This chapter is actually quite short but I couldn't post the next part here, because…well, cliff-hangers exist for a reason. Lol. Anyway, even if this is not the best, happiest of chapters, 15th will be, so don't get too sad! I'm going to update on Thursday or Friday, I promise!

14 - Fighting

A month slowly went by: Seth and I used to study together twice a week, after school, for a couple of hours. We used to stay in an empty classroom at school, because I didn't want him to come over at my house, and, even if I hated that situation, I had to admit my grades had improved. Seth wasn't that stupid when it came down to math. And sometimes he could even be funny.

"Okay…last question for today…what am I supposed to do in this case?" I showed him some kind of equation. He proceeded to explain the way I should solve it. "So…are we done?"

"Yeah." I started gathering my things.

"How…are you doing better now?"

I took my time to answer. "Actually…yes, I'm doing a lot better and our dear teacher is finally happy."

"That's great to know." Seth smiled, a big smile, a real one. Nothing like the one he used to show when he was with his buddies. He became serious once again and asked: "Do you even realize how beautiful you are?"

"What?" I looked up from my textbook.

"You're the most attractive, nice and caring girl I've ever met…even if you don't like me… I can't help but stare at you all the time, when you're with your friends, with your classmates…"

I was startled. "Seth…you know I'm not going to go out with you, even if-"

"I'm not telling you to flatter you. I'm telling you because…I'm not sure if you understand how amazing you are. Well, you probably do, I bet your boyfriend tells you that all the time."

"I…" I didn't know what to say. "You…I mean…" I shook my head. "Nevermind…see you." I headed toward the exit, but I quickly turned: "Thanks." I said softly, so softly I didn't know if he had heard me. But he obviously had, because he smiled.

I felt confused. Seth had talked like he wasn't himself, like he was a different person. Then I understood that was another part of him…the hidden one, the one he couldn't show whenever he was with his friends, or at school, that had spoken.

I needed some gas for the car, so I drove till the DX. I wanted to see Soda. When I got there, my boyfriend was surrounded by girls who looked like Socs. I stopped the car and waited there, sighing.

"Hi." Steve reached me. "I can't call Soda, those girls wouldn't let him come…what d'you need?"

"Some gas…please."

I got off the car and sat on some bench nearby, as Steve pumped some gas. He always looked at me like I shouldn't date Soda and like I didn't deserve to be there. I was feeling sad and I didn't know why. Besides, I was cold. It was December and Christmas was just some days away.

I paid and watched Steve walk away. I had to move the car and leave, Soda didn't have any time for me. I felt like crying. I turned the engine on, but I didn't push the pedal like I should have, because the car gave a start and then stopped.

"Hey, Sybil…" Ponyboy was standing next to the car, peering inside. "You okay?"

"Hi, Pony…" I let my hair fall around my eyes because I didn't want him to see I was close to tears.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded.

"Soda…would want to reach you, but those girls…"

"I know." I looked at Ponyboy: he seemed a bit sad, too. So I had an idea. "You're fifteen, right, Pony?"

"Yeah…" he slowly nodded.

"Do you know how to drive?"

"Well…Two-Bit's tried to teach me once, but…it didn't work, because he was so drunk he fell asleep after a couple of minutes and I couldn't drive on my own. Why?"

"I'll teach you." I got off the car and let Pony take my place.

"I'm not sure if we should…"

"Don't worry, we can always stop."

I explained to Ponyboy what he should do and he started driving. He wasn't that bad. When I had started, I had been much worse than that. He suddenly stopped, though, when we reached some deserted place and got off the car. I followed him.

"Why did you get off-?"

"Look." Ponyboy jerked his head toward the setting sun. I watched. "It's beautiful…I never stop to watch sunsets anymore." I said.

"Yeah…I haven't done that in awhile, either…" Ponyboy looked dazed.

We stood there for some time, watching the day melt into twilight, till it got real cold and I drove Ponyboy home.

"Are you coming in?" he asked. "Soda should be home."

I didn't have the time to answer, because a very mad-looking Sodapop stormed out of the house. "Pony, go inside! I need to talk to Sybil!"

Ponyboy glanced at me and went inside. I got off the car to face Soda. "Hi…what happened?"

"Were you going to tell me sooner or later?" he asked, almost yelling.

"Tell you what?"

"You know what!"

I still looked confused, so my boyfriend had no choice but explain: "Tell me you have been meeting with that Seth guy for a month, the two of you alone!"

I felt sick. How did he find out? "How do you know?"

"Why? Do you like him and want to keep on going out with him?"

"I don't like him, Soda!" I replied. "I just…I needed help because I was failing in math and my teacher said I should work with Seth Tucker to improve, and I had no choice! All we did when we met at school was-"

"You should have asked someone else!" Soda shouted. "You should have asked your best friend, your father, whoever! You should've asked…"

"You?" I almost whispered.

"No, I'm dumb, I couldn't have helped you, but…but there's plenty of people who could have done that!"

"You're not dumb!"

"I am dumb! I am…or I'd've understood sooner that you didn't…that you don't care for me enough…to tell me about Seth." Sodapop looked hurt. Really hurt. "If you cared…why didn't you tell me?" he whispered.

I tried to find something to say. "Because…you'd get mad I was studying with him…"

"I wouldn't, if you told me from the beginning. Goodbye." He turned and started walking.

"Soda, wait! I didn't mean to hurt you! I just thought…"

"…I wasn't sensitive enough to understand you needed help for your math class. Right?"

"No!" I yelled. "And you can't blame me if I see Seth sometimes when all we do is studying! You're surrounded by girls everyday, girls who don't give a damn if you have a girlfriend or not! I should be worrying, not you!"

"What? Those girls would never go out with me! They only like to look at me, full stop! The Socs would never date a Greaser and the other ones, they only flirt, like they do with any other guy! And you should know better than that about 'em!"

"Well, it's you the one who doesn't trust me!"

"You don't trust me, either! Why don't you go find Seth?" Soda walked toward his house. I didn't stop him. I got into my car and slammed the door. I put the seatbelt on and tried to turn the engine on. I couldn't. I started crying for the second time that day.