Summary: Loving someone means learning to want to see them happy, even if it isnt with you.
Soda watched Pony kiss Cherry before walking into the Dingo. It was the same every Friday. Pony looks around before spotting Soda in the same place he always is.
"Hey there, Sodapop" Pony greets his brother.
"Hi" Soda nods. He sips his coke and watches Pony look for the waitor or waitress.
"How's Darry?" Pony asks, like every other time.
Soda sighs. Its the same questions, same answers. Pony started to go steady with Cherry after he, himself, was realeased from parole. Cherry's parents didnt want her being where people they knew were killed. The girl was sent to live with her uncle and aunt down in the country. Seeing as Cherry and Pony were together the aunt and uncle invited Pony to live with him. Pony agreed. Its been 2 years of these Friday dinners. Started when Pony came back for Soda's 19th birthday.
"Fine."
"And the rest of 'em?"
"Good. "
"Good" Pony nods. "How are you?"
"Fine."
"Are you happy?"
"Yes" Soda paused. "Are you?"
"Yeah, i get to ride horses with these two cats a few down the road. Name's Tex and Mason. Mase reminds me a Darry. Tex is kinda like you, Soda"
"I bet" Soda rolled his eyes. Always the same thing... Soda thought of something to get Pony goin... "Do you ever wish you were back here?"
"Sometimes" the teen looks to the table.
"What can i getcha?" a lady with light hair asked.
"A coke soda, please." Pony ordered. Soda sighed.
"Why dontcha move back? You got family here, what do you have out there?" Soda begged.
Soda was sadly, in love with the one person he knew wouldnt love him back. His kid brother. it was sick and wrong, Dally told him so. Still didnt dampen the sick emptiness he felt when he rolled over to an empty bed every morning. Or the piles of untouched books that lay on the floor and tables.
Soda ached for Pony to realize he needed family more than Cherry. That he loved Soda more than the soc braud.
"I got family out there too! Aunt Rosie acts like my real aunt. and the kids that come for christman treat me like a real cousin. Its family, Soda!"
"I am your own blood. You left me for a girl!" Soda begged his brother every week, it was always the same.
"I cant!" Pony stood up, angered by his brother. "even if i wanted to i cant..."
"Why not?"
"i cant leave Cherry now!"
"Whats so important now?" Soda snapped.
"Cherry's pregnant!" Pony snapped back. Soda's heart broke. First it was the talk about the couple getting married. The gang and some of the Soc's talked about it. and now Cherry was pregnant, with Pony's kid.
"You still aint gonna move back here. Let the kid see his family?"
"His family is with Aunt Rosie and Uncle Jack." Pony says stubornly.
"He's a Curtis too! Darry and me are his family"
"I. Its... nevermind. No. I am sorry, Soda" Pony said, though his eyes didnt show any sadness.
"No you arent. I love you and you dont even care a spit about me or Darry or anyone else!" Soda slammed his foot down, tears threatening to spill.
"Sir, are you alright?" asked the waitress, coming back with the soda and ice cream mixture for Pony.
"I dont know who you are anymore" Soda snorted, he turned on his heels and left. He knew Pony would pay, the Soc country family always give him money.
Soda loved Ponyboy. And loving someone meaned wanting them to be happy even if its not with themself. Soda wanted to see Pony happy, the boy sitting in the Dingo now wasnt the boy soda wanted to see happy. He was another person.
Soda loved Ponyboy, and that was as far as it would go.