The Outsiders II

Chapter Nine

A few days later, the guys were over at ours playing poker and drinking, whilst Maggie was out with Val. Maggie and Val had stricken up a friendship, and they seemed to be hitting it off well. Around four, Maggie came back, alone, and strolled into the living room where we all were.
"Hey Mag!" Sodapop chirped.
"Hey there Soda." Maggie smiled down at him. Sodapop had a bill behind his ear and a toothpick between his teeth. His goofy smile was as bright as ever. 
"Maggie, I'm gonna get to the liquor store." Two-Bit said, holding up his fake ID card. "You want anything?" Maggie paused for a moment.
"Sure. I'll come along." She said.

And so they went. Not long after, Two-Bit was talking her ears off, as he came in with a pack of beer and a good sized bottle of 'shine. Darry looked at him and then at the bottle.
"Say, where'd you get the 'shine, buddy?"
"Tim Shepherd's got a redneck cousin who makes it. Hillbilly only charges three bucks for two pints." Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow as Steve whistled at him.
"Damn, Two-Bit. I ain't seen nobody sell a couple pints of moonshine for three bucks. Give it here." Two-Bit handed the liquor to Steve and watched as he gulped a big swallow. Steve squeezed his eyes shut real hard and let out a strained sigh. Darry says 'shine is real strong, and it burns going down.
"Y'all tryin' to go blind? That redneck makes a hundred and eighty proof!" Maggie called from the kitchen. I looked over and seen her unpackage a brightly colored case of about six cans of alcohol.
"Hey, Darry! There anything you need to get rid of in the fridge?" Maggie said.
"Ain't sure." Darry called back.
"Well I got me a package of this fruit flavoured beer stuff. I can't drink six cans, I'll be hammered. And I ain't gonna waste it."
"Give one to Ponyboy. See how he likes it!" Soda called. I heard the guys laughing and snickering at me. Maggie turned to face me.
"You wanna try one?" I looked at the can she was holding out and looked at her.
"Eh, sure." I said, shrugging. I took the can and cracked it. The cold alcohol felt nice on my dry throat, and plus it tasted kinda nice. It was a mix of some berries. I can't remember what Maggie said it was. Maggie left the case on the table and walked with me back to the living room and cracked herself a can.
"Make room, would ya?" Maggie said scooting across from Sodapop.
"You wanna play?" Soda smirked at her.
"Okay. You're on, Pepsi-Cola." She said smugly. I was bored to the death. It wasn't much of an exciting game, honest.
"Hey, Ponyboy! You need to place a bet! We got three bets already!" Soda called.
"What you talkin' 'bout?" I frowned.
"Well, you need to bet on who's gonna win." Soda smiled innocently.
"I say Mag's gonna whip you." I said, as I placed a kiss Maggie's temple. She smiled with superiority at Sodapop as she gently laid down her cards.
"For the love Pete!" Soda yelled as he slammed his cards down. "Three times in a row? Really?" Maggie chuckled as did everyone else.
"Well, Sodapop... I say you owe me fifty bucks." She slyly said. Soda reached into his wallet and took out fifty.
"Woah there, buddy. I was just playin'. I'll accept me beating you as good payment." She merely cocked an eyebrow at him. He went beet red and crossed his arms like a spoiled child.
"You're no fun." He grumped.

Maggie went to go sit on the porch a while later. She was taking in the sunset when I'd sat down beside her.
"Pretty, ain't it?" She said in a low voice.
"Yeah. Man, do I ever love 'em." I grinned.
Maggie chuckled softly.
"Hey, you wanna know something?"
"Hm?"
"Val's in love with Sodapop." I narrowed my eyes at her.
"She is?"
"Yep." Maggie sighed. "I was talking with her earlier and she said she was really getting sweet on Soda. I really wanna set them up, because I'm suspicious. You seen the way he looks at her?"
"Yeah. I never thought he'd actually get over Sandy. Not this quickly, at least." I rested my elbows on the stairs.
"I told her I'd put in the good word for her. We should definitely set them up." Maggie perked up and looked into my eyes.
"Sure. I'd say a blind date at the movie house." I suggested to her. She gasped happily and clapped her hands.
"Oooh! That's a real good idea!" She beamed. "When'd you become so smart?"
I shrugged.
"Who knows?" She laughed and kissed me before getting up.
"Well come on then!" She motioned for me to follow her.
"All right, all right!" I said. "What about Darry? He'll think we got kidnapped." Maggie pressed her head against the screen door.
"Hey Darry! Me and Pony are going to Val's, okay?" She called.
"Yep!" I heard Darry yell. "Don't be out a second past twelve, you hear?"
"Yeah! We ain't gonna be long."