Soda: I Always Thought…
Disclaimer: I don't own anything here except the plot and Pony's friends not mentioned in the book.
*Thanks to Blatty (again and thanks for mentioning me in YOUR story =p), Maverick Girl, twobitsgreaserbabi, Carly and all the people who reviewed my 1st chapter too. You guys rock!*
Okay, so far nobody has thrown tomatoes at me…yet. Hopefully, they never will…hehe…I'm thinking about starting another story, working parallel with this one. It'll involve Steve a lot and Soda too. What do y'all think?
*~From when Steve left the house and Ponyboy fled to the bathroom~*
It was bad. I knew from the moment that they stood up and looked at each other, I knew they were gonna start raising all hell. Before I knew what was going on, Ponyboy and Steve were all over each other, punchin' and sluggin' and kickin'. It was unbelievable. They were always decent to each other; no one would have guessed that this was happening within each of them. Finally, Steve and Ponyboy stopped fighting, Steve on top of the knocked over coffee table and Ponyboy thrown against the TV. Steve wasted no time. He stormed out. Two-Bit sighed and looked over at us, "I'm goin' after him." Then he ran out after Steve. My younger brother, however stayed on the ground for awhile. There was total silence in the house. I could tell that Darry was debating whether he should yell at Ponyboy or be sympathetic towards him. And by the way Darry was turning red; I knew that Ponyboy was in a little trouble. But before any of us could act upon it, Pony ran into the bathroom and slammed the door. Darry sighed, "I don't know weather to laugh or yell."
I was startled, "Laugh? How can you laugh in a situation like this, Darry?"
Darry shrugged, "Well, Soda, let's just say that you're probably the last to find out that Steve and Pony don't exactly like each other too much…"
"WHAT?!"
"It's the truth. They would hurt each other real bad if they were given the chance. It's you, Soda."
"Me what?"
"It's you that's keeping them from jumping down each other's throats every time he aggravates the other."
"Why me though?"
"Because, Soda," I could tell Darry was tired of explaining, "Because they don't wanna hurt you. Each of them knows how much you love and care about the other. Although it makes them mad as heck sometimes, they don't do anything because they love you too, ya dig?"
I nodded slowly, "Yeah…I dig." Thoughts raced through my mind at a million miles per hour. They were going to be living together for five days straight, without rest from each other…without me. I only hoped that they weren't stupid enough to get into something while trying to survive in the wilderness.
Pony finally came out of the bathroom, announcing tired and that he was going to bed. I saw dried up blood from his bloody nose before and his once red eye was turning purple. He'd have a helluva shiner the next morning. Neither Darry nor I objected to his sleep. It would be good for him anyway, after the kind of day he's had.
"I worry about the kid sometimes…" Darry sighed.
"Yeah, me too," I agreed, "Dar, what are we going to do? Steve and Pony are going to be surviving together in the wilderness…away from me for five days in a row. What if they kill each other?"
"I'm sure they're not stupid enough to do that, Sodapop. Don't worry. You worry too much." Darry told me, even though I knew he was worried too. Finally, I just decided to go to bed and talk to both Pony and Steve the next morning.
"Hmm…No…No…Not now…mommy…daddy…." I heard a gasp and a mumble of those words, feeling the tossing and turning next to me and beneath my arm. Ponyboy was having "The Nightmare". I turned over to face him and tried to shake him awake. He was sweating really bad, probably in cold sweat, and he was shaking something awful.
"Pony, Pony…Come on, wake up. It's okay, it's Soda. I'm here, honey," I told him. His arm gripped mine and he dug his nails into my arm. Completely normal 'Ponyboy Nightmare Procedure'.
His eyes popped open and his breathing was a little labored, "S-Soda?" he whispered because if he said it loud, Darry would have come bounding in here. I think Pony's nightmare – the one he never remembers – scares Darry more than it scares Ponyboy himself. I mean, it scares the hell outta me too.
"Yeah, I'm here…Are you alright?"
"N...n...no…" He shivered. I pulled him in closer. I guess we weren't as quiet as we thought we were because Darry was there in a minute, "What's going on?"
"Nightmare." I told him.
"You okay, Pony?"
"Yeah, I'm okay now. Thanks Dar."
"Okay, go back to sleep. Night."
"Night," we whispered together. As soon as Darry left, I looked at my younger brother, "Okay, what's wrong?"
"What do you mean?"
"You just told Darry that you were fine. Meanwhile, you were telling me that you weren't okay a few seconds before."
"I…I'm fine, Soda. Honest."
I nodded and turned over. I heard him sigh quietly, "Soda?"
I smiled to myself, knowing that he would do that, "Hmm?"
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For…waking you up." He said hesitantly. Knowing Ponyboy, he had just made that up and didn't let me know the truth. I nodded, "It's alright."
Another pause. Then, "Soda?"
"Mhmm?"
"I'm also sorry for…for fightin' with Steve this afternoon."
"It's…It's alright, Pony," I sighed turning now to face him.
"No, no it's not. I mean I know he's your best buddy and everything. It's just…I couldn't help it. He was getting' me so mad…I'm sorry."
I looked at my baby brother and bit my lip, "Pony?"
"Yeah?"
"You'll be careful when you're out there in the mountains won't you? You won't do anything stupid and hurt yourself will you?"
"Of course I won't. We've been in the wilderness many times…you know I'm careful!"
Of course I knew Pony was careful…But I didn't know if he was careful enough with Steve around…I just really hoped their friends on the trip were looking out for them…