Chapter 2
An evening shift at Campbell's Sporting Goods ran into a morning shift the next day, with only twelve hours separating them. She never expected her father to run her as ragged working as he did when she finally volunteered to go down to the store. At least she got paid, she figured, even if it wasn't as much as the other employees. From what she knew of the man, there was a good chance one day he'd stop paying her at all. He'd expect her to do the work simply because she was his child.
They were pals when she was a kid but not so much anymore.
When she hung up her apron that Saturday afternoon, she let her father know she was going out with friends, not daring to mention the "friends" were actually one boy. She knew she'd be asked five hundred questions and made to bring Two-Bit over to meet him if she did (which she couldn't imagine going well in the slightest).
He only told her to stay safe and sweep up before she left.
As the routine always went, Virginia came home after work and had dinner with her mother. This time, it was a small meal of chicken and mashed potatoes, which the two enjoyed even if it got cold quickly.
Mr. Campbell's plate waited in the oven for whenever he got home. Sometimes he took off at five and they all ate together, while others he stayed at the store until everyone clocked out at nine. His schedule changed with his mood.
"Who are you going with tonight?" asked Mrs. Campbell for the second time that evening. She scraped the bones off her plate and into the trash.
"Barb," answered Virginia, sticking with the story she came up with the night prior. "We're going to see the new Elvis movie." A single mention of Elvis and Mrs. Campbell's lips curled into a smile. Virginia thought it was both cute and embarrassing that she and her mother had the same celebrity crush.
"Call us if you're going to be late," the older woman added, "or if you're gonna stay over."
Virginia couldn't imagine she'd end up needing an excuse like that, but if anyone would let her, it was Barbara Schreiber. Barb's parents were extremely free spirited, unlike most of the parents in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The girl made perfect grades so they let her do whatever she wanted, and were happy to house all her friends, even if they weren't home.
Clearing off her own plate, Virginia retreated to the bathroom to make sure she looked okay. She had changed from her work clothes into a navy blue minidress and, for the first time in a while, was wearing her hair down. She fiddled with the curls on the end nervously until she heard a honk from outside. She grabbed her purse off the bannister, called goodbye to her mom, and headed out the door.
Two-Bit's Plymouth was actually idling two houses down when she looked for it outside. Maybe that was for the better, Virginia reasoned, in case her mother was peering out the windows. When she hopped into the car, Two-Bit was craning his neck, searching the numbers on the mailboxes he was parked between.
"Missed ya by an inch," he shrugged. Virginia pointed out the correct house "for next time."
Two-Bit put the car back in drive and rolled away from the curb. The girl could feel the car rattle as it went forward and she prayed it wasn't the deathtrap it was acting like.
"How's the day treatin' you, Miss Ginny?" greeted Two-Bit, pulling out on the main road. Virginia smiled softly to herself at the nickname. It might have been the first time he had addressed her by name at all.
"Rough," she began, making herself as comfortable as she could amongst the mess in the car. "Everyone goes shopping on Saturdays. Some kids got all the turkey decoys out and set one up in every aisle."
Two-Bit snorted.
"They ain't hurting nothin'."
"No, they're not, just keeping me busy, I 'spose." Virginia let out a sigh, fluffed her hair in the rearview mirror, and leaned back into the headrest. She was taking in the sites as they cruised down Lewis Avenue until she noticed Two-Bit staring. "Keep your eyes on the road, Mathews."
She could see his eyes glance to the road when she said it, but then they were right back to looking at her as they had been before.
"You should really wear your hair down more often." For once, his voice didn't seem to be teasing at all. Virginia couldn't help but pull at the ends of her curls and blush, both at the words and his gaze.
His eyes looked more grey than blue now, matching the sky overhead.
"If it wasn't such a hassle…" she trailed off. "All the girls are wearing their hair short anyway, I'd stand out too much."
"Nothin' wrong with that," said Two-Bit. He was finally looking through the windshield to find a spot to park. Easy for him to say; standing out was one of his specialities. "Just sayin', sure everyone would appreciate what a knock-out you are with it down. Know I do."
Virginia diverted the compliment. She didn't want to look at him with rosy cheeks any longer than she had to.
"Thought you liked blondes anyway?"
"I like girls," he shrugged his shoulders, "they could be blue for all I care." She could see him chuckle to himself at the idea. "Where'd you hear that anyway?"
"People talk," said Virginia cryptically.
"What else do they say? Better not be tryin' to ruin my reputation."
Virginia was caught between diverting the question and telling him everything, because he certainly had a reputation. None of the rumors were good about him, or any of his friends for that matter. But then again, most rumors were started by the socs, so there was a good chance none of them are true.
Aside from that, Two-Bit didn't seem like the kind of person to take rumors seriously.
He didn't seem like the type to take anything seriously.
"Oooh let me think…" Virginia began, making a face like she had to search deep to come up with anything. "You only date blonde greaser girls. The only class you're passing is Shop. You'll pull a knife on anyone who looks at you wrong." She paused. "You broke up with Kathy Summers for not putting out."
She glanced at him as secretly as she could after saying that one, wanting to gauge his reaction.
She hated admitting to herself that she was enjoying the attention from Two-Bit, and even more she hated that she sometimes found herself thinking about him throughout the day. It wasn't the first time she had a schoolgirl crush on one of the greaser boys around town. She couldn't help but think they were cool, even when she knew what a bad idea it was to have a crush on one. Two-Bit was the first and only one to actually give her the time of day, and more so the only one to invite her out. As far as she could tell, they seemed to be getting along quite well for the time being, ignoring the petty larceny that started their interactions.
She had no idea if two trips to the movies were going to go anywhere with a boy like Two-Bit Mathews. She didn't want to get her hopes up in case it didn't, but still, Virginia couldn't help but think she didn't want to end up like Kathy Summers.
Two-Bit let out an indignant snort while putting the car in park.
"Hardly," he said. "She'd get mad 'bout once a week that I was spendin' more time with the boys than her. Told me she was gonna find somebody else to pay attention to her if I wouldn't, so I finally took her up on it."
Virginia merely hummed at the explanation, not daring to suggest she was glad it was that and not what the rumors were saying.
The car was backed into a tiny lot about a block past the Circle Cinema. Two-Bit turned the key, hopped out, and opened Virginia's door while she was still unbuckling and collecting her purse. She did a tiny curtsy when her feet hit the concrete below. Two-Bit, in turn, pretended to tip his imaginary hat.
Two-Bit paid once again when they reached the ticket booth and Virginia was beginning to think maybe his mom was spoiling him with more than just babysitting money. She tucked her ticket away carefully to keep and carried the bag of popcorn they got to share back to the theater. Two-Bit gently took her arm to guide her through the dark to what he dubbed "the best spot," which was a few rows higher than smack dab in the middle.
When the movie started, Virginia learned, to no surprise, that Two-Bit was keen on leaning over to whisper any and all thoughts that popped into his head. She didn't mind though, as it meant he had an arm across the back of her chair and his face a few inches from hers.
She hated to admit that Two-Bit Mathews was starting to interest her more than the singing rodeo-star, Lonnie Beale, up on the screen.
"You know, I'm no expert when it comes to flicks, that's more of Ponyboy's thing. He goes and watches them alone sometimes, just to think. I just see 'em and go home, and that's if I don't get antsy halfway through. But that," he cracked a goofy face and pointed back at the movie house, "mighta been one of the lousiest movies I've ever seen."
Virginia laughed because he was absolutely right. She expected the horses and girls, but not for them to throw in that many ghosts or ghouls, or that much slapstick.
"'Least I got to see The King in that gunslinger outfit," she said, pretending to swoon at the very thought.
"Shoot, if you liked that, wait 'til the rodeo comes back into town," said Two-Bit, turning back around with his hands now in his pockets. "All the fellas pull out their best duds. My buddy Franky Crawford does the steer wrestling. Almost gets himself killed every time. Or I told you about Buck Merrill, right? One of his cousins runs the Slash J."
"I expect you look pretty good out there, too," Virginia smirked, "red nose and all."
Two-Bit nearly tripped over his feet at the comment. He threw his head back and cackled.
"They keep tellin' me to get a job," he said through giggles. "Never considered rodeo clown might be the best thing for me." Virginia joined him. His laughter was dangerously contagious.
"Come on, let's go get some ice cream or something," Two-Bit offered. He pointed in the general direction of where the car was parked.
"You payin'?" Virginia joked. She got an actual paycheck (even if it was small) and would happily pay for their food, but she knew he wouldn't let her.
"I wouldn't be an honest gentleman if I didn't," he said.
"I think some folks around town would have a heart attack if they caught wind of you being an honest gentleman."
"I know my momma would, that's for sure."
They headed back to the car and hopped in, Two-Bit once again holding the passenger side door open for Virginia. They settled and as soon as the keys turned the ignition, the Plymouth made a horrible screeching sound and then went silent. He turned the key again and it revved weakly and gave up. He tried a third time, where it again wouldn't turn over.
"Come on, baby," Two-Bit whispered. It didn't help. The car refused to start and earned a slam on the top of the wheel.
"We hoofin' it?" Virginia asked gently.
"Nah," answered Two-Bit after taking a moment to think. "One of my buddies is good with cars, we'll see if he can fix it."
Virginia nodded and followed him out of the car to the nearest payphone. She pilfered through her coin purse for a dime, which he this time accepted.
The phone rang a few times but someone eventually answered.
"Hey Pony, is Soda home? He is? Okay, will you ask him if he could come give me a jump?" Virginia focused in to the half of the conversation she could hear. There was a half minute of silence where Two-Bit turned, leaned back against the phone box, and tucked his free hand into his pocket. "Yeah, I'm parked about a block away from the Circle." He paused again. "That new Elvis picture. Save your money, it was rotten." One final pause. "I gotta go, my time's gonna run out. You'll meet her when you meet her. Alright, I'll talk to you later, kid."
They spent half an hour sitting on the hood of the Plymouth in the dark chatting, Two-Bit carrying on about barrel racing and summertime, until a Ford pulled in the lot. He waved the driver over and helped Virginia hop down from the hood.
"How's it going?" called the driver, pulling up in front of Two-Bit's car. He climbed out of the truck and Virginia recognized him instantly. The perfect face and slender frame belonged to Sodapop Curtis.
Virginia hadn't seen the Curtis boy in quite a while on account of him dropping out of school, which disappointed more than one girl she knew. While most of her friends wouldn't go after a greaser with a ten foot pole, Soda was the exception. She could remember at least two occasions where Barbara dragged her along to the DX Station on the outskirts of town just to have an excuse to ogle him for a few minutes.
Soda's younger brother was also the one who got caught up in the murder case back in September.
Two-Bit had slapped the hood of his car, taking Virginia out of her thoughts.
"Good, 'til she wouldn't start," he said, and Sodapop shook his head with a smile.
"You're gonna be driving this thing until the wheels fall off, aren't ya?"
"And then I'm gonna stick my feet out the bottom like Fred Flintstone," smirked Two-Bit, earning a snort from both Soda and Virginia.
They opened the hood and Virginia scooted off behind them. She peaked past their shoulders and could only see some dirty, rusted parts that she didn't know the names of. She knew her fair share of fishing, camping, hunting, and other things most teenage girls weren't keen on, but cars were something she had no knowledge about.
After a few minutes of Soda poking around inside, he shook his head and retrieved a set of jumper cables. He connected them from under the hood of his truck to the car.
Two-Bit tossed Virginia the keys. She fumbled to catch them and then looked at him in confusion.
"You know what you're doing, right?" he asked, jerking his head in the direction of the front seat.
No, she didn't, but she'd try to figure it out.
She got in the driver's seat of the Plymouth nervously, scooting a pack of cigarettes and some napkins out of the way. She hardly felt tall enough to even reach the gas if she needed to.
"Just turn the key," called out Sodapop from the other side of the hood, "and hold it for a few seconds."
Virginia did as he said, in addition to holding her foot on the break, something she was pretty sure you were supposed to do. Despite being over sixteen, no one had actually taught her how to drive yet.
After a few tries, the car started. The noise wasn't the smoothest, but she assumed that was the best she was going to get with the Plymouth.
"Leave it on!" Sodapop was now shouting and Virginia quickly took her hand off the key, making sure she wouldn't accidentally wiggle it into turning off. "Gotta let it run for a minute."
She hopped back out, the car securely in park, hoping to maybe listen in and learn something else about vehicles. The boys came back into view as she came around the side.
"You gonna introduce me to your friend, Two-Bit?" Sodapop was quick to ask the second he made eye contact with Virginia.
"I was gonna if I ever brought her over to meet everyone, but now you're jumping the gun." He was planning to introduce her to all his friends?
"I'm Soda," the boy had rolled his eyes and took the initiative to introduce himself. He held out a hand to shake after wiping it on his jeans.
"Ginny," she introduced with a smile. "You sure he's gonna get me home without breaking down half-way there?"
Two-Bit looked offended at the suggestion his car wasn't safe.
"She's not much to look at, but De Luxe's are sturdy," said Sodapop. He made sure the hoods on both cars were closed all the way and packed away all the cables in the bed of his truck. "Though, she does," he pointed sternly at Two-Bit, "need a new battery, and sooner rather than later."
"Yeah, I know," said Two-Bit. "You don't gotta give me a lecture, Superman."
Soda was looking at Virginia again, gently now.
"If it doesn't, call. We'll get you a ride home."
Virginia thanked him for the offer, and for the help.
"Yeah, thanks, man," added Two-Bit, who then ushered Virginia back in the car. They pulled out of the lot, much more carefully than Two-Bit had been driving when they first arrived.
"Bring her by sometime!" shouted Soda. Virginia could see him in the rearview mirror, illuminated by a single lamppost. Two-Bit raised an arm out the window to wave goodbye.
"He'd do anything to get a girl over to their house," Two-Bit laughed. "I'll take ya over sometime, but don't go gettin' any ideas." Virginia looked at him quizzically at that statement. Two-Bit must not have noticed because he continued on, "Soda's got a girl already. Boy, he's whipped. Been going with her probably a year and half now." He finally looked her way and caught himself on her expression. "Just letting you know so you don't go getting your heart broken."
Virginia laughed out loud, and then giggled even more at the confusion displayed through Two-Bit eyebrows.
"I wasn't thinking like that at all," she explained.
"Well," Two-Bit forced a cough, turning onto East 17th, "Soda's the pretty boy. Gal's fall in love with him left and right."
"Guess I've got different taste."