Lose Control

Chapter 1

"Jules..."

"Jules."

"Jules!"

I groaned at the sound of my brothers voice and rolled over, wrapping myself in the comforter so it wouldn't be pulled off of me (one of Sodapop's many wake up tactics). I was in no way a morning person, so the relentless shaking and pulling at my shoulder and the calling of my name wore at my nerves like nothing else.

"What?!?" I snapped as I sat up in a huff. Soda laughed, his brown eyes dancing as he smoothed my wild hair out of my eyes. "It's time to go to work Jules. I let you sleep as long as I could but..." His own eyes held a sliver of guilt which only made me feel horrible. "Sorry Pepsi. I'll be ready in 20." I climbed across the bed I shared with my twin brother and headed to the shower. Since there was only one bathroom in the Curtis house, it brought a bit of a struggle with the getting ready situation. Darry usually showered at night; he didn't like to get into bed dirty, and Soda was normally up before the sun and showered right when he woke up. That left Ponyboy and I. It was a fight to the death to get into the shower first, and anyone's guess as to who would win.

I barreled out of the room Soda and I shared, seeing Ponyboy opening the door to the bathroom. 'Shit, shit, shit!', I thought as I took off full speed, crashing straight into my little brother. I took him by surprise, knocking him back a few feet before he got his wits about him and the fight began. We two were about the same height (he maybe had an inch on me), but he did have quite a bit more muscle than my small frame. I clawed at the wall trying to hold my ground as Pony picked me up and attempted to throw me a few feet away. I caught a glimpse of the rest of the gang in the living room, Two-Bit was sitting on the couch entranced by Mickey on TV and probably on his third or fourth beer, Darry was looking at you both, and you couldn't tell if he was amused or thoroughly pissed off, Soda and Steve were laughing hysterically, and Dallas was staring at your trying to hide a small smile (Johnny hadn't stayed over at the Curtis place last night). Pony was so close to flinging me aside and stepping into the bathroom...until I delivered a devastating kick to the shins that knocked him flat on his ass, and then ducked into the bathroom to get ready for work. I could hear the sound boys howling with laughter on the other side, even with the water running.

I emerged from the bathroom 10 minutes later, my oversized DX shirt hanging open and revealing the white tank top underneath. My ripped jeans, white converse and dash of mascara completed my daily look, and I was ready for work. I earned a couple high-fives as I walked into the living room (from everyone except Pony of course, who had ducked into the bathroom as soon as I had finished), and I rushed into the kitchen to grab a piece of chocolate cake before hopping in Steve's car with Soda to head to work.