"A secret? What sort of secret?" Tori was intrigued. She sat up and stared at her boyfriend. The moonlight poured into the room and washed Soda's complexion with an icy blanket. His eyes looked scared as if he'd seen a ghost. "What is it Soda, is everything okay? You look scared." Tori's eyes were fixated on him, what if everything wasn't okay? He seemed tense.
"Everything's fine. I'm just scared that, well maybe you won't want to be with me when I tell you this secret. It's a secret not many people know, and it's not something I'm particularly proud of." Soda lowered his head and looked at the shadow-covered ground. He felt a surge of fear pass over him. Was his secret that bad? Would Tori actually care?
"Okay Sodapop, you're scaring me now! Are you gonna tell me or not? You don't have to. If you feel like you need more time or something." Tori, wondered to herself did she really want to know this secret? Shoot, if Soda wasn't proud of it, what could it be? Maybe he had a dark past, like maybe he'd been involved in something sinister.
"Okay, I'll tell you but you better not laugh." Soda broke Tori's trail of thought, she looked at him as he raised his head and made eye contact briefly before looking out of the window. "Right, I'm, I'm a virgin. You happy now?" His face blushed a shade of pink before he looked at Tori, waiting for a reaction of some sort. How could he possibly compete with Tori's track record? She had had sex with three different guys; he hadn't had sex with anyone.
Tori paused before speaking, "Really? Wow," Tori was astonished, "But what about the rumour about you and Jenny Christens? And you and Holly Landler?" Had they really been rumours or was Sodapop trying to pull some sort of scam. She had heard of this sort of thing before, admitting they're virgins when really its just a ploy to get you into bed, but Sodapop seemed so genuine and he was really nice.
"Geez, yeah Tori, really. Don't rub it in. Do you honestly think I'd make something like that up? Not like I haven't had the opportunity, just didn't feel right that's all. Guess that's me chucked huh?" Soda turned away from Tori, he felt sad and scared at the same time. He hadn't told a girl this before; in fact the only people who knew were Steve and Ponyboy. But he supposed Tori was different, she made him happy and he felt differently about her.
"No, why would you be chucked? Just because you haven't had sex? So what! Soda, sex is over rated anyway. It's nice that you've kept your virginity. Wish I still had mine, I regret the way I lost mine and who I lost it to. Don't be embarrassed. We won't rush into things. I said that before. You know, that's probably the only time you've made me worry, I thought you had some sort of sinister secret! Ha! Soda you should worry about things like that less." Tori put her arms around Sodapop's neck, and kissed his ear lobe. Soda smiled. If sex was over rated why was it so important to the guys? Steve and Bit sure talked about it enough. Maybe some day soon, Soda would know for himself.
A few days after the party, Steve, Soda, Darry, Ponyboy, Johnny, and
Two-Bit, were sitting in The Dingo, having something to eat, Dally
was meant to be going, but he was running late.
"So, Darry, are you gonna tell us why you bought 'Knitting Weekly'? Or do we just have to make our own assumptions? Because my assumption is you're turning gay!" Soda teased, he took a bite from his burger, and a sip of coke before continuing, "No really, Dar, why'd you buy it?"
"You bought a knitting mag? Are you for real? What you gonna do, make us all jumpers?" Dally exclaimed pulling up a chair, he reached over to Darry's food, and stole a few fries, "Don't mind me, and carry on. So you were saying you bought a magazine suitable for an ol' grandma to read!" Dally sniggered.
"Well, yeah but it was an accident. I didn't mean to buy that one." Darry started to explain but was interrupted.
"Ha! You didn't mean to buy it, it just jumped off the self, into your hand and slid through the checkout and the money flew out of your hand into the cash register! Darry you crack me up!" Two-Bit howled with laughter, Steve and Soda laughed simultaneously.
"Ha De Ha, real funny Bit, what Darry's trying to say is he picked it up instead of 'Women Weekly'!" Dally laughed, everyone laughed with him except Darry and Johnny. Johnny was sat in the corner not particularly paying any real attention to the conversation. Darry on the other hand was slightly angry.
"Okay, okay, we'll stop it just tell us. We wont interrupt!" Steve sniggered intrigued by Darry's peculiar actions.
"Right, well, I was on my lunch at work and I was bored. Usually I go buy a paper, so I did. Well I tried. I went to the local shop. But they'd sold out or so I gathered. Couldn't see any, anyway. Then I noticed this pretty red head sat in the checkout, I'd never seen her there before. She was so pretty, had ringlets in her hair, and it was so shiny. Anyway, I was looking at the magazines, thought if they didn't have the paper, I'd best get a magazine, so I was looking. I musta been there a while because I couldn't take my eyes off this girl. I kept glancing back and forth at her, then the magazines. I guess she must of seen me because she said 'Hey Mister, you gonna buy anything, or are you just doing neck exercises?'" Darry paused and took a drink of his soda; the gang's faces were smothered in smiles. "So, I replied with, something like 'yeah, I am. Gonna buy something I mean'. I turned to face this beautiful broad and randomly selected a magazine, that's the one I picked." Darry finished his story.
"Ha, so ol' Superman has a crush on some cashier chick?" Dally laughed.
"So, did she not say anything when you bought a knitting mag?" Soda asked, with a huge cheeky grin plastered on his face.
"Well, she sort of looked at me unusually and said 'you like knitting?' and I was in a bit of a day dream, I looked at the magazine and panicked. I laughed a bit and said 'well sort of, see I was, well I, I'm learning to.' She laughed and pulled a face. Said something about how it was an original hobby! I felt shit. I mean she was HOT! And there was me standing buying a knitting magazine. Jesus I don't knit. She asked my name though, and said something bout how she'd expect to be seeing me next week when the second knit mag was out- if I wanted to be good I had to buy the magazines and practice, she laughed. Reminded me of someone. I don't know who. But I sure as hell will be going back."
"Ha, that's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Wait till we tell everyone." Two-Bit jested.
"Bit, everyone is here. Unless you mean Leigh and them?" Pony asked.
"Oh, well yeah I guess." Two-Bit quickly took a large gulp of his lemonade in hope to escape any questions.
"So, what is actually happening between you and Leigh? Cause' when you were at my party you didn't speak one word you just kissed, got ripped, bucked and left. Was a bit surprised at you too Steve, I heard you and Kirsten… all bloody night!" Dally grinned.
"No you didn't Dal, you were asleep. Flat out in fact." Steve retorted.
"Okay well maybe I didn't hear it but Tim Shepard told me all about it! So Bit, what about you and Leigh, cause you know I was thinking if she was a free agent, I could…!" Dally joked waiting for Two-Bit to snap.
"She's not a free agent. But were not an item. But that doesn't mean you can attempt to steam in." Two-Bit's comical grin was now a rather stern frown.
"Hey, Bit chill. I was kidding! Anyway, you guys fancy hurrying up and finishing your food?" Dally asked. A menaced look was haunting his mysterious face.
Soda looked up from his food, a confused look became apparent. "Why? You wanna give me indigestion? Anyway don't know why you're in such a hurry. Steve and me have got dates after this. Well in a couple of hours."
"Young Sodapop, you aren't very wise to the ways of the world, are you?" Dally grinned.
"What you mean? I'm not wise?" Soda looked rather offended by Dally's offhand comment.
"Well, I mean, you don't see an opportunity when it arises. Darry has just told us about this mystery girl; and you're not in the least bit interested who she is? I was thinking we could go to the store, and check her out! Maybe get her number for you Dar? Ha! You guys up for it?" Dally looked around the booth as he stood up and grinned. "You know that I'm right. We should go down."
Darry's eyes were on fire. As a matter of fact so were his cheeks. "Why would you want to do that? I'm perfectly capable of getting her number myself." Darry felt uncomfortable. Sure this girl was hot, but he didn't want to rush into things. After all he was a bit rusty on the dating side of things. The last time he had been on a date was before his parents had died. He shuddered to think how much things had changed. And that's if she even wanted his number in the first place.
"Ah come on Darry, it'll be fun to see who you've got a crush on. Will give me some inspiration for more jokes! Ha! Just kidding." Two-Bit howled. Steve and Pony laughed alongside too.
"Yeah come on Darry. You never know it could turn out good. She might like you and then well who knows!" Soda smiled at Darry. Soda wasn't too bothered about going but he knew the gang would give Darry a hard time if he wouldn't let them go. And besides it would kill time before him and Steve went to meet Tori and Kirsten.
"Come on Darry, me and Soda want to see who our future sister-in-law could be!" Pony teased. He looked straight at Darry; Pony could tell he was angry. Then his face softened.
"Yeah okay. But I don't want you guys embarrassing me! Okay?" Darry gave in. If it did go well and he did get a date, well, he supposed he would ask Soda and Steve for dating tips. At least he thought he should ask them. They were always on dates, unlike the other guys. Two-Bit screwed around, and Dally; well Dally was Dally and he didn't date, well not properly at least. Darry didn't think Johnny had been on any dates and Pony, well he hoped Ponyboy hadn't.
Fifteen minutes later and Darry was leading the way to the store.
"You guys, I better split. I'm not feeling well. See you's later yeah?" Johnny said clutching his stomach.
"Yeah no bother. See you later Johnny cake." Soda responded first.
"Hey! Told you, you shouldn't have eaten that hotdog! Ha!" Two-Bit laughed, "See you Johnny."
"Bye Johnny." Pony said. He smiled at his friend. Johnny looked worried. "You sure your okay?" Pony asked before Johnny departed.
"Yeah I'm fine prob's just a bit indigestion! Bye." Johnny replied as he turned around. The rest of the gang said bye and continued their journey to the store.
They turned the corner and Darry stopped. He turned to face the gang.
"Right, what's the plan? I mean, I don't think we should all go bombarding in at once. She will get scared. If she's even in today." Darry looked around the streets to see if he could see anyone. He had a knot in his stomach, the type of knot you get when it's your first day at school and you're not sure what to expect.
"The plan can be that… Two-Bit, Steve and Ponyboy all go in first and wander about trying to get the weekly groceries. Then Sodapop you go in and ask this broad if she's seen three guys wandering about- describe them a bit or something. Then you guys buy your groceries. Then you will all have seen her. You come out and on the way out; Darry and me walk in and chat to you for a couple of minutes. Then we walk over to the magazines and you show me the knitting magazine so she remembers you. And presto! You chat her up with my assistance at the checkout. That okay?" Dally plotted. He didn't want to walk in first he firmly believed in making late entrances.
"Yeah suppose that's okay, as long as you don't say anything stupid." Darry sighed. He guessed Dally would attempt to embarrass him.
"Go on then Two-Bit, Steve, Pony, go on get in the shop." Dally prompted. His face looked manipulating as if he was planning something.
Ponyboy, Steve and Two-Bit had been inside the shop for a while, "Go on Soda your go, and remember ask the broad with red ringlets if she's seen your friends."
Soda pushed the glass-panelled door and walked into the cool air-conditioned room. He glanced around and looked towards the checkout, sure enough sitting behind the desk was a red head with ringlets, she had her back to Soda. He walked forward and stood in front of her. She looked up at him, her chestnut eyes beamed and she smiled. She looked happy to see someone, she was probably bored, Soda thought, this shop was pretty empty.
"Can I help you?" said the pretty red head.
"Em… you might be able to. I'm looking for my two friends and my brother. They said they were going to come here." Soda said looking around the store. He wondered if he was looking convincing.
"Is it Steve you're looking for? Because he's over there hiding behind the isle with the milk in. You're Sodapop aren't you? I sometimes bring my car into the DX. You wouldn't have noticed, you're always surrounded by a group of girls. I'm Lucy. " The red haired girl answered.
Soda was stunned. How could she know so much? Was she making too much of an effort to talk to him? Did she know the plan?
He opened his mouth in attempt to speak but just nodded his head until he regained control of his voice. "Yeah, I am Sodapop, and it is Steve I'm looking for. And you're right I didn't know who you were. But just because girls surround me, well you can't judge me on that. I'm not a slag, and I'm not a bad person. I'm good at my job. And anyway how do you know so much?" Words, which had once failed him, began to spill out of his mouth. Just at that moment Steve, Two-Bit and Ponyboy arrived at the checkout.
"Hey Soda," Ponyboy smiled. He looked at Lucy and back at Soda. Soda looked at the basket. His eyes widened with horror. He walked towards Steve and Two-Bit. What were they trying to do?
"Bit, Steve I want a quiet word with you." Soda said as the basket was being emptied and the items being scanned.
"Yeah, what? The broad hasn't hit on you has she? Darry will be crushed!" Steve asked.
"No. I want to know, why the hell you've bought tampons?" Soda said his cheeks flushed.
"Tampons? What are they?" Two-Bit asked dumbstruck.
"The things in the yellow box Bit. The things that women use when they're, you know." Soda emphasized, he didn't want to have to say anymore.
"But aren't they sweets? And what do you mean when women you know?" Two-Bit questioned.
"They are not sweets Two-Bit. They are the things women use when they are having a period!" Soda was highly embarrassed and he couldn't believe his friends knew so little. Two-Bit's face dropped and turned as white as a sheet.
He looked at the counter. Lucy was just about to scan the yellow box.
Steve glared at Two-Bit, "Do something Bit. We are not getting them women things!"
"Noooo!" Two-Bit shouted. "We don't need them. Them tampons were put in by an accident! Seriously don't scan them in. Come on were all guys why would we need them?" Two-Bit's face was bright red.
Lucy looked at the box, which she was about to scan. "Okay, if you're sure you don't want them." She lifted the box onto a shelf of dis-guarded items.
"He thought they were sweets." Sodapop remarked, as so he wouldn't look silly.
Two-Bit glared at him. He was humiliated. "No I didn't you joker! It was Ponyboy, I didn't realise he had put them in the basket."
"I know what they are." Ponyboy claimed maturely. "I just thought you were buying them for your mom or something."
"Well it must have been Steve then because I knew what they were." Two-Bit said flustered by the accusations.
"I know what they are. It's you that Soda had to tell. Geez, don't be embarrassed Two-Bit." Steve coolly said.
"Exactly Two-Bit" Soda stated.
Lucy looked at the four of them and giggled. "They're only tampons really it's not something to be embarrassed about."
Outside, Darry had his face pressed up against the glass-panelled doors.
"Geez, Darry calm down." Dally said while taking a drag of his cigarette.
"I can't. I can just imagine something's gone wrong they've been at the till an awful long time. She's laughing. Oh God what have they said? Come on we're going in." Darry pushed on the door and walked into the store, Dally quickly followed.
Soda, Steve, Two-Bit and Pony were walking towards the doors as Darry and Dally came in.
"Hey Darry." Sodapop said. "Two-Bit just tried to buy tampons; he though they were sweets. How dumb is he?" Soda laughed. He looked at Darry, his face was stiff and he looked gutted.
"Geez, why did I agree to this you's have definitely blown it." Darry shrugged. Why did he agree to this? He supposed it was to get them off his back.
"What are tampons?" Dally asked naively.
"Ha! Oh she knew a hell of a lot about me, Darry. She knows where I work and stuff. Bit creepy really. How do you not know about tampons? Geez!" Soda laughed at Dally.
"She knows about you? Great! I bet she was hitting on you. Get blown out, so she can go out with my brother!" Darry slumped his shoulders as he walked away from his friends.
"Darry I never said that! Stop over reacting." Soda exclaimed slightly angered by Darry's behaviour.
"Just leave him." Dally stated. "Meet you lot outside and you can explain what these tampon things are." Steve and Soda sniggered as Dally walked over to the magazine rack where Darry stood.
Darry aimlessly scanned the magazines. His eyes were focussed as if he was looking for something in particular. Dally came up behind him, and spotted a copy of 'Knitting Weekly'.
"Darry, I've found 'Knitting Weekly'. This the one I need?" Dally said raising his voice.
"What?" Darry asked, forgetting the plan. Remembering he unconvincingly said "Oh, yeah that's it."
Dally grinned at Darry and walked over to the checkout.
Lucy smiled. "Hey Darry, back so soon."
"Yeah." Darry replied. He was hurt. He was convinced she had been chatting his brother up so why was she being so nice to him?
"Darry's teaching me to knit too." Dally said attempting to help the conversation.
"Really? Dallas Winston learning to knit? I'm impressed!" Lucy giggled.
"Actually I'm not Dallas Winston, I'm Buck Merrill." Dally lied with attempt to keep his identity from being associated with knitting.
"Okay, my mistake." Lucy said, acknowledging Dally was lying. "So, Darry, how do you know Sodapop? " She asked intrigued.
"He's my little brother." Darry replied.
"Oh, shoot, I feel silly now!" Lucy blushed.
"Don't. Geez, they don't look alike. How do you know Soda?" Dally enquired.
"I don't. I just know of him. Like I told him, sometimes take my car to the DX, so I recognised him and Steve. But other than that my friend thinks he's a doll." Lucy replied.
"Cool." Dally said. He looked at Darry, who's suspicions of Lucy fancying Sodapop were slowly disintegrating.
Dally paid for the magazine and started to walk out. Darry followed.
"Hey Darry, wait up." Lucy called. Darry stood in his tracks and turned to face this beautiful girl. "My names Lucy by the way. I guess I forgot to tell you. I, I want to give you my number. Just incase, you ever want to do something, like go on a date or teach me to knit or something. But if not, that's cool. Just wanted to give you it." Lucy smiled, her cheeks were a pale shade of pink and her chestnut eyes glistened with excitement.
"Sure," Darry said; all other words failed him. "I'll, em, call you or something."
"Cool. Well I better get back to work." Lucy turned and walked towards her cash desk.
"Yeah, cool." Darry turned and walked out of the store. His friends were standing waiting for him. A smile spread across his face. "Yes! I got her number. And Soda, she doesn't fancy you she must fancy me!"