"I should probably take you home now. It's nearly midnight and you don't want you dad getting mad or nothing." Soda said as he rubbed Amanda's shoulder. She sighed softly and relaxed against his chest. He didn't wanna end their date. He really didn't but he knew her dad always wanted her home by eleven. It was a hard command for both of them to follow since they never wanted the night to end but if Amanda wanted to be allowed out at all she'd have to get in on time.
She nodded slightly and got up, taking Soda's hand and they walked back to his car. He drove her home, letting her off several houses down from her own to make sure her father didn't spot them together. "I don't even want to think about the fit he'd have if he caught me with you." She said. Soda knew she didn't mean it about him but about boys in general. "I guess it's just because I'm all he's got left." She had said and Soda could understand that. He figured that's why Darry was always keeping a close eye on Ponyboy and him.
She kissed him deeply before exiting the car and then headed down the sidewalk for home. He sighed happily and made a u-turn. He thought about heading home but he had about forty five minutes left before he was due in for the night so he figured he might as well use his extra time.
Soda drove into town and went for a walk. He wasn't going anywhere particular, just walking around for the heck of it. He was walking along minding his own business when someone came up from behind and grabbed the collar of his shirt, forcing him against a nearby wall. When Soda saw who the attacker was he wasn't at all surprised.
"Didn't I tell you to stay away from my little sister, grease?" Travis growled.
"You didn't think I was gonna listen did you?" Soda said, fighting to get away from his grip. He was bigger than him in size and older. Soda guessed he was maybe around twenty five but he couldn't be sure. "Are you following me or something?"
"Just happened to see you passing by." Travis grinned. "Caught site of you and Amanda earlier this evening as well. You're a really stupid kid."
"Not as stupid as you." Soda said. "You don't honestly think I'm gonna stay away from your sister just because you want me too. That'd be pretty dumb, don't you think? She's got her own life and as far as I can tell she doesn't want you butting into her business. Why don't you give it up already, huh? Or are you just gonna follow me around all the time?"
"If I have to." Travis said, holding Soda against the wall as hard as he could. Soda wasn't making an attempt to fight back yet though.
"I don't wanna fight you." Soda said. "I just want you to stay out of the way."
Travis frowned and slugged Soda across the face. Soda wiped the blood off his lip and tackled him to the ground and both of them rolled around on the gravel for two minutes straight trying to swing at each other, both trying to keep the other one down, and never giving up. Travis was stronger than him and Soda knew he couldn't win even if he did fight good. So after several minutes of knocking each other around he made a run for it even though he wanted to stay and fight. He knew it wouldn't do any good though. The thing that really made him leave however was when he caught site of a blade in Travis's back pocket. He remembered Darry's words. "Don't you ever try and fight someone with a weapon. Less you've got one yourself you won't win that fight."
Soda knew Travis might pull it out and then he'd be trapped. So he ran back down the street as fast as he could, looking back only once or twice. To his surprise Travis didn't follow though. However he didn't slow his run even when he learned he was alone again. He reached the truck and got in quickly, speeding of down the road. He stopped about a block or so away from his house and studied himself in the mirror. His nose was bleeding and his cheekbone was so swollen he couldn't hardly see out of his left eye. "Darry's gonna have a fit." Soda mumbled to himself. He wished they kept tissues in the truck so maybe he could clean up a bit but they didn't so the best he could do was wipe the blood off on his shirt and walk in the way he was.
He opened up the front door and stepped in. Darry was in the kitchen, doing dishes to Soda's great relief so he headed to bed. "Goodnight Dar!" he yelled, so Darry knew he was home safe. He stepped into the hallway quickly before Darry could see him.
"Oh good, you're home." Darry said. "Goodnight, little buddy." Soda headed into the bathroom quickly and washed off then got into bed, dreading the next morning. He knew the swelling in his eye wasn't gonna go down for several days and it would be there tomorrow morning big, swollen, and sore and Darry would want to know how it happened and Soda was sure he'd have plenty to say once he found out. So he fell asleep trying to think up brilliant excuses. Everything he came up with was dumb. Like Pony always said, he's horrible at lying.