I had a surprise all ready for when Pony came home from the hospital. He opened the door to the bedroom.
"SURPRISE!!" I yelled, waving my arms frantically. Pony stared in bewilderment, "I....I can't believe it!" He stared at the single twin bed, draped with a navy striped comforter and accented with a stuffed white pony sitting upon the pillow.
"MY OWN BED?" He was in a state of utter shock.
I nodded. "It's all yours Pones." He jumped in the air and came crashing down on top of the bed, then immediately gripped his side in pain, forgetting he had just been in the hospital.
That night we had a 4th of July party in the vacant lot. There were red, white & blue shooters, stars and stripes themed cookies, and of course fireworks. We shot off black cats, bottle rockets, and had a roman candle war. At the end we brought out all of the big stuff, and somehow ended up shooting one off in the direction of a soc's house, but no big loss right? Then came the streaking, by yours truly, accompanied by Dallas and Steve. We ran around bare-ass naked dancing about in circles with a sparkler in each hand. Just the typical greaser Independence Day celebration. Besides a few of Shepard's boys, I was amongst the last to leave. I started in the direction of my house when something on the ground caught my eye. I picked it up and pressed the button, lighting up the screen. Someone dropped their cell phone, and it just happened to be Jelly. I figured I'd do some good and return it, despite our current issues. I paced the dark streets, taking in the warm night air that sparkled with liveliness of the evening's celebrations. I was four houses away when I noticed someone approaching me. My hand slid over the switchblade bulging from my back pocket. As I got closer, I noticed it was Jelly herself.
"Hey. Just thought I'd bring this by." I waved her phone in the air. Her hanging head glanced up at me, the moonlight catching on her wet cheeks.
"Jels?" It wasn't till she stopped right in front of me that I noticed the puffy bruises outlining her left cheekbone, and blood trickling from a swelling lip.
"Who the hell did this to you?" I demanded. She took the phone from my hand, just staring at the ground, shaking her head.
"It's nothing." She spoke softly
"You've been assaulted. Who the hell did this to you?" I tucked her hair behind her ear.
"My dad gets a little carried away on my parents anniversary." She said, not looking me in the eye.
"Your father did this to you?" I shouted. Her confirming nod made the blood in my veins boil. And by her reaction I gathered that this was not the first time this happened. My immediate thought was to take a crowbar to the guys face, but my common sense had to kick in and suggest otherwise.
"And you haven't told anyone?" I ran my hand through my hair. "He should be in jail Jels."
"Exactly!" She shouted back. "He's all I have..."
"You have me." I said. Her eyes finally meeting mine.
"I should go." She turned back towards her house. I grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back in my direction.
"There is no way in hell I am letting you go back to that house."
"It'll just make it worse if I don't." She said.
I sighed. "Then I'm coming with you."
We sneaked through the house into Jelly's room, which wasn't too hard considering her dad was passed out on the couch wasted. We sat awkwardly on the bed.
"So how's it going with all your girlfriends?" Jelly spoke up.
"It wasn't like that Jels." I sat twiddling my clammy thumbs. The countless, faceless, women meant nothing to me. They were just a crutch, and excuse.
"I know." She said. I wasn't surprised that she was aware of why my recent actions took place, after all, she always knew me better than I knew myself. She suddenly broke out into sobs.
"I'm so sorry." She looked up at me with pleading eyes. "It was an accident. I didn't know what I was doing. I would never intentionally do that to you Soda." I couldn't help but wrap my arms around her and hold her against my chest.
"I know. I'm sorry for turning into such a dick." I added. After a moment she broke away.
"I'm tired." She pulled off her jeans, leaving just a pair of underwear and a tshirt. I pulled my shirt over my head and kicked off my shoes.
"So what, you're just going to sleep in my bed every night now?" I slipped in under the covers next to her. A feeling I did not realize how much I had missed.
"Are you opposed to that?" I asked. She brought her lips up and softly met mine.
"Not at all."
Friday, July 5, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Digging in the Deep
I was waxing a car at the DX when I heard footsteps close in, in the distance. It was still a few hours before Steve was supposed to show up, so I spun around, surprised to see Angela approaching me.
"Hey, how's it going?" I asked.
"Oh ya know, it's going." She said, plopping down on the chair sitting at the entrance of the garage. "I've heard you've been quite the ladies man lately." I continued waxing the hood of the '67 Buick.
"Something like that."
"How come?" she seemed surprised.
I shrugged. "I don't know, something different I guess." Since the break-up, I had hooked up with about a dozen girls. At the bar, the DX, their house, my house, the back of a car. My sudden change of ways was no secret to the gang, and they were no doubt skeptical.
"You're really one to talk." I flashed a playful smile in her direction. Angela Shepard was nothing short of in-experienced, and everybody knew it.
She laughed. "Well I've always been this way, but you haven't. It's just not like Sodapop Curtis."
"People change." I said, feeling that the conversation was taking an awkward turn. There was about three minutes of dead silence. I was just about to look over my shoulder and see if she was still there when she spoke up again.
"I think it's a mask." She said.
My hand stopped dead in the middle of my 'wax on, wax off' rotation.
"A what?" I asked, even though I knew exactly what she meant.
"You're trying to hide a deeper issue." She stared at me intently.
I set the rang on the hood of the car, then turned around and leaned against it, my arms folded across my chest.
"If you don't get close to someone, you can't get hurt." I said, staring down at my chucks. She didn't say anything, so I continued. "I can't take that again Angela, I mean...was I not enough for them?" I asked, finally embracing the feelings I tried so hard to bury.
" I don't think it had as much to do with you Soda, people make mistakes. I can't vouch for Sandy, but if you were in Jelly's situation, how would you feel?"
I pondered her question for a moment, tossing it about in my thoughts.
"Like it was an accident...a mistake." I sighed.
Angela took a swig on her coke before standing to her feet.
"You've always been one of the good ones Soda...I'd hate to see you lose that." Then she turned and left. I sat there, lost in my own thoughts for what felt like half an hour, till my thought process was interrupted when Darry pulled up, yelling that we had to get to the high school, there had been a shooting.
"Hey, how's it going?" I asked.
"Oh ya know, it's going." She said, plopping down on the chair sitting at the entrance of the garage. "I've heard you've been quite the ladies man lately." I continued waxing the hood of the '67 Buick.
"Something like that."
"How come?" she seemed surprised.
I shrugged. "I don't know, something different I guess." Since the break-up, I had hooked up with about a dozen girls. At the bar, the DX, their house, my house, the back of a car. My sudden change of ways was no secret to the gang, and they were no doubt skeptical.
"You're really one to talk." I flashed a playful smile in her direction. Angela Shepard was nothing short of in-experienced, and everybody knew it.
She laughed. "Well I've always been this way, but you haven't. It's just not like Sodapop Curtis."
"People change." I said, feeling that the conversation was taking an awkward turn. There was about three minutes of dead silence. I was just about to look over my shoulder and see if she was still there when she spoke up again.
"I think it's a mask." She said.
My hand stopped dead in the middle of my 'wax on, wax off' rotation.
"A what?" I asked, even though I knew exactly what she meant.
"You're trying to hide a deeper issue." She stared at me intently.
I set the rang on the hood of the car, then turned around and leaned against it, my arms folded across my chest.
"If you don't get close to someone, you can't get hurt." I said, staring down at my chucks. She didn't say anything, so I continued. "I can't take that again Angela, I mean...was I not enough for them?" I asked, finally embracing the feelings I tried so hard to bury.
" I don't think it had as much to do with you Soda, people make mistakes. I can't vouch for Sandy, but if you were in Jelly's situation, how would you feel?"
I pondered her question for a moment, tossing it about in my thoughts.
"Like it was an accident...a mistake." I sighed.
Angela took a swig on her coke before standing to her feet.
"You've always been one of the good ones Soda...I'd hate to see you lose that." Then she turned and left. I sat there, lost in my own thoughts for what felt like half an hour, till my thought process was interrupted when Darry pulled up, yelling that we had to get to the high school, there had been a shooting.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
No Strings Attached
Steve dragged me to Buck's last weekend, dying to get me out of the house since things went downhill. I sat at the bar and downed a Pepsi before spotting a familiar face.
"Hey Blair. Is that your mercury out front? Where the hell did you get that sweet thing?" I asked, jamming my thumb in that general direction.
She spun around in the bar chair, "Yeah, and for christ's sake it's Kayleigh."
I ran my hand through my hair, "Right. This again..."
None of us understood the whole name thing going on with Blair. Maybe it's just a phase, or maybe she hates her life so much she's trying to convince herself of a new one, I don't know, but whatever it is, the gang is starting to worry.
I bought her a drink and found myself with another Pepsi. Blair always had this dark sexy thing going for her, but we all saw her as one of the 'babies' of the gang. Before I knew it the flirting came out, and I found myself twirling her hair in my fingers. Blair wasn't one to commit to me, not like this, but she said she wasn't Blair, and I wasn't looking for that type of relationship anyway. No strings attached, that's exactly how I wanted it. I have no idea what came over me, but the next next thing I know I'm tossing about naked in my bed with TwoBit's kid sister.
I awoke the next morning and threw my jeans on because I was already late for work. Blair didn't even bother getting dressed before heading to the bathroom. I opened the door to find half the gang sitting in the living room, staring in bewilderment. After wrestling TwoBit, I finally escaped to the truck and headed off to work. The usual crowd of girls showed up. Once Jelly was out of the picture, they all started appearing at the DX again watching me work. One blonde girl, who wore jean shorts so tight you could put a quarter in her pocket and tell if it's heads or tails, approached me, taking my hand and scribbling upon it with a pen.
She leaned in and whispered, "Don't hesitate to call late." Then winked at me before leaving.
Normally I'd take an offer like this and pass it on to Owen or Dal, but this was the type of fling I wanted, one that wasn't a relationship at all. Having relations with someone meant you were somewhat close to them, but I didn't want to be close to anybody, because the closer you are the more painful it becomes, so I typed the number into my phone, sure I would use it later.
"Hey Blair. Is that your mercury out front? Where the hell did you get that sweet thing?" I asked, jamming my thumb in that general direction.
She spun around in the bar chair, "Yeah, and for christ's sake it's Kayleigh."
I ran my hand through my hair, "Right. This again..."
None of us understood the whole name thing going on with Blair. Maybe it's just a phase, or maybe she hates her life so much she's trying to convince herself of a new one, I don't know, but whatever it is, the gang is starting to worry.
I bought her a drink and found myself with another Pepsi. Blair always had this dark sexy thing going for her, but we all saw her as one of the 'babies' of the gang. Before I knew it the flirting came out, and I found myself twirling her hair in my fingers. Blair wasn't one to commit to me, not like this, but she said she wasn't Blair, and I wasn't looking for that type of relationship anyway. No strings attached, that's exactly how I wanted it. I have no idea what came over me, but the next next thing I know I'm tossing about naked in my bed with TwoBit's kid sister.
I awoke the next morning and threw my jeans on because I was already late for work. Blair didn't even bother getting dressed before heading to the bathroom. I opened the door to find half the gang sitting in the living room, staring in bewilderment. After wrestling TwoBit, I finally escaped to the truck and headed off to work. The usual crowd of girls showed up. Once Jelly was out of the picture, they all started appearing at the DX again watching me work. One blonde girl, who wore jean shorts so tight you could put a quarter in her pocket and tell if it's heads or tails, approached me, taking my hand and scribbling upon it with a pen.
She leaned in and whispered, "Don't hesitate to call late." Then winked at me before leaving.
Normally I'd take an offer like this and pass it on to Owen or Dal, but this was the type of fling I wanted, one that wasn't a relationship at all. Having relations with someone meant you were somewhat close to them, but I didn't want to be close to anybody, because the closer you are the more painful it becomes, so I typed the number into my phone, sure I would use it later.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Trust is Earned, Not Given
I took a long drag on my cigarette while leaning against the side of the DX. It was a slow day, and I had wished it wasn't. At least the work would keep my mind off of things.
"Still that bad, huh?" Steve asked, taking to account that I only smoked if something was bothering me, or if I wanted to look tough, and it obviously wasn't the latter.
I shrugged and tossed the cigarette on the ground and crushed it with the heel of my shoe.
"I'm sorry about the Dawn thing man. That wasn't my place." Steve wasn't even aware that he had said anything until someone told him the next morning.
"I don't even care about that man. I just can't believe this is happening to me again." Any outside, third-party looking in would say that my relationship with Jelly was short-lived. We only actually dated for about two months, but it was a long time coming.
"I'm just tired of living like this...I miss the old me, before girls came into the picture." I said. I threw an arm around Steve's neck and we headed back into the garage.
"I'm gonna take you out tonight buddy, let's tear it up." Steve let out a howl.
"Steve, the last time I went to a party with you, we ended up at a whore house." I glared at him.
"Fine. We'll just chill at your place then. Bre wants to hang out anyways."
When we got to my house, Darry already had dinner cooking in the oven, and Bre was already over making herself at home on our couch.
"You know they shave Dally's balls on that cough." Steve informed her.
"Eww...Dallas pubes!" Bre immediately hopped up and took a seat on the floor.
Pony and Kitty soon joined us in front of the T.V. as we all stuffed our faces with lasagna.
"Hey Pones, go find a movie to watch." I commanded, throwing a bread stick at his head.
"Yes your highness!" He raised to hit feet, sticking his tongue out at me.
"Did Sodapop Curtis just suggest that we watch a movie?" Kit said, in her usual smart ass tone.
"Shut up!" I kicked her in the side.
A moment later Pony reappeared, placing a disk in the DVD player.
"What's that?" Darry asked.
"I dunno it's blank. I found it on the floor next to my backpack."
The picture popped up revealing TwoBit, Steve, and I dancing in our underwear to "My Heart Will Go On" and wearing sombreros. We all busted out in laughter.
"I forgot we did that." I confessed.
The scene suddenly changed to two people, who both happened to be girls, butt naked and tossing about in a bed moaning. As soon as we made the realization that those two girls happened to be Audrey and Jelly, everyone's mouth dropped. Except Steve, who had just taken a swig of coke and ended up spewing it on the back of Kit's head. I quickly hopped up and turned off the T.V. then turned back around to face everyone, not making eye contact.
"I have to go...shave." I said in a desperate attempt to escape the situation.
"I'm going to clean up in the kitchen." Darry headed into the next room.
"I got homework." Pony was in a dash to the bedroom.
"I'm going to take a shower." Kit hopped up, wringing her sticky, wet hair in her hands.
Steve followed after her. "Me too!"
She quickly spun around, "Go home Steve."
My mind was now in a jumbled mess. Jelly had cheated on me with Hunter, and while in her drunken state after the public break-up, she made a sex video with Audrey. What do I even do with that?
Steve leaned over and spoke quietly. "You think I could get a copy of that?"
"Go Home Steve!" I shouted.
"Still that bad, huh?" Steve asked, taking to account that I only smoked if something was bothering me, or if I wanted to look tough, and it obviously wasn't the latter.
I shrugged and tossed the cigarette on the ground and crushed it with the heel of my shoe.
"I'm sorry about the Dawn thing man. That wasn't my place." Steve wasn't even aware that he had said anything until someone told him the next morning.
"I don't even care about that man. I just can't believe this is happening to me again." Any outside, third-party looking in would say that my relationship with Jelly was short-lived. We only actually dated for about two months, but it was a long time coming.
"I'm just tired of living like this...I miss the old me, before girls came into the picture." I said. I threw an arm around Steve's neck and we headed back into the garage.
"I'm gonna take you out tonight buddy, let's tear it up." Steve let out a howl.
"Steve, the last time I went to a party with you, we ended up at a whore house." I glared at him.
"Fine. We'll just chill at your place then. Bre wants to hang out anyways."
When we got to my house, Darry already had dinner cooking in the oven, and Bre was already over making herself at home on our couch.
"You know they shave Dally's balls on that cough." Steve informed her.
"Eww...Dallas pubes!" Bre immediately hopped up and took a seat on the floor.
Pony and Kitty soon joined us in front of the T.V. as we all stuffed our faces with lasagna.
"Hey Pones, go find a movie to watch." I commanded, throwing a bread stick at his head.
"Yes your highness!" He raised to hit feet, sticking his tongue out at me.
"Did Sodapop Curtis just suggest that we watch a movie?" Kit said, in her usual smart ass tone.
"Shut up!" I kicked her in the side.
A moment later Pony reappeared, placing a disk in the DVD player.
"What's that?" Darry asked.
"I dunno it's blank. I found it on the floor next to my backpack."
The picture popped up revealing TwoBit, Steve, and I dancing in our underwear to "My Heart Will Go On" and wearing sombreros. We all busted out in laughter.
"I forgot we did that." I confessed.
The scene suddenly changed to two people, who both happened to be girls, butt naked and tossing about in a bed moaning. As soon as we made the realization that those two girls happened to be Audrey and Jelly, everyone's mouth dropped. Except Steve, who had just taken a swig of coke and ended up spewing it on the back of Kit's head. I quickly hopped up and turned off the T.V. then turned back around to face everyone, not making eye contact.
"I have to go...shave." I said in a desperate attempt to escape the situation.
"I'm going to clean up in the kitchen." Darry headed into the next room.
"I got homework." Pony was in a dash to the bedroom.
"I'm going to take a shower." Kit hopped up, wringing her sticky, wet hair in her hands.
Steve followed after her. "Me too!"
She quickly spun around, "Go home Steve."
My mind was now in a jumbled mess. Jelly had cheated on me with Hunter, and while in her drunken state after the public break-up, she made a sex video with Audrey. What do I even do with that?
Steve leaned over and spoke quietly. "You think I could get a copy of that?"
"Go Home Steve!" I shouted.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Let's Get Ready to Rumble
We spent the last three days gearing up for the rumble. We made a lot of calls, sent a billion texts, and had a dozen meetings in person with other greaser gangs, but the numbers just weren't turning up. We never really know how many socs will make an appearance, but when they hear there's a rumble, typically they all come running. The Socs fight us for fun, because they take any chance they're given to show that they're better than us. Greasers, on the other hand, we fight because it's personal. So far, the only gangs who agreed to show up were Shepard's and the Brumley's.
"The Brumley's backed out." Darry said, taking another swig on his beer. We decided to have a laid back night at the Dingo the night before the rumble.
"Dammit. Are you serious?" I asked quietly, not wanting to down everyone's spirits.
"Yep. They're down three guys as of this morning when one of em got busted for car theft." He explained further.
"That leaves our nine guys, and Shepard's eleven...Do you think that's enough?" I asked. Darry shook his head.
"Looks like the girls are gonna have to fight in this one."
We only let the girls fight if they have to, not because they aren't capable of kicking some decent ass, but because we're guys, we step up first and protect them when we can. It also makes us a bit nervous, despite the fact that the girls can handle themselves, we're always looking out for our sister or girlfriends in the midst of the fight. Owen spun around in his bar chair. He had apparently been eavesdropping on our conversation.
"Don't worry, I got it covered." He patted Darry on the back.
Friday. The day of the rumble. My phone was blowing up all day with questions and comments from almost everyone in the gang, leaving Steve and I very eager to get off work.
I came home to find everyone, plus Shepard's gang at our house. People were doing flips, practicing swings, stretching, and downing energy drinks. I looked around, worried about our numbers, and hope that Owen really would pull through. Typically, I would be pumped for a rumble, but this time was different. The circumstance in which we were fighting, left a dark cloud of emotion hovering over everyone, we shouldn't have to be fighting for this reason. I was a bit relieved when I found out Jelly was only on the sidelines of their encounter with Sheldon, but I still felt deeply for Rhyan and Blair, no one should have to experience something like that. I think secretly everyone blamed themselves for what happened. If only I had been there...If only I had done this differently...What happened, happened, and nothing could change that now. Could it in some way been prevented? Possibly, just like everything else that happens, but truth was, is this rumble really going to change anything? Someone wins, we leave each other alone for a month or two, and then were back to giving each other hell again. What was going to make this time any different?
I thought I had downed too many red bulls when I felt the house begin to shake, as a roaring sound filled the neighborhood.
"What the hell is that?" I heard Darry say.
"I said I had it covered." Owen smirked, then headed outside, the gang filing one by one after him. There was a group of about six or seven guys perched on top of motorcycles outside our house. From what I knew about Owen, I figured these guys were a part of the Sons of Anarchy. Darry filled them in on our situation and how we do things here in Tulsa, just before heading off to the vacant lot.
There they were, all the socs lined up shoulder to shoulder as we all stepped up to face an opponent. It felt like forever till the rumble finally started. I knew it was only a matter of time till Dal socked Sheldon a good on in the face, and then it was on. I tried my best to stay close to Jelly and keep an eye on her, but she seemed to be doing better than I was. I made it out with a broken pinky, and a gash along my right cheek, plus the countless scrapes and bruises scattered on my body. It ended with us standing there watching the socs run away in their mud stained pussy khakis, and then the shouts of victory erupted. We all ended up at the Thatcher house for a victory party consisting of loud music, booze, food, and swimming.
"Someone got you pretty good there babe." I said, gently pressing my fingers on Jelly's swelling temple.
"You should've seen the other guy." She smirked, then pressed her lips softly against mine.
"I'm going to go get a drink." She said before turning and leaving. I went over and stood by Steve, and glanced around the yard. Hunter was lingering in the shadows of the party all night, which was usually his type of scene. He approached me, chewing nervously on his fingernails.
"Hey man, I gotta tell you something." I looked at him intrigued.
"What's up?"
"The other night I was at a crack house on the outskirts of town, and I got carried away and was pretty stoned, and I didn't even remember passing out, and when I woke up...man, I'm really sorry." He was rambling, and I really didn't understand what connection I had to his experience at a crack house.
"I slept with Jelly." he confessed. My heart stopped, and I suddenly forgot how to breathe, as hot tears filled my eyes.
That's okay." A drunk Steve spoke up beside me, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Soda and Dawn are fuck buddies." Everyone paused and turned their heads our way. Hunter cocked his head to the side.
"You slept with my sister?" He said.
Steve, who was beyond caring, yelled again, "I slept with Kitty!" Everyone glanced in Kit's direction.
"That did not happen." She assured.
Hunter stared at me, eyes blazing. "We're even." He said, before stomping off somewhere. I looked over and found Jelly standing there, watching the whole scene.
"You slept with Hunter?" Though I already knew the answer, I wanted her to confirm it.
"Soda...I.." I cut her off,
"How could you?" I yelled.
"You never told me you slept with Dawn." She yelled back.
"Not while we were dating." I argued.
"I didn't know what I was doing..."
"The one person that I thought.." My voice caught. Tears were streaming down my face. "I can't do this again." I turned and heading inside the house to find a place to hide from the crowd. Steve chased after me,
"Soda, wait up man.." I turned abruptly, using a harsh tone, "Go home Steve." I said.
I couldn't believe that this was happening. I had been cheated on, again. Jelly and I have been friends since we were little, good friends. She was there when I found out Sandy was cheating on me, she even talked some since into me when I said I wanted to marry the girl anyways, regardless if the baby was mine or not. Here I was again, suffering the same pain. And she had done it with someone in the gang...someone I had considered a brother. I couldn't take this again, from now on, I was sure I'd never trust anybody.
"The Brumley's backed out." Darry said, taking another swig on his beer. We decided to have a laid back night at the Dingo the night before the rumble.
"Dammit. Are you serious?" I asked quietly, not wanting to down everyone's spirits.
"Yep. They're down three guys as of this morning when one of em got busted for car theft." He explained further.
"That leaves our nine guys, and Shepard's eleven...Do you think that's enough?" I asked. Darry shook his head.
"Looks like the girls are gonna have to fight in this one."
We only let the girls fight if they have to, not because they aren't capable of kicking some decent ass, but because we're guys, we step up first and protect them when we can. It also makes us a bit nervous, despite the fact that the girls can handle themselves, we're always looking out for our sister or girlfriends in the midst of the fight. Owen spun around in his bar chair. He had apparently been eavesdropping on our conversation.
"Don't worry, I got it covered." He patted Darry on the back.
Friday. The day of the rumble. My phone was blowing up all day with questions and comments from almost everyone in the gang, leaving Steve and I very eager to get off work.
I came home to find everyone, plus Shepard's gang at our house. People were doing flips, practicing swings, stretching, and downing energy drinks. I looked around, worried about our numbers, and hope that Owen really would pull through. Typically, I would be pumped for a rumble, but this time was different. The circumstance in which we were fighting, left a dark cloud of emotion hovering over everyone, we shouldn't have to be fighting for this reason. I was a bit relieved when I found out Jelly was only on the sidelines of their encounter with Sheldon, but I still felt deeply for Rhyan and Blair, no one should have to experience something like that. I think secretly everyone blamed themselves for what happened. If only I had been there...If only I had done this differently...What happened, happened, and nothing could change that now. Could it in some way been prevented? Possibly, just like everything else that happens, but truth was, is this rumble really going to change anything? Someone wins, we leave each other alone for a month or two, and then were back to giving each other hell again. What was going to make this time any different?
I thought I had downed too many red bulls when I felt the house begin to shake, as a roaring sound filled the neighborhood.
"What the hell is that?" I heard Darry say.
"I said I had it covered." Owen smirked, then headed outside, the gang filing one by one after him. There was a group of about six or seven guys perched on top of motorcycles outside our house. From what I knew about Owen, I figured these guys were a part of the Sons of Anarchy. Darry filled them in on our situation and how we do things here in Tulsa, just before heading off to the vacant lot.
There they were, all the socs lined up shoulder to shoulder as we all stepped up to face an opponent. It felt like forever till the rumble finally started. I knew it was only a matter of time till Dal socked Sheldon a good on in the face, and then it was on. I tried my best to stay close to Jelly and keep an eye on her, but she seemed to be doing better than I was. I made it out with a broken pinky, and a gash along my right cheek, plus the countless scrapes and bruises scattered on my body. It ended with us standing there watching the socs run away in their mud stained pussy khakis, and then the shouts of victory erupted. We all ended up at the Thatcher house for a victory party consisting of loud music, booze, food, and swimming.
"Someone got you pretty good there babe." I said, gently pressing my fingers on Jelly's swelling temple.
"You should've seen the other guy." She smirked, then pressed her lips softly against mine.
"I'm going to go get a drink." She said before turning and leaving. I went over and stood by Steve, and glanced around the yard. Hunter was lingering in the shadows of the party all night, which was usually his type of scene. He approached me, chewing nervously on his fingernails.
"Hey man, I gotta tell you something." I looked at him intrigued.
"What's up?"
"The other night I was at a crack house on the outskirts of town, and I got carried away and was pretty stoned, and I didn't even remember passing out, and when I woke up...man, I'm really sorry." He was rambling, and I really didn't understand what connection I had to his experience at a crack house.
"I slept with Jelly." he confessed. My heart stopped, and I suddenly forgot how to breathe, as hot tears filled my eyes.
That's okay." A drunk Steve spoke up beside me, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Soda and Dawn are fuck buddies." Everyone paused and turned their heads our way. Hunter cocked his head to the side.
"You slept with my sister?" He said.
Steve, who was beyond caring, yelled again, "I slept with Kitty!" Everyone glanced in Kit's direction.
"That did not happen." She assured.
Hunter stared at me, eyes blazing. "We're even." He said, before stomping off somewhere. I looked over and found Jelly standing there, watching the whole scene.
"You slept with Hunter?" Though I already knew the answer, I wanted her to confirm it.
"Soda...I.." I cut her off,
"How could you?" I yelled.
"You never told me you slept with Dawn." She yelled back.
"Not while we were dating." I argued.
"I didn't know what I was doing..."
"The one person that I thought.." My voice caught. Tears were streaming down my face. "I can't do this again." I turned and heading inside the house to find a place to hide from the crowd. Steve chased after me,
"Soda, wait up man.." I turned abruptly, using a harsh tone, "Go home Steve." I said.
I couldn't believe that this was happening. I had been cheated on, again. Jelly and I have been friends since we were little, good friends. She was there when I found out Sandy was cheating on me, she even talked some since into me when I said I wanted to marry the girl anyways, regardless if the baby was mine or not. Here I was again, suffering the same pain. And she had done it with someone in the gang...someone I had considered a brother. I couldn't take this again, from now on, I was sure I'd never trust anybody.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
An Itchy Situation
Saturday I woke up and noticed Pony still sound asleep next to me. I slipped on my jeans and crept down the hall with the mind to start cooking breakfast, but when I reached the living room I found Dallas asleep on the couch, and TwoBit sitting in the recliner, chowing down on some eggs, and watching Mickey Mouse. He nodded in acknowledgement to me, then suddenly, an idea struck my brain. I crossed my finger over my lips, signaling for him to remain quiet. I sneaked into the bathroom and returned a minute later holding a razor and shaving cream. I motioned to Dallas. TwoBit caught on immediately and burst out into a silent laughter. He began to carefully unbutton Dally's jeans, and pull them down just far enough for us to do our dirty work.
"What the hell are you guys doing?" Kit's voice rang behind us. TwoBit and I simultaneously turned around and shhh-ed her. She came in closer.
"Eww, cover that up." She pointed to Dallas's exposed genitals. I shhh-ed her again. She soon caught on after noticing the shaving cream and razor.
"Fine! But I get to watch him kick your asses when he wakes up." She whispered.
We returned to our work, which Dal would not find out about until he was long gone from my house, and feeling an itching sensation.
A few hours later I heard a knock at the door. It was Jelly, arriving for our usual Saturday night date night.
"We should double with Rhyan and Dallas tonight." She suggested.
"Oh..." I said, caught off guard. "Umm..sure."
"Really? Cause you don't sound very sure." Jelly noticed.
"Well..it's just that TwoBit and I played a joke on Dal this morning and I wasn't planning on being around when he figured it out." I informed.
"Boys are so stupid!" Jelly sighed.
Of course, I let her have her way and we still ended up doubling. We played a few games of laser tag. Guys against Girls, couple vs couple, me and Rhyan vs the Winston's...and the whole time I could see that Dallas was fighting an urge. Afterwards, we went to Rhyan's house and played some video games, Dallas still trying to sustain his itch without anyone noticing. Finally, someone spoke up.
"Dal..do you have an issue?" Rhyan shouted.
"I'll be right back." Dallas said, while heading to the bathroom.
The entire time I couldn't help but laugh, while the girls stared at me like I was an escapee from a mental institution. A minute later Dallas reappeared, eyes blazing.
"I'm gonna fucking kill you Curtis!" He shouted.
I hopped up off the couch as he chased me around the house. We eventually ended up in the living room floor, Dal's hand gripping my neck, cutting off my airway. The girls just sitting on the couch watching.
"Boys are so stupid!" I heard Rhyan say.
"Ain't that the truth." Jelly responded.
"What the hell are you guys doing?" Kit's voice rang behind us. TwoBit and I simultaneously turned around and shhh-ed her. She came in closer.
"Eww, cover that up." She pointed to Dallas's exposed genitals. I shhh-ed her again. She soon caught on after noticing the shaving cream and razor.
"Fine! But I get to watch him kick your asses when he wakes up." She whispered.
We returned to our work, which Dal would not find out about until he was long gone from my house, and feeling an itching sensation.
A few hours later I heard a knock at the door. It was Jelly, arriving for our usual Saturday night date night.
"We should double with Rhyan and Dallas tonight." She suggested.
"Oh..." I said, caught off guard. "Umm..sure."
"Really? Cause you don't sound very sure." Jelly noticed.
"Well..it's just that TwoBit and I played a joke on Dal this morning and I wasn't planning on being around when he figured it out." I informed.
"Boys are so stupid!" Jelly sighed.
Of course, I let her have her way and we still ended up doubling. We played a few games of laser tag. Guys against Girls, couple vs couple, me and Rhyan vs the Winston's...and the whole time I could see that Dallas was fighting an urge. Afterwards, we went to Rhyan's house and played some video games, Dallas still trying to sustain his itch without anyone noticing. Finally, someone spoke up.
"Dal..do you have an issue?" Rhyan shouted.
"I'll be right back." Dallas said, while heading to the bathroom.
The entire time I couldn't help but laugh, while the girls stared at me like I was an escapee from a mental institution. A minute later Dallas reappeared, eyes blazing.
"I'm gonna fucking kill you Curtis!" He shouted.
I hopped up off the couch as he chased me around the house. We eventually ended up in the living room floor, Dal's hand gripping my neck, cutting off my airway. The girls just sitting on the couch watching.
"Boys are so stupid!" I heard Rhyan say.
"Ain't that the truth." Jelly responded.
Friday, April 12, 2013
If There's One Thing Lion King Taught Me; It's You Gotta Put Your PastBehind You
I came home from school to find the typical snack of milk and cookies that mom always left out for us on Fridays, and as usual one would be missing, because Darry figured that being a senior and getting home early because he has last period release, entitled him to one of my cookies. We had the typical greaser weekend planned, and it didn't take long for Steve, Dallas, and TwoBit to come banging on the door begging our parents to let us come with them. Mom would always talk them into staying a few minutes with cookies, making sure they had at least that in their bellies. Sooner or later we were off to a night of partying with the greasers. There was dancing, smoking, drinking, people touching each other in every dark corner. Even then Darry was on us about alcohol and such, but he didn't have to worry about us hooking up with people. Pony was only thirteen and barely knew the difference between girls and guys, and Kit was so involved with her "girl-friends" shes didn't have time for boys, so it wasn't currently an issue, or so Darry thought.
The moment she saw me she threw herself against me in a hug I could never say no to.
"What's up best friend?" I said.
"Nuthin much Pepsi, where were you in English class today?" She punched me softly in the shoulder.
"Oh you know your cousin...always makin me cut class to cause some trouble." I informed.
"Ya know, maybe if you showed up to class once in a while you wouldn't be failing." She teased.
"Nah, then I'd just be sleeping." She laughed. "Besides, I'm failing cause I'm dumb, not cause I ain't there."
Slowly over the years, I had adjusted to my thoughts about Jelly. She was my best friend, besides Steve of course, and I had only ever thought of her as such. But growing boys change, and as you know, certain hormones kicked in, and I started seeing her differently,as if she had molded into a completely different person over night. We danced, and talked, and did whatever us kids did back then. Before worries, before jobs and relationships, before broken hearts and tainted memories. I remember that night being the first time I ever looked at a girl and thought how beautiful she was, and that if I ended up with someone half as decent as Jelly, I'd be just fine. It didn't take long for Kit to sweep in and steal her away from me, leaving me sitting on the sidelines for a while.
"Hey Curtis!" Dawn said, plopping down on the ground beside me, popping the cap off a beer and taking a long swig on it.
"How ya doin Ms. Cade?" I said.
"Oh you know... parents wanna kill each other, yelling, screaming, the usual." She said.
Dawn wasn't absent of good looks herself, and I had to admit, she was probably more bad ass than I was...WAS. But she had to be, and I sorta liked that about her, she didn't put up with a dude's shit. I'd seen Dallas try things with her multiple times, and he usually ended up with a bloody nose.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Dawn was staring at me.
"Soda? When did you get so good looking?" She asked.
I laughed "The moment you started drinking too much."
"No, really?" She insisted.
I just shrugged it off as nothing and glanced around the lot. A bonfire was going, and people had their trucks pulled up, filled with beer kegs and people sitting in them. Some guys were even playing football.
"What do you think that's like?" Dawn said pointing to a couple leaning against the fence, their hands all over eachother.
"I wouldn't know." I said.
"Oh c'mon Soda....a pretty boy like you?" She seemed surprised.
"Nah." I said.
She looked at me for a moment, "Yeah, me either." she laughed.
Don't get me wrong, by this point in my life I had imagined what sex was like about a thousand times, We are horny teenagers after all.
It was getting pretty late, and most of the people had already headed home, including Hunter and Johnny.
"You want me to walk you home?" I said.
"Sure, if you don't mind." Dawn replied. "You can sneak in through my window and we can watch a scary movie like old times, if you want?"
"Hell yeah!" I said, not willing to pass up an opportunity at reminiscing.
Dawn popped "Nightmare On Elm Street" into the DVD player, then headed downstairs to get some cokes and popcorn. Meanwhile, I took her blankets and pillows and made a pallet on the floor in front of the TV. It wasn't long before she returned and we were both sprawled out on the floor, our gaze intense upon the TV and stuffing our mouths with popcorn. In the beginning of the movie, you can hear a couple getting it on in the bed room while Johnny Depp and that one Nancy chick are stuck in the living room listening. I glanced over at Dawn. Her tshirt hugged her quite tightly, as it usually did, and her perfectly tan legs emerged from a short pair of blue shorts, and rested upon my lap. I didn't even notice I had began to softly stroke her leg. A minute later she switched position, laying her head on my chest. Okay, not the first time this has happened, but I held her quite tightly, then my fingers crept up the base of her shirt, stroking her skin. The emotion swept over me, and any horny fifteen year old boy knows, once it starts, there's no stopping it. I didn't know how to go about this, I had never done it before, then again neither had Dawn, so neither of us would be aware if we were doing it wrong. I just went with my gut, and did what I felt like doing.
My hand moved upward, pulling her shirt up with it, and I was surprised that she hadn't tried to stop me. It didn't take me long to figure out that she didn't have a bra on; my hand slipped over her breast when her head turned upward and she pressed her lips hard against mine. She pulled me on top of her and my body grinded against hers. I felt her fingers fiddling with the zipper on my jeans, and the next thing I knew both our pants were off, and her legs wrapped around me. I started out soft and careful, knowing typically for the girl, the first time could be painful. But after she instructed me to keep going, things really picked up pace. I covered her mouth with one hand, because I knew that if she were to make any sort of sound in this moment, Hunter could hear next door. Things were heating up, our bodies pressing against each other, causing my skin to perspire. When the moment came, I didn't know whether to pull out or continue, so I just kept going, until I knew she had gotten there. I was out of breath, and panting, as I laid back on the floor. Dawn breathing hard next to me.
"Holy shit Curtis! I thought the first time was supposed to be terrible." she said.
I smiled. We continued watching the movie, but it didn't seem to take long before the credits started rolling and I had to leave.
"Wanna come over next weekend?" Dawn asked. "I got the new Saw movie." She winked at me.
"Alright." I said, with a grin on my face as I climbed out her window.
Dawn and I had many more similar encounters after that night. Sometimes it involved a late night movie at her place, sometimes it was in the bathroom during lunch period, even occasionally in the car after school let out. That was our relationship, shoot a text, and we were there within minutes. If we had started dating someone, it stopped. But, once we were both single again, and in need of letting loose some sexual tension, we were there for each other. It was somehow never awkward for us, and we never told anyone, except for Steve, cause him and I told each other everything. But that's all we ever were, friends.....with benefits.
The moment she saw me she threw herself against me in a hug I could never say no to.
"What's up best friend?" I said.
"Nuthin much Pepsi, where were you in English class today?" She punched me softly in the shoulder.
"Oh you know your cousin...always makin me cut class to cause some trouble." I informed.
"Ya know, maybe if you showed up to class once in a while you wouldn't be failing." She teased.
"Nah, then I'd just be sleeping." She laughed. "Besides, I'm failing cause I'm dumb, not cause I ain't there."
Slowly over the years, I had adjusted to my thoughts about Jelly. She was my best friend, besides Steve of course, and I had only ever thought of her as such. But growing boys change, and as you know, certain hormones kicked in, and I started seeing her differently,as if she had molded into a completely different person over night. We danced, and talked, and did whatever us kids did back then. Before worries, before jobs and relationships, before broken hearts and tainted memories. I remember that night being the first time I ever looked at a girl and thought how beautiful she was, and that if I ended up with someone half as decent as Jelly, I'd be just fine. It didn't take long for Kit to sweep in and steal her away from me, leaving me sitting on the sidelines for a while.
"Hey Curtis!" Dawn said, plopping down on the ground beside me, popping the cap off a beer and taking a long swig on it.
"How ya doin Ms. Cade?" I said.
"Oh you know... parents wanna kill each other, yelling, screaming, the usual." She said.
Dawn wasn't absent of good looks herself, and I had to admit, she was probably more bad ass than I was...WAS. But she had to be, and I sorta liked that about her, she didn't put up with a dude's shit. I'd seen Dallas try things with her multiple times, and he usually ended up with a bloody nose.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Dawn was staring at me.
"Soda? When did you get so good looking?" She asked.
I laughed "The moment you started drinking too much."
"No, really?" She insisted.
I just shrugged it off as nothing and glanced around the lot. A bonfire was going, and people had their trucks pulled up, filled with beer kegs and people sitting in them. Some guys were even playing football.
"What do you think that's like?" Dawn said pointing to a couple leaning against the fence, their hands all over eachother.
"I wouldn't know." I said.
"Oh c'mon Soda....a pretty boy like you?" She seemed surprised.
"Nah." I said.
She looked at me for a moment, "Yeah, me either." she laughed.
Don't get me wrong, by this point in my life I had imagined what sex was like about a thousand times, We are horny teenagers after all.
It was getting pretty late, and most of the people had already headed home, including Hunter and Johnny.
"You want me to walk you home?" I said.
"Sure, if you don't mind." Dawn replied. "You can sneak in through my window and we can watch a scary movie like old times, if you want?"
"Hell yeah!" I said, not willing to pass up an opportunity at reminiscing.
Dawn popped "Nightmare On Elm Street" into the DVD player, then headed downstairs to get some cokes and popcorn. Meanwhile, I took her blankets and pillows and made a pallet on the floor in front of the TV. It wasn't long before she returned and we were both sprawled out on the floor, our gaze intense upon the TV and stuffing our mouths with popcorn. In the beginning of the movie, you can hear a couple getting it on in the bed room while Johnny Depp and that one Nancy chick are stuck in the living room listening. I glanced over at Dawn. Her tshirt hugged her quite tightly, as it usually did, and her perfectly tan legs emerged from a short pair of blue shorts, and rested upon my lap. I didn't even notice I had began to softly stroke her leg. A minute later she switched position, laying her head on my chest. Okay, not the first time this has happened, but I held her quite tightly, then my fingers crept up the base of her shirt, stroking her skin. The emotion swept over me, and any horny fifteen year old boy knows, once it starts, there's no stopping it. I didn't know how to go about this, I had never done it before, then again neither had Dawn, so neither of us would be aware if we were doing it wrong. I just went with my gut, and did what I felt like doing.
My hand moved upward, pulling her shirt up with it, and I was surprised that she hadn't tried to stop me. It didn't take me long to figure out that she didn't have a bra on; my hand slipped over her breast when her head turned upward and she pressed her lips hard against mine. She pulled me on top of her and my body grinded against hers. I felt her fingers fiddling with the zipper on my jeans, and the next thing I knew both our pants were off, and her legs wrapped around me. I started out soft and careful, knowing typically for the girl, the first time could be painful. But after she instructed me to keep going, things really picked up pace. I covered her mouth with one hand, because I knew that if she were to make any sort of sound in this moment, Hunter could hear next door. Things were heating up, our bodies pressing against each other, causing my skin to perspire. When the moment came, I didn't know whether to pull out or continue, so I just kept going, until I knew she had gotten there. I was out of breath, and panting, as I laid back on the floor. Dawn breathing hard next to me.
"Holy shit Curtis! I thought the first time was supposed to be terrible." she said.
I smiled. We continued watching the movie, but it didn't seem to take long before the credits started rolling and I had to leave.
"Wanna come over next weekend?" Dawn asked. "I got the new Saw movie." She winked at me.
"Alright." I said, with a grin on my face as I climbed out her window.
Dawn and I had many more similar encounters after that night. Sometimes it involved a late night movie at her place, sometimes it was in the bathroom during lunch period, even occasionally in the car after school let out. That was our relationship, shoot a text, and we were there within minutes. If we had started dating someone, it stopped. But, once we were both single again, and in need of letting loose some sexual tension, we were there for each other. It was somehow never awkward for us, and we never told anyone, except for Steve, cause him and I told each other everything. But that's all we ever were, friends.....with benefits.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
A Bad Day Turned For the Better
Monday...the week had just begun and I was already awaiting the weekend. Steve was having trouble at home that morning, so he was an hour late, and I was already behind on work. I couldn't blame him though, I understood the rough home life that consumed some of the gang, I'd seen it first hand, and we never judged each other by it, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated. One of the four gas pumps we had broke, so there were lines longer than the space to contain them, and I still had massive project to get done on the cars from the day before. Finally Steve arrived and got the pump working and before lunch we were caught up to half a days work, though the stress from the morning still hung over me like a cloud, plus the energy it took to work from open to close. Jelly stopped by and began to relieve some of the stress by talking about other things, until she eventually ended up in her usual spot on the work desk reading a book or listening to music. It was a chilly day, sunny, but cold. I had taken my jacket off, even though I already had goose bumps and the wind pierced my skin, but I couldn't stand that cold sweat feeling. Jelly and I stole glances at each other without Steve noticing. He was scheduled to leave in an hour, just before I had to close up the garage. I wasn't exactly sure what it was, but something was getting me in a mood that was inappropriate for work. I counted down the minutes till Steve finally said his goodbyes. His truck peeled out of the parking lot, and in no time I had the garage door down. I knew Jelly was in the same mindset, because in an instant she had her lips against mine and was unbuttoning my shirt. I picked her up and set her on the table, her lips never leaving mine. I was so thankful she decided to wear a skirt that day. She had my shirt off in seconds, as I did hers, and her legs wrapped around my waist. Our hands explored each other until I felt her fingers unbuttoning my jeans. My hand moved up her thigh and our kissing intensified. I hadn't done this in a while, and then it wasn't with someone I felt this strongly about. She pulled my hips against hers, and instantly they moved rhythmically against each other. I was so consumed in her. I picked her up, her legs still around me as I softly laid her on the ground. I propped myself up with one hand as the other found every inch of her skin. Her hands placed on my lower back , guiding me deeper. My feelings for her clouded my mind, like she was all I ever thought about since my existence. She was all I wanted, and in this moment I completely had her. We just laid their until our breathing steadied, her head on my chest. We didn't say anything, we didn't have to, we had just expressed our complete feelings for each other in the most passionate way possible. It had almost been an hour since the DX closed, and my siblings would soon be wondering where I was, but I didn't want to leave. We found ourselves at it again, this time switching positions, she straddled me, and moved against me again. I sat up to kiss her neck, never leaving her, her fingers pressed into my back. When it came to Jelly, it didn't feel...dirty, it felt right. My lips moved down her chest as my hands guided her hips. What had really only been about another twenty minutes, felt like a lifetime. We didn't stop, until we had reached maximum high, and at that moment I thought...if she was the only person I did this with for the rest of my life....I'd be more than okay with that.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Theres Nuthin' Like Racin' to Settle Your Differences
Some of the gang went to California for spring break this week, I stayed behind to work, so did Steve. Kit, Jelly, and the rest of the girls had "girls only" parties every night alternating between each other's house. Last night it was at our house, so Steve and I slept over at Dally's and decided to go to a drag race the next day.
Drag races are held every other Wednesday on the edge of town on a strip down by the river. It costs thirty dollars to enter with your own car, fifty to rent one, and five for admission to watch. And if you beat everyone out, you win all the entry money, which averaged out anywhere between three-hundred and a thousand bucks, consisting of about ten to thirty racers. Sometimes soc's would come by just to start fights, and prove that their cars were better than ours, though they were not allowed to compete for the prize money.
The weather was nice so we expected a lot of people to show up and they did, there was twenty-six racers so we knew we had a full day ahead of us. Typically there are two races going at once and you choose which you wanna watch. The whole thing could last up to eight hours. We got there at nine and races were scheduled to start at ten. We walked around looking at the cars and their racers, I recognized some of them. One guy always comes into the DX for regular check-ups on his car, and a few guys were from a grease gang called the Skinz, who pretty much live on the outskirts in shacks and under bridges. You think we got it bad, try a night with these guys.
We went out for lunch around two when they hold off the races for an hour so everyone can go eat or do touch-ups on their cars. I slid in the booth next to Steve, who had already downed his first hamburger. I looked across the table as Dal who had barely touched his food, which was very out of character for him.
"What's up Dal?" I asked, already knowing full well what was wrong.
"Nuthin good Curtis." He shook his head and stared at his food.
About a week ago, Rhyan ended their relationship cause she said she needed to focus on taking care of her brother. Which, in my opinion, would probably take a lifetime, Owen was nothing but trouble. I kinda felt bad for the girl though, of course I'd give up anything for my siblings, but when it controlled my life like that..I dunno, you can't just stop living your own life to help someone better theirs.
"You really liked her, huh?" I said.
Dallas just shrugged and stuffed his mouth with french fries. I've known Dal since I was little. We were in kindergarten together, and besides the few years he spent in his early teen years in New York, we've been pretty close, just like I am with the rest of the gang. I knew his reputation, his wild nights partying and hooking up with girls, even the few relationship he actually perused, but they weren't like this one. This was another one of those subtle things that I always noticed. Somehow she made him different, in a good way. Dal's past has been almost nothing but dark and gloomy, and finally something had sparked in his life...hope.
We finished eating and headed back to the strip, and to our dismay waiting for us was one Bob Sheldon.
"What the hell is he doing here," Steve asked, "isn't he a little too far from home?"
Occasionally other socs would show up here, but never Bob. He glanced our way, that devilish grin playing on his face.
"Just the greasers I wanted to see." He said, then hawked and spit only inches from our approaching feet.
"What the hell do you want Sheldon?" I asked.
"Oh, just thought I'd stop by, see how you're doin.." He circled us and then leaned into Dallas, "...though I heard not too well. I see your pretty little greaser left ya..." I could see that Dallas was ready to slit Bob's throat. "...though I don't see why she wastes her time with greasers when she clearly has all it takes to be a Soc." he continued.
Bob was right, Owen and Rhyan could be Socs if they wanted to, just like Darry, but they sought real friendship rather than just a social status.
"I might have to pay her a little visit later." Bob added.
That did it for Dallas, he snapped and laid one across Bob's left cheek that was bound to leave a bruise for weeks. Someone behind us yelled,
"Hey, there's no fighting here Winston!"
"Fine!" Dallas said. "We'll settle this with a race."
And it was on!
Drag races are held every other Wednesday on the edge of town on a strip down by the river. It costs thirty dollars to enter with your own car, fifty to rent one, and five for admission to watch. And if you beat everyone out, you win all the entry money, which averaged out anywhere between three-hundred and a thousand bucks, consisting of about ten to thirty racers. Sometimes soc's would come by just to start fights, and prove that their cars were better than ours, though they were not allowed to compete for the prize money.
The weather was nice so we expected a lot of people to show up and they did, there was twenty-six racers so we knew we had a full day ahead of us. Typically there are two races going at once and you choose which you wanna watch. The whole thing could last up to eight hours. We got there at nine and races were scheduled to start at ten. We walked around looking at the cars and their racers, I recognized some of them. One guy always comes into the DX for regular check-ups on his car, and a few guys were from a grease gang called the Skinz, who pretty much live on the outskirts in shacks and under bridges. You think we got it bad, try a night with these guys.
We went out for lunch around two when they hold off the races for an hour so everyone can go eat or do touch-ups on their cars. I slid in the booth next to Steve, who had already downed his first hamburger. I looked across the table as Dal who had barely touched his food, which was very out of character for him.
"What's up Dal?" I asked, already knowing full well what was wrong.
"Nuthin good Curtis." He shook his head and stared at his food.
About a week ago, Rhyan ended their relationship cause she said she needed to focus on taking care of her brother. Which, in my opinion, would probably take a lifetime, Owen was nothing but trouble. I kinda felt bad for the girl though, of course I'd give up anything for my siblings, but when it controlled my life like that..I dunno, you can't just stop living your own life to help someone better theirs.
"You really liked her, huh?" I said.
Dallas just shrugged and stuffed his mouth with french fries. I've known Dal since I was little. We were in kindergarten together, and besides the few years he spent in his early teen years in New York, we've been pretty close, just like I am with the rest of the gang. I knew his reputation, his wild nights partying and hooking up with girls, even the few relationship he actually perused, but they weren't like this one. This was another one of those subtle things that I always noticed. Somehow she made him different, in a good way. Dal's past has been almost nothing but dark and gloomy, and finally something had sparked in his life...hope.
We finished eating and headed back to the strip, and to our dismay waiting for us was one Bob Sheldon.
"What the hell is he doing here," Steve asked, "isn't he a little too far from home?"
Occasionally other socs would show up here, but never Bob. He glanced our way, that devilish grin playing on his face.
"Just the greasers I wanted to see." He said, then hawked and spit only inches from our approaching feet.
"What the hell do you want Sheldon?" I asked.
"Oh, just thought I'd stop by, see how you're doin.." He circled us and then leaned into Dallas, "...though I heard not too well. I see your pretty little greaser left ya..." I could see that Dallas was ready to slit Bob's throat. "...though I don't see why she wastes her time with greasers when she clearly has all it takes to be a Soc." he continued.
Bob was right, Owen and Rhyan could be Socs if they wanted to, just like Darry, but they sought real friendship rather than just a social status.
"I might have to pay her a little visit later." Bob added.
That did it for Dallas, he snapped and laid one across Bob's left cheek that was bound to leave a bruise for weeks. Someone behind us yelled,
"Hey, there's no fighting here Winston!"
"Fine!" Dallas said. "We'll settle this with a race."
And it was on!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Date/Not Date Date night....NOT!
It was Friday night, and everyone was going to be out. Darry was covering an extra shift for a co-worker, Pony was at a track meet, and Kit was out bothering her usual crowd....except Jelly, she was going to be with me.
There was always something about her, something that I couldn't quite grasp a hold of. Ever since we were kids, I was always drawn to her. Back then it was best friends/ brother sister type thing, but now it was different, it was something more. But I didn't want to put a label on it, not yet anyway. Labels are so specific, so limited, and with still trying to figure out what 'this' is, I didn't wanna impose any limits on it. Besides...how would everyone react? Dating my sisters best friend? How would Dallas feel about me dating his cousin? I wasn't ready for that. The 'oohhs' and 'awwws', the jokes, the expectations. We often chose to date outside our gang, because when everyone is connected, and when you date inside the gang you end up telling your best friend about things in your relationship, then they tell their other best friend, and they their best friend, and before you know it, the entire gang knows that she gave you head in the bathroom during science class at school...you might as well have a gang meeting and tell em all at once. Right now, I just want to make the best of it.
The doorbell rang and I opened it to find Jelly standing on the porch.
"Hey!" I said, pulling her into me and greeting her with a soft kiss. I noticed a bruise beginning to form on her collar-bone... "What did you do?"
"Oh!" She looked down, "you know clumsy me..walked into a shelf."
I cooked spaghetti, which I knew very well was her favorite, and after dinner we decided to pull out the home movies and re-live our childhood.
"Remember this?" Jelly said enthusiastically. "Our little play that we made all our parents watch...and you and I were married and Dallas, TwoBit, and Blair were our kids?" Jelly laughed.
"Don't forget our dogs.." I said pointing to Audrey and Bre on the television screen. "Let's hope our kids don't turn out like TwoBit and Dallas though." I joked.
Jelly looked at me intensely, "We're having kids?" she looked puzzled.
Uh oh! There I went assuming, and imposing a status on our undeclared relationship.
"Well...I mean possibly..someday." I blushed.
Jelly giggled, and rose from the couch.
"I have to go to the bathroom." She informed, while heading down the hallway.
I turned my attention back to the screen, reminiscing a simpler time. Our bathroom stands in the middle of the house, so awkwardly you can hear just about everything that goes on in there, so when I heard gagging and choking, I became worried, and thoughts of last week flooded my head...Jelly wouldn't eat anything when we'd go out with the gang or even at parties. If she had been feeling sick she would have told me, I knew exactly what she was doing..because like I said, she couldn't hide anything from Sodapop Curtis.
"Jelly let me in." I said, tapping on the door.
"No, I'm fine." She answered.
"Let me in Jels, you can't do this to yourself."
She didn't respond...
Being an older house, I knew that if you jiggled the door knob the right way, it would open. I opened it, revealing Jelly sitting on the floor leaning against the bathtub, with tears streaming down her face. I sighed and crouched down beside her, getting at eye level.
"Jels," I said softly. "Why are you doing this?"
She hesitated for a minute. "Because, I'm not pretty enough." She said between sobs.
I was confused, we couldn't possibly be talking about the same Jelly. The Jelly I knew was gorgeous, they way her hair flowed against her porcelain skin, the way her clothes hugged her body in all the right places, they way her eyes gleamed behind her hypnotizing smile. Who was she referring to?
"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked.
"I'm not pretty enough!" Her voice rose, "I'm not tan enough, my hair hangs awkwardly around my face, my ears stick out, I'm not skinny..." she trailed on, describing things that were apparently invisible, because I couldn't see them anywhere. "I want to be like.."
"Like who?" I interrupted. "Like those girls in your silly magazines? Jels, that's not real. If they were standing in this room right now I guarantee they wouldn't look anything like they do on those pages. Their hair would be frizzy from the humidity, the make-up they put on this morning would be half gone, their skin wouldn't glow because it isn't coated with tan shimmery lotion...because that isn't reality Jelly.....this is." I motioned to her. "You are beautiful....hell, you're fucking gorgeous......no one is perfect, you are so beautiful just the way you are now."
"Even with make-up running down my face?" She asked.
I laughed. "Jelly, you could walk into my house with your hair all matted, wearing dirty, nasty rags...and I'd still think you were the sexiest thing in Oklahoma."
"Really?" she looked up at me.
"Of course." My forehead met hers. "Promise me you'll stop this?" I said, kissing her nose.
She shook her head yes. "I promise."
I pulled her to her feet and wrapped my arms around her. I believed her, because even though I didn't exactly want or have a label for our relationship...I knew Jelly wouldn't break a promise to me.
There was always something about her, something that I couldn't quite grasp a hold of. Ever since we were kids, I was always drawn to her. Back then it was best friends/ brother sister type thing, but now it was different, it was something more. But I didn't want to put a label on it, not yet anyway. Labels are so specific, so limited, and with still trying to figure out what 'this' is, I didn't wanna impose any limits on it. Besides...how would everyone react? Dating my sisters best friend? How would Dallas feel about me dating his cousin? I wasn't ready for that. The 'oohhs' and 'awwws', the jokes, the expectations. We often chose to date outside our gang, because when everyone is connected, and when you date inside the gang you end up telling your best friend about things in your relationship, then they tell their other best friend, and they their best friend, and before you know it, the entire gang knows that she gave you head in the bathroom during science class at school...you might as well have a gang meeting and tell em all at once. Right now, I just want to make the best of it.
The doorbell rang and I opened it to find Jelly standing on the porch.
"Hey!" I said, pulling her into me and greeting her with a soft kiss. I noticed a bruise beginning to form on her collar-bone... "What did you do?"
"Oh!" She looked down, "you know clumsy me..walked into a shelf."
I cooked spaghetti, which I knew very well was her favorite, and after dinner we decided to pull out the home movies and re-live our childhood.
"Remember this?" Jelly said enthusiastically. "Our little play that we made all our parents watch...and you and I were married and Dallas, TwoBit, and Blair were our kids?" Jelly laughed.
"Don't forget our dogs.." I said pointing to Audrey and Bre on the television screen. "Let's hope our kids don't turn out like TwoBit and Dallas though." I joked.
Jelly looked at me intensely, "We're having kids?" she looked puzzled.
Uh oh! There I went assuming, and imposing a status on our undeclared relationship.
"Well...I mean possibly..someday." I blushed.
Jelly giggled, and rose from the couch.
"I have to go to the bathroom." She informed, while heading down the hallway.
I turned my attention back to the screen, reminiscing a simpler time. Our bathroom stands in the middle of the house, so awkwardly you can hear just about everything that goes on in there, so when I heard gagging and choking, I became worried, and thoughts of last week flooded my head...Jelly wouldn't eat anything when we'd go out with the gang or even at parties. If she had been feeling sick she would have told me, I knew exactly what she was doing..because like I said, she couldn't hide anything from Sodapop Curtis.
"Jelly let me in." I said, tapping on the door.
"No, I'm fine." She answered.
"Let me in Jels, you can't do this to yourself."
She didn't respond...
Being an older house, I knew that if you jiggled the door knob the right way, it would open. I opened it, revealing Jelly sitting on the floor leaning against the bathtub, with tears streaming down her face. I sighed and crouched down beside her, getting at eye level.
"Jels," I said softly. "Why are you doing this?"
She hesitated for a minute. "Because, I'm not pretty enough." She said between sobs.
I was confused, we couldn't possibly be talking about the same Jelly. The Jelly I knew was gorgeous, they way her hair flowed against her porcelain skin, the way her clothes hugged her body in all the right places, they way her eyes gleamed behind her hypnotizing smile. Who was she referring to?
"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked.
"I'm not pretty enough!" Her voice rose, "I'm not tan enough, my hair hangs awkwardly around my face, my ears stick out, I'm not skinny..." she trailed on, describing things that were apparently invisible, because I couldn't see them anywhere. "I want to be like.."
"Like who?" I interrupted. "Like those girls in your silly magazines? Jels, that's not real. If they were standing in this room right now I guarantee they wouldn't look anything like they do on those pages. Their hair would be frizzy from the humidity, the make-up they put on this morning would be half gone, their skin wouldn't glow because it isn't coated with tan shimmery lotion...because that isn't reality Jelly.....this is." I motioned to her. "You are beautiful....hell, you're fucking gorgeous......no one is perfect, you are so beautiful just the way you are now."
"Even with make-up running down my face?" She asked.
I laughed. "Jelly, you could walk into my house with your hair all matted, wearing dirty, nasty rags...and I'd still think you were the sexiest thing in Oklahoma."
"Really?" she looked up at me.
"Of course." My forehead met hers. "Promise me you'll stop this?" I said, kissing her nose.
She shook her head yes. "I promise."
I pulled her to her feet and wrapped my arms around her. I believed her, because even though I didn't exactly want or have a label for our relationship...I knew Jelly wouldn't break a promise to me.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Fake isn't Reality
I think it's funny how girls don't think we guys notice the little things, words spoken under-breath, that new outfit, the way you styled your hair this morning, that secret look spoken between best friends, we notice it... and even more so, we love to cause it. I like to notice the little things, in fact I even search for them.
"Are you sure you don't want a burger or something?" Kitty asked Jelly as she stuffed her mouth with french fries.
"Yeah, I'm not hungry." Jelly repeated for about the sixth time today.
Jelly had slept over last night and this morning I even made breakfast extra special, but she didn't eat any of it. She complained that she might be coming down with a stomach bug or something, and Kit shrugged it off with no concern. She may of had Kitty fooled...but she sure as hell didn't fool me, because the way her eyes gleamed...like they could burst into tears at any moment...the way she sat with her arms folded and her legs crossed so tightly. She was trying to hide something...herself.
I shot her a concerned stare, but she broke it quickly and looked the other way.
Last week Jelly had come up to the DX just to hang out, as she always did on her days off from school when the other girls were busy.
"Soda," she said, "do you think someday I could be like one of these girls in this magazine?"
I was in the middle of fixing an engine which held my whole concentration, so I unintentionally threw her question over my shoulder and gave an answer that didn't require too much thought.
"I think you can be whoever ya want." And I meant it, but that's wasn't what the situation was calling for, and I hadn't realized it at the time.
I was cleaning up the garage just before leaving work, long after Jelly had left. I picked up the magazine she was referring to when she asked me that question. Why would she want to be like one of these girls? The ones who have shiny Photoshopped skin, that flawless tan, the perfect makeup, usually dressed in something that didn't even cover half their body. Those girls aren't real, you see...after the lighting is back to normal, and the cameras are all turned off, those girls go back to being normal. Because truth is, their hair isn't perfect, their skin isn't flawless, and most of their attitudes aren't ones I'd like to be around. Everything they are is fake. Why be like that when she can be just the way she is? I didn't see anything wrong with her, and I see the little things remember?
"Are you sure you don't want a burger or something?" Kitty asked Jelly as she stuffed her mouth with french fries.
"Yeah, I'm not hungry." Jelly repeated for about the sixth time today.
Jelly had slept over last night and this morning I even made breakfast extra special, but she didn't eat any of it. She complained that she might be coming down with a stomach bug or something, and Kit shrugged it off with no concern. She may of had Kitty fooled...but she sure as hell didn't fool me, because the way her eyes gleamed...like they could burst into tears at any moment...the way she sat with her arms folded and her legs crossed so tightly. She was trying to hide something...herself.
I shot her a concerned stare, but she broke it quickly and looked the other way.
Last week Jelly had come up to the DX just to hang out, as she always did on her days off from school when the other girls were busy.
"Soda," she said, "do you think someday I could be like one of these girls in this magazine?"
I was in the middle of fixing an engine which held my whole concentration, so I unintentionally threw her question over my shoulder and gave an answer that didn't require too much thought.
"I think you can be whoever ya want." And I meant it, but that's wasn't what the situation was calling for, and I hadn't realized it at the time.
I was cleaning up the garage just before leaving work, long after Jelly had left. I picked up the magazine she was referring to when she asked me that question. Why would she want to be like one of these girls? The ones who have shiny Photoshopped skin, that flawless tan, the perfect makeup, usually dressed in something that didn't even cover half their body. Those girls aren't real, you see...after the lighting is back to normal, and the cameras are all turned off, those girls go back to being normal. Because truth is, their hair isn't perfect, their skin isn't flawless, and most of their attitudes aren't ones I'd like to be around. Everything they are is fake. Why be like that when she can be just the way she is? I didn't see anything wrong with her, and I see the little things remember?
Friday, February 8, 2013
Bad Dream
I felt my shirt clinging to my damp chest as my eyelids fluttered open. My heart was racing, and I could feel the blood pumping all the way down through my toes. I was careful not to wake Pony as I crawled out of bed and made my way to the living room couch. Today marked two years since the accident, since mom and dad died, since I dropped out and started working full time, since Darry was claimed as my legal guardian.
I began flipping through the family albums, studying pictures from birthday parties, Christmases, family vacations. Life was simpler back then, back when someone told you what time to be home by, told you you couldn't go out with friends, most kids my age would disagree with me, they long for freedom from their parents, but to be under the influence of my parents again was all I wanted. They told me what I could do and when to do it, now all my decisions were reflected only upon myself, and I wasn't yet ready to be the supreme authority of my own being. People my age shouldn't have to make the decisions I've made, I was forced to learn too early how to take care of myself, when in reality, I still wanted someone to take care of me.
"Bad dream?" I looked up to see Pony emerging from the hallway.
"Always." I said.
I had the same dream this time every year. The accident replays over and over in my head, eventually stealing me from sleep. Pony plopped down on the couch beside me, laying his head in my lap.
"How do you think it'd be.....ya know, of they were still here?" he asked.
"I dunno," contemplating his thought, that I secretly thought so often. "just like it was before I guess."
"You mean without Darry being an ass?" he replied.
We laughed a bit, "He's not an ass Pony.....he's just got more worries than he used to."
Pony sat up, "yeah yeah, that's what you always say."
"Think about it like this, would you be ready to be a dad to your three younger siblings at nineteen years old?" I asked.
Pony thought a minute, staring at the floor. "I guess not......especially not to you." he playfully shoved me.
"Pssht, I'm the easy one kid." I said.
"Well I'm going back to bed." Pony said, "You commin?"
"Yeah." And then I closed the album and tucked it neatly back in it's place.
I began flipping through the family albums, studying pictures from birthday parties, Christmases, family vacations. Life was simpler back then, back when someone told you what time to be home by, told you you couldn't go out with friends, most kids my age would disagree with me, they long for freedom from their parents, but to be under the influence of my parents again was all I wanted. They told me what I could do and when to do it, now all my decisions were reflected only upon myself, and I wasn't yet ready to be the supreme authority of my own being. People my age shouldn't have to make the decisions I've made, I was forced to learn too early how to take care of myself, when in reality, I still wanted someone to take care of me.
"Bad dream?" I looked up to see Pony emerging from the hallway.
"Always." I said.
I had the same dream this time every year. The accident replays over and over in my head, eventually stealing me from sleep. Pony plopped down on the couch beside me, laying his head in my lap.
"How do you think it'd be.....ya know, of they were still here?" he asked.
"I dunno," contemplating his thought, that I secretly thought so often. "just like it was before I guess."
"You mean without Darry being an ass?" he replied.
We laughed a bit, "He's not an ass Pony.....he's just got more worries than he used to."
Pony sat up, "yeah yeah, that's what you always say."
"Think about it like this, would you be ready to be a dad to your three younger siblings at nineteen years old?" I asked.
Pony thought a minute, staring at the floor. "I guess not......especially not to you." he playfully shoved me.
"Pssht, I'm the easy one kid." I said.
"Well I'm going back to bed." Pony said, "You commin?"
"Yeah." And then I closed the album and tucked it neatly back in it's place.
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