Sodapop Curtis sighed loudly as he glanced down at Ponyboy's pleading expression.
"Please Soda! C'mon! You know darn well you've never gone to one of these things; it won't hurt to go to just one! If you don't like it you'll never have to go to one again! Just do it for me, please Soda. I really wanna support Cherry out there; you know how hard she's been workin' lately."
"Awww, Ponyboy don't look at me like that," Sodapop replied, on the verge of giving in as his brother looked up at him with puppy dog eyes.
Ponyboy read his brother's expression and took advantage of the inward battle he knew was raging in his brother's head.
"You know, I hear Lucy Vandurbelt will be there." Ponyboy said innocently.
Soda's head snapped up immediately.
"Lucy, the soc that stopped by DX yesterday?"
"That's the one!" Ponyboy grinned.
Sodapop narrowed his eyes, "You sure you ain't pullin' my leg here Pony?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die," Ponyboy replied making said gesture over his heart.
"Well then what are we still doin' standin' around? We better high-tail it over there!" Sodapop yelled dragging Ponyboy out the house.
Piece of cake Ponyboy thought, smiling to himself.
It was that time of year again at Ponyboy's school. The annual Winter talent show. He was allowed to bring anyone he wanted to. He really wanted Soda to be there to help him show support to Cherry. She would be performing a piece on the piano, and Pony wouldn't miss it for the world. Johnny was already at the school saving some seats just in case anyone else from the gang would show. Not that it was likely. Darry was workin' his brains off, Steve was out with his girl Evie at the movies, and Two-bit and Dally were off at Buck's place partying.
Not like Dally would come within a ten-mile radius of a school anyways.
Soda and Pony approached the school building and saw that the student council went all out on the decorations. There were snowflakes, balloons, ribbons, glitter, pointsettias and a huge banner reading Welcome to the 15th annual Wilson High School Winter Talent Show!
Everything was blue, white and silver. To say it looked great was an understatement.
Sodapop whistled. "They sure went to town here, didn't they Pony?"
Ponyboy nodded, "They sure did. C'mon before someone takes our seats. Last thing we need is poor ol' Johnny getting into a tussle with anyone."
Sodapop nodded and followed Ponyboy into the auditorium.
Boy, is it crowded in here Sodapop though to himself.
"Ponyboy! Sodapop! Over here!" a voice called.
Ponyboy looked in the direction the voice was coming from and saw Johnny waving them over towards the middle of the rows of chairs.
"Look Soda, I see Johnny over there," Ponyboy said nudging Sodapop in his arm.
The two made their way down to where Johnny was sitting and Sodapop broke out into his famous grin.
"How's it goin' Johnny cake?" he asked, ruffling Johnny's hair.
"Hey Soda. Hey there Pony." Johnny replied smiling timidly.
He pointed to the seats next to him. "I saved ya'll some seats right over here."
The boys sat down, taking in their surroundings.
"So Ponyboy," Soda began "See Lucy anywhere?"
"Nah," Ponyboy said "But I'm sure she's somewhere in this mess." He gestured to the sea of people around them.
Soda nodded, He was sure starting to like this Lucy girl, even though he heard some pretty bad rumors about her in town. But her brrushed them off, although what he heard from Buck a few days ago stood with him no matter how hard he tried to forget it.
*Flashback*
"So Sodapop, see any broads you've taken a likin' to?" Buck asked amidst the noise of the party.
"Nah," Sodapop grinned. "I've already got my eye on this one girl. Lucy. Lucy Vandurbelt. You know 'er?"
Buck snorted. "I know 'er alright. And let me tell ya Soda, that one is bad news. Practically slept with the whole town that one. Trust me, you don't wanna go messin' around with a gal like that."
"You sure 'bout that Buck?" Soda replied eyeing him. "She seems like a pretty nice girl to me."
Buck laughed. "The nice ones are the ones you gots to watch out for kid."
*End Flashback*
Soda shook away the memory, still weary of Buck's words. Buck is the last one that should be giving advice on girls seeing how his love life was a mess. But still, he did always know what was goin' on around town.
Well Soda thought I'll just have to stick around and find out for myself.
"I guess the rest of the gang didn't wanna come huh?" Johnny grinned sheepishly.
Ponyboy laughed, "Yeah, Soda was the only one I could drag down here."
"Hey Pony, is this show gonna get a move on anytime soon? I'm bored to death over here!" Sodapop cried. Slumping in his seat and sticking his tongue out, pretending to die.
Pony and Johnny couldn't help but laugh at Soda and his ludicrous facial expression.
Pony didn't have time to reply before the Principal stepped out onto the stage and shouted into the microphone "Welcome to the 15th anual Talent show everyone!"
There was lots of clapping, cheering, and whistling from everyone in the auditorium. When the noise died down the prinicpal continued.
"So how is everyone doin' tonight?" he asked cheerfully.
A collective chorus of good's and great's could be heard from everyone.
"We have a real treat for you folks tonight, so sit back and enjoy the show." The principal smiled and walked off stage.
Soda thought the show was okay for the most part. Nothing made him get out of his seat though. His personal favorite was that girl burping the alphabet. She sure was a funny one.
He began to shake his leg, getting kind of bored.
"Hey Pony," he whispered "When's Cherry comin' on?"
"She's on next." Ponyboy replied.
Sure enough there she was. Her read hair flowing down her shoulders and her green eyes sparkling something fierce as she began to play a piece on the piano. Sodapop looked over at Ponyboy and saw him grinning like a fool which caused him to laugh to himself. He saw Johnny with his eyes closed, swaying with the rhythm of the music.
Soda's face softened as he took in Johnny's placid expression.
He turned back to the stage listening to Cherry's piece. She was good, he'd give her that. Soda didn't really dig classical music but he liked her bit up there.
Soda couldn't sit still, so he decided to go to the bathroom.
"Be right back." He whispered to Pony and Johnny.
They nodded and returned their attention to the stage.
Just as Sodapop was making his way out the door, he heard it.
The girl on the stage singing. Her voice made Soda stop cold in his tracks. He turned around slowly, completely forgetting where he was just going.
Her voice was soft and angelic. A hush had fallen over the whole auditorium as they too fell into the same trance as our friend Sodapop. But only Sodapop's situation was different, he wasn't just in a trance. He was in love.
The girl sounded just like his mother. The way she used to sing him to sleep when he was younger. Her voice, gentle and strong at the same time.
Sodapop continued to stare at her. Boy was she a looker.
She had wavy, auburn hair that fell a few inches below her shoulders. Flawless, creamy skin that shone brilliantly. Big light-brown eyes that sparkled as she sang. Long lashes, a beautiful figure, pink lips and the most adorable dimples, visible as she continued to sing.
All thoughts of Lucy and any other girl on this planet vanished from Sodapop's mind. He wasn't really big on love at first sight but he believed anything was possible.
At the moment he proved himself right, as he realized,
He was a goner.