Greaser Girl // Sodapop Curtis

The GANG

We are sitting in a booth, Soda is one the outside, I'm on the inside.

Steve is somewhere, but we don't know.

I sip my coke, looking out the window. Soda has gotten up to go to the bathroom.

I hear a bell ring as the main door opens. A couple men walk in. They look like Greasers, but I can't tell.

Soda comes back, huffing.

"What's wrong." I ask.

"Nothin."

"Tell me." I demand.

"You've got enough to worry about." He replies.

I stop persisting, and take another drink. Soda pinches my side and I spit out my coke and screech. He's laughin, and I'm dying of laughter while trying not to choke.

"You little-." I start, but Soda stops my words with a kiss.

I don't pull away, in fact, I move closer.

We hear a crash of glass and pull away in confusion. While Soda looks at the scene, I look around, in the corner of my eye, I see the odd men staring at us.

I tap Soda's shoulder lightly, so no one sees.

He turns to face me, "What?" He says over the talking.

I don't anything, just move my eyes in the direction of the men.

Soda follows my gaze quickly, and realizes what I'm trying to say.

I know who those men are now, they are part of my dad's gang.

Soda casually gets out of the booth and waits for me to get out too, before putting a hand around my waist, and guiding me to the main door.

He walks at an angle so that I'm still shielded, but it doesn't look suspicious.

I don't make eye contact with anyone, just focus on Soda's arm around me.

We make it outside, and are just about to cross the street when we hear the door to the diner open and close.

Soda and I turn around to fast to be casual, and are met face for face with the men.

I back up in alarm, and Soda follows me.

The men snicker, "Just give us Caren and we won't have to do anything to ya." One says, his voice is deep and ragged.

"You wouldn't want to do that." Soda warns.

I know he is scared, I can feel his hand shaking.

"We won't have to fight." One man persists.

Soda only moves us farther along the sidewalk.

The men followed, and one digs something out of their pockets.

I don't want to know what it is.

They move faster, and Soda and I break into a run.

We run across the street, and into the Lot. The men follow close behind.

I know what Soda is trying to do. He is trying to loose them. They don't know the city like we did.

Suddenly, one man comes out of nowhere and pounces on me. I scream, and claw at his face.

He holds me down.

I can hear grunts coming from ahead. We are gonna loose if the gang doesn't show up soon.

There are four of them, and two of us.

I immediately start shouting for Darry, Two, Steve, or Ponyboy. Anyone.

The man tries covering my mouth, but I bite so hard I taste blood.

I hear him yell in pain, and I roll out from under him.

I see Soda punching one of the men while the other lays in the ground. He's passed out.

I dig out my switchblade and run for the one that waking up and ready to jump on Soda.

Without thinking, I stab him in the shoulder.

He calls out in pain, and I dig out my blade.

Soda is stumbling as the man punches him repeatedly.

I can't look.

Soda catches my eyes and his eyes widen, "Caren, move-!" He yells.

Before I can do anything, I see Soda fall to the ground and the blackness.