As the clock struck eight am, in the Curtis household, the sound of Darry's voice boomed upstairs. "Ponyboy! Sodapop! Get up! You will be late for school and before you say anything, you're going! Both of you. Get up."
Soda slowly opened his eyes, a glare of sunlight streamed through the window, blinding him. His first instinct was to pull his blue quilt over his head and go back to sleep, but he realised that wasn't going to happen. Another boom of Darry's thundering voice, made him sit upright in his bed, he glanced at the clock. Eight o' five. Ponyboy sat up and plodded out of their room into the bathroom. Damn! I bet Pony takes ages. Suddenly amid his thoughts Soda thought of the night before. It seemed ages ago. He started thinking of what it was going to be like at school with Tori. Was it just a kiss? Well he'd find out sooner or later, he guessed. Soda made his way down stairs, and into the kitchen. Darry and Johnny were already sitting, fully clothed, tucking into what looked like a big stack of pancakes, but you never could be too sure with Darry's cooking.
"Heard you got a girlfriend!" Darry exclaimed through a mouthful of pancakes. Johnny looked and smiled.
"She's not my girlfriend. It was just a kiss. Anyway, where's my breakfast?" Soda glanced around the kitchen expecting to see another stack of pancakes. However the kitchen benches were empty.
"Haven't made you any. Didn't think you would be going to school today. But obviously this girls the driving force! Ha! What's her name again? Terri? Toni?"
"Its Tori. And she's not the reason I'm going to school. Okay. I just thought I'd go today." The white bathroom door creaked open. Soda turned and ran upstairs. It was quarter past eight. "Pony, if you'd been in there any longer I'd have expected you to have fallen down the toilet! Move outta the way. I need a shower."
"Ha, damn right you do. Sodapop Curtis you stink!" Pony laughed. "And besides you wouldn't want to be all dirty for Tori would you!"
"Shut it Pony. Least I can actually get a girl."
Half an hour later and Johnny, Soda and Pony were on their way to school.
Tori, Leigh and Kirsten were sitting in English, talking before the lesson started.
"So, you guys I have something to tell you." Leigh began. Tori and Kirsten looked intrigued. Leigh briefly glanced around the room, making sure no one was listening. "Well you know last night? When Keith walked me home?"
"Who's Keith?" Kirsten asked confused.
"Oh, Keith's Two-Bit, well that's his real name anyhow. Well when he walked me home, I sorta, invited him in. and…." Leigh trailed off, a smile spread across her face.
"Oh my God! You slept with him? Leigh!" Tori was startled but excited by this news. Leigh had only really known Two-Bit off the night before, and she wasn't really the sort of person to have one nightstands.
"Well yeah I did. Don't worry I was careful. It was good though. I'm meant to be bunking off this afternoon and go to his. But I haven't decided if I am yet." Leigh was grinning. "Anyway before you two say anything, you both pulled, and I'm guessing something happened. It always does with you Tori!"
"I am not a slag! I don't sleep around Leigh. But for your information, I only kissed Soda." Tori glanced at her watch. "I knew he wouldn't be in today. He probably regrets it."
"Shut up Tor, I think he digs you, I've said that for a while. And as for me and Steve, well I had a bit of a feel but that's it, well except kissing." Kirsten stated in a matter of fact way.
The door creaked open. In walked Soda.
"Well Tor, we'll leave you to it." Leigh and Kirsten walked away from Tori and sat in their seats.
Miss Graham, the English teacher, walked in the room. "Sit down class. Today we will be reviewing Shakespeare and Act 2 Sc 1 of 'Macbeth' so if you could all turn to the beginning of the scene please. Oh Mr. Curtis how nice of you to join us."
"Yep it is, isn't it?" Soda remarked.
"Sit down, and be quiet. Now you will work with the person you are sitting with and discuss the language and themes in this scene. I'll be back in five minutes I am going to get some worksheets off Mr Johnston, behave yourselves!" And with that Miss Graham walked out of the room.
Soda walked to the back of the classroom and sat down next to Tori.
"Hey there," Soda remarked smiling.
"Hey, didn't think you were coming in." Tori couldn't help smiling.
"Yeah, I wasn't gonna but Darry made me. Plus I sorta had to." Soda stared at Tori awaiting a response. She looked confused.
"What do you mean you had to?" She asked anxiously.
"Well, so things weren't awkward between us, you know, after last night…" Soda's voice trailed off. He lowered his head and rested it on his right hand. There was an awkward silence. "So what you thinking?" He was curious. Had it really meant nothing?
"Nothing really. Well except I'm confused about what happened." Tori had a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. Any moment she could be rejected, and feel humiliated. After all why would Soda go for her?
"Tori! We kissed. That's what happened. And you told me that you like me." Soda looked at her, he was nervous.
"Yeah I know. We kissed. Nothing more." Tori decided to steer the conversation away from last night. It was getting awkward- and that was a situation she didn't want to be in.
"Nothing more? But I thought you said you liked me?" Soda's voice was becoming slightly high pitched and anxious.
"Yeah and I do. But how can it be anything more if it's only a one way thing?" Tori looked angry, why is he trying to humiliate me! Tori thought frantically searching for a reason.
"But…" Soda trailed off. He didn't like admitting things like this. He didn't want to get laughed at. "I do like you. I thought you would of realised that last night." Soda looked up at Tori, his cheeks were slightly flushed. He smiled gently.
Tori smiled. Oh my God! He likes me! He's so cute! Thoughts were rushing through her head.
"So you wanna do something tonight?" Soda asked hopefully.
"Yeah we could do. What you got in mind?"
"You could come hang round my house. The boys will be round, so you could bring your friends if you like?" Soda grinned.
"Well I'll check with them and get back to you."
Deep down Tori wished it was just going to be her and Soda, but at least she was going to see him, and more to the point… he liked her.
Two hours later, Tori and her friends were sitting in a vacant lot having some dinner. The four girls were discussing their plans for that night.
"What did he say then?" Leigh questioned Tori. "We know he said something, you two were grinning like Cheshire cats!"
"He just said, that he likes me. And asked what I was doing tonight." Tori grinned. She was excited.
"Wow! See I told you he digs you! Ah bless him. I bet it took some guts to tell you that!" Kirsten jumped in her seat.
"You still bunking off this afternoon?" Tori enquired, eagerly staring at Leigh.
"Nope, I can't, I've got a presentation. I thought it was next week. What a gutter!" Leigh looked sad, as if all of her dreams had been crushed.
"Well you can still see him tonight…" Tori trailed off and waited for a response.
"What? What do you mean?" Leigh asked suspiciously. Leigh, Kirsten and Shelly looked at Tori. What was she talking about?
"Well Soda asked if we fancied going over his tonight. All the guys will be there. Please! Two-Bit, Dally and Steve will be there! Ah come on, it will be the perfect opportunity." Tori pleaded with her friends.
"I'm up for it, if you two are!" Kirsten exclaimed. Her and Tori looked at Shelly and Leigh.
"Yeah okay I'm in. You win Tori, you get to see him after all!" Leigh smiled. "Shell, do you fancy it? Dallas Winston will be there…"
"Nope, I'll give it a miss thanks. And anyway who said I liked Dallas Winston? He's cute n' all but he's a bit too naughty for me." Shelly thought to herself why would I want to be stuck in a room with Dallas Winston- yeah sure he was cute and sweet but he was bad. And bad guys didn't stay sweet for long.
Meanwhile Two-Bit was telling Soda and Steve about his conquest the night before.
"….But I'm telling you it was worth it. See you two just don't have the charm I have or else you woulda been laid too!" Two-Bit exclaimed.
"Yeah, Bit, I'm sure. Maybe she was desperate and well me n Soda were already busy so you were the only legal to have sex left! Ha!" Steve exclaimed. He and Soda were laughing.
"You guys, you coming round mine tonight? You can see if she really was desperate Bit, she's coming round mine, with Tori, and Kirsten too. Might get lucky again Two-Bit! Or your luck could just run out! Ha!" Soda laughed.
"When did this happen like?" Steve questioned.
"Mentioned it to Tori in English. Just thought I'd be able to set you guys up." Soda remarked pretending he had his friend's best interests at heart.
"I see. Yeah why not, I was going to come round anyway." Steve shrugged.
"I'm in. Might get some more action! Ha! Nah, just joking, she's cool. And from the sounds of it you think Tori's more than cool. She has got a nice bum!" Two-Bit exclaimed smiling wickedly.
"Hey! Yeah she has. She's fine." Soda's eyes were hazed.
"Shoot, you really dig her don't you Soda?" Steve asked observing Soda's dazed expression.
"Yeah well, come on you guys we better get back to class."
Soda, Steve, and Two-Bit walked slowly back through the steel heavy gates of their school and back towards their lessons. The sun was beaming down on them. The weather was too nice to be in school, Soda thought, but going to school today, well that had been worthwhile. He smiled to himself; the morning, after all, had been a success.