Faith is Spelled R.I.S.K

Chapter 7

Talkin' Bout Plans

I woke up really early the next morning, and went into the kitchen expecting to find it empty. Instead, I saw Alyssa in there already sitting at the table eating breakfast.

"Where's everybody else?" I asked.

"Darry's already gone I think. Soda's still asleep. I don't normally wake up this early, but I couldn't get back to sleep. Darn birds kept me awake." She said, winking at me.

"Well, how'd you sleep during the night?" I asked, trying not to make eye contact. I figure she knew why I was asking, and I knew that if I looked at her, I'd turn a wicked shade of red.

She didn't answer me for a minute, but when I sat down at the table with my breakfast, she put her fork down and looked over at me.

"Pony, if I tell you something, will you swear to keep it private?" She asked, solemnly.

I swallowed a spoonful of cereal. "Sure, what's up?"

"Something…interesting happened last night. I've never really experienced it with any other guy I've been with before, but this was different." She said.

The cereal went dry in my mouth as my mind raced with all the possibilities of what she could have meant.

"Well…what exactly…happened? It wasn't anything like…that…was it?" I asked, trying to find the write words.

Alyssa thought about my jumbled sentence, before a sly grin spread across her face.

"Don't worry Pony, I know what you're thinking, and no, it's nothing like…that." She replied. "It's something completely romantic, not dirty."

I took a breath outward, and settled back into my chair.

"Ok, then what was it?" I asked, now genuinely interested. I really hadn't wanted to know anything about their…personal life. As much as I'm a curious person, there are just some things you can not pry into.

"Well…it's kind of hard to explain, because I really don't fully understand it myself, but I'll try my best. Last night, when I was lying there in bed with Soda and we were just talking about stuff, everything about the moment just felt right. The atmosphere felt right, the person felt right, the whole thing just felt…almost natural to me. Like we were married or something. Like we belonged together in that moment. I was weird, but it wasn't awkward. I don't know if that makes any sense to you at all, but I really don't know how else to explain it." She said.

"Maybe it was your hearts way of telling you that he's the one you're supposed to be with?" I said, trying to sound really smart.

Alyssa stood up and ruffled my hair. "You're an okay kid, Ponyboy. I'm gonna go shower before Soda gets up." She said, and left the kitchen.

I finished eating my breakfast and took my dishes over to the sink to wash them. I didn't hear Soda come in the kitchen, and I realized he was there when he came up behind me and jumped up using my shoulders as a launching pad.

"Jeeze Soda, you think you could make any more noise?" I asked, breathing heavily.

"I dunno. I could try if you want." Soda replied, flashing me a grin.

"No, that's quiet alright thanks." I said, turning back to the dishes. "Your girlfriend's in the shower in case you were wondering."

"I kind of figured. I woke up and she wasn't there. I was praying she was out here and that I hadn't just imagined the whole thing. But, the side of the bed still smelled like her, so it put my mind at ease." Soda said, rooting through the cupboards for something to munch on.

"So…uh, Alyssa told me about last night." I said, trying to make it sound like some deep, dark secret. I knew that Alyssa had told me not to talk about what she said, but I didn't think that Soda counted.

Soda cocked an eyebrow. "What about last night?" He asked, almost defensively, as if he really was hiding something. I wondered if I should just drop the subject all together, because maybe there was some stuff going on that I didn't know about, or need to know about.

"Well, she just told me what it was like to sleep next to you. It was all good stuff, I swear." I said.

Soda grinned. "Oh…that. She told you about that did she?" He asked.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn't in trouble.

He sat down next to me and looked at me across the table.

"I'll tell you Pony, it was amazing. I have never in my life felt anything like it before. Everything felt perfect, like everything was supposed to be there. It's almost like it was my heart's way of telling me…"

"That she's the one?" I asked, taking a drink of chocolate milk.

Soda nodded. "Exactly. Wow, you're pretty smart for a fifteen-year-old. How do you know so much about this anyway?"

"Just lucky I guess." I replied, shrugging. "So, what did you think of that feeling, Soda?" I asked.

"It was great Pony, really great. I mean, I knew that I was in love with her and everything, but this was like…extreme attraction…more so than usual, which is weird…well…not weird…but…you know what I mean…" He stammered.

"Yeah, I get it." I replied. I didn't know if I really did get it or not, but it sounded good to me.

"Pony, I gotta talk to you about something." Soda said.

Boy, I think I'm turning into everyone's diary or something.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I have a plan for my birthday. I'm gonna do something cool that, hopefully, no one with expect." Soda said.

"Whatever could that be? Are you planning on jumping out of your cake, or hiding all your presents or something?" I asked.

"I'm gonna ask Alyssa to marry me." He said, solemnly.

I was so surprised, I almost spit out my milk.

"What!" I exclaimed.

"Yup, I really think that I should. I mean, we've known each other since grade school, and we dated until junior high. We've both agreed that we're in love with each other, so it would make sense that I would marry her. Why prolong something that's bound to happen eventually anyway?" He said, sounding deadly serious.

"But…but…" I stammered.

"Spit it out, Pony." Soda said, motioning for me to continue.

"But…you're only going to be 18!" I said. "Don't you think you're both a little young to be getting married?"

Soda smiled at me. "Oh, we wouldn't be getting married for awhile. She won't be 18 until August, and then we'll have to save up some money, and do a lot of planning. It probably wouldn't happen till next year or something like that." He said.

I was somewhat relieved, and I tried to show him that, but I really wasn't.

"Did you talk to Darry about it yet?" I asked.

"Not yet. I really didn't think about it that much until last night. Up until then the thought was kind of just floating around in the back of my mind. I'll tell Darry eventually." Soda replied.

"Okay, just make sure it's not the same time you tell her." I said, grinning at him.

I stood up and took Soda's dishes over to the sink for him. I may as well clean up for him, because he never does it himself. I'm not professing to be any kind of neat freak, but compared to Sodapop, I'm like the master of cleaning.

I thought about everything that had just happened in the last week. I thought about the rumble which was only four days away. Soda was going to get married, and what was even more amazing was Two Bit and Steve hadn't showed up at my house yet today! What next! Would Cherry Valence randomly appear on my doorstep and profess her love to me?

As soon as I thought those words, I heard a knock on the door. My heart started pounding. There was no way that it could be her, no way. It just wasn't that possible, because I simply was not that lucky.

I walked over to the door, and half hoped to see a wave of red hair as I opened it. But of course, I knew I wasn't lucky, because instead of Cherry, Steve and Two Bit waltzed in the door. I should've known.

"Hey Pony, is Soda around?" Steve asked, not even waiting for me to invite them in. Of course, they never did that.

"Yeah, he's here." I said, then I called to Soda. " Hey Soda! Those other people that live here are back again. Should I kick them out?"

"Nah! Let em stay! They probably have nothing better to do anyway." Soda said.

"Thanks buddy." Steve replied, sitting down at the kitchen table.

"Hey Soda. We heard you had a young lady visitor last night." Two Bit said.

Soda grinned. "Yup, but don't worry, it was only my girlfriend. I wasn't cheating or anything." He said.

"Well, I didn't figure. I'd be surprised if you let each other out of your site for longer than 10 minutes. You guys are nuts!" Steve said.

"It was only because it was storming. It's not like we're planning on making a habit out of it or anything." Soda replied.

I coughed loudly from the other side of the room, and I saw Soda shoot me a look. I shut up.

"Where is the love of your life anyway?" Two Bit asked.

"She's just in the shower." Soda replied.

"And you're out here…why?" Steve asked, grinning.

"Shut up man, that's not funny" Soda said, even though he was grinning too.

"I heard that too." Alyssa's voice came from the doorway.

"Good morning baby." Soda said, going over to her, and giving her a kiss, just to gross out the rest of us.

"Alright, alright. We get the message man. I'll stop making fun of you, but please, cut the lip locking, please." Steve said, covering his face with his hands.

Soda grinned, and went over to Steve to high five him.

"Don't worry. We won't do it anymore…at least not around you." He said.

Two Bit and Steve left, and Soda went back over to Alyssa.

"That'll teach them!" He said, kissing her for real this time.

I left them alone and went into the living room to sit on the couch.

I started to think about everything again. Mostly the rumble was up front in my mind.

I knew I would end up most likely end up getting clobbered, but I guess that was okay. It was worth it. I thought of all the reasons why we all fought.

Darry fought so he could show off his muscles. He was the Goliath of our group. If I had muscles to show off I figured I may have the same reason.

Soda fought for fun. He always needed to be doing something exciting. Of course, after he married Alyssa, maybe she could slow him done.

Steve fought for glory. He liked the feeling of winning. I like winning, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather be in one piece in the end.

Two Bit fought because everyone else did. He would probably follow us all of a bridge if he thought it was the thing to do.

I still didn't really have a reason why I fought. But I had four days to figure it out. So I'd better start thinking fast.

Please R&R!

Jess