Chapter 28
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Sandy walked gingerly up the steps to the Curtis' house. It was six in the evening and she really hoped that Soda would be home. She knocked lightly first then a little louder when she was left standing for five minutes. The door swung open and Sandy couldn't hid her disappointment as she Darry standing there. He moved out her way to let her in.
"Soda's still at work." He said making his way into the kitchen. "He should be home in a minute. You can wait"
"Thanks." Sandy said looking around the room. Was it just her and Darry here? She really hoped not.
Darry came back in and looked at her sitting on the edge on the couch. "I wish you'd quit knocking. Just walk in next time."
Sandy nodded slowly and Darry sighed. There was still a lot of tension between them and it was something that would have to be sorted out. He went back in to check on the food and then came back and sat opposite her.
"Every time you knock I think it's the people from the Social. They're the ones who usually knock."
"Sorry." Sandy mumbled.
"Hey it's not your fault you were brought up with manners." Darry smiled and he finally got a grin out of her too.
"Well they were beaten into us…" She answered then trailed off and chewed her bottom lip. She shook her head and looked back at Darry. He was studying her very closely that last comment hadn't escaped him.
"Um so where's Ponyboy?"
"Doing his homework. The kid gets so much it's cruel."
Sandy nodded now. She really wished that all she had to complain about was too much homework. She'd been cleaning houses for a few weeks now and she already hated it. The Socs treated her like dirt. They ordered her around like she was their slave, a please or thank one wouldn't hurt every now and then. They noticed more if she missed a spot while cleaning rather then when she'd done a really good job.
Suddenly the door burst open and Soda came bounding in like a puppy. He grinned when he saw Sandy.
"Hey what are you doing here?" He asked.
"Oh that's nice Soda, the girl had to put with me while she waited and that's how you greet her."
Soda looked down at Sandy again and grinned again. "Sorry babe."
Darry looked around the room and then back to Soda. "Ah where's Steve?" He asked.
"Home I think. I don't know we're not joined at the hip."
"I was starting to wonder." Darry answered.
Soda went to lunge at him but Darry moved out of the way and he fell flat on his face with a thud. He looked up at Darry who was laughing at him as he helped him to his feet. Soda made his way back to Sandy and put his arm around her.
"So we goin' out later?" He asked. "I hear there's a party somewhere."
Sandy rolled her eyes. There was always a party somewhere if you looked hard enough. Even on a Wednesday night. Darry was calling for Pony to come and set the table.
"Just a sec" Came the reply from somewhere in the house.
Soda went to wash up and change but not before he warned Darry not to scare Sandy off.
Darry poked his head in the living room again.
"You want some dinner?" He asked. "There's plenty."
Sandy nodded now as her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten since breakfast and she was starving. Darry's cooking smelt so good as it wafted through the house. Ponyboy appeared and set eh table before he even noticed Sandy. Then he just smiled and nodded in her direction.
Two-Bit arrived just as Darry was serving up and he jumped onto a chair. Darry looked at him for a second before reaching for another plate.
"What, did you smell food?" Darry asked.
"Yep." He replied smiling. "You'll make someone a good wife someday Darry, bet you look real good in a piny too."
Darry glared at Two-Bit. "Bet my fist will look real good in your face."
"Sorry, bit touchy aren't we." Two-Bit answered pretending to be hurt.
"Zip it Two-Bit. One more word and no food." Darry snarled. "And you two can stop too." He added noticing that Pony and Soda were about to choke on their own food. Sandy watched the whole scene with a look of both surprise and amusement, she could tell Darry wasn't really mind, in fact he was trying to keep the grin from spreading to his face. Two-Bit pretended to zip his mouth shut as the plate of food landed in front of him. He looked for a minute his mouth squeezed shut and Darry sighed.
"Okay Two-Bit you can unzip your mouth."
Two-Bit smiled now and did as he was told. He ate his food in silence though and this Soda and Pony giggle more.
After dinner Soda and Pony did the dishes and Darry went outside for a minute. Two-Bit flopped on the couch with some Chocolate cake and a beer. Sandy decided to join Darry since her attempts to help Soda and Pony were met with them telling her to sit down. Darry looked up as she came out.
"Rough day?" She asked.
He nodded.
She sighed as she looked up at the sky, he was watching her she could feel it.
"Is there something you want to ask me?" Sandy finally said.
"Yeah, Sandy how did you loose the baby?" he asked.
She couldn't believe he just came right out and asked like that. No hesitation or anything. But then that was Darry if he had something to say he'd say it.
"I just did?" She answered quietly.
"You didn't… you know…"
Sandy shook her head, eyes wide. "No, no way. I-I- well I fell."
"Fell. I see."
"Yeah fell against a table."
Darry was still looking at her while she lowered her eyes.
"So you fell and you never got Soda's letter."
"Hey Soda I think Darry's ran off with your girl." Two-Bit yelled from inside. Sandy sighed with relief when Soda came out.
"Let's go. See you later Darry."
"Okay." Darry muttered and he watched Sandy disappear with Soda. Something wasn't right there. Sandy was a nice girl and she wasn't too good at hiding things. She looked so sad anytime Florida was mention. It wasn't surprising he thought, since she lost the baby there. Darry thought there could be more to it. He walked back inside, Pony was gone back to finish his homework and Two-Bit was still watching television.
"No date Two-Bit?" Darry asked.
"Well I did ask Sandy but it seems she's taken by someone named Sodapop. What a name hey very what would you say….. original. "
Darry hit him across the back of the head and sat down to read the paper. Two-Bit covered everything with a joke.
