I am SO sorry that it's been SO long. I hope you're still interested with my story! I just have one thing to ask every one. REVIEW! I didn't get any reviews for chapter 10 and I was extremely disapointed. Even if you didn't like it PLEASE tell me! I want feedback. Anyways, here's your chapter 11.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders
Nice One, Soda
He was sitting on a barstool talking to Sam, the bartender. I was sure it was him. I had never met Jim before so I didn't recognize him but I could hear the conversation and I was sure he had mentioned Dollard and Sam called him Jim a few times. I sat a few stools down, just listening to them talk. Jim was going on and on about how his girl had left him. I shook my head. Liar! She was no more your girl than Sandy is mine now. Don't think of Sandy, don't think of Sandy. I can't go there now. The adrenalin was pulsing through my body. The subject of Sandy always got me mad. I looked over at the clock. It was quarter to one; time to kill Jim.
I downed the rest of my beer and slammed it down on the counter. I walked over to Jim and taped him gently on the shoulder. He turned around and I could see his gray eyes. There was something about them that made me ever madder.
"Are you Jim?"
"Yeah," he paused, "Who wants to know?"
I smirked. "Sodapop."
His eyes got hard. He knew who I was and I knew who he was so there was no need for the introduction 'Hi, I'm Sodapop. You kissed my girl and now you're gonna die.' No need for any of that. So I punched the guy hard in the face. The whole bar went quiet and you could hear the crack of his nose. Nice one, Soda, I told myself.
"Hey, hey! Cut that out or take it outside," Sam told us.
"Let's take a walk, Jimmy."
He looked like he could kill me. I was silently telling him to try anything. I was going to hurt him so bad he wouldn't be out of the hospital for weeks if ever. Jim took the first step towards the door and I followed suit. This bastard was going down.
The cold air was refreshing. It calmed my nerves, enough so I could see straight and quit being so jumpy. Everyone get a bit high-strung before a fight and I'm no different. Jim appeared relaxed. Undisturbed by my presence. He took a step toward me and my hand automatically flew to my back pocket, in which sat a six-inch switchblade. I was only going to use it if I really needed it, but my hand acted out of reflex.
"We gonna cuss each other out and all that jazz?" he asked, "Or should we just fight?"
"We do this the right way," my voice was steady.
He threw some pretty good insults but so did I. There was no one around to hear them but I was one who stood by tradition. Bashing your opponent was how you started a fight and this was just that. A fight.
"Is this all we're doin'?" he asked after a few retorts form both of us.
"Well I hit you inside first so it's your turn now. Try to hit me."
I was ready for him, though. I dodged his punch and got him in the back and behind the knees. He fell, and I tackled him. My head had gone blank with white-hot fury. I was clobbering the guy. He landed a few good punches but he was disoriented and drunk and I wasn't. We rolled around on the ground and cursed at each other. Once, I punched him in his stomach so hard that I winded him. He just lay there on the ground, gasping for breath. I took this as an opportunity to kick his head a few times. When I was done with him, his face was bashed up pretty bad and there was a pool of blood on the ground – some of it mine but mostly his. I knelt down next to him and whispered in his ear.
"Don't you fucking dare come back here ever again. If you do this will happen again and I might not hold back on killing you next time. The only reason you're still alive is thanks to Jessica, it was at her request that you didn't die. So what I'm trying to say here is get lost and don't find you way back. Got it?"
He nodded his head ever so slightly.
"Good." I patted his back. I stood up and found that we had acquired an audience. For the second time that night I thought Nice one, Soda. I pushed my way through the crowd of people congratulating me and patting me on the back and giving me good-natured punches to my arms. It felt good to keep up my reputation of never loosing a fight.
I hopped into Darry's car that I had 'borrowed' and sped off to get Jess. All I wanted to do was be with her right now. See her beautiful face, touch her body, smell her hair, taste her lips, hear her voice in my ear. At that moment in time I had decided I was in love with Jessy. Not like I had been with Sandy. That was a teenage thing. I know I'm only sixteen but I really love her. That night – or morning, whichever – I tried to think back to the times I had told her that. The first time had been our first date. We were lying in bed together and she was about to fall asleep, I whispered to her "Goodnight Jessy. I love you." The second had been today. Before I left, I told her I had never lost – which I still haven't – and that I loved her. Was that it? Only twice? No. I must have said it more that that. I racked my brain for another time but I couldn't remember any. I had to tell her again. Twice wasn't enough. Nothing would be enough. I could say it a million and one times but it would never be enough. But a million and was one was sure better than two.
I went back to her house. I expected to find her there. But she wasn't. Instead I found a bottle of whisky in her bedroom and a record playing on her stereo. Her jean jacket wasn't on the couch like it usually was. I called for her but she didn't answer. I left her house and went home to see Ponyboy and find out if he knew anything.
"Two-Bit and Dallas were here earlier. They said something about going to see Jess."
"Thanks Ponyboy." I ran out the door. It would be much easier to find Two-Bit or Dally in this town than it would be to find Jess. Everybody knew them and they knew just about everybody. How very wrong I was. I found Dally no problem. He was at Buck's but there was no way to talk to him. He was busy. And all the people I asked about Two-Bit told me he left not too long ago with Jess but nobody knew where they went.
I don't know how we found each other in the end. Parts of that night are a blur. But sure enough, the two of them were running across the football field when I saw them. I stopped my car and ran up to them. I caught Jess in the mid-stride and kissed her. She kissed me back. We were the only ones in the world right then. The only ones that mattered. Two-Bit broke us apart after a few minutes.
"Okay face suckers. That's enough. You'll have time to inspect the other's mouth later."
We pulled apart and smiled at each other and then a Two-Bit.
"I love you," I told her.
"I love you, too."
"And I love you both," Two-Bit said, putting his arms around our shoulders, "But I'm getting kinda cold. Can we go inside?"
We all laughed and walked over to the car. I stopped at Jess' house and told Two-Bit to take the car back to Darry in one piece. We didn't even make it inside before my lips were crushing hers. We stood on the front porch, making out. I broke my lips apart from her so I could say it again.
"I love you, Jess." I told her over and over.
"Soda," she whispered, "I'm ready."
"For what?"
She looked at me with her bright blue eyes shining through her yellow bangs. I knew what she wanted and I wanted it too. I smiled.
"Are you sure, honey?"
"Yes." She was sure. Her voice was steady and her eyes were certain. There was no stopping her, now. We stepped inside the house and I carried her to her bedroom. That was our last night together.
How many time must I ask you people? REVIEW PLEASE! Even if it's one word! I don't care! And I'm not updaing untill I get reviews. I'm sure how many yet but if you want another chapter then I suggest you get reviewing!
