Thanks to all who reviewed; your comments and suggestions are the things that keep me going!
Sodipop5: …AND I HATE CLIFFHANGERS!…
Well…if ya'll hate cliffhangers, you might as well stop reading here! (No! Don't stop reading…just kidding)
GageLuisSodabemine: …I love Soda stories, they're great…
Me too! If fact, if anyone else doesn't suggest a story, all of mine will be written about Soda! :)
MistressHolbytla: …the plot seems vaguely familiar to a story I wrote…
Yes, I remember reading that one. But, don't worry; I'm trying as hard as I can not to copy anyone's ideas. It'll turn out different than you think! (I've had someone copy one of the ideas on my story once [on my other Penname sixstars], and it didn't feel that great)
shyXshortieXbabe: …you portray [Soda] very well…
Thank you! Since this is my first fiction on the Outsiders, I figured that the character's would be a little off. Even though I'm sure they need work, I appreciate the comment! :)
Griffins95: …Soda has blonde hair…this story has potential…
Yes, I remember that Soda had blonde hair…I was just kind of remembering it from the movie (even though this story is in the 'story section') :). I'm pretty excited about writing this…hopefully you'll enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in these chapters, except for those things or people you don't recognize.
~
Sodapop lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling. Even with Ponyboy's soft breathing that always put him to sleep, it seemed to be a distraction this night, along with the rustling of the trees and the honk's of cars that occasionally drifted by.
He sighed, none too softly, and turned onto his side. When Soda was little, Darry had taught him how to 'count the ponies' (instead of sheep. He found ponies much more comforting) to put him to sleep. It seemed to always work…
Soda closed his eyes and envisioned a dark park, lit with only the dazzling stars, and a lone fence standing on the center of a small hill.
1 pony…jumped over the fence.
2 ponies…
3 ponies…
4 ponies…
5 ponies…
6—
Sodapop nearly jumped out of his skin when a loud thump hit across his and Pony's window. His eyes flew open, and he immediately sat up in bed, involuntarily pulling the blanket closer to himself.
Yet the window reflected nothing. Through the blinds, he could see only a faint light, caused by a far away street lamp.
Soda sat, his ears paying more attention to any sound that they could catch, for another minute.
Ponyboy turned over in his sleep, mumbling quietly about running out of cigarettes, but he did not wake. Sodapop had a great urge to run to Darry's room, for he felt safe and secure in the presence of his elder brother.
But Soda couldn't leave Ponyboy alone…not if someone was out there.
With his heart beating a mile a minute, he nudged his younger sibling,
"Pony. Wake up,"
"G'way," Ponyboy growled, "S'not time for school…" And he was fast asleep again.
Soda sighed, once again, and flopped back against his pillow. Closing his eyes, he tried to calm himself down…
1 pony…
2 ponies…
3 ponies……
~
Stepping out of the shower, Sodapop quickly dried himself off, then wrapped a towel around his waist. He walked over to the bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection quietly before grabbing his toothpaste and toothbrush.
"Soda! You better get ready for work!" Darry said as his walked by the bathroom and going into his room to grab his over shirt.
With a mouthful of toothpaste, he quickly replied, "'ave oo' 'een my DX 'irt?"
Darry's head peaked around the doorway, confused, "Have I what?"
Sodapop spat out the substance in his mouth then looked up to his elder sibling, "Have you seen my DX shirt?"
"It's probably where you took it off last, buddy. I haven't touched it," Soda nodded and walked off into his room, thinking to himself wear he last put his piece of clothing.
"Oh!" He shouted out loud, "The bathroom…" He jogged hastily over to the bathroom, completely oblivious to the broom that was leaning against the wall, tripped, and fell flat on his face.
Hearing the loud 'boom', Ponyboy yelled from the kitchen, "What'd you do this time, Soda?"
Sodapop shook his head, stood up and brushed himself off, "Nothin'. I'm okay,"
"I'm sure ya' are,"
"Don't be smart, Pony!" Darry yelled from his bedroom.
"Sorry, Dar,"
Soda rolled his eyes and walked into the bathroom. Seeing his DX shirt lying in the corner, he picked it up and quickly shoved his arms into the top. He turned around, but stopped short, seeing a picture of himself on the counter. Walking over to it, he mumbled,
"I don't 'member leaving this here," Soda picked it up gently, and stared at the newly formed black colored scratch that drew across the picture of his body, "An' I don't 'member doin' that, either,"
Shrugging it off, he tossed it back on the counter as Darry called from the kitchen, "I'm leavin' now, buddy, so if you wanna ride, come on!"
Sodapop ran into the kitchen, but he couldn't get as eager to get to work as he normally did.
Because today, he had an unexplained, funny feeling in the pit of his stomach that something bad was going to happen.