Friends With a Greaser

Chapter 9

After school, I wait for Nic at the bulletin board. I quickly check the freshly posted list of tryout results, and beam when I notice that Nic and I not only made the cut, but are the team captains! It's gonna be a kick-ass season! I grab an extra name sheet off the bulletin board, then scan the hallways and see a familiar head of rusty-coloured hair.

I wait until the crowd thins out and run over to meet him.

"Nic! We made the team! And we're captains!"

I can't help but grin when I notice a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

"That's... wow! Cool!"

"We have to organize a practice schedule to be submitted to the office by Thursday morning. I can type it up on Darry's old dinosaur typewriter tonight. We should get everything in early. That way we are seen as very responsible, and are more likely to get chosen as captains again next year."

"...okay," he responds.

"We'll also need to come up with a good lineup and well-thought-out offensive attacking plays. That shouldn't take too long. Then we have to make sure the coach approves of everything."

"Wait, isn't that the coach's job?" Asks Nic.

"No, the coach is just here for adult supervision. The team is mainly student-led; the coach registers the school as having a team, signs us up for tournaments, runs tryouts, and chooses the team and the captains. The rest is the captains' job; running practices, making up offensive and defensive plays, choosing who plays what position, and putting efficient lineups together." I explain.

"Wow, that's a lot of things to do."

"Yeah, it is a huge responsibility, but since everyone knows how much work we have, we are looked up to and admired as captains," I finish and look up at the clock. "Shoot! Two said he'd be here at 3:45, and that was 10 minutes ago!"

We sprint down the halls until we reach the front entrance. I take the stairs 3 at a time and jump off, 7 steps before the bottom. I land nearly and keep running. I glance over my shoulder to see Nic following close behind. We stop for a few seconds to catch our breath, then jog the rest of the way to the waiting truck. We hop in the box and we're off.

As we pull onto Main Street, I remember something.

"Wait, who was that Soc that was talking to you at lunch?"

"Who?" He asks, puzzled.

"Y'know, the ginger?"

"Oh, her. Dunno, we could've gone to the same elementary or junior high."

I decide not to press the matter any further, and leave it at that.

We pull into the driveway and I hop out of the back of the truck and tackle Two into a hug as soon as he closes the driver's side door. He lifts me off the ground and slowly spins in a circle. We share a quick kiss and hug for a while.

"Piggyback?" I ask him giving him my best puppy dog eyes.

"Fine," he says, as though it'll kill him, but we both know he doesn't really mind.

I hop on his back and we enter the kitchen. Pony, Soda, Sophia, Steve, and Nic are sitting around the table, Darry presumably around the corner cooking dinner. Two-Bit dumps me off his back suddenly, and I land flat on my ass on the kitchen floor.

"You suck!" I say, then stick out my tongue at him.

The whole table, upon seeing that I'm okay bursts into laughter. Sophia whispers something into Ponyboy's ear and they snicker quietly.

"What are you saying about me Sophia?" I ask suspiciously.

"You said you suck, so I said you swallow," she replies, smirking.

"Really?"

"Yup," confirms Ponyboy.

"You guys are so immature!"

They burst into another fit of giggles and I roll my eyes.

Darry walks in, wearing his 'Kiss the Cook' apron and carrying a steaming dish of meatloaf. I burst out laughing and the others follow suit. After the laughter subsides, we line up and grab a plate and serve ourselves. I follow Two and Nic to the couch and sit down between them. I lean on my boyfriend and turn on the TV and eat my dinner. When I'm done, I stand up and clear my throat. I mute the TV and wait for everyone to look at me.

"I have some exciting news to tell you guys," I begin.

"Lemme guess, you and my dear brother Keith finally got a room," smirks Sophia. I turn beet red and continue calmly, ignoring her and Ponyboy who are now roaring in laughter.

"No. Nic and I made the soccer team-and we're team captains!"

Everyone claps, and Steve lets out an ear-piercing Indian screech. High fives are exchanged, and Nic and I go to the porch to plan a practice schedule and lineups.