Hey! Sorry for the wait, I had writer's block on top of being pretty busy but I finally finished this chapter. Also, thanks for the positive feedback for the previous chapter!
Enjoy!
First thing on Monday I handed in my cheerleader uniform. I was glad that I hadn't had a chance to grow too attached before I quit. I knew I couldn't be on the squad with Daniel on the football team; I wouldn't be able to handle seeing him that often after what he did to me. Not yet, at least. I could only hope I'd be taken back if I ever decided I wanted to be on the squad again.
It felt like everybody was staring at me, whispering about me. I suspected that the story of what had happened at Jennifer Moore's party had spread, though probably not the truthful version. My friends confirmed my suspicions at lunch.
"Is it true?" Cynthia asked almost immediately after I sat down.
"Is what true?" I responded tiredly.
"People are sayin' you left the party with Sodapop Curtis," Marcia said, sounding a mixture of concerned and curious.
"Yeah and left us without a ride home," Peggy spoke up, clearly annoyed.
"I didn't technically leave with him," I answered back. "He was just making sure I was okay."
Cherry narrowed her eyes at this. "Okay with what?" She asked.
I hesitated. Cherry was the one who introduced me to Daniel, who had tried so hard to get us together. It wasn't her fault that he turned out to be so mean and I didn't want her to feel bad about it. But these were my friends. They would understand. Right?
"I, uh, ended up in a bit of… trouble with Daniel. He was coming onto me, I didn't want him to… and Sodapop stopped him. That's it," I explained.
A short silence followed as my friends processed this. I stared down at my food, not wanting to see their expressions. "That's not what I heard," Peggy said, breaking the silence.
My head snapped up. "What did you hear?" I questioned.
"Well, some people are sayin' those boys were fightin' over you," she answered. "And you obviously picked the greaser because you left the party with him."
"And you believe that?" I spat and she simply shrugged. I told myself she was just annoyed I'd left them without a ride home, that this was the reason she was being like this with me. Peggy Richardson was not one to forgive easily, even for little things.
"Shut up, Peggy," Cynthia hissed, shooting her a glare before turning to me with a soft smile. "Rox, are you sure Daniel was doin' what you think he was?"
I regarded her with an incredulous look. "How couldn't I be sure?"
Cynthia shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. "Maybe you unknowingly led him on?"
I couldn't believe I was hearing this. Sure, none of them had been there, they had heard different people telling different versions of the story, but I had actually been there. How could they doubt me? I opened my mouth to retort when Cherry jumped in, "She just means it's hard to imagine Daniel bein' like that. We've known him a long time."
"Yeah, well, you clearly don't know him as well as you thought," I snapped, getting to my feet and marching out of the cafeteria.
"Roxanne!" I turned as Nancy caught up with me, looking worried. She had been quiet until now – perhaps what she wanted to say she felt she couldn't in front on the others. "Don't listen to the rumours, Rox. If you say Daniel came onto you, then he did. If you say Sodapop helped you, then he helped you. Peggy's just upset she had to find another ride home. The others feel threatened, they're not used to having bad rumours associated with them. They'll be over it by tomorrow."
I smiled. "Thanks, Nance." She returned the smile, pulling me into a hug. I felt a little better about the whole thing. Nancy was always a bright light in my life, someone who supported me through everything.
I couldn't concentrate on my homework once again. It was spread out before me but my eyes stared unfocused at one corner of my room. I couldn't stop thinking about the stupid rumours people were spreading, about how people actually believed Sodapop and Daniel fought over me and how the latter was made out to be the victim. I was the victim. I had been assaulted and people were focusing on the drama. My friends, with the exception of Nancy, were too worried about their reputation to worry about me. My eyes refocused, landing on the flannel shirt thrown over the back of my chair.
Suddenly I was overcome with the urge to see Sodapop again. Apart from Nancy, he was the only one who understood. He had actually been there, he knew what had happened. I needed someone to talk to and my friends weren't listening. He seemed like the logical solution.
I hurried downstairs, finding my parents in the kitchen. My mom was preparing dinner, chatting to my dad while he read the newspaper. "Dad, can I borrow your car?" I asked as soon as I stepped into the kitchen, forgetting to be extra sweet.
"Where are you going at this time?" My mom inquired, stopping what she was doing to face me.
Now I smiled, acting casual. "Cherry needs to borrow some books, it's pretty urgent," I lied smoothly, before turning to my dad. "I'll stop for gas, too."
My dad smiled and folded the newspaper, placing it on the counter in front of him. "I suppose you got it back in one piece on Saturday night," he said, tossing me the keys.
I thanked him and all but ran out of the house. "Be home for dinner!" My mom called after me.
I sat in my dad's car outside the DX for at least ten minutes before plucking up the courage to go in. I hesitated again by the door upon stepping inside, wondering if this was a good idea after all, fiddling anxiously with a button on my blouse. Luckily Sodapop was working the counter today, currently serving two girls – an all-time-low for the amount of girls I normally saw swarming him, which I could only assume was because it was almost dinner-time. I watched him as he made small-talk, smiling the whole time. I found my anxiety was eased slightly; he had a smile that could light up this whole damn town.
When the girls he was serving turned to leave, Sodapop raised his head and caught me standing by the door. The girls walked by me, shutting the door behind them and leaving the two of us in silence. "Hey, Roxanne," he eventually greeted, kindly.
"Hey," I replied quietly, finally walking towards the counter.
"You alright?" He asked as I came to a stop in front of him.
I shrugged. "Sorta," I replied. "I guess… I guess I just needed someone to talk to. My friends don't really understand."
"About the party?"
I nodded, before taking a step back. "Sorry, this wasn't really a good idea. I should go."
"Hey, it's alright," Sodapop said, giving me a gentler smile. "If ya need to talk to someone I'll listen." I eyed him apprehensively, debating what to do. If anybody saw me here, it would only fuel the rumours more. Then I reasoned that it was unlikely many people from high school would pass through here at this time of day.
Finally I heaved a deep sigh, stepping forward again. "Well, there's, uh, rumours going around that we left the party together… After you and Daniel had a fight over me."
Sodapop snorted and I narrowed my eyes, confused. "Now there's one thing I don't miss 'bout high school; all the rumours." He grinned and a peculiar warmth spread through my chest. "You're cute, Roxanne, but I don't think I'd fight a guy for ya unless he was doin' somethin' wrong."
This was sort of a backhanded compliment, but I was far too focused on the fact he'd just called me cute. I agreed with him, though, I wouldn't want him, or any guy for that matter, fighting over me. I tilted my head slightly as I asked, "So it's true you work here full-time, then?"
"I'm a dropout," he answered simply. I just nodded. What could I say to that that didn't sound offensive or pitying? Besides, it didn't change my opinion of him, it was one tiny detail. "Are these rumours botherin' ya?" He then asked.
I shrugged again. "Only because they're not true. And they're making Daniel out to be the victim in all this." I paused, my hand going to that button on my blouse again. "My friends care more about their reputation. They don't like the idea of me leaving a party with a greaser."
Now it was Sodapop's turn to shrug. "It's just high school drama, Roxanne," he told me, smiling again. "Betcha tomorrow everyone will've forgotten 'bout it."
I nodded, hoping he was right. "I quit the cheerleading squad because of him," I blurted. "He's on the football team and I can't face him. Not yet."
Sodapop's smile became softer. "Well, I hope one day you can. He's the bad guy, not you."
Sodapop was right. Sort of. It took a least a few days for everyone to stop talking about what had happened at Jennifer Moore's part and move onto some new drama. On the Tuesday, Cherry caught up to me after school as I attempted to get away from the few people who still liked to stare.
"Hey, Rox," she greeted gently, placing a hand on my arm so I would stop walking. I did, turning to face her hesitantly. "Listen, I, uh, wanted to apologise for yesterday." She paused, brushing her red hair out of her face nervously. I could tell there was something else she wanted to say but I didn't want to rush her.
Eventually her eyes met mine again, her expression determined. "And I wanted to apologise for leavin' you alone with Daniel. I could tell you didn't wanna be but… I thought you were just bein' shy or awkward." She paused again, glancing away for a moment. "I shoulda known somethin' was off, but I guess I was excited to set you up. And he's friends with Bob so I didn't think—"
"Cherry," I interrupted, smiling. "You're forgiven. Not that any of it was your fault, anyway."
She grinned and exhaled in relief. "Thanks, Rox." Then she looped her arm through mine, leading me in the opposite direction towards her car. "So, you gonna tell me what really happened with Sodapop?"
"Exactly what I told you." I answered, rolling my eyes. Cherry's grin widened, now seeming somewhat secretive. Something told me it would be a while before she let this go.
On the Wednesday, Cynthia caught me by my locker to apologise for suggesting I'd led Daniel on. "I was just surprised, y'know? But I'm sure ya did nothin' wrong. Daniel Miller's a damn creep."
I huffed a laugh. "Thanks, Cynth."
At lunch on the same day, Peggy – with lots of persuasion from Marcia and Nancy – apologised for the way she acted on Monday. "I mean, obviously I still don't think ya shoulda left with a greaser. And us without a ride—"
"Apologising, Peg," Marcia hissed.
Peggy looked back at me and her expression softened, surprising me slightly. "I am sorry, Rox. I don't actually believe the rumours. It's just high school drama." And just like that, I was reminded of Sodapop.
Two-Bit Mathews was the one person I expected to make a joke about the whole thing, yet the first time I saw him after the incident he simply gave me a small nod, leaving me very perplexed.
It was by Thursday that the rumours died down. None of my friends mentioned Daniel Miller again and I couldn't be gladder. Now I just wanted to move on and get on with my life.
On Friday after school, Nancy and I were in my bedroom doing homework together once again. Trying would be a better word. "Have I ever mentioned how much I hate history?" She said at one point, throwing her pencil down.
"Multiple times," I replied, smirking over at her. She got up off of my bed, proceeding to stroll around my room and study my belongings. She paused at my desk, pulling out the chair to sit down so she could carefully rifle through my records.
"You have great taste in music," she commented, grinning over at me as she stood again, pushing the chair back under the desk. She halted, looking down at the chair curiously, letting a sleeve of the flannel shirt run across her hand. "Whose shirt is this?" She asked, turning back to me with her eyebrows raised.
"Oh, it's Sodapop's," I answered. "He gave it to me at the party because I was cold." Nancy continued to stare at me. "What?"
"Sodapop Curtis gave you his shirt and you're bein' real casual about it."
"Come on, he was just being a gentleman," I explained, echoing what Sodapop himself had said upon giving me the shirt. "I was considering giving it back, actually. Could've done the other day."
"Wait, what?" Nancy cried, moving towards me. "You saw him again? Is there somethin' I'm missin'?"
"No, Nance!" I said with a small laugh. "I just wanted to talk to him after the Daniel thing. He was there when it happened."
"Makes sense, I guess," Nancy said, nodding. Then she dived onto my bed again, smiley as ever. "Promise me you'll tell me if somethin' happens again with you two."
I rolled my eyes but humoured her anyway. "I promise you'll be the first to know."
The following day, I visited Sodapop again. Although, it wasn't actually intentional this time. I convinced my dad, yet again, to let me borrow his car so I could go over to Cynthia's, as she had invited me over to watch a movie. I guessed she was still feeling a little guilty about what she'd said. On the way to her house, I decided to stop for the gas I'd promised my dad I would get the last time I borrowed his car, but never did. Immediately upon pulling into the DX and alongside one of the pumps, I realised Sodapop was stood beside it.
Okay, this was getting a little ridiculous. He'd think I had nothing better to do than visit him at work.
He gave a low whistle, leaning one arm on the door as he looked through the open window. "Nice car, Roxanne," he complimented.
"It's my dad's," I told him.
"Didn't expect to see ya back here so soon," he remarked, grinning. "Couldn't stay away, huh?"
"Fill up the car, wise-guy," I retorted.
Sodapop laughed and I had to remind myself not to get caught up. Honestly, it was sometimes hard for me to make conversation with him when he was taking my breath away. "You're happier than the last time I saw ya," he pointed out. "I'm guessin' the rumours have stopped?"
"Pretty much," I replied. He smiled, patting the windowsill with his hand before standing up straight, proceeding to fill up my dad's car. "I wanted to thank you, by the way," I said after he returned to the window and I'd paid him. "For the other day."
"Ain't a problem," he said, smiling and shrugging.
"And I'll return your shirt soon I just—"
"Naw, ya don't have to," he argued. "I meant it when I said ya can keep it. I won't miss it."
I could tell there was no point arguing back, so I smiled, hoping it looked as grateful as I felt. Not just about the shirt, but about how much he'd helped me recently. "Thanks, Sodapop."
He nodded. "You dig okay, Roxanne." Then he took a step back and I pulled out of the DX, looking in my rear-view mirror just once as I drove away.
I go back to university on Sunday so it might be a while before the next chapter is up, but I'll try and make sure it isn't too long a wait :-)
