"whatcha' doin' here?" i gently brushed my arm against steve's, standing beside him and looking at the car he was working on. "oooh, that looks cool, haha." i giggled cutely, or at least i thought it was cute. steve seemed to, too, because he started explaining about what he was doing. i don't really know what he was talking about, i just knew that it had something to do with the engine. i watched soda and amber from the corner of my eyes, and i hope i wasn't fooling myself, but soda looked a little annoyed. amber did too, but i think it was because soda was paying attention to me and not her. score! two-bit was watching me, a beer in hand (god knows where he got it), with the most amused look on his face.
"man, you sure know a lot about cars," i gasped. steve smirked at me, slipping his hair to show he was tough. he was pretty tuff looking.
"haha, yeah, kaylyn has always had a weird taste in boys." two-bit laughed from behind me. i turned on my heels to glare at him, but steve caught my attention.
"well, i don't mind." steve smirked proudly. i almost rolled my eyes at his ego. i noticed a clock somewhere behind steve's head, and my eyes widened.
"crap! two-bit, i have to work because of you!" i shouted. "i have to go now, or i'll get in trouble, again, because of you." two-bit smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"sheesh, kaylyn, you know how to make a guy feel guilty." i only twitched as i glared at him. i had to go to work, i had already been late three times this week, because of two-bit getting hangovers. steve raised an eyebrow.
"where do you work?" he asked. i blunk twice, straightening out my skirt and coughing.
"o-oh," i murmured, "i work at 'the store', you know that little building near tulsa's edge. i work as a clerk there." steve nodded his head.
"right, well me and soda will be sure to see you there." i nodded, grabbing onto amber and two-bit and quickly walking away. amber pulled out of my grip.
"i didn't have to leave. you know, i must've forgotten how good looking sodapop really was." she sighed, shaking her head. "and he's so sweet, too." i bit my lip, glaring at her.
"now now, fight nicely children," two-bit held onto my arm. "we have to get you to work, remember?" i nodded sourly, my lips pursed together as i glared at him. i was so pissed off now. amber just couldn't keep her hands off any good looking boy, she can't ever leave the guys i like alone, she just couldn't...
she left soon after, and two-bit remained beside me. i stood, frozen in my spot as i stared after her. i watched her walk away with her haughty attitude, her smooth and composed walk. i bit my lip again, squeezing my hands into fists.
"two-bit...why does she have to ruin everything?" i whispered. "why?" i wrapped my arms around him, softly crying into his shoulder. he was good for things like this, he would sit there and let me cry and he would just hold me. he was a real best friend. his arms rested around my waist as he pulled me into a hug. i was really gonna be late for work today.
"c'mon, we gotta get your sorry butt to work..." two-bit murmured, his arms remained around my waist as we walked down the sidewalk to work.
as i thought, i was half an hour late, and i got chewed out by todd. i was given an extra hour on the job, meaning i would be here until around midnight. i couldn't believe that i had to stick around here with that jerk even longer! but i bit my tongue, and quietly stood behind the counter. it was harder, watching some couples coming in and out, giggling with each other and kissing each other. and i stayed strong, telling myself i would find someone like that some day. i knew i had to bring it together, but i just couldn't stand it much more.
"hey, kaylyn." i tiredly glanced up. i gasped, jumping up and almsot tripped over my own feet as i stood up straight.
"sorry, did i scare you?" soda smiled at me amused as he leaned over the counter. i brushed myself off, taking off my apron that i was required to wear and tucking it under the counter. my shift was close to over, and todd had left for a few minutes to smoke.
"h-hey, soda." i smiled, "whatcha' want?" he chuckled, a wonderful sound that was like music to my ears.
"well, two-bit told me you would be here late, and i just thought that maybe you would like some company until you had to leave." i shook my head. oh two-bit, you are the second love of my life.
"well, yeah," i shrugged my shoulders. "but todd doesn't take to kindly to people talking to me while i work, in fact he hates it. he hates me a lot, so you'll eventually get thrown out." he just laughed playfully and shrugged his shoulders. we talked a bit after that/ we talked about a lot of things, like about pets we have and had. he told me about this horse he used to visit down in the rodeo, named mickey mouse, and how it got sold one day. he sounded like he really loved the horse. i guess i never really had a pet i really loved. i had one, a cat named princess, that lounged around with me on weekends when i wasn't working. she got sold though, we needed the money, and we couldn't afford to feed her anymore.
"soda, you like to go to the rodeo?" i asked curiously. he nodded. i had only heard about it from two-bit, seeing as i had just moved there, but i had never actually seen it before. i think some guy named buck merril was that hood dally's partner. i still didn't know many people here, i never went out, i was just trying to get past school.
"yeah, you should come some time." soda commented. "it's pretty interesting." i nodded.
"okay, but i don't think sandy will like me comin' much." i replied, "she seems very protective over you." like i said before, she talked about him a lot. she loved him, she loved everything about him, and she wouldn't let him go easily.
"aw, she won't mind. but she has been getting a bit clingy..." i raised an eyebrow, motioning for him to go on. "well, this morning when she came to the dx, she yelled at me for hanging out with you on friday. she said you were just a low down soc trying to get me for your own. that didn't sound anything like you. so, i told her somethin' else and she went off on me. she left real mad, but i think we'll make up soon. we seem to get in a lot of fights nowadays." soda rubbed his head, brushing some dark hair out of his face. sandy... i don't like her. and there was going to be hell to pay tomorrow during school. she was going to flip, but it would be worth it.
"i see. well, she's already got you, so what's she jealous of?" i grumbled, twitching as i leaned on my elbows. i was jealous. beautiful, perfect, loving, sandy.
"you okay, kaylyn?" soda asked, worriedly waving a hand in front of my face. i hit his hand away, backing away from the counter and glancing up at the clock. it's midnight exactly. time to go. soda stood at the counter, waiting for me to close up the til and lock everything up. todd came to make sure everything was locked properly, seeing as it really was his fault and the real boss would be annoyed if it wasn't locked like last time. haha, oh, how todd could be so easily manipulated.
todd was eyeing soda warily, like a soc looking at a greaser. quickly, i grabbed soda's hand, leading him away from the manager. todd went his separate way, still glaring at me as he left. i only lived a few blocks up the street from the store, but soda lived all the way in the opposite direction, across from some train tracks and it was dangerous for someone to walk alone.
"soda, you have to call your brother to pick you up, i won't let you go home alone." i scolded him. he just laughed at me.
"don't worry 'bout me, i'll be fine." soda put his hands behind his head as he walked, watching in front of him. i watched him for a second, before crossing my arms and closing my jacket.
"not unless you get someone to walk home with you!" i exclaimed. soda rolled his eyes while wearing a smile.
"aw, c'mon kaylyn, i'll be fine." i remained quiet, shaking my head.
"i thought so, too, until i was jumped." i started, stopping in my tracks. we were a few steps from my house, but the feeling in my legs had disappeared. i was alone on that day, too, i was walking along a dark street and no witnesses were to be seen. i rubbed the scare under my neck, tracing the well known wound. it still hurt a lot some days. soda stopped, too, confusion etched across his perfect features.
"two-bit said something happened to you, but he said he wouldn't be comfortable telling us." i just nodded. good ol' two-bit, always there for me.
"well, i was jumped, when i was alone. i guess, i had dreams about it for weeks, months after it happened; it was just so traumatic for me. i hadn't been hurt like that for a long time." i murmured. "i was beat a lot by my mom, but it was nothing compared to having a knife held at my throat. i felt so scared. an..." i turned away, hugging myself. it was sure cold tonight.
"okay, i'll call darry if it makes you feel better." soda grabbed my arms, gently pushing me up the steps to my house. "where's the key?"
"door mat..." i murmured. why did i trust him so much already? not even two-bit knew where that key was. well, not that he would remember anyway. soda managed to quickly find the guy and open the door, pushing me inside. i pointed him towards the phone in the kitchen, and he nodded, walking off after making sure i had sat down. oh, he's so sweet. i sighed, rubbing my arms to shake away the chills that still ran through my bones. soda emerged from the kitchen a few minutes later, a confused look on his face again. damn he was attractive. okay, kaylyn, relax, relax...he sat down beside me, leaning against me tiredly. not relazing, not relaxing. i inhaled sharply, sitting up straight as i shivered with delight. he was so....ugh. i would love to kiss him, hug him, talk with him...i just wanted to be near him.
"sandy came by the house while i was talking to darry. she heard i was over your house. now she's real mad, or that's what darry said. she went home though, it was too late for her to be out. so, he'll be here soon." i looked at him again, noting that he had no shirt on. not relaxing. oh for the love of god, why can't you just strike me down now!?