So glad y'all still like my story! Haha I started to get a little sidetracked last chapter but I got it together here lol hope y'all enjoy this one!
8:00am
Soda's alarm started blaring. Sophie whined and pulled the blanket over her head and snuggled close to Soda. Soda groaned and snoozed the alarm clock. He cuddled close to Sophie.
The door opened, "Sodapop Curtis. Get up if you want breakfast." Darry's voice boomed. Soda groaned and sat up. Sophie whined and then erupted in a fit of coughs. "You okay Sophie?" Darry asked walking over to her. She stopped coughing and nodded her head. "I'm okay." She smiled but her throat was hoarse. Darry sighed and put his hand on her forehead. "Your fever doesn't feel too high." He said.
"I'm okay Darry. Where's Two-Bit?" She asked followed by her stomach growling loudly. In this conversation Soda had snuck back down into the blankets and was going back to sleep. "Sodapop!" Darry boomed and yanked the blanket off him. "Ugh. Darry! I'm up!" Soda grumbled as he got out of bed and walked off to the bathroom. "Get dressed." Darry told Sophie as he exited the room.
He walked in the living room, Two-Bit was awake and so was Dally. The door opened and Johnny walked in. "Hey guys. What's up?" Johnny asked sitting next to Two-Bit on the couch. "Just waiting for
Sophie. We promised to take her out for pancakes this morning." Two-Bit said. "Here Two-Bit." Darry said handing Two-Bit a ten dollar bill. "Nah, thanks Darry but I got some money." Two-Bit said. "Are you sure?" Darry asked. "Positive." Two-Bit nodded.
Darry put the ten dollars back in his pocket. "Sodapop Curtis! You better be getting dressed!" Darry yelled out. Sophie skipped happily into to living room. She was wearing a light pink and white dress that poofed out a the bottom a little, it stopped just above her knees. She hopped onto Dally's lap and put her socks on. "Johnny will you hand me my shoes?" She asked. Johnny picked up her converse off the floor and went to hand them to Sophie when Darry took them from Johnny. "Sophie we have this argument every single time. You're not wearing these if you're going to wear a dress." Darry scolded her. "But Darry!" Sophie whined. "They don't go together. Different shoes. Now." He said pointing towards the hallway. Sophie huffed and took the black converse from Darry and stomped off.
Soda walked in the living room dressed and ready for work. "Your breakfast is in the kitchen." Darry said as he walked by. Soda yawned and nodded and headed in. "Sophie arguing with you about the shoes?" Soda asked before stuffing scrambled eggs in his mouth. "As always." Darry grumbled. "Maybe if Soda would hurry up and wash my clothes! I wouldn't be wearing these dumb dresses!" Sophie yelled stomping back into the living room wearing frilly socks and white Mary Janes. Quickly after her rant she erupted in another coughing fit.
"Maybe if you weren't getting every pair of clothes you own, filthy we wouldn't have this problem." Soda huffed. Sophie glared at Soda. "Knock it off you two." Darry sighed. Sophie crossed her arms and sniffled. Darry handed her a tissue, "here."
She took it and blew her nose, then put the tissue in the trash. "I'll do laundry when I get home tonight." Soda said apologetically. "Okay." Sophie mumbled looking down at the floor. "Don't do too much today okay? And be careful. And don't eat too much sugar." Soda said as he hugged her. She hugged him back tightly. "Love you Soda." She said kissing his cheek. She ran over to Darry. "Bye Darry, love you!" She hugged him.
Two-Bit and Dally were standing at the door waiting to leave. "Bye Johnny! By Ponyboy!" Sophie yelled out as she ran out the door. She hopped down the stairs.
"Take it easy Sophie. You're sick." Dallas said grabbing her hand before she ran off. "Okay." She said
Followed with a loud sneeze. Two-bit chuckled as they walked down the street.
Dallas lit a cigarette while Sophie and Two-Bit were jumping over the cracks in the ground. "Why don't you play with us Dally?" Sophie giggled. "Dally's too cool to play with us." Two-big whispered to Sophie with a wink. Sophie giggled "He has to impress the girls."
Dally rolled his eyes. He looked up and down the street then he subtly jumped over a crack in the ground. "Well I'll be damned!" Two-bit exclaimed. Sophie giggled and they started back on their way. Dally was more just stepping over the cracks rather than jumping like Sophie and Two-Bit. But Sophie knew it was as much as he was gonna do out here. Eventually they came to a spot on the ground with a bunch of cracks so close together you had no choice but to jump over all of them.
Sophie bent her knees and pushed off with as much force as possible and just barely made it over the cracks. Two-Bit grinned and did the same, making his jump way more dramatic. "Jump Dally!" Sophie laughed. "Dally can't jump." Two-Bit snickered. Dallas smirked and jumped over the cracks perfectly.
"Is Dallas Winston jumping over cracks on the side walk? Some tough guy." Tim shepherd scoffed from across the street. "Shut it Shepherd." Dallas growled. He grabbed Sophie's hand and stormed off down the sidewalk. "Ow Dally. You're *cough cough* sq- *cough* squeezing my arm too *cough cough cough* tight" Sophie coughed out pulling against Dallas' hold on her. "Sorry." He mumbled and let go. "Are you sure you're up for this? We still have to walk home after eating." Dallas asked Sophie. She nodded her head 'yes' and kept walking.
Ten minutes later they reached the Dingo. It was only 8:50am and there were already greasers all over the place. Sophie grabbed onto Dally's jacket as they walked through the crowd. Two-Bit close behind. They made it inside and sat at a booth towards the back. Sophie sitting between Two-Bit and Dally.
Their waitress walked over, she had short, curly red hair. And was wearing a pink waitress dress. "Hi y'all. I'm Stacy, Can I get you something to drink?" She asked pulling out her pen and paper. "Chocolate milk!" Sophie said excitedly. "Coke." Dally said. "Hmmm. I want chocolate milk too." Two-Bit decided.
"Alright. Are ya ready to order or do you need a few minutes?" Stacy asked. "I want blueberry pancakes! With blueberry syrup. Blueberries on top and whipped cream!" Sophie said. Stacy laughed and wrote it down. "You really like blueberries huh?" She giggled. Sophie smiled and nodded. "You look like someone I know..."Stacy trailed off. "Everyone tells me I look exactly like my big brother Sodapop Curtis." Sophie said proudly. "Awe! You're Soda's little sister!? What a dolllll." Stacy cooed at Sophie. Sophie smild and wiggled a little. "I want the egg, ham and cheese sandwich. Toasted. And French fries on the side." Dallas cut in.
Stacy's smile faltered before she nodded and wrote it down. "I want scrambled eggs and a stack of pancakes. Thanks." Two-bit said Next. Stacy finished writing and smiled, "I'll get them started on this and be right back with your drinks."
"What's got your panties in a twist Dal?" Two-bit questioned. "I'm fine." Dallas grumbled in response.
"Dally I'm cold." Sophie whined. Dallas put his hand on her forehead. "Sophie you're burning up." He said. "But I'm cold." Sophie whined again. "Don't get pancake on my jacket." Dally huffed.
"So what do you think my talent should be for the pageant?" Sophie asked with a sniffle. "I dunno. What are you good at?" Two-bit asked. "Hmmmm. Being cute." Sophie giggled with a smile. Two-Bit laughed loudly and Dallas chuckled.
Stacy returned a few minutes later with their drinks and food. Sophie managed to eat her pancakes without getting any on Dally's jacket. They paid the bill and left Stacy a tip and were now headed home.
Sophie walked down the street between the guys, wearing Dally's jacket even thought it was so big it swallowed her. Sophie sneezed 6 times in a row and that's when Two-Bit picked her up and started carrying her bridal style. "Two-Bit I'm fine!" She whined. Then she started coughing. "Yeah okay." Two-Bit scoffed.
They reached the Curtis house and walked inside. No one was home. Two-Bit sat Sophie on the couch and grabbed a beer from the fridge. Dally stayed outside smoking a cigarette. Sophie put Dal's jacket on the back of the couch, hopped off the couch and walked over to the beauty pageant tub and opened it. She pulled everything out. "Wait the flyer!" She gasped and ran over to the phone.
She put in the number and waited while the line rang. "Tulsa Roofing Company. How can I help you?" A gruff voice came over the line.
"Can I talk to Darry Curtis please." Sophie asked. The man grumbled a 'yeah' and set the phone down. A minute later Darry's voice came over the phone. "This is Darry,
How can I help you?" He asked.
"Hi Darry! I was wonderin if you saw that flyer for the beauty pageant.." Sophie asked nervously. "I did. I told Sodapop he was in charge of all of that. He took the flyer and the money you had with it to turn it in today."'Darry said. "Okay! Thanks Darry!" Sophie cheered, then started coughing. "Sophie go relax. I might be working late tonight. Don't give Two-Bit and Dally a hard time." Darry warned. "Okay, I won't." Sophie rasped out.
She hung up the phone and headed over to the tub. She pulled out a pink dress. It reminded Sophie of a ballerina dress. It was short and poofy with lots of sequins on the top and sequins on the poofy shoulder sleeves. She grabbed the other dresses out of the tub and ran off to her room.
"What's Sophie Doin?" Dallas asked when he walked back inside. "I dunno." Two-Bit shrugged as he grabbed a beer from the fridge and opened it. He turned on Mickey Mouse and took a drink. Dallas sat down in the recliner. "So what's up with you today?" Two-Bit asked. "Just still kind of pissed at Steve for yesterday." Dallas grumbled. Two-Bit nodded his head and went back to watching Mickey.
He didn't say anything because he didn't want to rile dally up again. Two-Bit knew dally was only angry at Steve because Sophie ran off and almost got hurt and he thinks he could have done something more. Dallas isn't as tough as he thinks he is. Well the gang has been around him long enough to know that he really does care a lot about them.
Two-Bit broke out of his thoughts back into reality. Sophie skipped into the room wearing the pink dress cupcake dress. "Look at you Sophie!" Two-Bit exclaimed. Sophie giggled and spun around. "You look really pretty Sophie." Dallas commented with a smile.
For the rest of the day Sophie tried on dresses and played with her hair.
5:00pm
Sodapop and Steve walked through the door, just having gotten off work. Everyone but Darry was at the Curtis house now. "Hi Soda!" Sophie exclaimed running over to him and hugging him. "Hi Sophie!" Soda exclaimed as he picked her up and hugged her close. "Hi Steve, I'm sorry about yesterday.."Sophie apologized. "It's okay Sophie. It was my fault. I'm sorry." Steve said smiling at her. Sophie smiled back and hugged him.
"Can we celebrate your birthday with a big party after I win the beauty pageant? We'll get a big chocolate cake!" Sophie asked. Steve chuckled, "That'd be great."
~3 weeks later October 7th~
The pageant day finally arrived. Jazmine and Angela helped Sophie with a routine, they did her hair and make up. This one was a little different, even though it's October instead of a talent portion it was swimsuits. The pageant was at the Tulsa Convention Center. The gang, plus Tim and Curly were standing outside Sophie's dressing room while she was getting ready with Angela with Jaz.
"Attention contestants! Line up
Will begin in 5 minutes. Please make your way to the stage." A woman's voice said on the intercom. Soda stepped forward from leaning on the wall and knocked on the door. "Sophie, you need to get to the stage." Soda said. "We're almost done!" Angela called out. Followed by the sound of hairspray. "Are you ready Soda?!" Sophie asked excitedly.
The doorknob slowly turned and the door opened. Angela and Jazmine stepped out and to the sides. Sophie walked out smiling brightly. Her hair was teased up in big curls that fell to her shoulders, she had a little bit of blush on her cheeks. She had in a simple line of eyeliner and her eyelashes curled up with mascara making her brown eyes stand out. She was wearing the pink sequin cupcake dress with frilly white ankle socks and shiny white Mary Janes. She smiled and did a slow turn. "Do I look okay?" She asked looking at all the guys.
"You look like a princess m'lady." Two-Bit smirked with a bow. Sophie giggled. "C'mon." Soda said holding his hand out. Sophie held his hand and they all walked to the stage. Steve, Johnny, Ponyboy, Two-Bit, the Shepherds and Jazmine wished Sophie good luck and headed for their seats in the audience. Darry smiled down at Sophie. "You'll do great. Even if you don't win we all love you and are proud of you." Darry said kissing her forehead. He pulled the card with the number "37" on it and hung it around her neck so the judges knew her number. Then we went to join the others in their seats.
Soda kneeled down and adjusted her socks then he ruffled her dress a little. "Okay. Wow. You look gorgeous Soph...don't worry about what the other girls look like or wear. You look perfect. And you're gonna show them." Soda said proudly. She smiled and hugged him. "I love you Sodapop." She said. Soda smiled and hugged her back, "I love you to Sophie."
With that Soda stood and joined the others while Dally approached. He knelt down to Sophie. "Hey kiddo." He greeted with a smile. "Hi Dally!"'Sophie greeted back. "Now you go out there and be yourself. As cute as can be. And win. 'Kay?" He said. Sophie nodded. "Thanks Dally." She said before running off to get in line.
"Next up we have number 37. Sophie Curtis. She was born and raised here in Tulsa Oklahoma. Today she is wearing a fabulous light pink cupcake dress adorned with pink and white sequins. In her free time Sophie likes to play outside, read books and spend time with her big brother Sodapop."
While the announcer woman spoke Sophie strutted across the stage. Her dark brown eyes sparkled in the light. She did a slow turn and winked at the judges. "Wow. If that ain't a spittin image if Sodapop." Two-Bit laughed. The rest of the gang laughed too. "Who do you think helped her with her routine?" Soda said with a wink making everyone laugh again.
The next category we're the swimsuits. Sophie strutted across the stage wearing a red high waisted two piece swimsuit with white sandals. She strutted proudly and with a little attitude. She blew a kiss at the crowd and skipped off the stage. The judges seemed to be liking her. But they also liked another girl named Betty. She was a brunette with bright blue eyes and you could tell she's won some pageants before.
After the evening gowns came the awards. Sophie sat in the audience on Sodas lap waiting for the award announcements. "Now we move into our 7 year old age group. For best smile we have...Sophie Curtis!" The woman said excitedly. Sophie gasped and ran up to the stage. They handed her a small trophy and she stood off to the side.
"Best hair goes to Betty Paulmer!"
"Best swim suit...Sophie Curtis!"
"Best evening gown...Betty Paulmer!"
"Our overall runnner up is...Sophie Curtis!" Sophie gasped as a man walked up and placed a tiara on her head. He sat down a trophy almost as tall as her next to her and handed her an envelope.
"Our Little Mrs. Tulsa grand prize winner is...Betty Paulmer!" Betty got a big crown and a trophy taller than them both. They gave her a big check written for $800.
After pictures for the newspaper with the girls, Sophie made her way over to the guys. "Runner up isn't bad Sophie!" Jazmine exclaimed. Sophie smiled as Soda ran up and hugged her. "You did a great job Sophie." Darry complimented her and then hugged her tight. "Yeah you looked so cute up there!" Angela said.
The gang all complimented her and she smiled brightly. "What's in the envelope?" Ponyboy asked. "I dunno." Sophie said handing it to Darry. Darry opened the envelope and pulled out cash. "What is it Darry?" Soda asked noticing Darry's shocked look. "It's $300" Darry said as he counted the money. It was split up in $50s, $20s and $10s. "What? But she didn't win?" Soda asked. "She got runner up! So it's less prize money." Jazmine said. "Wow!" Sophie exclaimed. "Sophie you have over $800 dollars now and I don't understand how or why." Ponyboy said jealously. "What?!" Darry asked. "Yeah. She's been hoarding money in a little box she hides." Two-Bit said. "Where did all of this money come from?" Darry asked looking at Sophie. "Uhm ya know. Birthdays, Christmas, money I find on the ground, Dally, and Tim shepherd. The guys pitched in to help me buy stuff for the pageant. That's how I got these new Mary Janes, and the hair curler and how I got my outfits fitted." Sophie said. Darry just stared at her. "And what are you going to do with all this money now?" Darry asked. Sophie motioned for Darry to come closer. He knelt down and Sophie whispered in his ear. "Really? Sophie you don't have to do that." Darry said. "I want to. You guys do a lot and take only fair." She smiled. Darry smiled back and nodded his head in approval. Sophie squealed excitedly and walked over to Steve.
"Steve, I'm sorry you've been stuck here for half the day for your birthday. So you can pick where we go out to dinner!" Sophie smiled. Steve smiled down at her. "I'm up for whatever." Steve said. "To Bishops drive in it is!" Sophie cheered. The gang laughed. They all walked down the street happily joking.
The dinner table was full of laughs, a few snarky remarks but mostly jokes and smiles. They sang happy birthday to Steve and got cake. The waiter came back with the check and Sophie tapped Darrys shoulder. Darry smiled and pulled the envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Sophie. "Hey what're you doin?" Steve asked. "I'm paying for dinner with the prize money to thank you all for helping me and believing in me." Sophie said with a smile. She handed the waiter $80 and gave him a $10 tip. "Sophie you don't have to do that." Tim said. "It's okay! I want to! After this all my money is gonna be put in the bank for emergencies. Like when I need more shorts because Soda doesn't do the laundry." Sophie giggled. The gang all laughed.
They stayed at the table talking with each other for a little while longer before everyone decided it was time to head home. "Bye Jazmine! Thank you so much for your help. I'll have all of your stuff in the tub ready to go back home with you tomorrow." Sophie said hugging Jazmine. "You're welcome Sophie. You did great." Jaz said.
"You're a good kid Sophie." Tim said ruffling her hair a little. Sophie smiled and said goodbye to Jazmine and the shepherds as they headed off in the opposite direction.
"That was actually pretty fun." Sophie admitted. She adjusted her tiara and smiled proudly as they walked down the street. "Are you gonna do it again next year?" Johnny asked. Sophie burst out in laughter, "no way! These dresses are itchy. And the Hairspray makes my hair all sticky. I hate the taste of lipstick and I have blisters from my Mary Janes!" Sophie complained. The gang laughed. "So that's a no?" Soda asked teasingly. "Definitely a no." Sophie huffed with a giggle.