door when my mom stopped me. "Oh, Typhani, are you going to the dance?"
"Yes, I am." I prayed she wouldn't ask any more questions.
"Who with?"
"Uh… Bobby Richardson." I lied.
"Is he outside, I would love to meet him." Mom said.
"No! I am meeting him at his house. It's a family tradition they have. Got to go." I rushed outside to the waiting car that was my brother, Johnny.
"Go, go, go!" I commanded Johnny to do.
"You're lucky I'm doing this for you." Johnny said, trying to get me to say thank you.
"Thank you, Johnny." I gave him what he asked for.
"You're very welcome."
We finally arrived at Keith's house. Johnny was in no rush so he waited until I was safely inside. It was nice to see everyone dressed up for a change. They all looked so handsome, especially Soda.
"Wow, Typhani, you look great." Soda complimented.
"Thanks, you too. You guys all look nice."
"Enough of the compliments, we've got to go. I also have to pick up Kathie." Keith instructed. Soda and I were going together and Darry was taking us. Keith was taking himself, Kathie, Dallas, Steve, and Steve's date Evie, who would have to squeeze in.
The dance was amazing when we walked in. Music was blaring and people were dancing. Soda and I waited for everyone else to show up. We talked and got some food and drinks, and then the rest arrived. Dallas looked awkward with Steve, Keith, and their dates. After having a few drinks and snacks, we all went to go dance.
The dance was the best night ever. Soda and I had one slow dance and so did Dallas and I. The worst part was saying good-bye, having the night end.