Tough as Girls (The Outsiders Spin Off)

Chapter 3:

Elizabeth- 

School wasn’t fun. In fact, for many of us (Soc or Greaser), it was a living hell. Everyone was trying to be popular. Well, maybe not popular, but at least, liked by most of their peers. 

For some, they fail miserable at it. Yet, some of us, are at the top of the food change, and always will be. 

“Liz, He is so hot. You are so lucky.” My friend Melina squealed. 

“I am.” I smiled back at her. Even if he was a Greaser, he was a good guy, just in general. Plus, he was a Curtis. Every teenager in Tulsa knows that the Curtis boys are the most attractive boys in the city. Darry, the oldest, and just bulging with muscles. Soda, the sweet and sensitive one. Hell, even  quiet little Ponyboy was attractive, with those dreamy eyes of his. Though I suspect that big mouth, Charlotte Martin has called him. 

I spotted Bertha across the hall, I waved her over. “Hey Mel, this is my friend Bertha.”

Melina gave her the once over, from her head to her toes, and gushed, “Oh my god, I love your skirt. Adorable. Where did you get it?” Bertha had gotten the approval. 

“Back in the city, there was this amazing boutique, that held the cutest trends.” Bertha looked relieved. 

“What class do you have next?” I asked her. One bad thing about Honors English, was that barely any of my friends were smart enough to be in it. 

“English. Uhm.” She thought for a second, “In room 201.” That was my class. Finally, a friend who wasn’t an idiot.

“That’s Mr. Smye?” She asked, her eyes wide. I laughed. This was a old female substitute. 

I gave a small giggle. ”No, my dear sweet Bertha. It isn’t.” 

Bertha wasn’t really listening. “They are in here?” She was looking at Ponyboy Curtis, and Lottie Martin. Shockingly, they were. I gave her a swift nod, because the teacher was giving us the evil eye. 

“Shut up!” She crackled. We all instantly stopped talking. As thin and frail as she looked, that woman’s voice was like razor blades on a chalkboard. 

“Woof.” Lottie muttered under her breath. If you had ever met her, you would know that it was still loud enough. Every student tried to stiffle their laughter, but it was no use. Once one goes, we all go. The sad part, was it honestly wasn’t that funny. 

As most of us gasped for breath, The substitute, glared at us. “Which one of you brats said that?” Dead silence. You could hear the crickets. 

“Why, it was no other than Elizabeth Jacobs.” Adam McCain said. He was a goody two shoes, who had it out for my head on a plate.  I gasped, even though I wasn’t surprised. 

“Detention after school.” The Sub, whose name was apparently Ms. Dirks, shouted. Not fair!

“It was not even me!” I protested. Adam McCain simply smirked. 

“It wasn’t her. It was me. Bertha said, attempting to defend me.  Thank you! 

“You can join her.” It was dead silence in the classroom, except for Bertha and I huffing about our detentions. I had a date tonight too. This was plain out unfair. 

“You are a substitute teacher. You aren’t even aloud to give detentions. Also, you don’t even know which one said whatever. Which by the way, was neither of them, nor was it me. I assume you simply imagined it.” Lottie said, feeling a little guilty, than making up for it completely. 

“You join them, and tomorrow, for you, Smartass.” Lottie was just about to reply with some other comment, when Ponyboy practically held his hand over her mouth to keep her from it. 

     I drummed my pencil on the table, in front of me. Bertha was examining her finger nails. Lottie was just about attached to Lord of The Flies, nose so deep into it’s spin , you could have sworn they were connected. 

“Going to the dance on Friday?” I asked Bertha. She looked up, her thin eyebrows furrowed. 

“What dance?” 

“The Spring Fling. It’s a big deal for you girls.” Lottie said, without looking up. Boy, she never misses a beat. 

“Yes. It is. Bertha, you should come. We could get ready at my house before, and then do something afterwards.” I said, thinking of what to do. 

“Oh my god, that would be totally fun!” She could go with Steve, and I could force Soda to go with me. 

“I have the perfect guy for you!” Bertha looked a bit on the scared side. 

“One Sec,” I turned to Lottie, “Hey, is Steve still dating that extreme version of white trash?”

Lottie simply shook her head. 

“Perfect. You can go with him. He is such a doll, not as much as Soda, but still…” Lottie snorted, she tried to cover it up with a fake cough. She still stared down at her book.  I rolled my eyes.

“Well, its true. I am going to assume you are going with Ponyboy, Right Lottie?” This time she looked up. 

“Uhmm, no. He is my friend, and besides I am not going to a stupid dance. “ She muttered the first half, then talked in her normal voice.

“Oh.” I responded, and continued discussing the dance plan with Bertha. 

“Why aren’t you going to go, Lottie?” She asked her, partially ignoring me. Why does Bertha even care about what Lottie does and doesn’t do? I Must have had that thought written al over my face, because Bertha responded, 

“She and the others saved me from these scary guys.” She muttered. 

“Oh my god, Were you jumped?” I gasped. Lottie instantly looked up from the book. Bertha looked embarrassed. 

“I think so.” She muttered softly. Her hands got a little shaky. So, I assume it was a very scary moment for her. I had never been jumped, but I heard it was terrifying. 

“She was.” Lottie commented. I put my hand on Bertha shoulder, to comfort her. She gave me a small smile. 

“It could always be worse. At least they didn’t cut you. Trust me, that isn‘t fun.” She rolled her eyes, then tried to find her sentence she was on. 

“And you would know that how exactly?” I asked her, I doubted she would have been jumped. Maybe her jumping them, but not getting jumped. 

She smirked at me. Then responded, “Never mouth of to people bigger than you. Especially when you are by yourself.” 

“You are like five foot two. Nearly everyone is bigger than you. Besides, the whole time you have been here, have never heard you be quiet. Or be completely by yourself. You are always with one of the gang members.” This was completely true. 

“Yeah, well that’s after I moved here.” She muttered, and then went back to her book. Well then, that was strange. Also, this was probably our longest conversation. Lottie always gave off this vibe, that scared me. It was that she was tough and was not afraid to show it. She had an instant dislike for me, since the moment she came her. 

“Wonder what she is hiding.” Came Bertha, voice below a whisper. I shook my head, she was hiding something. 

“Lottie, Do you want to come to the dance with us?” If I had been drinking water, I would have spit it out, and been coughing off a lung by now. 

“Okay.” Lottie responded, as if it was a question.

“Good. Now we can leave.” Bertha smiled, completely unaware that she just invited a Greaser to my idea.