The Outsiders Meet Katrina

Part 1

Traveling

SODAPOP

I love my hotel room. I really do. It's very nice and comfortable, and it doesn't hurt that I'm also sharing it with the hottest woman on the planet earth.

"It's nice, you know. Very homey and the bed's are real comfy too." Alyssa said.

I grinned. "The better to kiss you on my dear." I said.

I went over to her, and pushed her back on to the bed, then climbed down next to her.

"I love you." I said, staring into her eyes. She smiled, then leaned up and kissed me.

"I love you too." She said, after we had separated.

I didn't want to get up, but I knew that I had to. I had to unpack, so I went right to work. I took my suitcase over to my bed, and dumped the contents on to it. I looked up to see Alyssa laughing at me.

"Well, I thought it would be a good idea to make myself at home. I don't clean there either." I said.

"No, you don't." Alyssa replied, laughing again.

I went over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist in a big bear hug.

"What do you want to do tonight?" She asked, taking a hold of my hands.

I thought of something quick that sounded romantic.

"I think we should stay in and sit in front of the fire." I said.

"Nice try, but we don't have a fireplace." Alyssa said, leaning her head back.

I buried my face in her shoulder. "Oh well, we can imagine, can't we?"

I leaned in for another kiss, but was interrupted by a loud rap on the door.

I groaned. "What?"

"Open the door bozo, we have to talk to you." I heard Steve's voice say.

Alyssa went and opened the door, and Steve came in with Two Bit on his heels.

"Hope you weren't doing any hanky panky in here." Two Bit said, almost doubling over with laughter.

"If we were, why would we tell you?" Alyssa said, closing the door behind them.

"Ok, anyway. We have a grand plan for tonight." Steve said proudly.

"Ok, what is it?" I asked, somewhat interested, but more annoyed that they had disturbed us.

"We're watching a movie tonight, in here. Darry and Pony declined after they found out what movie it was." Two Bit said, dropping down on my bed.

"Wait a minute, how did our room suddenly get nominated? And what movie is it?" I asked, somewhat disgusted.

"Well, we picked your room just because we can. We're watching The Exorcist." Steve said, with Two Bit adding sound effects in the background.

"The Exorcist? You're crazy." Alyssa said. "You won't sleep for weeks."

"I'm in." I said, jumping up. "I love scary movies."

Alyssa shot me a look, and I just shrugged. Then, we all turned to look at her.

She sighed, and said. "Oh, all right. I'll watch it. But, if I get scarred for life, I'm holding you solely responsible."

Two Bit and Steve sat down eagerly on my bed with two bags of chips they had bought downstairs. I went over and sat with Alyssa on the other, leaning back on the backboard, and pulling her down with me. I wasn't expecting to get much lip action during the movie, but it never hurt to be prepared.

As soon as the movie started, I stuck my arm around her, and whispered into her ear.

"Are you sure you're going to be able to watch this?" I asked.

"No, but I'll do it anyway." She said softly, snuggling in closer to me.

The movie was scary. Even I'll admit that. I don't get scared easily, but this movie was enough to creep me out a bit. If I got scared, I had no idea how Alyssa had managed to sit through it. She had hidden her head in my shoulder a couple of times, but she never screamed.

After the movie was over, Two Bit and Steve left, high on potato chips, promising not to make too much noise next door because they weren't going to sleep, and I decided to settle down for the night.

"Finally, we're alone." I said, looking over at Alyssa. You do realize that being a 17 year old teenage boy, this is what I've been waiting for all night.

Alyssa was definitely quieter than usual, so she just smiled and nodded to me.

"Hey, you all right?" I asked, starting to rub her shoulders.

"That was the scariest movie I have ever seen in my life." She said, sitting up in the bed.

"I told you, that you didn't have to watch it. You could've done something else. You could've gone over to see Darry and Pony."

Alyssa just shrugged. I turned to look out the window.

"Hey, it's raining pretty hard." I said.

Suddenly, there was a huge flash of light, followed by a loud clap of thunder. Alyssa almost jumped into my arms.

"Hey, it's only thunder and lightning."

"After watching The Exorcist, I think it's safe to say that 'only thunder and lightning' doesn't apply. I wouldn't be surprised if I become scared of my own shadow from now on." She said.

"Well, are you going to be able to sleep tonight?" I asked, genuinely concerned. I hate it when my girlfriend gets upset.

"Yea, I suppose." She said.

She stood up and went into the bathroom to change. By the time she got out, I was already in bed.

She went over to her bed and pulled back the covers. She had just gotten settled in when there was another huge lightning flash and another loud clap of thunder.

"Well, this should be an interesting night." I said. "I'll get the light." I reached out and flicked the switch, and the room went pitch black.

"Goodnight." I called out to the darkness.

Alyssa didn't answer, but she couldn't possibly be already asleep.

"Alyssa?" I called again. Still no answer.

I crawled out of bed, and made my way blindly to hers in the darkness. The lightning lit up the room enough that I could see her body moving up and down with every breath.

I sat down on the edge of her bed, and rubbed what I could see of her hair.

"You awake?" I asked.

She nodded, and then she looked up at me. Her face was stained with tears, and her shoulders were heaving.

"Soda, I'm so scared. I knew I shouldn't have watched the movie, but now I can't help it, and I can't think of anything else. The lightning and thunder isn't helping either." She said between sobs.

"Oh baby, I'm so sorry. I should have told them to watch it somewhere else." I said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

She managed a smile, and I crawled under her covers with her, and wrapped my arm around her waist tightly. Just before I closed my eyes, I kissed her, and then, I fell asleep with the lightning flashing around us.

Aww. That was such a cheesy chapter. I promise more serious stuff soon. It just has to build up first.

Please R&R!

Jess