As Soda, Steve, Ponyboy, Cora Lee, Johnny, Ash, and Two-Bit entered The Dingo, Soda scanned the place in hopes of seeing that pretty girl again. No luck.
Oh well, he thought. It was worth a shot.
They noticed it was much more packed than usual. "How are we supposed to find a table?" Steve complained.
"A miracle, I suppose," Ponyboy muttered.
"Wait, look there's an empty table," Two-Bit said, pointing towards a booth full of kids about 12 or 13.
"That ain't empty, Two-Bit. There's five kids sittin' there," Johnny relied.
"It'll be empty pretty soon," Two-Bit chuckled. He walked over to them, leaned over, and whispered something to them that made them all get up immediately, and run off panicking.
"Whoa, what'd you say?" Cora Lee asked.
"Hah, trust me little girl, you don't even wanna know," Two-Bit answered, somewhat proudly.
They walked over, and sat down in the booth. It was a pretty tight squeeze, but they managed to get in.
As the gang started talking, and throwing things, Soda was anxiously looking around the diner.
"Welcome to the Dingo, may I take your order please?" said a girl's voice almost non-attentively. It was that girl. The one Soda had been looking for. He opened his mouth but no words came out.
"Uhh, seven of today's Burger Deluxe combo. It's on me guys," Steve answered the girl, covering for Soda who's mouth was still open. Ponyboy leaned over the table and closed it for him before the girl could notice.
Cora Lee and Ash began to giggle. The waitress looked up from her notepad, and her eyes widened. "Oh, it's you guys," it was obvious she was trying to hide the happiness in her voice. She looked over at Soda, who happened to be staring at her, but quickly returned her gaze to her sisters. "Is that all?" she asked.
"Yeah, that's it," Two-Bit answered.
"Okay, it'll be ready in fifteen minutes," she replied. She walked away towards the counter. As soon as she was gone, and out of sight, the gang threw a whole bunch of questions at Soda.
"You really do like her, huh?" Two-Bit teased.
"Why are you acting so shy, you're never like this!" Steve added.
"Want me to go ask her if she likes you?" Pony asked excitedly.
"Yeah, I could just slip it to her in conversation at home," Ash said.
"No, no, no! You guys, I have to do it myself! I don't want her to think I can't talk!" Soda finally answered.
"Yeah, go now. She's probably by herself, and she doesn't have a boyfriend," Cora Lee added with a wink.
Soda's ears turned red, but he quickly covered them with his hands, and got up before anyone noticed. "Fine, I can do this. I'm going to the kitchen this very second, and none of you try and talk me out of it." The sound of his voice let everyone know he wanted to be talked out of it. But no one wanted to stop him. He hesitated and began walking toward the kitchen.
His heart was beating so fast he was sure the whole diner would be able to hear it. His palms were beginning to sweat, but he was not going to turn back. Why was this such a big deal? He'd asked out dozens of girls before. Too late, it was now or never.
Soda grabbed the door handle and slowly turned it, there were only two girls in there. The one he was here for, and another waitress. Soda walked towards her, and the other waitress looked between her and Soda, winked at the girl and left. He was here alone with her. She had heard footsteps and turned around abruptly. "Oh, hi," she said in almost a whisper. She was starting to blush too, Soda noticed.
"The food's not ready yet, It'll be a couple of minutes, I don't think you're allowed in here," she added hesitantly.
"Don't worry, I'll leave soon. What's your name anyway?" Soda asked awkwardly. "I didn't quite catch it."
"Oh, uhh, Roma. It's Italian. But my sisters call me Tomato. You know, Roma Tomatoes," she answered, smiling. "What's your's?"
"Soda, Sodapop," he replied quickly. "Hey, uh, listen. Are you busy tomorrow night?" he asked, not looking her in the eye.
"No, why?" she answered.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go the movies with me," the words rambled out of his mouth so fast, he barely knew what he was saying.
"What was that?" she looked confused.
He took a deep breath, collected himself, them started again. "I was wondering if you wanted to go the movies with me tomorrow night. If you don't have any other plans," he said.
"I would love to," she answered.
"Hey you! You don't work here! Get your little boyfriend out of here, missy, and get back to work!" A fat woman with a baseball hat that said 'manager' on it in peeling letters boomed.
"Uh, don't worry I was just leaving. I'll see you tomorrow night." Soda quickly started walking towards the door leading back into to the diner. He headed to the table with a grin as wide as the ocean on his face.
