Baby » The Outsiders

Chapter 5

B A B Y D O L L

I have to admit it was a good movie. The way it sequenced with everything. I look at Elaine and Makenna and then to Ponyboy. He gets up, and so do I, and we walk out of the theater. The other two trail behind us.

"You want a ride," I ask as we step outside.

"No, I like walking," he says. "Plus I think someone would steal that car if you drove in."

I look at the car. Sometimes I forget about driving something like this I forget about the territory. It's not like I'm full soc, it has been awhile.

"Oh, okay."

"Thanks for the offer though."

I nod and get in the car. Elaine and Makenna are already sitting in. Suddenly I see a red Corvair speed past us. I watch it stop in front of Ponyboy. Oh hell no.

I start the car and start driving as Ponyboy starts walking. He doesn't notice the Corvair. I follow the red car as it keeps following my brother.

"Why are they following him," Elaine asks.

Elaine is a middle. She never experienced this before. I'd never been jumped, and I guess Makenna hasn't either. I look at the Corvair stop, and a bunch of guys get out. Ponyboy looks at them.

There is the terror in his face. I get out of the car, and Elaine sits still. I hear Ponyboy screaming for Darry and Soda. My anger washes over me.

"Hey," I yell. "Leave 'im alone."

The one who's sitting on Ponyboy's chest turns around and looks at me. I see blood on Pony's neck.

"Oh, look, guys," he says. "Babydoll Worcester is standing up for a grease."

The other boys start laughing. I feel my anger rise as one of them comes over to me. His face is smug, and I end up slapping him. The next thing I know I'm fighting him. I hear Elaine, and Makenna gets out.

We're doing pretty well. I mean Makenna took down a guy twice her size and Elaine broke someone's arm. I never knew she had that in her. The only bad outcome is my dress ripped, and I've broken a heel. Oh, they are going to pay for the heel.

Soon I hear a bunch of yelling. The guys run back to their car, and I look to see a new set of guys trying to beat them up. But the car speeds away. I look at Elaine and Makena. Their clothes are a mess and hair too.

"Pone," I say looking at him.

The guy standing over him looks at me. Darry.

"Babydoll," he asks.

"Hey Dar," I say. "Is he okay?"

Darry looks at me. His eyes show disbelief. No clue why. Then I remember what I'm wearing.

"Who's car is this?"

I hear someone say.

"Mine," I say turning around to face Keith Mathews.

He looks at me, "Babydoll?"

I smile, "Hey Keithy."

His eyes widen at me. Well, mostly at what I'm wearing.

"What the fu-hell are ya wearing?"

"What's wrong? I wear this every Friday."

"Well, one it's a dress and two you have boobs."

My outfit caught the attention of others.

"Demon-Angel," Dallas Winston asks.

I nod, "Hey Dal."

I turn around to see Johnny. His big black eyes stare at me.

"Baby," Sodapop asks, "how many girl things do you own?"

I look at him and laugh, "Not much."

"Babydoll," Elaine says.

I turn around.

"Oh yeah, guys, these are my sisters. The blonde is Elaine, and the black haired one is Makenna," I say. "Makenna, Elaine, these are my friends. And the big guy over there is Darry, my older brother. Then you got Keith, Dallas, Steve-Elaine you met him the other day along with Sodapop-and that's Johnny."

They all say an awkward 'hello.' It's quiet for a second.

"Baby," Elaine says, "we gotta get home. Tasha will be home from work soon."

I nod, "Okay. Uh, bye guys."

As we head back to the Camaro, Darry calls.

"Babydoll," he says, "can you come over for dinner tonight? You can bring them."

"That'd be nice."

That's all I say before I start the Camaro and drive off. I look at Elaine. She's staring forward, and Makenna is quiet.

"Are you going to have dinner with them," Makeena asks breaking the silence.

I shrug, "Yeah, I mean why not? I haven't seen them in a bit. Ya guys can come."

"I'm going over to Michael's," Elaine says. "I'm meeting his parents tonight."

I nod.

"I'm going to Nathan's," Makenna says.

"Okay, I'm on my own."

"Okay."

D A R R E L

I look at the gang. The group stares at the Camaro as it left.

"You were right," Pony said. "Sodapop she is different."

"Heck," Two-bit says, "she's a soc. Did ya not see her in the dress?"

"Ya shoulda seen her yesterday. She was in short shorts," Steve said.

I look at Dallas. He's always jumped in on talking about something like this. But he's staring at the ground. He's acting like Pony and Johnny.

"Dal," I ask, "what's wrong?"

He looks at me, "Since when is Babydoll Curtis a girl?"

D A L L A S

Demon-Angel is not a greaser anymore. I've never seen her so in the way she is. I remember when she was younger and she told me she liked Johnny. I gave her her first cigarette and her first taste of alcohol.

Now she's a girl. I never thought I'd see the day she would dress like this. I get out of jail and see that.

"Dal," Darry says, "what's wrong?"

I look at him, "Since when is Babydoll Curtis a girl?"

Then I hear Ponyboy laugh.

"She isn't Babydoll Curtis anymore," he says. "Her name is Babydoll Worcester."

B A B Y D O L L

I look at Tasha.

"Can I," I ask her.

She nods, "If you want to. I mean it's your choice. Just be back by eleven."

I nod, "I will. Thank you, Tasha."

I look at her before I run upstairs to get dressed. I go into my room and grab a pair of jeans, a green shirt, and a pair of tan colored boots. I put those on and look in the mirror. I smile and walk out of my room.