𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐠 // The Outsiders

Chapter 2 - The DX

"Get up!" Ruth shouts, throwing a pillow at me. I jolt up, rubbing my tired eyes. We've been in Tulsa a little less than two weeks and already Ruth has decided she hates it. Dad told her to give it time, but Ruth responded by doing the same thing she did to me. She threw a pillow at him. I honestly don't know how I feel about Tulsa. I miss home, a lot, but I don't go around throwing things.

"Dad left early." She says, walking to the door. "And we have to go to school, so get up." She leaves. I sigh, slumping back into the warmth of my bed. So far Tulsa's fine. We started school at the beginning of the week and it's alright. Though there is this kid in several of my classes who can't shut up to save his life.

I have to admit, the people here are kinda weird. Half of them slick their long hair back with grease and dress like hoods. The other half drive expensive cars and walk around like they own the place. I've only talked to two kids my age, a girl named Sherri who joked about our matching hair colors. And a boy named Randy who I got partnered with in science.

I force myself out of bed and to the bathroom, where I brush my hair and teeth. I throw on a white pleated skirt and black tights, a black shirt, and my iconic jean jacket. It's got a bee, some daisies, and yellow flowers embroidered on the back. Also my red converse. I skip breakfast before we leave.

The walk isn't that bad. There's not even any snow to block the sidewalk, that's something new for me and Ruth. By this time back home the snow would be up to our ankles. When we arrive at school, Ruth instantly runs off after saying "Go home without me". Knowing her, she either already made new friends or doesn't wanna be seen with me, personally, I think the latter.

Honestly, school isn't too bad today. Sherri waves at me in the hall and Randy and me manage to make good conversation. A fight breaks out at lunch but it's broken up by one or two of the teachers. And that kid who won't or maybe can't stop talking talks all through math. At the end of the day, another fight happens in front of my locker. The day is ultimately uneventful.

I'm not really in the mood to go home once school is over. I actually wanna explore a bit. Ruth did say to go without her. I make up my mind to stop at the DX gasoline station I saw earlier on my way back home and grab a coke. It's a one-room station with two pumps out front. The boy at the counter is tall and lean, with thick greasy brown hair. He's kinda goofy looking, can't be any older than me.

The boy flashes a big grin as I walk in. And he watches me from the corner of his green eye as I grab a soda and make my way to the counter.
"Just the one?" He asks as I grab a dime from my pocket.
"Yep," I say, slightly confused as to why he's asking.
"You sure ya don't wanna make it two?" He smiles.

For a second I look at him in astonishment. He's straightforward, I'll give him that. But the way he leans on the counter makes him come across as cocky, arrogant even. Nevertheless, I can't help but chuckle. He chuckles too, accepting the money I hand him.
"What's a pretty little soc like you doing in greaser territory anyway?" He asks, tilting his head to the side.

I look at him in confusion. I've never heard the term "soc" or "greaser" before.
"What's a soc and what's a greaser?" I ask bewildered, with a slight chuckle in my tone.
Now it's the boy who looks at me confused. He opens his mouth to speak but before he can say anything, the back room door opens, and in walks the cutest boy I've ever seen in my life.

He's got dark brown hair that's greased back like the boy behind the counter. His eyes are blazing blue and he's got a finely drawn, sensitive face that somehow manages to be reckless and thoughtful at the same time. He's movie-star handsome. He smiles at me, showing off his rows of perfectly straight white teeth. Gosh, he's cute.

"You're new here, aren't you?" The boy behind the counter says. I look back at him, realizing I was probably gawking at the handsome boy.
"Yeah, we just moved here," I say, pulling my drink from the counter.
"Oh," He smiles, resting his elbows on the counter with a coy smile. He looks me over from head to foot, almost sizing me up.

"Then you should be careful." He says. "Socs like to jump at this time."
"Steve." The handsome boy says in a warning tone as he comes up next to me. "Sorry about him, he's a piece of work."
"You're no better, Soda." He replies. I can't help but chuckle at the two boys as I fiddle with the bottle of coke.
"I'll keep those two things in mind," I say with a smirk, stepping away from the counter. "Bye Soda... bye Steve."

The bell on the door rings as I leave and start my walk home, taking occasional sips of my coke as I go. Those two boys are stuck in my head the whole way. Steve and Soda. Two cute names for two cute guys in my opinion. I can almost swear I've seen them before, probably around the school. They both came across as nice, especially Soda. Steve seemed a little more like a flirt.

What he said about socs and greasers also sticks in my head until it clicks. All the kids in school who slick their hair back with grease and dress like hoods must be greasers. And all the kids that look all wealthy must be the socs. I guess I can see why Steve thought I was a soc. But I'm not wealthy or a hood.