Hey guys and girls! Once again, many thanks you's to everyone who reviewed: Degrassichick, EmmaHermione1fan (I'm guessing by your nickname that you love Harry Potter a lot and I just wanted to let you know I'm a huge fan of the series, too! And you're right, Soda's the coolest! I got this huge crash on him when I first read the book, I was about 12 I guess…anyways, October 8th is Sodapop's real birthday, S.E. Hinton said so!), Tonyboy (I hope you enjoy reading this story even if you already know the ending and everything!), Cosmicweirdness (Hope you like this chapter)!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders.

5- Soda's birthday

"I love everything about him…" I said dreamily, gazing at the sky. In response, Sophie rolled her eyes, but I barely noticed.

"You can't understand…" I sighed. "He's so perfect…"

"Well, since we're going to pick up your car, I'll see him in less than ten minutes, and if he isn't a very hot guy I…" she paused. "I'll make you do my english homework for the rest of the school year."

"I'd do that willingly…I'd do anything for him…" I said, my mind focused only on Sodapop's face. "But I won't need to do that…you'll see…he's gorgeous…he's a doll…"

I could bet Sophie couldn't stand me anymore when we finally reached the DX. Luckily, she was a very patient girl and could resist the temptation to punch me.

We were approached by Soda's friend…what was his name again? Seth…Sam…Stuart…? Whatever… we told him about my car. He said Soda wasn't there, but the car was ready: he showed me where it was parked and I thanked him and paid, a bit disappointed Sodapop wasn't there. Well, much disappointed actually…

"How boring!" Sophie exclaimed, while the guy…Stan?…was checking her car. "I was hoping I'd finally see this Sodapop!"

"Sophie! Don't talk like that, everyone can hear you!" I protested.

"So what?" she shrugged.

I glared at her. She was dense at times. "Don't you understand…"

"Hey, Sybil!" a cheerful voice made me turn. Soda was there. "Hi, Soda…"

"Seen your car, over there?"

"Yeah…your friend showed me. Thank you."

"It's my job!"

Sophie coughed. I sighed. "Soda, she's my best friend, Sophie…"

Sophie shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too! How funny…" he paused. "Have you noticed? All names of us four here begin with S!" he grinned. "Sybil, Sophie, Soda and Steve!"

"How strange…" I said, smiling. It was impossible not to smile when Sodapop Curtis was showing off his perfect teeth.

"We could join some club." He added, still smiling. Then, a group of girls came our direction, each one of them eyeing Sodapop like he was some movie star. He said goodbye to me and Sophie and was soon approached by that crowd. Man, was he successful with girls.

Sophie had to admit Soda was handsome…but she said her boyfriend was better. Since her boyfriend still looked like a baby…well, maybe not a baby, but you get the point…I didn't reply. I knew Sodapop was better. In fact, I knew Sodapop was the best.

I had a bright idea while I was driving home: it was October 6th and Sodapop had told me his birthday was 8th…since he had been so kind to me, I thought I could buy him a little present (not to mention I'd be able to see him again soon!), but the problem was…what was the ideal gift? I didn't know him that well and I didn't have much money to spend. I could ask my father, but he'd want to know why I needed the money and I couldn't tell him it was a birthday present for some boy I barely knew, and I didn't feel like lying to him. Also…Sodapop was a Greaser, he was different from the kind of people I used to go out with, and maybe he didn't like stuff my friends appreciated the most…

Then, I got it. How could I be so slow? I had the perfect gift pictured in my mind! I smiled and stopped the car. I needed to do a U-turn to go the right direction, to the perfect store where I'd find the perfect gift.

On October 8th I was so nervous I thought I'd throw up before I reached the DX station. I had picked a beautiful gift, I was sure of that, but I was suddenly panicking inside. What if he didn't like it? What if he thought I was nuts for getting him a present? What if I couldn't find him and had to go back the following day…?

Well, you cannot know until you go there, you idiot! You've already bought that gift and you have to give it to him now! What's so difficult about that? I thought.Maybe if I pretended it didn't matter much… I would feel better. But it wasn't easy…

Finally, I got to the DX station. It was lunch time and there weren't customers. I looked around and saw Soda, sitting alone reading the newspaper. It looked like he was trying really hard to focus on the page, but failing to understand. I smiled. He was cute even when he was that serious.

I slowly reached him. "Hi, Soda…"

"Hey!" he got up. "Great to see you! I'm all alone here cause it's lunch break and everyone else went home…I was left behind because I need to check some car…I was reading this just to feel less bored, but it doesn't work. I hate newspapers." He grinned. And I felt like I was melting. "Do you need something?" he asked, staring at me intently with his chocolate brown eyes.

I was feeling bad for him. His birthday, and he was all alone there! How depressing. "First of all… happy birthday, Soda! You told me when you drove me home, remember?" I added, since he looked confused.

"Oh…yeah, right! Thank you! I didn't think you'd remember…"

"Well, you've been really nice to me, every time we met, so…" I handed him the present. "So I bought you this."

"You shouldn't have!" he exclaimed. "I mean…I didn't do anything extraordinary!"

"I felt like to." I insisted. He unwrapped the package…and his grin became huge. "It's Elvis' first single! I love this song…thanks!"

"You're welcome."

"You know you didn't have to…" he repeated, looking at me.

"I know."

"You think you could stay a bit?"

"Yeah…I don't have anything to do, today." I nodded and sat beside him. We started chatting and we soon found out we had so many things in common, especially love for horses. Every now and then, Soda would glance at the record I had given him. Then, all of a sudden, he got up and started running: "Wait right there!"

I stayed there, confused. When he came back, he had two glasses in his hands. "I hope you like chocolate milk, because…well, here it is." He handed me one. Obviously, it was cool milk…and I loved it. It was refreshing and I was really thirsty.

"I know it isn't much…" he motioned to the glass. "But…I have another thing for you…"

"What?" I turned to him, curious. He had a serious look on his face. I wondered what was going on, but I didn't have the time to ask. Sodapop came closer and pressed his lips against mine. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the kiss: it was sweet and it tasted like chocolate, and Soda's hand was gently stroking my cheek. I felt in Heaven.

"SODAPOP KISSED YOU!"

"Shut up, Sophie! Everyone's looking at us now!"

"But…but…how? When? Are you two going out now?"

"Calm down! You remember it was his birthday on 8th, right?"

I proceeded to tell Sophie everything about that magical day. I thought she'd be happy for me once I finished talking, but…

"Why are you looking at me like that now?"

"It's just…well, Sybil…Soda's a Greaser…"

"Yeah…I perfectly know…"

"And you're…well, not a Soc or anything, but you're different…you're not the kind of girl who hangs around that kind of boys…"

"What do you mean, that kind of boys? You don't even know them! I met Soda's brothers and they're extremely nice guys, even nicer than some guys in this school!" I thought about Seth Tucker, who had almost attacked Ponyboy in the parking lot. "Why should you judge Soda and guys like him if you don't know what they're like?"

"I don't need to know them! Just looking at them, listening to them talking…I don't mean they're bad guys, Sybil, but…you may find yourself in big trouble if you go out with him."

"I thought you'd be happy for me." I whispered, before leaving her house. I was tired of listening to her speaking nonsense. Why did she have to talk like that? She had met Soda once, how could she judge him like that? I knew better…maybe I didn't know Sodapop Curtis well, but I could tell he was a sweet, caring guy. It was not his fault if he didn't have money, if he had to work fulltime…I wasn't sure about other Greasers, but Ponyboy and Darrel were good people, just like their brother…

I had to work that afternoon; I reached the store in the East side quite unwillingly, because I couldn't wait to see Sodapop again and working was definitely delaying our encounter. But waiting is such a sweet sorrow…I think I understand what Juliet meant, I thought, referring to Romeo and Juliet.

The hours went by so slowly…I checked my watch twice to see if it was broken, because it just didn't seem possible to me that it was still that early. Finally, as I stepped out of the store, I sighed. It was dark already and as I quickly headed toward my car, I saw him, Soda, nearby, and reached him, with a big smile on my face.

"Hey!" I greeted him. "How are you doing?" What a stupid question. I had seen him the previous day.

"Hi, Sybil…" he was wearing some worn-out jeans, a white shirt, some jacket and less hair grease than he used to. He looked gorgeous, but, when he reached me, he seemed embarrassed. "I was looking for you…"

"Really?" It was great, hearing those words from him.

"Yeah…you see, I wanted to apologize for yesterday…"

"For what?" I didn't understand. He had been a true gentleman with me, when we had kissed: he hadn't been rough, or careless, and he had made me feel like I was the most important girl in the whole world.

"Because I kissed you…It never should have happened…I mean, you're-you can't-"

"I like you, Soda…" I quickly said, and then blushed: I had never told a guy I liked him. "A lot, not just because you've got a cute face…you're caring, you're nice, you're funny, and…"

"No, Sybil, you only think I am…listen…I'm really sorry for that kiss, please forget about it and…and find someone else, I'm sure you won't have any problem, because you're a pretty girl, you're sweet and smart, and…and you can't really like me." He looked around. "I have to go. Goodbye."

He turned and went away before I could stop him. I was too shocked to try, anyway: the previous day Sodapop Curtis had kissed me and I had felt the happiest girl alive and now he was pretending that kiss hadn't meant anything and we should just forget it happened. But I couldn't. I was in love with him.

A single tear fell from my left eye and I got into my car. I locked the doors and started crying.