Hello everyone! Hope you had a great Halloween! Thanks to EmmaHermione1fan (you're lucky your birthday is so close to Soda's! Gotta love Libras, lol. I hope you like this charter!), Degrassichick (I know…Rob Lowe's one of the hottest guys alive! Even if he has blue eyes and brown hair unlike Soda, I think he matched the character perfectly! And yeah…Tom Cruise doesn't even look like himself in the movie!), Jamea (you're really dedicated, checking all the time to see if I've updated…thank you very much for your compliments, I really appreciate them! I'm actually updating now instead of tomorrow because when I read your last review I felt very flattered) and Tonyboy (thanks, as usual)!
Disclaimer: S.E. Hinton owns the Outsiders, I don't.
6 – Seth and Soda
I didn't feel like telling Sophie about Soda dumping me, if dumping was the appropriate verb. I didn't feel like facing the situation, therefore I spent the following week doing the same usual things: studying, working at the store close to the DX, meeting my friends, and, most of all, thinking about Soda. I had no idea why he had told me I couldn't seriously like him, because I actually had a huge crush on him! My feelings for him weren't some kind of childish tantrum: I wanted to meet him and talk to him again so badly…but I didn't feel like going to the DX, because maybe he didn't want to see me, and I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable.
As I was leaving the store, after work, lost in my thoughts, I bumped into someone. "Hey, Sybil!"
"Hi, Seth…" I barely acknowledged Seth Tucker's presence.
"Were you leaving?"
"Yes, I was…I am leaving, actually…"
"I've got some big surprise for you!" he smiled. His short, dark brown hair and his green eyes had always made every single girl in high school melt, but that wasn't my case. I didn't like him one bit. Sodapop was much more attractive than Seth.
"What kind of surprise?" I muttered, not really paying attention.
"Well, in case you don't remember, it's Sophie's birthday today, and Julian and I have organized this party…" he trailed off. "I'm taking you there."
"What if I have my own car parked here? Besides, my present for Sophie is at home."
"We can use your car and stop by your house, if you want, but we have to be quick, because the party's going to start in about half an hour."
I didn't feel like attending that party, but it was my best friend's birthday and I couldn't refuse. Half an hour later, Seth and I had reached the place where they were throwing Sophie's eighteen birthday party. I had just stepped in when I noticed there was a fairly large amount of beer bottles around, along with other alcoholic drinks. I ignored the fact and hoped the boys wouldn't get drunk, like it usually happened.
"Wanna dance?" Seth asked me, once the music had started.
"I don't feel like dancing, Seth…"
"Come on, Sybil!" he took my hand and pulled me closer to him. I didn't care much for his company, but I didn't even want to refuse. I didn't like Seth though, not after the night I had seen him and his buddies around Ponyboy.
"You know, you're really cute, Sybil. Do you want to go somewhere with me, next Saturday night?"
I resisted the temptation of stepping onto his foot. "Seth, you already asked me some time ago…"
"I know, but it was, like you said, some time ago. Have you changed your mind?"
"I don't feel like dating anyone."
His face looked emotionless as I said those words, then he said something that sent shivers down my spine: "How do you know Ponyboy Curtis?"
"What?" The real question, to me, was… how did he know Ponyboy Curtis?
"You heard me. Let's go outside, so we can talk about it."
"I don't wanna talk about it." I backed away. "I have to go home." I quickly added "I'll see you around", even if I had no intention of doing so. Before Seth could stop me, I was outside, inhaling fresh air and chilling because of the cool breeze. It was a relief, though: everyone inside was drinking, even Sophie's boyfriend, Julian, and I didn't like people who did that.
All of a sudden I didn't feel like heading back home and decided I'd drive around for a bit, aimlessly. Of course, I drove till the East side of town. It wasn't like I was going to go over to Soda's house or something, but I felt closer to him if I drove nearby. I felt better. I wanted to talk to him, I wanted to stare into his lively brown eyes, I wanted to kiss him…again…
It was incredibly dark because of the scarce illumination and I almost hit some pedestrian. Luckily I was able to stop the car in time and I mentally scolded myself for not paying more attention. After all, I had had my driving license for almost six months.
"I'm sorry, I-" I didn't finish my sentence. The pedestrian I had almost hit was Ponyboy. "Ponyboy!" I exclaimed. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah…it's my fault, I was in the middle of the street…" he murmured, looking away.
"Are you sure everything's okay?" I insisted. He just didn't look alright to me.
"It's been a long day." He simply said.
"Get in, I'll drive you home. Or wherever you were going." Maybe I could catch a glimpse of Soda if I was lucky.
But I had no such luck. Once in front of the Curtis' house, I noticed lights were turned off. I thought that maybe both Sodapop and Darrel were still working. They had no easy life.
"Thanks." Ponyboy got off the car.
"You're welcome." I sighed. Maybe Ponyboy noticed, maybe he understood why I had sighed and how I was feeling, because he turned to look at me: "Soda likes you…it's just he's too stubborn to do something about it…but…I think you can work things out." He gently smiled and I immediately felt better. "You're a nice kid, Ponyboy…"
"Just call me Pony, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks, Pony." We both grinned, before I said goodbye and drove off.
"Dad, I'm home!" I announced slamming the door. "Dad? Where are you?" I hollered.
I entered the kitchen to drink something and saw my father sitting there, looking worried. I didn't see him like that often, because my father was a happy and optimistic man, even if life had hurt him a lot. People said we looked alike and I guess that was true: his grey hair had been blonde once, just like mine, and we shared the same blue eyes, along with other similar facial features. My personality, however, was similar to my mother. "Dad? What's the matter?"
"When I got home, a couple of hours ago, I found this letter." He handed me some envelope. I read it carefully and gasped. "Lewis…Lewis's coming home!"
"Looks like he is." He nodded. "Pretty soon."
"Shoot, it's great! Dad, it's amazing! He's coming home and maybe he'll be able to find a good job and stay… he doesn't say what he's been doing all this time in his letter…" I quickly read it again.
"I hope so." My father smiled weakly. "Well…did you have fun at Sophie's birthday party? You got home soon…"
It was like he didn't want to talk about my brother. I knew my father had suffered a lot when Lewis had run away (I had too!), but I was really happy he was coming back home. I had missed him a lot, despite his rude attitude and often reckless behavior. However, I was sure things would get better, once Lewis came home and he and dad talked to each other. "The party wasn't the best I've ever been to…I felt like leaving, also because I'm tired…" Also because of Seth's insistence. That guy didn't understand girls at all!
"I see…do you wanna eat something?"
"No, thanks! I'm having a shower and then I'm going straight to bed…" I exclaimed happily. "Good night!"
"Good night, Sybil…"
When I laid in bed, I was feeling way better. Ponyboy had told me Sodapop liked me and my older brother was going to be back in town soon! I couldn't ask for more, I thought, as sleep overcame me.
---------------------------------------------------------------The sun blinded me and I was forced to open my eyes. I glanced at the clock on my bedside table: it was only eight in the morning and it was Saturday. I didn't feel like getting up, but I was already fully awake, so I slowly removed my weight from the bed and got to the bathroom to take a shower.
Maybe I should go find Soda, I thought as the water poured on me. Maybe it's the right time to talk now…
All my good intentions were shattered not much later, as I was having breakfast. Dad entered the kitchen, yawning, and said it was surprising that I was already up. He smiled bitterly and told me he had to go check some business in his office. Since he was a lawyer, he was always pretty busy and I was used on seeing him rarely even in the week-ends. I never complained, because, even if I didn't really like his job and lawyers and laws in general, I thought he was amazing. And so his clients. Whenever I met them, they always told me my father was a very honest and smart man. That made me really proud. Lewis, on the other hand, never understood how one could wish to be a lawyer and obey all rules.
"Can I ask you something, Sybil?" my dad interrupted my thoughts.
"Sure." I happily replied. I couldn't wait to leave and go find Soda.
"Well, Judith should come by and leave some papers, they're about a very important court case and I don't want her to leave them in my office…"
"Why doesn't she just come and drop them by you, if you're going at the office?"
"Well, today's her day off, but she offered to gather the documents and bring them to me anyway. She should come by soon…"
I sighed. So I would have to wait to see Soda. "Alright."
"Thanks. I don't know if I'll be back for lunch…"
"Don't worry, I'll fix myself something. See you later."
Dad left and I patiently waited for Judith, his assistant, to arrive. In a couple of hours, I was bored out of my mind, because I didn't feel like doing anything but go see Soda, and I actually discovered I had wasted a day, because Judith only came by at four in the afternoon. I was so mad, but I couldn't tell her off, like I would with a friend of mine. After I had put away the papers, I immediately drove to the DX station.
There were at least a half dozen girls gathered around some guy. As I got closer, I realized that was Sodapop. I should have known. He was too handsome not to be noticed by girls, especially Socs, who probably thought he was a doll or something.
Some other guy reached me and asked if I needed gas. I told him I only needed to talk to Sodapop, but he was clearly busy at the moment. He shrugged and said: "Girls like him a lot. This station is often crowded because of his good looking face."
Who could blame them? I parked my car nearby, got off and waited. Waited for all those girls to leave.
They probably had no life. An hour later, I was still sitting on the same bench close to the DX, waiting.
"Sophie told me I could find you here."
I looked up. "Seth!"
"Surprised to see me?" he grinned. "You hurt me when you left last night."
"I don't think so…you could have plenty of girls, Seth…"
"Who gives a damn about those? I want you."
"Well…I actually…" I looked toward the DX.
"You know, I'm not stupid. Ponyboy Curtis is too young for you…but I know he lives with his older brothers…you like one of them, right?"
"Why asking if you already know the answer? And besides…how do you know Pony?"
"Some friends of mine know him. Sybil, they're Greasers! You can't seriously like one of them!"
"Why?" I got up to face him. "Why can't I like one of those guys? They're human too, you know."
"They're different! They dress differently, act differently, think diff-"
"You don't know them! You talk about them like they're aliens!" I shouted. I could tell my cheeks were reddening. I was getting mad.
"You don't even realize what you're saying…"
"Don't treat me like a fool, Seth, I know those guys better than you and I can't help it if I'm in love with Ponyboy's older brother!" I yelled. Then, I realized what I had just said. There was no need to scream like that! What if people had heard me? Lots of kids probably knew Ponyboy there…
"Are you sure you want to waste your time with a Greaser?"
"He's not just some Greaser! He's the best guy I've ever met, he's sweet, thoughtful, funny and nice, and I wouldn't change my mind even if you offered me a date with James Dean!" I insisted. "I don't care if he lives in the East side, I don't care if he hasn't got enough money from your point of view, I like him a lot and you'd better leave Ponyboy alone!"
"Fine…go and ruin your life with some lousy grease! Sayonara!"
Seth walked away, leaving me standing there like an idiot. I had the feeling Sophie had told Seth everything about Sodapop and me. I wanted to talk to her, so I reached the nearest pay-phone nearby and tried to call her four times before giving up, since no one was answering. She had to be out somewhere with Julian…I decided I'd go back find Soda and tell him clearly how I felt. But when I got around the DX, I felt disillusioned. Seth had hurt me with his words…I wasn't in the right mood to do anything as important as wearing my heart up on my sleeve in front of the guy I was in love with.
I was going to leave, but some drunk guy stopped me: "Hey, you're a pretty little thing!"
"Why, you are not." I replied, before trying to walk away.
"I hate girls who answer like that." He grabbed me. He was definitely strong, too strong for me.
"Let me go!" I cried.
"You can't give me orders." He pushed me roughly against a wall. I was getting really scared and I started yelling: I thought he'd rape me and kill me and I would never see my father, my brother, Sophie again…I would never see Soda again…I would never have the chance to tell him he wasn't a Greaser to me, but the best guy in the whole world…
"Let her go, you fucking jerk!"
Before I knew it, that guy was punched by someone and got off me, and someone else was gently helping me up. It was Ponyboy and the one who had kicked the guy, who was now running away, was Sodapop. He slowly turned to face me: "I'm so sorry…" His eyes looked sad and there was no trace of his usual grin. I was going to say something, but he hugged me before I could utter anything. "I'm so sorry, Sybil, it's all my fault! Are you okay? Did he hurt you? If he did, I swear I'm gonna kill him! God, I feel so stupid!"
He held me tight and I finally felt safe. I started crying, even if I didn't mean to. That only made Sodapop worry more. He started asking me questions, but Ponyboy told him to stop, I just needed to vent. Being attacked wasn't a nice thing, and he knew. I was listening and didn't understand what he meant…I'd only find out much later. But Soda closed his mouth and just waited for me to calm down.
"Thanks…if it wasn't for you, Soda, Pony…I don't know what…" my voice trailed off.
"What were you doing alone? You shouldn't go around here when it's dark!" Soda exclaimed.
"I wanted to see you…" I looked into his eyes. They were showing all his concern.
Soda turned to his brother. Ponyboy nodded and left.
"I didn't want to cause you any trouble, Soda…" I whispered.
"I'm the one who has to apologize…" he said. "I heard…I heard you talking to that Seth guy, earlier."
"Really?" I blushed wildly. Why had I made that stupid James Dean comparison?
"Yes…" Sodapop stroked my cheeks with his thumbs. "I was afraid…I was afraid of falling in love with you, because…I've already been hurt too much."
"I would never hurt you…" I replied softly.
"It's also…well, I thought I had no right of going out with someone like you. You aren't a Soc but you aren't a Greaser, either…you deserve someone better than me, because I-"
"I don't want anyone other than you." I interrupted him. "Before I met you, Soda, I had never fallen in love…I had never even thought about going out with someone and now that I've met you…do you think I would be that crazy and let you go?" I grinned.
He grinned, too. "I don't know who's the craziest here." Still grinning, he pressed his lips against mine. I kissed him back.