"Two-Bit, shut up," I sighed tiredly, "You're damn annoying." Two-Bit laughed at me.

"'Aw, c'mon girlie, don't you need some thrills once in a while?"

"Not when I'm supposed to be working!" I snapped, "Boss told me that the next time I slacked off that I would be demoted or fired! So buy something, steal something, or get out." He gave me a goofy grin.

"Well, someone has a stick up their but today, don't they?"

"Yeah, his name is Todd, and he's the manager of this here 'shop', so you best be gettin' your butt outta here." I retorted. He laughed wildly again. I brushed my hair back, keeping that same annoyed look on my face. You couldn't imagine how much I trouble I could get in for slacking off at work. Todd would do anything to get me fired. I don't think he likes me much.

"Whatever you say, cupcake."

"Two-Bit, you know that Kathy would be jealous if she heard half the things you say to me."

"Well shoot, we're best friends, I'm just bein' honest."

"Whatever you say." I waved my hand. "Now get goin', I'm sure your friends are waitin' for ya." He laughed, waving goodbye before exiting the store. I sighed in relief, pushing some of my brown curls out of my face. Today wasn'y going to be a good day, I could just tell. I glanced in a compact mirror that I had positioned above the cash register and sighed. My eyes were boring, they were just plain brown. Not even putting on eyeliner and mascara made them any prettier. My hair was dirty blonde, usually straight but I curled it when I had to work. I had on a plain black shirt and dark jeans with boots. I looked like a real greaser, even though I was more of the 'middle class' kind. I also had on a the blue 'Shop Mart' apron. And yes, the name of the store was dumb, but I didn't come up with it.

I didn't like Socs. It was one of the reasons me and Two-Bit are such good friends. I wasn't that smart, so I didn't know a Soc when I saw one. You bad mouth one of them, and they get the whole gang on you in a quarter of a second. i didn't know what hit me, I just remember being forced to the ground with two guys holding my arms and the other two holding my legs, while the last one held a switchblade to my throat. It was horrifying to me, I didn't know what I did to them, I wasn't a greaser or some Soc they hated, but they still jumped me. The Soc with the switchblade cut my neck, not too deep, but it wasn't just a poke either. Under my chin is a scar about two inches long, and it'll always be there, now and forever. I was ugly as it is, I didn't need other things makin' it worse.

"Excuse me," I looked up,meeting the eyes of a boy in a madras shirt. A Soc. They rarely came around here, it wasn't like any of them to go into greaser territory, though it was becoming more common. That scared me. He had dirty blonde hair with a black streak going through the middle of it. He had dark blue eyes with hints of yellow in them that could be very tempting if I wasn't already so afraid of him.

"How may I help you?" I wish Two-Bit had stayed. He was always good support for things like this, and I could almost feel my hand shaking as I covered the scar on my neck. The Soc raised one thick eyebrow, a smirk coming upon his lips.

"Cigarette's." He grumbled, "I have money." I nodded, quickly turning and snatching a pack.

"Here. 5.87 please," His dark blue eyes gazed into mine, making me shiver unhappily. Just give me the money, I thought, just give me the money. He gave me a smile, dropping the money into my extended hand and snatched up the cancer sticks and left slowly. I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't know why I was afraid of Socs during work. If anything, I was more protected here then in my own home, there are greasers all around, and I had seen a few give that Soc a dirty look. It made me confused.

"Man, when does my shift end?" I took a quick glance at the calendar before sighing unhappily. I still had a few more hours of work left.

"Well, you can buy just about anything here boys." Two-Bit's loud obnxious voice rang out. He was back? He must've seen the Soc leave otherwise he would've listened when I told him not to come back. He had two more boys behind him this time, one I knew as Dallas Winston, the bad boy type. I didn't know the nervous looking dark skinned boy though. Two-Bit and Dally strutted over to me, with the
dark skinned boy walking close behind them. Now that I look at him, he does look a lot like an abused puppy. Poor thing.

"Two-Bit, I told you not to come back. Do you know how much trouble I can get in?" He grinned.

"Aw, I just wanted to introduce you to some of my buddies. You're pretty new around here, and you haven't met all your friends yet." I smiled, pushing my hair out of my eyes as I looked both of them over. My eyes traveled to Dally first. He was your typical looking greaser guy, with the tuff hair and hard eyes. He was slightly intimidating, and he towered over me. I tried to catch a glimpse of the boy behind him, but he was well hidden by the taller boy.

"Oh really? Well then, get to introducin' then leave." I stated, flipping my hair and crossing my arms across my chest. I was going to be in real trouble if they didn't leave soon, I could see Todd now coming out of the backroom with a cigarette in hand as well as the stores only phone. He would threaten to call the cops on Two-Bit, as he had done twice before, and since he was a Soc, and Two-Bit was a greaser, who do you think those pigs believed? I didn't want my best buddy to go to jail again, after all there isn't any beer there, how would he live? "I do have to work, you know."

"Man, anything to get rid of us greasers, huh?" Dally laughed with Two-Bit and I rolled my eyes. I glance at the quiet, timid boy was just standing there looking awkward. He had moved from behind Dally and was now standing between the two, his hands in his jean pockets.

"My name is Kaylyn, it's nice to meet you," I smiled at the dark skinned boy, who looked more surprised then the other two guys. He looked down awkwardly, shifting his feet around a bit.

"I-I'm Johnny Cade." He muttered quietly. I smiled. He was as quiet as he seemed. In fact, his greasy hair and torn clothes are the only reason he even is a greaser. He does look like hes been in a fight recently, though. He had a dark bruise on his cheek, and I almost asked about it. Almost. But I didn't, it just seemed like a touchy subject to be asking about. I wasn't sure why I felt so upset by seeing that bruise, but I couldn't exactly pinpoint it.

"Nice to meet you. And I already know you, Mr. Dallas Winston," He smirked flirtaciously, leaning over the counter.

"Oh really? Well I can show you a few more things about me that you didn't know." Two-Bit let out a loud laugh, while Johnny blushed. I could feel my face grow hot, too, but I kept my cool.

"Well, shouldn't we hang out first, I think it's moving kinda fast."

"Then why don't you hang out with me and some other greasers tomorrow night. We're going to see some movie." Dally remarked, and I thought it over. People like Dally just weren't my type of guys. In fact, I didn't really know my type of guy, but I was sure it wasn't Dallas Winston.

"Well, why not? It can't hurt, can it?" I asked curiously.

"You haven't ever been out with greasers before then, babe," Two-Bit laughed, taking another drink from the beer bottle in his hand. I didn't even notice he had it with him. And wasn't it like, ten in the morning? What the hell is he drinking so early for? I sighed and shook it off, and hearing the door to the backroom open, I pretending to look at the til. Johnny seemed to notice the guy, because he quickly placed a coke on the counter. I hadn't notice him get that, either.

"Uh, here," He fumbled around in his pocket, dropping some money onto the counter. Two-Bit stood guzzling down his beer, while Dally seemed slightly amused by something. The door then slowly creaked closed, and with a sastisfied smile, I turned to Johnny.

"Thanks," I let out a sigh of relief, "Here, take the coke for free for helping me." I pushed his money back towards him, and he reluctantly took it back, as well as opening the coke. Dally finally broke the awkward silence by laughing.

"Well, sweet cheeks, we'll be at the Dingo at around seven tonight. I'm sure Two-bit over here could give you a ride."

"In that death trap? I'm safer walking through the Socs neighborhood with a sign that says 'Socs suck'." I commented, getting laughs out of the older guys. Johnny kinda smiled, but it was quick and soon disappeared. He acted like a beaten puppy, too. So quiet an reserved, and he looked so young. Maybe even 14. But I don't think he was that young. I vaguely knew Ponyboy Curtis, and Two-Bit told me that he was the only 14 year old in that gang, and I'm pretty sure that Johnny was apart of them. I dunno, I was confusing myself though, so I stopped thinking about that and went back to the three confused boys in front of me.

"Well, okay, I guess. I'll go out with you guys." I finally said, "So, I'll meet you tonight at the Dingo, now get lost hoods." I snapped playfully, and that got all three of them smiling. Finally, they left, and the door in the back opened, revealing Todd.

"You have to work tonight. You can't go out with them." Todd growled, his bright red hair sticking out all over the place. He had the same blue apron on him as I did, and I smiled, a new plan forming in your head as you watched Todd. Todd's black eyes bore into mine, as if he were daring me to tell him 'no'. He would fire me in a second if he ahd a choice, but I was the prettiest salesclerk (as the Boss told me countless times) and I was the most proficient at my job.

"We're going out tomorrow night." I teased, stomping my foot and crossing my arms. I even put a pout on my face.

"Well, you have to work tomorrow night then," He snapped, giving me a glare. "You have tonight off because of that, and there are no butt's about it!"

"But then, I can't hang out with my friends! C'mon!" I whined again, scowling at him and giving him my best glare. It wasn't too intimidating.

"No, you're working, end of story." He turned, walking away and slipping into the backroom again. "Stupid employees."

"Haha, just like silly putty in my hand," I giggled with a small smile. Now, all I had to do was get through the rest of the day, and then

I can get ready. Better plan out my outfit, since this stupid store never got any customers. I wonder what Two-Bits friends are like?