Chapter Seventeen

It seemed like Sodapop was in the mood for jokes that night, because when we got home and found Ponyboy reading some of his books, he just blinked at me and then grabbed Pony's arms, I grabbed his legs and we threw him on the couch over and over again, while he asked us to stop and if we were doing that silly thing just for the old times sake.

The phone rang and I answered it, but I barely could hear what the person on the other side was saying cause of their laughter.

"Hush you two. Hello?" I said, again.

"Hello? Who's this?" it was a feminine voice.

"Susan Mary."

"Oh" the voice said. "I must have dialed the wrong number..."

"That depends. Where did you call?"

"Curtis' place. But I think there's no Susan there."

"You dialed the right number, in fact. I'm just... I ..." I kinda stuttered. How to explain what I was doing there?

"Are you by any chance Darrel's girlfriend?"

"Huh, huh, I'm..."

"So you might be Pony's, right?" that woman just wouldn't let me finish.

"Wrong guess. In fact I am..."

"I hope you won't tell me you're Soda's girlfriend!" she said, and I got curious to know why it would be that impossible.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because *I* am! Hi, my name is Sandy, and it's nice talking to ya!" she said slyly.

"Gooooood point" I felt like diggin a hole in the ground and disappearing through it. It was better just to hand the phone to Soda and so I did, without a word. So, they were still together. Man, how could he?

She hasn't remembered my name. And before telling Pony I was going to take a shower, I still could hear a bit of their conversation; Soda asking her if she remembered me, that I was his parents' god-daughter and needed a place to stay for nine months until I turned 18. Man, I felt like some homeless. Also, he told her 'not to worry'. Not t worry about what, for Christ's sake??? What was she thinking anyway, that I was going to take a piece of him or something???

I took my bath and, after that, realized that only Darry and Pony were home. I didn't bother asking about Soda. Fifteen minutes after the guys went to bed and I stretched myself in the couch to watch some TV (Darry had already bought him an extra bed, it was just like him, not leaving anything to tomorrow).

I was almost asleep when somebody opened the door – it was Soda, all covered with lipstick and with red-purple marks in his neck which looked like... hickies? Oh Jesus. Sandra Kane was grabbing him by his neck and she seemed sluttier than ever. I had to admit, though, that she was beautiful, with her natural blonde hair. Her eyes were nice too, they had a china-blue color. Ok, that was a start.

When they opened the door, I instantly started to pretend I was sleeping, so I couldn't stare much. I could see enough, though, to realize she was prettier than me. But why in the world she had to wear that awful clothes and all that make up? I didn't remember her to be so slutty, maybe she was spending much time with Sylvia.

"We'd better stay at the porch" I heard Soda saying. "I don't want to bother Susan, she has to wake up early in the morning to go looking for a job."

"She sure has changed" Sandra said. "Well Sodapop, I have to say I don't really feel comfortable with you having this girl living here with ya."

Annoying girl.

"Let's just go outside" he said. I kept my eyes shut. Lucky me, cause five minutes after he came back, alone. It was too cold outside for the sweethearts to make out at the porch. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Jealous? Me? No way.