Chapter 9: A Not So Funny Joke

Okay people! In this chapter, Christina is going to play a prank on Two-Bit. Need I say more? Poor Two-Bit. Thanks everyone that reviewed! Yet again, thank you Banana4422 and Kairyuu-kun for regularly reviewing!

Kairyuu-kun: Yes, unfortunately it was writers block. I'm pouring out stories and then not being able to write anymore than one chapter, but I'm going to force myself to! Thanks again for reviewing!

Magee: That's your thoughts, even though it didn't say anything graphic at all.

Banana4422: Thanks again for reviewing! I'm glad you didn't read my 'Subtle Silence' story. It made me weep, but I was bored. The story isn't good yet, but I promise it'll get better!

ONCE UPON A MOUSE

"Really?" I asked. I found myself sweating, nervously. I was shaking all over and I couldn't control myself. I burst out, "I love you too."

Christina's face was contorting, and I wondered what was up. It was pretty fishy, but I'm pretty sure I was drunk, so maybe I was just seeing things funny. Then she took hold of me and dragged me down to the floor, her on top. I was smiling from ear-to-ear, and I couldn't help but laugh. There was something awfully fishy going on here...

"Gotcha!" Chewy said, jumping out from the doorway. A light flicked on, and JC, smirking, took a quick picture with a laugh. I couldn't help but feel real sad. I had felt so happy when she had said those words, too. And this had been some practical joke?

I stood up, bitterly, and walked to the door of JC's apartment. I needed to get out of there, and fast. For some reason, my nose was bleeding and I was really zoning out, like nothing was real. I found myself stumbling around the streets, blindly and I was aware that someone was following me.

I was so sure that when I turned around I would either see Christina coming to apologize, like it happened in the movies, or I expected to see a group of soc's stalking me, ready to jump me and beat the crap out of me. I would've liked either option, but neither of those little fantasies came true, because when I turned around, JC was standing there. His hair was finally brushed out of his eyes and I saw something glow under the dim street lamp. Fear... Fear and maybe loneliness. I had always thought of JC as cold and unfeeling, I mean, he was a hood, yet here he stood and I saw him for what he really was. He was just a kid! JC was only five-foot-seven and not very muscular. He was as slouchy as they came, but he still had a poised look to him, as if his mommy made him sit up properly too often. He was only seventeen, after all. A year younger than me, but everyone treated him like an adult. When JC got arrested, he was sent to jail with the rest of the adults, not sent to the reformatory with the kids, where he belonged. They only saw the front he put on. No one saw the scared look in JC's eyes.

I couldn't glare at him, but I couldn't smile at him either. But his eyes reminded me of how Johnny's had been, somehow. They just had so much depth, like everything he saw just poured into those eyes. He almost scared me, what with those eyes and all. They were like bottomless pits of knowledge and wisdom.

"Two-Bit..." JC began, almost pleading. I was kind of shocked. JC was not one to beg or plead for anything, which was why he moved out of his moms home. He hated her treating him like a kid. He was independent, that was for sure.

"Don't even start on me, West." I said, sharply. My nose was still bleeding, and it hurt like hell and I wiped the blood away, nervously, with my sleeve. JC just cringed at the use of his real name. He hated that name just like he hated the world.

"You listen to me, and you listen to me good." JC said, waving a blind finger in my face like my mother did. "Christina might have a crush on you, but I'll still beat the shit outta you if ya don't listen to me, and listen to me good." he said putting that damn finger down. He sat down on the curb and motioned for me to sit too. I knew that JC meant business, or else I wouldn't have sat down.

"You've got a damn lucky life, you know that? You still gotta family that don't beat the shit outta you, and ya got a girl that loves you. And you're not so damn confused about your every damn decision. Not to mention you got friends. Now, Christina loves you, even if she pulled that little prank." JC said, less threateningly. All of his classiness left him when he was this mad. This was the side of JC Panther that the socies saw before he kicked their arses.

"Hell, you obviously don't know yourself, kid," I said almost nervously. What the hell was he talking about? "You've got a mom and a brother that love you. You've got a future ahead of you that don't include jail time, you know where you wanna go in life. You've got something to live for. All the little girlies go wild every time you smirk and you've got the most vicious gang of greasers by your side, and you're telling me all of that bullcrap?"

"My mom hits me. My brother wants me and my gang dead. I'm a highschool drop-out. I don't know what there's left to live for, those boys aren't my friends and those 'girlies' don't love me. 'Sides, I'm already taken..." JC said as calmly as he could. I gave him a real funny look when he said 'taken.'

He must've seen the look on his face and said, "I got married last weekend. Her name's Sandy...."