Tori woke up quite early, around seven am. She looked around the room. Sunlight was streaming through the window. Tori squinted as she was blinded. She sat up and looked over to the sofa where Dally was sleeping. He was breathing deeply and looked comfortable. Tori thought she better not disturb him. She went upstairs towards the bathroom, in attempt to cover her black eye. You could guess this a guy lived here, Tori thought as she glanced at the various bottles of aftershave and hair grease.
Ten minutes later and Tori emerged from the bathroom. Her bruised eye was still visible but didn't look as bad as it once had. She walked down the crooked staircase and into the living room.
Dally was sat upright smoking a cigarette. He glanced up. Tori was standing at the foot of the stairs.
"Morning Tori. Where you going in such a hurry?" Dally asked taking a drag of his cigarette.
"Hi," Tori smiled, "I was thinking about heading off to school. I was gonna wake you before I left. Thanks for letting me stay."
"It's no bother at all. Anytime. Why are you going to school? It's Friday. Soda won't be there; he'll be at the DX. Why don't you go home, get some stuff- clothes and stuff, go see Soda, and tell him what's happened. Then you and Soda can come to my party tonight. This house will be rocking! What do you say? You can invite your friends too if you like." Dally's eyes blazed with excitement.
Tori stood and thought about it. She wanted to see Soda. If he wasn't going to school today then why should she. Everyone would ask questions about her eye, although most people would think it was due to being jumped by a soc, Tori knew it wasn't.
"Yeah, why not. I'll go home soon then, get some things. What you got planned for the rest of the day?" Tori wondered aloud, she knew tonight was going to be fun, and at the minute that's what she wanted.
"I'm going over Tim's house. Gonna round the gang up for tonight's festivities!"
It was three pm; Soda and Steve were working at the DX. Steve was working on a car while singing along to some song on the radio. Soda on the other hand was absent-mindedly chatting to one of the girls who regularly came into see him. This girl wasn't very attractive but he didn't mind talking to her. She was in Ponyboy's year at school and mostly, she asked Soda for advice. He wasn't much good at it, however he tried.
"Well I better get going." Steve heard the girl say.
"Yeah see ya." Soda said, he turned to walk into the back room. "Hey Steve, you going to Dally's party?"
"Yeah probably. Got nothin' else to do. Anyway, I might get lucky! Ha!" Steve laughed from under the car.
"Yeah you might. There will be loads of broads. It is Dally's party."
"True. Is your girlfriend going?"
"Yeah, probably. I hope so. Why?" Soda asked.
"Just wondering. She's cool." Steve stated.
"Who's cool?" Tori asked, as she peered her head round the door. "Sorry the door was open. I shouted through, but I guess you didn't hear me." Soda spun around to see his girlfriend. His eyes darted to her bruised eye.
"What's happened Tori?" He asked bringing his hand toward her eye. Tori flinched.
"Oh, that. It was just an accident. My step-dad fell and well hit me by an accident." Tori could feel herself becoming flushed, she was embarrassed.
"That don't look like no accident. Your step-dad hit you? Geez, why didn't you come and see me? When did it happen?" Soda's eyes looked scared. He panicked. Why hadn't Tori come to him? Had it really been an accident?
"Last night. I was going to come and see you, but I got caught in the rainstorm and bumped into Dally. I went to Buck's; he let me stay there. I'm sorry Soda. I didn't know what to do." Tori's eyes started to fill up. This would be the second time she had cried in the last two days. She fought back the tears and buried her head into Sodapop's chest.
"Hey, don't worry about it. It's gonna be all better soon." Soda hugged Tori tightly. He didn't know what to say in this situation, so he just hugged her, hoping he would make her feel better.
"I don't really want to talk about it." Tori desperately searched for a topic to change the conversation. "So, are you going to Dally's party tonight?"
"Em, yeah I think so. Well, if you are." Soda smiled.
"What about you Steve?" Tori asked.
"Yeah, I am. Should be good." Steve said emerging from underneath the car, covered in oil.
"Steve's planning on gettin' some action. Know anyone who might be willing?" Soda joked.
Tori laughed, "Well, I'm sure you won't be short of admirers."
"You think?" Steve smirked arrogantly.
"Oh, you've given my man here, a big head, Tori. Ha!" Soda laughed while his arms were firmly wrapped around his girlfriend's slender waist.
Later that day, Soda, and Steve were at the Curtis house, getting ready for Dally's party.
"You comin' Darry?" Soda asked.
"No, little man. I'm going to give it a miss. And if you were smart you'd do the same." Darry suggested, looking up from the television.
"Yeah sure Dar, if you say so." Soda sniggered. "What about you Ponyboy, are you comin'?"
"Yeah, I am. Can I Darry? Please I'll come home early. I'll stick with Soda, please." Pony begged. Darry looked at him disapproving.
"Pony, why are you asking me? It seems to me you have already made up your mind. Soda I want you in at midnight. And if you do decide to sleep there, which you would be wise not to, ring me before ten. Okay?" Darry remarked.
"Yeah, that's fine. I'll be okay, Dar. Stop worrying. I'm not a little kid!" Soda glanced to see Darry's face become stern and slightly angry.
"I know you're not. But Ponyboy is. Although he seems to think he's all grown up!" Darry exclaimed.
"I am grown up. Geez Darry, you treat me like a kid. I'll be fine at Dally's. I'll not do anythin' stupid." Ponyboy looked sad.
"Yeah, I know you won't. You're not going Pony. It's not Dally's house, it's Bucks. And something is bound to happen. I don't even want Sodapop to go, but he's old enough to make his own decision. You're not. So you're not going. End of story."
"Ah Darry. You're just trying to ruin my life!" Pony exclaimed.
"Oh, Pony you just stop being so dramatic. We will watch a film or somethin'. Spend some time with your big brother." Darry smiled.
"Oh grand. While Soda and Steve are at a party getting wasted and chatting to broads, I'll be in here with you. Great night." Pony sighed, if only he was older.
"Ha, Ponyboy. Just wait till your older, I'll take you to one of Dally's famous parties. Ha, well if Darry will let you!" Soda joked.
Steve laughed. "Yeah Pony, when you're older. Ha." The two friends laughed at Ponyboy.
"Come on then Soda, we better get goin'. Don't wanna keep you're lady waiting'!" Steve glanced in the mirror and touched up his hair one last time before they left.
Soda and Steve arrived to the familiar run-down house belonging to Buck Merrill. Music was pouring out of the stereo, and the house was filled with a few of the gang and some other greasers.
Soda opened the front door into the smoke-filled front room. Two-Bit was propped up next to the battered in door with his tongue down Leigh's throat.
Steve nudged Soda, "He doesn't waste any time does he?" Steve shouted over the music.
Soda laughed, his eyes desperately searched for Tori, although she hadn't arrived yet.
"Hey. You guys made it! I thought Darry had stopped you all from comin'!" Dally laughed as he walked over to Soda and Steve. He was rather drunk.
"Hey Dal, he stopped Pony from comin' but not me! Have to be in at midnight though. Unless I stop here." Soda hinted.
"Ohhhhh, is that a hint from Pop and Steve?" Dally slurred. "Stevie- boy do you want to stop at Dallas Winston's kingdom of parties!"
"Ha, Dal, you're wasted. I might stop though. Depends how pissed I get." Steve looked at Soda. The two friends had already decided they were sleeping.
"Dal, is Tori here yet?" Soda asked trying to pretend he wasn't bothered.
"Nope, she isn't here yet. But the night is young!" Dally turned to see a pretty blonde greaser standing to his left. "Well, I'll leave you to it. And you can crash here if you like." Dally turned and walked towards the blonde girl, and put his arm around her.
"Sheesh, if anyone else had done that, they woulda got a slap! But it is Dallas Winston, so he gets away with it. Its not fair." Steve shook his head. Dally had a way with women.
Tori and Kirsten walked in. Tori glanced around the room, trying to adjust to the settings. She was nervous and irritated by her bruised and swollen eye. Kirsten grabbed Tori's arm and pulled her across the room.
"Where are we going?" Tori asked Kirsten.
Before Kirsten answered, Tori was stood in front of Soda and Steve. They were both holding a bottle of beer.
"Hey there," Kirsten smiled at Steve. "You fancy showing me where the drinks are kept?"
Steve's eyes widened. "Yeah sure. Just through here. Come on." Steve smiled at Soda. Soda grinned.
"You want a drink Tori?" Kirsten asked.
"Yeah please."
Kirsten smiled and walked through the crowded room following Steve, leaving Tori and Soda alone.
Soda leaned in and kissed Tori. "You look beautiful." Soda commented, while running his hand through her hair.
"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself." Tori laughed. "What time you going home?"
"Well I gotta be in at midnight but I think I'm gonna stop here. Where you stopping tonight?"
"Was gonna ask if I could stop here again. But if not, Kirsten's. Don't really want her mom to see my eye though. She will probably ask questions. I've known her a long time too so she will know if I'm lying."
"Dal will let you stay here. N' if you're lucky, I'll let you stay in my bed." Soda smirked.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen things were heating up.
Kirsten and Steve walked in to the kitchen.
Steve turned around. His eyes darted from Kirsten's face to her low cut top exposing her cleavage. "The…err…the drinks are kept in here. What do you want?" Steve asked stuttering as Kirsten stepped closer to him.
"Well first of all I want a kiss. Then I want you to get me a beer. I then want you to get me drunk and take advantage of me, and give me the best sex ever! Unless that's gonna be a problem?" Kirsten flirtily advanced to Steve, who was shaking his head.
She leaned in and kissed him. It was hot and passionate. Finally! Steve thought to himself, a bit of action!
The kiss ended.
Kirsten smiled. "Now, hot stuff. You gonna get me a drink?"
Steve was taken a-back by Kirsten being very forward and flirtatious, but he liked it. "Yeah, sure. Beer wasn't it? And what did Tori want?"
"Yeah thanks. Just get her a beer too. Come on then, we should go give her the beer, before I get too excited and push you onto the dining table, and rip your clothes off. "
"Well, she might have gone off with Soda, there's no hurry really." Steve hinted. Maybe Soda and Tori were right maybe I would get laid tonight.
Kirsten grabbed Steve's hand and pulled him into the other room, where Soda was stood with his arms draped around Tori's waist.
"Here's your drink Tor." Kirsten handed Tori a cold bottle of beer. "Soda, can I steal her for a moment? We need to talk Tori."
"Yeah, sure." Soda loosened his grip of Tori, and let her go.
Kirsten took Tori upstairs, and pulled her into an empty room.
"Ah, Tori, I just had to talk to you! It's about Steve and the plans for tonight!" Kirsten squealed. She sounded excited.
"What you wanna tell me? Do you like Steve?" Tori questioned. She looked around the room. It was dark.
"Yeah, he's a doll! If you don't mind, can we sleep here tonight? Just think, it might improve my chances with Steve! How are you and Soda getting on? You looked like you were having a good time." Kirsten was beaming.
"Course I don't mind. Soda and me are good. I think. He's so cute. I'm glad you and Steve are hitting it off!" Tori smiled. Things felt better. And Dally was right, this house was rocking!
"Well really we should get back to those guys." Kirsten stood up and smoothed her hair.
Downstairs, Steve and Soda were onto their third bottle.
"Sodapop, you think you're gonna get laid tonight?" Steve quizzed Soda.
"I don't know, I don't know if I want it to happen tonight." Soda replied with a sigh. "I don't want Tori thinking I'm just after sex, I like her." He looked up at Steve, waiting to see him smirk. But he didn't.
"I see, so you want to. But you're not going to. Right Soda. You know, you don't make no sense." Steve shook his head. He wondered what went through Soda's head.
"What about you Steve? You think you will? You gonna sleep with Kirsten?" Soda asked, although his mind was in another place.
"Well, she said that she wanted me to give her the best sex ever. So, yeah I think." Steve grinned.
Around three am, the kitchen was filled with empty bottles and cans, and most of Dally's guests had left. Dally was out cold on the settee.
Upstairs in Dally's room, Soda and Tori were awake talking and kissing.
Down the hallway, in Buck's room, Steve was cuddled up to Kirsten's naked body, after a passionate make out session.
Steve lay there awake, he smiled to himself, and kissed Kirsten on the head.
Soda was running his hand through Tori's soft hair. "Are you happy?" he spoke suddenly.
Tori looked at him, and thought for a moment. "What do you mean? Happy with you? Because if that's what you mean, then yeah. If you mean like in general, then not completely."
"Well, I meant with me. But you know if you wanna talk I'll listen, not that I'd be much help, but I always listen to Ponyboy." Soda shrugged, he wished there was something he could do to help.
"Thanks Soda, that means a lot." Tori stared into Soda's eyes.
"Are you pissed off because we've only kissed? Hang on that doesn't sound right. I'm not accusing you of being some slut, and I'm perfectly fine with the speed we're going, I wanna take it slow. I'm not just after sex, I like you. I'm just wondering if your happy with the way things are. Just wondering because I want things to be good between us. " Soda stumbled with his words.
Tori giggled, "Yeah I am happy with things. I don't mind that we've only just kissed. I take it you've heard some rumours about me? Most of them are lies. You might have heard that I sleep around. I don't. I've only slept with three people. I don't want to rush things with you. You're not like other guys. You're nice. You're different." Tori blushed. She had heard plenty of rumours about Soda too; apparently he had slept with at least four girls she could name.
"I didn't mean it like that. But yeah I'd heard those rumours, but that's not why I'm with you. I promise. I just thought I'd mention it because I didn't want you to get the wrong idea about what I want from you."
"Hey Soda, don't worry about it. I'm glad we talked about it." Tori cuddled into Soda. He was warm and comfortable.
Soda abruptly broke the silence. "Tori, I want to tell you something. A secret."