A few days had gone by and Candy decided to visit Soda at work, "Hey Soda, come here."
Soda walked over, lifted her off the ground and kissed her, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to visit and give you these." She handed him a bag.
"What is it?"
"Open it and look silly." She put her arm around his waist.
He opened the bag, "It smells like chocolate."
Candy reached into the bag and pulled a piece out, "Open up." He did and she put the piece in his mouth, "So what do you think?"
"What is it?"
"A recipe for chocolate fudge I found, do you like it?"
His eyes lit up, "You need to make these for supper tonight."
She smiled, "You mean for dessert?"
"I'll eat it for supper. Hey Steve, you need to try this stuff."
"Soda, I need to get back to the house. Please try to get home on time I have a surprise for you."
He smiled, "I love surprises."
"I know." She left.
When Soda got home the house was quiet, "Anybody home?"
He closed the door and saw a note. He read it out loud, "Please remove your shoes and go have a piece of fudge." He shrugged, "Ok, whatever you say."
He took his shoes off and went to the kitchen. He ate a piece of fudge and he found a note next to the plate on the counter, "Please remove your shirt, put it on the back of the chair and go to your room."
He did what the note said. He was getting more and more excited, he ran to his room finding the note on his bed, "Are you ready for your surprise? Then come down to my room and come in. Love, Candace."
Soda walked slowly toward Candy's room. He was excited about the surprise, but he was nervous about what he would find in Candy's room. He opened the door and poked his head in the door, "Hello, is anyone in here?"
"Come in and close the door, Sodapop."
Soda walked in and almost couldn't close the door because of what he saw.
It was Candy in one of his DX work shirts and underwear, but nothing else, "Are you going to close the door?"
All he could do was nod and close the door.
She moved closer to him, "I think your shirt looks better on me, what do you think?"
He nodded.
Candy was standing right in front of him, "Sodapop Curtis, did a cat get your tongue?"
He nodded, then shook his head, "No, what is all this for?"
She put her hands on his bare chest, "I think it's about time we bring our relationship to the next level."
"You mean sex?" He looked extra nervous.
"If you don't want to."
He grabbed her, kissed her passionately, picked her up by grabbing her butt and planted her on the bed.
They kissed and groped every part of each other's bodies. They made love to each other taking it slow so they could fully enjoy each other.
When they were finished they lay in each others arms enjoying the closeness, "I love you, Soda, I never imagined it could be like that."
He kissed her forehead, "I love you and I couldn't imagine being with anyone else."
"We need to get dressed."
"Why?" He pouted out his bottom lip, "I like it here."
"I'll wear your DX shirt."
"Ok, everyone will know you're my girl."
They got dressed, "So where are we going?" Candy asked.
"We're meeting Steve and Evie at the drive-in." Soda put his arm around her shoulders, "I guess now is as good a time as any to give you the present I got for you."
Her eyes lit up, "You got me a present?"
He handed her a box, she opened it and there was a plain, gold locket inside, "It's beautiful."
"Look at the back."
On the back it was engraved. It said S + C forever. Candy looked up at him, "Will you put it on for me?"
He did and then wiped a tear off her cheek, "Why are you crying?"
"Because I never thought I would find anyone as sweet as you."
"Forever, baby, forever." He pulled her to him, "We need to go or Steve will hunt us down."
They both laughed and went to the drive-in. They all had a great time, Evie commented on the locket and then grilled Steve on why he wasn't that romantic.
Steve and Soda punched at each other all the way to the park where they went their separate ways.
The next few days Soda and Candy tried to spend as much time together as possible.
Candy was bringing in the mail and noticed a letter with The Department of the Army return address and it was addressed to Sodapop. She put the letter on the table and sat staring at it.
Darry, Soda and Pony came home and saw her staring at the envelope.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" Soda kissed her head.
She picked up the envelope, "It's for you from the Army."
He opened it and sat down hard.
Darry put his hand on his brother's shoulder, "What does it say?"
"I have to leave in two days, I've been drafted."
Darry grabbed the letter, "All we get is two days?"
Soda took off out the door and Pony ran to his room. Candy looked at Darry, he said, "You take Pony and I'll get Soda."
Candy went down the hallway to Pony's room, "Can I come in?"
"Yes." He was sitting on the bed, "He can't go, I don't want him to die."
She sat down next to him, "You can't think like that. He'll be fine, he's smart on his feet and he's a survivor."
"How can you be so calm?"
"I'm not, inside I'm a wreck. I want to tell him not to go. I want to tell him to stay, but I can't. Soda would not want to see any of us upset." She mussed his hair and put her arm around him, "We have to be strong for Soda, ok?"
He nodded, "I can do that for Soda."
Candy brought him out to the living room and they sat down.
About twenty minutes later Darry came in with his arm around Soda, "Candy, Soda would like to talk to you alone."
Candy got up and followed Soda into her room. He sat down on the bed, grabbed her by the waist and buried his face in her stomach, "I can't believe this I knew it could happen, but not now. We are as close as we can be and now this."
She stroked his hair, "Everything will be fine. I'll be here when you get back, I promise."
He looked at her, "I want to stay with you tonight."
She nodded, got undressed and climbed into bed. He did the same, placing his head on her chest, "I love you with all my heart."
"I love you too; now try to get some sleep." She stroked his hair and back until she fell asleep.