There was something primal about fire on a beach. If you tuned far enough and looked out across the still glass of the lake, forgetting the white towers of progress, you could be anywhere. It felt as if the cradle of civilization had returned just for this one moment, where burning embers kissed the moon and took their place among the stars.
That was what if felt like on the beach that night.
As Bonnie looked across the remains of the Welcome Bonfire, she was reminded that the magic of their primitive evening only lasted so long as the music played. The four piece swing band were now packing up on their stand, and the fire had blazed itself down to soot and ash. Bonnie was now left with the remnants and was forced to remember her position.
Bonnie stooped to pick the packet of Graham Crackers from the little wooden table they stood on. Like all things these rich people had touched, the crackers were broken and forgotten, left for someone else to deal with. She sighed scornfully as she tucked them under her arm.
Looking up, Bonnie saw the ever smiling face of Sodapop coming towards her from across the beach. He carried the tiki torches, which had been doused under his arm, and three folding chairs in the other. Bonnie righted herself as he approached.
"Those chairs are the last things that need to go in the shed." She told him, feeling the length of the day in her bones. Bonnie's gaze was pulled from the primordial sea, back to the Harborfront Inn and the idea of a nice soft bed. "I'm going to take the leftover s'more kits to the kitchen."
Soda nodded, looking equally as desperate to sleep. "Should I wait for you?" He asked, a flash of concern darting across his eyes in the darkness. Even back in Tulsa they had always walked the girls home if Two-Bit wasn't with them. There was safety in numbers and although things were dangerous for everyone, they were especially dangerous for pretty young women like Bonnie.
Bonnie shook her head, smiling ruefully. "Nah, that's okay, I'm a big girl you know."
"I know." Soda replied, grinning as he convinced himself that nothing would happen in the perfection of the Harborfront. "See you in the morning."
Bonnie watched him for a moment as Soda carried the chairs back towards the shed. When he was swallowed by the sudden darkness, Bonnie gathered the last of the crackers and chocolate, heading for the gleaming white building.
The night staff were the only ones in the lobby at this hour. They waved feebly from their posts as Bonnie passed them. Her arms were too full to return the gesture, and in truth she felt too weary to do so. Silently, she slipped into the kitchen.
As the door swung open, it permitted Bonnie a vision of a scene she had not predicted. Three young well-dressed men, Socs, were bent over, looking though one of the massive metal fridges. They didn't look up or notice Bonnie until the door swung shut behind her.
Like three meerkats on the savannah, their heads popped up from behind the fridge door. Interest and malice mixed on their clean cut expressions.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" The first asked. He was classically handsome, but looked too well kept for Bonnie's taste. The vicious look in his eyes set Bonnie on edge. He might have been a prince charming to some but Bonnie saw the villain behind the handsome exterior. It came out in the poison of his voice and the glint of light in his steely blue eyes.
"Hey pretty lady. The second Soc had wild reddish brown hair and a smug expression. He was broader set, with strong shoulders that mirrored the hard lines of his jaw. He advanced on Bonnie with a lustful gaze, exuding arrogance as he spoke again. "You got a name?"
"Pretty sure everyone does." Bonnie said, her eyes narrowing into an annoyed expression. She'd dealt with guys like this before; ones who had been given everything in the world and took whatever they wanted. Bonnie had no time for them, and usually shut them down with ease. This group were more persistent.
"No need to be cold. We're just trying to be nice." The redhead pouted, sauntering closer. His fingers came up to brush Bonnie's cheek, but she slapped them away before they could make contact.
The redhead's two companions turned away from their conversation and continued searching for the goods that they wanted. Bonnie glared at the redhead as she stepped past him and moved towards the fridge.
"I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be down here." Bonnie said, in a tone that suggested she was very sure they weren't supposed to be here.
A hand snaked out and encircled her waist, pulling her into the redhead's embrace. His grip was rough and uncomfortable, showing the darkness that his pastel clothing hid in the day. "Babe we clearly haven't met. I'm Preston Narcott." He purred in her ear, his lips grazing her earlobe.
"Is that meant to mean something?" Bonnie pushed back against him, breaking out of his hold and backing up.
Preston laughed, watching her with hungry eyes."It means I go where I want to go, whenever I wanna go there."
"Found it."' The first boy said, holding up a case of beer.
"Those are for the BBQ on the weekend." Bonne retorted, starting towards him again. She was not about to lose her job for these three to get drunk.
"And we'll drink the rest of them then, right boys?" The handsome one said, looking down at Bonnie with a cruel smile. Bonnie figured this one, well all of them, had never been told no in their lives.
"Sounds about right." Preston nodded, grabbing Bonnie again and pulling her back in."Though I'm not sure I can wait until the weekend for everything."
"Don't touch me," Bonnie hissed, struggling to break free from his grip.
Preston's hands snaked across her back and around to Bonnie's front, sliding across her stomach, as he whispered in her ear. "Come on baby, don't you want to have some fun?"
"Don't call me baby," Bonnie growled, shoving hard. Preston stumbled back and Bonnie was able to put a few paces between them.
"Well you haven't told me your name, now have you sweetheart?" He sneered, licking his lips in a sickening way.
"I said get away from me!" Bonnie's heart felt as if it were going to beat right out of her chest. Her breath was coming faster now, and a nagging voice in the back of her head told her she was a fool for coming in here alone. The more dominant voice in her head told her to get out of there in anyway possible.
Suddenly, Bonnie saw her chance. A knife lay out on the countertop, unsheathed, careless. It's cold steel under her fingertips was like a prayer, her saving grace. Bonnie wrapped her fingers around the handle and swung it in front of her, putting the tip between her and Preston.
Preston's eyes went wide with shock, and his friends fell silent in their search. All three had stopped to watch the scared looking girl and her very big knife standing in front of them. Finally, Preston demanded, "And what are you gonna do with that honey?"
"One more step and you won't have to ask that question," Bonnie hissed.
No one moved, but Bonnie could see the calculation on their fine boned features. The boys were trying to figure out how best to get the knife from her, and then how to take what they wanted. Bonnie's palm had begun to sweat, her arm to shake, and she wondered how long she would be able to hold on before fear overtook her.
The tension was ready to cut when the door swung open behind Bonnie. She didn't dare turn to look as Lucy entered. If she took her eyes off the three boys for even a second, they might pounce.
"Everything alright in here?" Lucy called, drawing the attention of the three boys. Bonnie watched as their expressions turned from rancor to annoyance.
"Lucy," The handsome one drawled.
"Marsden." Lucy replied evenly, putting a name to the face. "What's going on down here?" Her tone was measured but suggested she would take no answer but the truth.
Preston cracked an easy smile and leaned against the counter, looking entirely relaxed. "Just trying to find something to wind down with," he claimed.
"Boys, they keep the good liquor locked up and only the senior staff carries keys." Lucy chided, but her admonishment was not comical. "You've got three months to drink, how about you leave this poor girl alone?"
"She's right lets get out of here." Marsden snapped, miffed that Lucy had come to ruin his fun. "Preston, lets go."
"Fine," Preston barked, his easy demeanor melting into his temper.
The three boys sauntered out of the room, giving both Lucy and Bonnie looks of hate in equal measure. Only when the door had shut behind them and their voices died away, did the girls dare to move. The knife slid out of Bonnie's hand and back onto the counter, where she stared at it in disbelief.
"You alright?" Lucy inquired, passing the distance between them and leaning on the counter.
Bonnie took a step back. Yes, this girl had come to her rescue, but she was still one of them. Though Bonnie had never cared as much about the dividing lines between Greaser and Soc, it was suddenly easier to understand Dally's opinion that all Soc were scum. "Yeah, I'm fine," Bonnie assured, taking a deep breath.
"I'm sorry about them. They're not exactly examples of high society gentlemen. Prescott's a right ass." Lucy's explanation fell on deaf ears. Bonnie heard her words, but could only hold herself together long enough to bite back the bitter accusations that bubbled in her throat.
Finally, with her emotions once again under control, Bonnie gave a stiff nod. "I could tell," she scoffed.
Lucy offered her a gentle smile, clearly trying to make up for the mistakes of her companions. Her pale hand raised above the table and stretched out for Bonnie to shake. "We didn't really get introduced earlier. I'm L-"
Bonnie took Lucy's soft hand in her callused one, "Lucy Eldridge. I heard." She said firmly, shaking her new ally's hand. "I'm Bonnie."
"It's nice to meet you." Lucy smiled, turning towards the freezer. She opened the double doors and looked in with a delighted expression. "Do you like icecream?"
"We're not supposed to…" Bonnie started, before Lucy interrupted.
"Who's going to tell?" She asked with a mischievous grin.
In spite of herself, Bonnie smiled and joined Lucy at the freezer. With the tension gone from the room, her natural disposition returned, and Bonnie found her new friend to be likable. They passed the night with spoons in their hands and samples of all the Harborfront's ice cream. With the quiet of the night enveloping them in safety, and their jovial conversation, Bonnie let herself become unguarded and relaxed. She had never seen Soc's the same way her friends did. Sure, they had been in some nasty scrapes with some of the Tulsa Socs, but Bonnie knew that when they all went home, they were just people. Here, in the kitchen, she found that opinion resurfacing, and her belief in the goodness of humanity restored.