I can still remember the day I met Sodapop Curtis like it was yesterday. We were both 5 years old and I had just been placed at a new school. My mom passed away in an accident a few months prior and I had been placed in the care of my aunt and uncle. I didn't really have any friends, and since I was fairly new I was always seen as a target. It was a spring day during morning recess, just cold enough to have to wear a jacket but mine was way too big for me, it was a hammy down from my cousin Jake. I was sitting by myself on the other side of the schoolyard by the old monkey bars. No one ever played on them anymore, they were old and rusted, I liked to sit there to think and get a moment away from the others. I was sitting in front of the metal ladder leading up to the bars when someone yanked my sleeves back behind me, pulling me tight against the ladder. I felt so panicked, I tried to pull myself free but someone had tied my oversized sleeves together in a knot behind me.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" I heard someone say from behind, running their fingers through my hair. A group of soc boys emerged from behind the bars, a boy at the front taller than the rest spoke. "Poor, dirty little greaser girl, sitting here all alone. Where are all your friends?" He laughed, tipping my chin up to look at him.
I shrugged him away. "Bug off and untie me soc, before I give ya somethin to knock that smile off your face." I snapped, pulling and pulling at my jacket, trying to break the knot.
"He stepped on my ankle and grabbed my cheeks making me look at him. "You better watch yourself Ms. Greasy, are you just sad because you have no friends?" He chuckled, stepping on my ankle with more force as I winced.
"Well I-I-"
"-I'm her friend!"
I heard a voice from behind me yell, which made me even more confused, because I really didn't have any friends. I felt someone trying to untie my jacket.
"So watch it Derek, or next time I see you messin with her I won't be as nice to ya."
"Oh hop off Grease, we were only messing around.. she isn't worth it anyway." Derek smirked "Let's go guys... I've got better things to do than get covered in grease."
Just like that they were gone, I still didn't have a clue who stood up for me, he was still behind me trying to untie the knot in my jacket.
"Wow, they done this up real good on ya didn't they?" I heard the boy say from behind me.
"Yeah... they're lucky I wasn't able to break it, I woulda knocked em." I growled, I heard him giggle as the knot finally came undone. I turned myself around to see a boy staring back at me laughing. He had golden blonde hair slicked back and twinkling blue eyes. His smile grew wide as he laughed.
"You're funny, I like that." He extended his hand towards me, "My names Sodapop, but my brothers call me Soda."
"I giggled, shaking his hand, "My names Billy."
"Friends?" Soda smiled at me.
"Friends." I returned his smile, thinking that this was the best day of my life.
**End Flash Back**
Staring at the clouds I was completely lost in thought, I smiled as I remembered that day. Sitting at the same playground, but now 16, it feels like so long ago.
"Billyyyyyy..."
A hand waves in front of my face.
"Bills, are you even paying attention to me?"
I snap out of it, Soda is waving his hands in front of my face attempting to get my attention.
"Sorry," I laugh "I-I was paying attention the whole time!"
"Liar!" He chuckled pointing his finger directly at me. "What'd I say then, huh?" Soda grinned crouching down in front of me, staring at me with those big blue eyes, waiting for an answer he knew I didn't have.
"Oh you know... that girl, and her gorgeous eyes!" I teased, " And her hugeee boo-"
"Oh hop off Bills!" Soda cut me off laughing, "That is definitely not what I said." He sat himself down next to me and layed his head on my shoulder.
"C'mon Billy, what cha thinkin 'bout?"
I smiled as I layed my head down on his, " I was just thinkin 'bout the day we met."
"Oh, I remember that day clear as crystal!" Soda exclaimed standing up, " I remember you were sittin here all tied up and what not, kinda like this," He spoke as he typed my sleeves behind the metal pole we were leaning against.
"Soda!" I giggled.
"And you were just yellin and hollerin for help, oh some handsome boy, please, please come and save me from the mean socs!" He laughed. "And then your wish came true, cause there I came walkin along, the most handsome boy you ever had seen." Soda wiggled his eyebrows and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Nah," I shrugged "I've seen way handsomer boys than you." I smirked.
"That's a mighty brave thing for a girl to say when she's still tied to a pole, don't ya think Bills?" Soda smiled, as he began approaching me.
My eyes grew wide as I realized his intentions, "Sodapop Curtis! Don't you dare!" I wiggled, trying to break the knot.
"I don't know what you're talkin 'bout..." He laughed before launching himself towards me, tickling my sides.
"Sodaahahaha! Eeeek!" I could barely get the words to come out, "Thatsahaha nottttt fairrrahaha! Youu knowhehe immm tickhahalishah!"
"Soda was laughing too, as he wriggled his fingers up and down my sides. "I have no idea what you're talking about Bills, how could I have known?" He gave me his best puppy dog eyes, still tickling my sides.
"Bastarddahha!" I yelled out, giggling. I am extremely ticklish, and Soda knew that, he's known since we were kids, and he always uses it to get his way.
"What was that Billy?" He laughed, "Say it, say I'm the handsomest man you've ever met."
"Neverheheh!" I wiggled, trying to break the knot in my jacket.
"That's not it, let's try this again." He reached his hands under my arms with a devilish grin plastered on his face, "Say it, or else."
"You wouldn't dare Soda!" I squealed, panicking, trying to break free.
"Oh you know I would!" He smirked, "Say it, or prepare to be tickled!" Soda wiggled his to fingers lightly against my underarms.
I squealed, "Soda, you can't always win!"
"You wanna bet?"
"Go to hell!" I laughed as he began tickling under my arms. That was my most ticklish spot and he knew it, he was so unfair! I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
"Say ittt!" Soda laughed
"Okayhehe okayyy!" I barely managed to yell out, Soda stopped tickling me.
"Go ahead, say it!" He said, poking my stomach.
"Fine!" I giggled, my face flushed, "You're the handsomest man I've ever met!"
Soda untied my jacket and laid next to me on the ground looking up at the evening sky with the biggest smile plastered on his face. It was quiet for a long while, all I could hear was our breathing before Soda broke the silence.
"God I just love that." He chuckled, looking over at me.
"Love what?" My face was bright red from laughing, I looked down at him.
"Getting to see you smile."
I blushed, laying down next to him, I wrapped my arms around his waist. "I love you Soda."
He pulled me closer and kissed me on the top of my head, "I love you too Billy."
We laid there at the play ground watching the sun go down, and I couldn't help but wonder what I did to deserve a best friend like him.