"Where were you?" I asked, when Soda finally arrived, with loads of bags.
"I went shopping food. You're having dinner here aren't' you?" he asked, kissing me again.
"I think so." I replied, my mind still on what Pony had instructed me to do. Was this the right time?
"Let's go in." Soda said.
We cooked dinner, and chatted for about an hour. Cooking with Soda was very fun. It surprised me how he added color to everything. The food looked funny, but we still enjoyed making it together. While we were setting the table, Soda told me everything about how his parents died, and Darry had taken over. This gave me an instant respect for Darry, and a sudden guilt of how Socs of his age were roaming around with girls and wasting money.
By the time, Soda was done telling me everything, I realized that he had told me every bit of information on him, but he knew nothing about me.
Soda seemed to have read my mind.
"It's very odd and surprising, Devon, we've been going out for a while now, and we talk for hours, but I really don't know much about you." He said shyly. "Except you work at the flower shop."
I closed my eyes. "Good you bought it up. There's a lot to tell you." I decided to start off with the normal stuff first. "I have a younger sister Judy, and an older brother Chris. And I'm a freshman in college." This seemed to surprise Soda.
"You go to college?" He asked, looking confused. I knew what he was thinking. Not all greasers could afford college.
"Well, yeah… I've been trying to tell you…I…" I couldn't finish, because just then Darry walked in.
"Hey, how'd you come this soon?" Soda asked surprised to see Darry come in.
"I was gonna work overtime, but I was really tired." Darry said wearily. He did look tired and worn out.
"May be I should leave" I suggested.
"Oh, no, that's totally fine, Devon. I'm just going to eat and go straight to bed." Darry said.
Dinner was fun. Both of Soda's brothers were very interesting. And even though Darry wasn't feeling well, he played two rounds of poker with me, and beat me both times. After Darry and Pony both left us alone, I tried to tell Soda again, but he seemed to be in too good of a mood, and I couldn't stand ruining it. I loved the way how Soda was always happy-go-lucky. He could make any one smile.
As I was about to leave Soda offered to drop me off, but since he still didn't know where I lived, I didn't let him do this. I said I could manage, and even though I had a hard time convincing him, he finally agreed.
As I drove home I wondered how people like Soda who lost so much in life can still open up to love, and I, who has everything, was so afraid of falling in love.
Although I started to realize how happy I was around Soda, and how we always made out, and how I considered him my "boyfriend", there was something stopping me from getting to love him the way I really wanted to. I did like him a lot, but something was there that kept me from being satisfied of this as real love. Maybe it was just the fact, that stuff from novels and movies filled my mind, and I didn't expect it to be so easy, simple, and casual.
When I went home, Chris was sitting on the sofa watching TV.
"Where's everyone else?" I asked, joining him.
"Asleep" He answered not even looking. His favorite TV show was on.
"I hear you got some guy?" He asked, his eyes still glued to the TV even though there was commercials right now.
"Yeah…" I hesitated. I wondered if he knew the whole thing yet.
"Well... you gonna tell me everything right?" He asked finally looking at me.
"Umm…not yet. I'm already under a lot, Chris. Please. Give me some time." I said, hoping he would understand.
"Sure." He smiled. "You know I miss …Bob a lot. I just met Sherry the other day. She looked so …I don't know…" He said. "Those hoodlums, greaser…" Chris was going on and on, cursing out the greasers, taking all his anger out. I looked into his eyes, and once again saw the hatred that I had been dreading.
I went to my room, not able to take my mind off of the face that Chris had when he was talking about the greasers. So much despise.
As I was about to lay down, the phone in my room rang.
"Hello" I answered, wondered who would call at this time.
"Hey, Dev, it's me Soda. I missed you all of a sudden" He said softly.
I giggled. "I just came from your house."
"Dev… I know I'm gonna sound retarded. Calling you at this time to talk. But I had to tell you…I think…I ...lo..."
I knew what was coming.
"Soda….I really got to go….Bye." I slammed the phone, with my heart beating really hard.
