A/N: Samantha is the oldest Curtis now, but she doesn't live at home. She's married and out of the house… has been since before the accident. I promise the next chapter will be longer.
I was walking up to the door after a long day at work when I heard the phone ringing inside. Dropping my bags right inside the door, I reached for it tiredly. I couldn't imagine who would be calling me now.
"Sam?" From the instant I heard the voice, I didn't even need to ask who it was. It was my younger brother, Sodapop, and even though none of my brothers were particularly good about keeping in touch over the phone, I still knew each of their voices instantly.
"Hey Soda," I said, smiling into the phone. "Long time no talk. How are you? How's Darry? How's Pony?"
"We're ok," he said, but I could hear a sigh in his voice, so I waited. He never called for no reason. Pony was the only one who ever called just to say hello. I was lucky if Darry ever picked up the phone at all. He hated admitting that he wasn't the oldest, so he pretended that he was most of the time. That was ok with me. I felt guilty sometimes that he was left in charge of our younger brothers, but when we discussed the arrangements after the accident, none of them wanted to leave our parents' house. I hadn't lived there in over a year at that point, not since I'd married Tom, so it didn't make sense for me to go back. That's what I kept telling myself anyway. It didn't always help the guilt to go away, so whenever one of my brothers needed me, I made sure I was there for whatever it was. I felt like it was the only small way I could help Darry. I'm only two years older than he is, but sometimes he seems so much more mature even if I am married. He's just aged so much lately…
I realized, suddenly, that Soda hadn't said anything in a few minutes, so I jolted myself back to this phone call.
"Hey Pepsi Cola?" I asked gently, quickly realizing that something had to have been really wrong for him to call and then not even say anything. He sighed again.
"It's just… well, it's Sandy. Sam, I don't know what to do. She's barely talking to me anymore, but I don't know what I did wrong."
I could hear the note of desperation his voice, and I wished, not for the first time… not even for the first time that day… that Mom were still here. She'd know what to say, but now that was left to me, and I only knew a little bit more than he did. I tried my best.
"Have you tried talking to her? I mean… just asking her what's wrong straight out? I don't think she'd be able to lie to you if you just asked plain and simple, do you?"
"No," he said slowly, but I could hear the fear in his voice, and I knew why he hadn't asked yet.
"Listen," I said in a low voice, "I know it's scary, but isn't it better to know?"
He thought for a minute and then mumbled, "Yeah, I guess you're right. If I do talk to her, I'll call you later to tell you what happened, ok?"
"Of course," I reassured him quickly. My heart was sinking, though. I didn't think this could possibly turn out the way he hoped it would. I don't know why I had this feeling of doom, but I know my brother is prone to having his heart broken. He's too trusting, and he's already given too much of himself to Sandy. I'm not saying I don't like her. I do, and I know Pony and Darry do too… but I'm too protective of Soda when it comes to girls. I never think anyone is good enough for his trusting heart. I hoped I was wrong this time. I hoped Sandy would prove me wrong.
"Thanks Sam," he said, and I could hear the relief in his voice. Darry and Pony love him as much as I do, but I know that sometimes it's easier for them to talk to me than each other when it comes to girls. Even Darry has come to me occasionally. Sometimes I think it's like they keep me in reserve for when they need to have feelings.
I know I miss a lot by not living there anymore, but I do feel like they keep me in the loop for the things that matter. I'm glad they do. I just hate it when they're sad. I kept my fingers crossed that this wouldn't be the case this time even though I didn't think there was much of a chance that I was wrong.