Chapter 2 Fire Starter (Soda's Point of View)
Tim Shepard is a fun guy most of the time. And while he's slightly reckless, he isn't looking to spend more time in jail seeing as he just got out. I guess it's this reason that persuades me to go along with Tim's idea of 'having some fun'. Apparently there are some soc guys that have been giving Tim's brother, Curly, a hard time, and Tim wants to settle it for good. I, knowing what it's like to have a little brother being picked on by a bunch of socs, decide to help him out a little. 'Sides, he says he only wants to scare em'. Show em' he's not going to stand by and do nothing while Curly comes home with black eyes and bloody noses, and I figure that it shouldn't be too bad. Steve on the other hand isn't too thrilled I can tell, but he hasn't been thrilled about much lately. We don't have nothing else to do anyhow.
By the time we get to the street that Tim claims these guys live on, it's nearly ten. I want to hurry so I can get home before eleven, since I know Darry will freak if I'm not.
"It's that one there." Tim states, breaking the silence. Some of his guys were cracking jokes on the way over here, but got quieter the closer we got to the guys' homes. I guess they aren't looking to get arrested either.
"Nice house." His guy, Jake, states. It is a nice house too, though with the way the shadows are falling on it, it looks kind of creepy. I'm starting to regret having gone along with this. Steve gives me a look that says he does too, and I try my best to ignore it.
"Let's just get this over with okay? I got an agenda." Steve gripes in his best 'uncaring' voice. He's my best friend though, and I know when he's nervous. Not that he doesn't have reason to be.
"Yeah? Like what? Fuckin' some whore? Jeez." Tim says lighting a cigarette. His three guys stand beside him waiting for his orders like soldiers under a drill sergeant. Any other time it would have been funny.
"Alright listen up. Here's the plan. The main shit lives in that house there," Tim says nodding his head towards the house we've already been introduced to, "And his buddies live in the one three houses down."
"You're sure?" One of his guys, I think named Pete, asks.
"Yes I'm fucking sure, now you wanna shut the fuck up so I can move on?" Tim snaps. The guys drops his head and tries his best to look unaffected.
"The two of you, and I, will work on the head honcho there," Tim says to Steve and I, "And the three of you will work on his disciples."
"When you say work on…?" Steve asks.
"I mean this." Tim answers, tossing Steve a pack of matches. "We burn the shit heads."
Steve's Point of View
At first when Tim tosses me the pack of matches I think it's a joke. Some kind of trick to scare the hell out of me. But when his look remains sinister, and he stalks off towards the guy's house, I know he's not joking. I look over at Soda worriedly, but he's already after Tim.
"Tim, you can't be serious!" Soda tries, his naturally easygoing attitude now on edge.
"Why the hell not?" Tim asks over his shoulder, not bothering to stop. I trudge slowly after Soda, looking over my own shoulder suspiciously. Man this is bad.
"Burning his house down? You know what'll happen if we get caught? We'll go to prison for a long time!" Soda hisses. Tim stops halfway across the street and watches his guys disappear into the darkness. Then, he turns to Soda and I.
"Who says we're going to get caught?" He asks, as if we were talking about spray painting a school cafeteria.
"What if this guy doesn't get out? What if he burns to death? Then they'll be looking for someone for murder!" I add. Tim stares me down with an amused glare.
"One less soc to deal with." He answers, tossing his cigarette on the ground as he starts towards the back of the house.
"Soda…Soda you're not really going through with this are you?" I ask anxiously. I really just want to get the hell out of here. Soda looks at me, his brown eyes reflecting my fear.
"No Stevie. I'm not going through with this." Soda answers, and I let out a sigh of relief. We look back towards the house and see that Tim is no where in sight. Soda shrugs and grabs my arm.
"Let's go home. Before Darry hit's the roof." Soda says calmly, throwing me one of his famous grins. I feel better almost instantly and nod my consent. We go back to the other side of the street and head back towards where we came from. I figure we'll probably be able to make it back to the Curtis' by midnight, so Darry shouldn't be too mad. I'll crash there tonight. After all this, I don't want to deal with a fight from my old man.
"Holy hell!" Soda yells, pulling me out of my thoughts. I stop in my tracks and turn to face where he's pointing. We're too far away to see the houses anymore, but we can see the night sky fill up with angry, orange, flames and thick, gray, smoke. The two of stand there gawking for what seems like forever, before Soda grabs hold of my shoulders.
"Race you home."
Darry's Point of View
Twelve fifteen. I'm trying my best not to look at the clock every ten seconds, but Soda is never late. Well, I guess I shouldn't say never, but he's not near as forgetful as Pony. That's what worries me the most. It obviously is worrying Pony too, because even though I've told him to go to sleep at least five times, I know he hasn't. He doesn't sleep too well without Soda. I leave the front window and make my way to my chair in the living room. If he's not home in twenty minutes I'll go out looking for him. How many times have I said that to myself in the past hour or so?
I pick up the paper and read articles I've already read. I try to tell myself not to worry, that everything is fine, but I don't believe it for a second. Damn that kid better have a good excuse as to why he's late!
"Darry, sorry we're late!" Soda yells, barging through the door as if he could hear my thoughts.
"Where have you been! No movie gets out that late!" I yell, then lower my voice when I remember that Pony is supposed to be asleep. I study Steve and Soda a minute when they don't answer me, and I know right away that something is wrong.
"Steve? Soda? Where-" I start.
"Look, uh, we just got caught up." Steve interrupts, throwing himself on the couch.
"I'll say." I answer bitterly, glaring down at Soda. Soda looks at me with a guilty expression and I try not to give into him.
"Soda, when I tell you to be home at a certain time, I expect you to be home at that time." I tell him quietly, but firmly.
"I know, I'm real sorry Darry, Steve and I just lost track of time." Soda says innocently.
"Well then you'll know why you aren't seeing anymore 'movies' for at least the next week." I answer. He nods and I place my hand on his shoulder.
"Go get to bed then." I tell him. "Steve, you staying here tonight?" I ask, but he's already sound asleep on the couch.
"Guess he won't mind me answerin' yes for him." Soda says, smiling slightly as he stared down at his friend. Something wasn't right with him, I could feel it. Soda isn't the best liar in the world, but he's even worse at hiding what he's feeling. Before I can ask him about it though, he's down the hall and into the room he shares with Pony. I figure I'll deal with it tomorrow.
Pony's Point of view
I'm glad when Soda finally comes home and climbs into bed next to me. I don't sleep well without him. I listened in on he and Darry's conversation, and I can't help but wish I could get off that easily. If that had been me coming home past midnight, Darry would have yelled like there was no tomorrow. But it wasn't me, it was Soda. And no one can really ever get mad at Soda.
"You asleep Pony?" Soda asks. I shake my head and then remember that it's too dark for him to see.
"Nope. I was waitin' for you to come home." I answer truthfully.
"Well, sorry I kept you up." He answers, throwing his arm across me.
"It's okay. Hey Soda?" I ask. He answers me with a tired grunt.
"What did you and Steve really do?" I ask, suddenly curious.
"Just what Steve and I do best Pony. Pick up chicks." He answers, and I feel a hint of betrayal, knowing I've just been lied to.