A/N: Hey everybody! I just want to thank you guys for sticking with me through this and reviewing...it means a lot! I hope you're enjoying this and I hope you like this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Stereo Hearts or The Outsiders.
I take your head and hold it closer to mine, Thought love was dead, but now you're changing my mind
It was a beautiful day outside. The air wasn't too hot and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. "Is it safe to leave them home alone like that with something in the oven? Do you think it'll still be edible?" I joked.
He laughed. "I guess we'll just have to see won't we?" He flashed me his movie-star grin and I couldn't help but smile back.
We walked what seemed like aimlessly for a long time. "What are we going to do?" I asked.
He shrugged. "I was planning on figuring out as we go. How does that sound?" I smiled. Typical Soda. Never has a plan, just goes where the wind takes him. I just laughed and nodded my head.
"Sounds good to me." We continued to just walk for a really long time, just talking about nothing really important. We finally wandered to a hillside facing the sun. Lazily, we laid down, staring at the sky.
I was really starting to develop feelings for Soda, and that scared me. It was exciting at the same time, but I don't know which emotion was winning.
We tried to find figures in the clouds as the day got older. We were lying close together, almost touching. But not quite. We were joking and laughing and it all felt natural. Then, the excitement won me over. Slowly, I reached over and eased my hand into Soda's and held it tight. He stopped what he was doing and turned to stare at me. His face was plastered with immense joy and yet somewhere in there, I spotted fear.
"You sure, Andie? I don't want to rush things if you aren't comfortable?" He said, quickly, ruining the moment. Stupid boy! I gave a slight chuckle, a little unsure if I was ready for this yet. But I knew I trusted Soda, and as long as he was there, I knew everything would be alright.
"I'm positive, Soda. I trust you. I know you won't hurt me. We just gotta take it slow. Trust me, if I don't feel comfortable, I won't do it." I reassured him. He nodded and laced our fingers together.
With a smile plastered on my face I laid my head back down and asked "Soda, have you ever been in love?" He seem startled for a moment and sighed, long and deep.
"Yeah. I was, once. But that was a while ago. It's in the past now." He told me quietly, his smile diminishing. He sounded sad, and almost ashamed.
I waited a moment before I said anything. "What happened?" He wouldn't look at me, but he knew the question was coming.
He didn't answer for a few moments, trying to find the best way to put. I'm not sure if he was doing it more for me or him. I propped myself up on my left elbow and rolled onto my side, and watched his handsome face struggle. I gave him my right hand, to replace the one I propped myself up with, and began to rub the back of his hand with my thumb, letting him know that I was here.
He finally came up with an answer. "I was gonna marry her. Thought she was the one. We'd been going strong for a long time, nearly two years. I didn't think our relationship could get better, or ever get ruined. We'd be together forever. Or at least that's what I thought." He paused and stared at the sky as a small smile crept on his face, remembering the happy times. "Then one day she comes up to me. She starts to cry when she sees me and I, of course, was worried. I thought someone hurt her. I was angry. She wouldn't look me in the eye the entire time and I can't even count the number of times I asked her what was wrong, pleading with her to tell me. Then, she took a deep breath and looked me in the eye and chocked out the words that I just can't forget no matter how hard I try." He stopped. His smile vanished and I could see the small tears forming in his now glassy eyes.
I looked at him with concern and understanding. I know how it feels to love someone so much it hurts, and then everything falls down in a split second. I waited patiently for him to finish.
"She said 'Soda, I'm leaving.' I know she was crying and all, but part of me didn't even feel like she was sad. She just said it so plainly, and that's what gets to me. I didn't understand why she'd said it until she looked down at her stomach and then back at me. Then I got it. And it wasn't mine. I knew that, we never got that far. I had just barely turned seventeen, and she wasn't even quite there yet. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and tried to apologize, but I couldn't take it. I just walked away. She didn't even try to stop me, didn't even try to explain herself, and I haven't seen or heard from since. I wrote her a letter once. She returned it, unopened. I just wanted to know why she did it. Why I wasn't enough." He said, still avoiding looking at me.
I could feel myself start to tear up. I couldn't stand to see him like this. Blocking off my mind, I reached over a carefully turned his head to face me. "Well, it's her who missed out." I told him with a smile, and wiped away a falling tear on his face with my thumb. "Soda, I would never ever hurt you like that. You'll always be more than enough for me." I said as I inched my face close to his.
Slowly, we closed the gap and our lips connected. It seemed so natural. Kissing this boy. His lips were soft and warm and I knew there was no going back. I knew I should be scared, but strangely, I wasn't. Something about him made me forget about past loves. And I loved every second of it.
We pulled away after a minute of pure bliss and just stared at each other, budding love in our eyes. Not a touch of sadness were in his, and all my fear was gone. I laughed nervously and looked away. "You'll be the end of me, Sodapop Curtis." I joked. I just didn't understand how he could unravel all my promises I made to myself, just like that.
He laughed. "In a good way right?" He said, with his signature smile.
I looked back into his chocolate brown eyes and smiled. "In a really good way." I said and leaned back in. I could feel his smile mimic mine as we kissed. We just fit so perfectly to each other. We matched in every way.
After a while we stopped and laid back out on our backs, fingers intertwined and my head on his shoulder. We watched the sky turn different colors. From blue to orange to pink to purple. We watched the sun disappear below the horizon, along with all our fears and doubts.
We decided that it was time to head back to the house. Reluctantly we walked back down the road, hand in hand, just talking and laughing with each other. Soda made me feel safe, comfortable. It had been so long since I felt that way, it felt so good.
Two-Bit popped up from the couch the second we walked in. After a glance at our clasped hands he ran over to Ponyboy, who was sprawled out in the armchair reading a book. "What'd I tell you Pony? Pay up!" Pony sighed and dug in his pocket for a few bucks and put them in Two-Bit's open hand.
I just stared at them in awe. "You bet on us?" I asked in disbelief.
He flipped his head to us, and gave me his characteristic smirk and walked over to me. "C'mon Andie, we all knew this was gonna happen." He threw and arm over my shoulders and hit Soda on the shoulder with the same hand. "'Sides, what'd I tell you. Soda here already called dibs on ya. Add that to your major crush on the boy and look at what you get." He gestured to our hands and both Soda and I blushed.
"Don't go actin' like this is 'cuz of you Two-Bit! And don't call me Andie, only Soda can do that!" I yelled, jokingly at him.
He laughed and Soda let go of my hand and ran over to Two-Bit and grabbed him in a headlock. "What happened to 'don't tell anyone?' Huh Two-Bit?" Soda laughed and dragged Two-Bit to the ground and the wrestled.
"Well, sorry Bud. I just had to do something! I couldn't stand seeing you moping around all day! Plus, you were starting to get annoying, complaining left and right and worrying how you couldn't tell if she liked you!" Two-Bit said, strained.
Soda 'accidentally' dropped Two-Bit's head on the hard kitchen floor. "I was not!"
I laughed at them, fighting like small children. "Oh c'mon Two-Bit, just admit it. All you are is jealous of Soda here." I said as I went and pecked Soda on the forehead just to rub it in.
On my way over to sit by Ponyboy I heard Soda laugh in victory and Two-Bit mumble something that sounded like "You got that right!" THUD! Two-Bit cursed. "Will you stop doing that!" Soda laughed evilly.
I stood by Ponyboy until he looked up at me. "So what exactly was the bet?" I asked him.
He laughed. "Well, once we found out that you two had disappeared, Two bet that you'd come back together." He said, like it was nothing important.
I laughed half-heartedly. I guess it was expected. Then something occurred to me. "Wait a second. What did you bet?" I asked, curious.
"I honestly didn't think you'd come in holding hands or anything. I mean, I know how scared you are around guys, and how nervous you get around Soda in particular." He said, making me blush.
"Well, I have a good reason to be hesitant around guys. And I do not get nervous around Soda!" I argued. He just nodded and went back to his book, obviously not believing me.
Groaning, I marched back over to the kitchen to watch Two and Soda wrestle. Getting bored after a few minutes, I decided to be helpful and get the rest of dinner ready, when Darry walked in. He laughed at the sight of Two-Bit and Soda going at it on the kitchen floor and set his stuff down. "You know you don't have to do that, Andrea. We're big boys, we can handle it ourselves." Darry said, walking up behind me and pulling things out of the fridge to heat up for dinner.
Gesturing over to the two boys wrestling on the floor with my spoon I replied "Big boys huh? Those two over there were arguing like little children just a minute ago. Plus, with how much I'm over here, might as well make myself useful. Being the only girl and all, some would say this is my job." I smiled at him and he smirked at the boys.
"What were they arguing about?" Darry asked, trying to keep the conversation going. I blushed. That was all the answer he needed.
He hooted. "Finally! It took you two long enough! I was about to take manner into my own hands!" He said joyously and grabbed me in a soft headlock and rubbed my head with his first, successfully screwing up my hair.
I fought my way out of his grasp. "Did everyone know this was gonna happen?" I asked loudly.
He nodded. "Well, you two have known each other a month and a half and you haven't left each others sides since. It was kinda obvious." Blushing again, I looked away smiling. I knew it was true. But I didn't regret it.
Soda pried himself away from Two-Bit and came to stand next to me. "Ugh!" Two-Bit groaned as he 'bumped into' Soda as he walked by, laughing quietly. Soda ran into me lightly and I laughed at him, catching onto his game.
Soda laughed nervously. "I'm gonna hurt that boy one of these days. Hurt him real good too." He said with pretend anger.
Darry reached over and ruffled Sodapop's hair. "Aww, come on little buddy, he's just messin' with you. And besides, you know you like it." He laughed and dodged Soda's punch.
I grabbed hold of Soda before he could advance too much onto Darry, to free Darry and leave him be to finish diner by himself. The little punk! "It's okay So. It don't bother me none. Two-Bit's just doing this so he can cover up for the fact that he cain't get a girl of his own as fast as you can." I said, pretending to whisper, but not really. I wrapped my arms around his neck from the side I was on and kissed him lightly on the check, just to emphasize my point.
"I heard that, Missy!" Two-Bit screamed from the living room.
I laughed out loud as Soda and I walked in to meet Two-Bit in the living room, his arm wrapped around my waist. "You were supposed to, dummy." I paused and looked around at everyone in the house. "And it doesn't look like anyone's denying it. Not even you." I said, causing him to pout and everyone to laugh.
I unattached myself from Soda's grasp around my waist and walked over to Two-Bit's pouting figure in the armchair that Ponyboy was once in. I bent down to his face and kissed his check. "Don't worry Two-Bit. You'll find a girl crazier than you someday." I said, laughing and going back to Soda, who was now sitting comfortably on the long couch. He had his arm up on the back of the couch and I happily filled the gap and he dropped his arms so they lay on my shoulders.
I knew I should be terrified, but I couldn't bring myself to be. The feeling of that confusion brought back many painful memories. "Whatever." Two-Bit replied, trying to sound hurt, as we all turned out attention to the t.v.
No matter how much I fought them, the memories came back, hitting me like a wave. I felt my face fall as I went numb at the thought of him. Everything that happened confused me so much, I didn't even know what to feel anymore. I'd had my share of crying and I was done with that, but the fear never left. Unless I was talking to Soda. "You alright, Andie?" Soda whispered in my ear.
I burrowed my head in his should and shook it slowly. It was no use arguing. I can't keep avoiding it forever.
He didn't do anything for a moment. I thought he was going to let it drop, but he didn't. "Is it about him?" He asked. I felt a pang of guilt as I realized that he didn't even know who my ex was, much less what happened between us to screw me up so bad. I nodded, knowing I'd have to explain it soon. I felt him nod too. "Is it partly about us?" He asked, quietly. I could tell he was scared of what the answer might be, as he started to lift his arm away.
I picked my head up and grabbed his hand and pulled it back down. Studying it. Playing with his fingers and looking anywhere but at him. "No. Soda, things between us are great. Perfect even. I'm just...scared. That's all. This is all happening so fast and I just can't slow it down, and it brings back too many painful memories. It happened so fast with him, too. And it all just scares me." I whispered back to him, trying not to let Two and Pony hear. They were too caught up with Mickey Mouse to even realize we were talking, though.
Soda squeezed me to him as close as he could and began to rub my arm soothingly. He knew not to push it yet. He knew the boundaries. I knew he'd ask me later, just not here. Not in front of everyone else. He was thoughtful like that. I laid my head back down on his shoulder and shut my eyes tight, fighting back the tears. It was the first time I'd talked about it since it happened. First time I'd ever admitted I was scared. I always used to be the strong one. Now, I didn't have to be.
"I'm scared too, Andie. But I know we'll get through it." He said quietly. Then, as if to break the silence, Darry called us all in for dinner. I was thankful that he did. It got my mind off things, at least for a while.
I took my usual spot next to Soda, but for some reason, the chairs were a little closer. Actually, a lot closer. I shot Darry a glare and he laughed at us.
We joked and talked during dinner, mainly about Soda and I. I didn't think about him once during dinner, and it felt good. It'd been haunting me since it happened, especially after I met Soda. I knew there was no use in fighting that I was beginning to fall for Soda, and that brought on memories.
Soda kept giving me worried glasses throughout the meal and I planned to tell him soon. I had to get it off my chest, and I knew he wouldn't let me not tell him for very much longer.
The second the first person got up, I dragged Soda outside, not knowing where to go but I knew I wasn't going to be around the rest of the gang when I told him this. He came along willingly, knowing what I was about to do.
I absentmindedly dragged him to the tree he found me at and sat us down, getting ready to do something very dangerous. Tell someone who I'm falling for about my past.
A/N: OOOOOO..DUN DUN DUUNNNN! What do y'all think happened between Andie and her ex? I'd absolutely love to hear what you think! I hope you don't think I'm moving this story along to fast, because I was going to prolong the beginning of their relationship a little longer just to prove a point...but I know that would get super boring! Especially for me! Soooooooo please please please review as always! Love you Guys!