A red car, a Soc's car, came around the corner and halted to a stop in front of me. There were only two guys in the car, but that was enough for me. I wasn't too hard to take down, especially not after... that happened. I heard a yell from the car, and the doors opened, painfully slow for me. I wanted to run, you couldn't imagine how scared I was. It was like staring death in the face. I began to shake, biting my lip and squeezing my eyes shut. My legs had turned to jelly, I couldn't run anyway. I knew it. That nervous feeling in my stomach, it was because I knew this was going to happen. I knew it! I should've stayed home, and I would never be in this situation. I gently traced the scar on my neck, watching the two Socs carefully as they walked to either side of me. Who did they think they were? They didn't jump girls ever! Was I the only girl getting jumped? What made the others so special? They only got whistled at, the whores, and they liked it sometimes, too. Why am I so unlucky.
"Hey there, pretty lady," The first Soc chuckled. I could practically smell the beer. Yuck. "What're you doing out so late?" I stepped back, getting a good distance between us. He was drunk, and there was only one other person, so maybe I could make a run for it. I was always good at track.
"I-I was just..." My brain died. I just stood still, watching him warily. From the corner of my eye, I saw someone move from behind me. I prayed it was some greaser guy. I hoped and hoped and hoped. I prayed. I had never been so frightened in my life. The Soc's hand gently brushed against my cheek. I jumped back as a sudden movement was made from behind.
"Get your hands offa her!" I was pulled into someone's arms, I couldn't see who at the moment, but I was just happy to be safe.
"Ha, look Mike, a greaser came to ruin the party. Listen here greasers, we've had our eyes on that pretty little lady all night, and we're taking her." The Soc snapped, his partner nodding. I shook my head.
"Don't worry, they won't ever get past Darry." Oh, angels could always come in at the last second. I looked up at Sodapop with tears in my eyes. I felt my lip quiver, the urge to cry came again. I felt Soda's hand stroke the back of my head, soothingly. Oh my god. The nervous feeling was still there, but I felt a different kind of nervous now. That weird butterfly feeling was back. If it was going to be like this when I'm around Sodapop all the time, there could be a slight problem, not that I didn't like the feeling.
"Watch it, greaser, you're in the way." The Soc laughed obnoxiously, but was obviously intimidated by Darry's size. The Soc backed down, took another swig of his beer, and then him and his buddy drove off. I felt relieved, but my heart was still beating fast. I felt my legs give out, I would've fell if I wasn't in Soda's arms. The others crowded around, too, and I felt Two-Bit lift me off of Soda. How was he supposed to hold me up? He was a drunken monkey. But I happily took the help.
"I'm bringing you home now." Soda and Darry watched Two-Bit walk with me. I could tell, I felt them staring. I felt so scared then, I was so confused. Why was I any different.
Home. I loved the smell of my house, it made me feel so comfortable and lifted my mood. I didn't want to send Two-Bit out on his own, but his house was only a few blocks away, so I let him go. I made sure to watch him closely, making sure he looked both ways before he crossed the street, and finally closed the door. I took a glance around the room, grabbing a few dishes that I hadn't cleaned up from earlier and tossing them into the sink. I cleaned things when I was reckless and nervous. I locked the windows, the front door, and blocked off any other crevices that someone could possibly sneak into my house through. I started the sink, scrubbing the dishes and drying them off. I set them on the counter when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Oh my god, Kaylyn why didn't you tell ME about your crush on Sodapop?" For a second I froze, thinking it was Sandy, but then I realized she doesn't have my phone number. And there's only one other person who sounds like Sandy that could've possibly called me now.
"Amber, I just found out I liked him, can't you give me a break?" I sighed tiredly, sitting on a kitchen chair. With Amber, there was no such things as a short 'phone call' with Amber. She was known to be able to talk continuously about nothing for over an hour.
"Well, why didn't you tell me as soon as you saw him?" She exclaimed.
"Well, maybe I was a bit busy hanging out at the moment. I couldn't run home and tell you right then and there."
"Did you flirt with him?â–“Cause if you did, you know Sandy will hurt you badly." Amber stated. She was probably laughing to herself right now. It would give her a reason to punch Sandy in the face. Even though the two were alike, it was funny how they hated each other for no reason. In fact, I think Amber knew Sodapop before Sandy, and she might've even gone out with him for a short amount of time. Then, she dumped him for some other guy, which now made me wonder why, and Sandy picked him up on the rebound. They've hated each other ever since.
"Yes. A little. And you know Sandy won't hit me. I've got you to protect me." I heard her laugh happily from the other end.
"You're darn right! It's what best friends do for each other!" She cheered. I laughed with her.
"Listen, I'm real tired. Please let me go to sleep." I could see her glaring at me now.
"I want dirt tomorrow! I want it all when I come over tomorrow. Got it? Then, we can go over to the 'Curtis' house, 'kay?" I flushed.
"Yeah, yeah, stop making fun of me."
"But Soda won't be home, so we can go to the DX. Plenty of dark corners there for you to mak-"
"Stop now. He has a girlfriend. Sandy. He won't go for plain ol' me, dummy. So please, stop giving me hope." I smiled weakly. It hurt to think like that. I hated to look in the mirror. I was ugly. I had a horrible personality, I was just...not girlfriend material. Believe it or not, I was fifteen and I'd never had a boyfriend. Amber said it didn't mean I'm ugly, it just meant that I was too shy to ask anyone out.
"No, you stop. You're pretty, Kaylyn, and you've got this playful personality that guys love! You have got to get closer to Soda, see him a lot and hang with him, to lead him away from Sandy. Then, ta da, he's all yours." I rolled my eyes, but let out a quiet laugh.
"Thanks, Amber. I have to go to bed now though. I'm tired." I thought for a second, waiting for her response, when suddenly my eyes widened as something clicked in my head. "Who told you I liked Sodapop!?"
"Ol' Two-bit, your best buddy, called me in his drunken stupor and told me to check on you. Then he started going on about how you had this thing for Sodapop. Oh my, were you smitten with him. Just like Romeo and Juliet, except that he wouldn't die and you would be together forever. Ooooh, and the babies! Think of the children, Kaylyn, think of the children!" She giggled.
"Ew, that's nasty," I stuck out my tongue. "Who wants kids?" We shared another laugh.
"I'll talk to you later, 'kay?" Amber sounded sincere. "And then we'll have a girls day out, just like old times." I smiled again. Amber was seriously like a mother to me sometimes.
"Alright. I promise, mom." I teased. "I'll see ya tomorrow." I hung up the phone, sighing tiredly as I stood up. I stretched, sighing as I slipped off my jacket. "I can't wait 'til tomorrow when Amber starts in on me about Soda." I walked into the living room, making sure everything was in place before trudging up the stairs. I was so tired, and I almost collapsed on my bed. Living alone had it's advantages, I could do whatever I want, play loud music at all times, do anything I wanted, but the disadvantages...I was alone. I hated to be alone, I craved to be around people at all times. Sounds silly right? Well, that's why I was a horrible self-centered person. I wish I could lock up my house for good, and I never had to see the light of day.
"I wouldn't have to wish to be in Amber's place as she snuggled with some cute boy, I wouldn't have to be jealous as they kissed and said 'I love you' to each other. Being around her remined me of how alone I really was. Maybe I should just give up, nothing ever goes right in my life. Just like my parents abandoning me like I was some piece of trash. They must've known what a horrible person I would turn out to be...they knew all along and they didn't want to watch me embarrass myself as I tried to make friends. I was cursed, I was always going to be alone.
I fell asleep with tears streaking down my face. Just like I do every night.