On the way out of the hospital, I was very nervous. I had decided to tell him how I was feeling. I knew he felt the same way; soda and I have always had a connection. You know how it is when someone likes you. You know they do, but there is still doubt. Anyway, I was not sure if he would put past our differences. I was really beginning to care about him a lot. We had spent so much time with one another lately. As we approached the car, my hands started to shake.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" I asked.

"Nothing but going to see Pony. He actually may be getting released tomorrow. I am so happy; that, I have you to hangout with, or I might loose my mind. Steve has been working so many hours at the DX to cover my shifts, and Two bit has been so depressed lately. Maybe, tomorrow I will stop by and see Steve. Did you want to hangout?"

"Sure. I can stop by the hospital after school." I said.

"Well, I will see you tomorrow then." Soda turned to leave.

"Soda wait," I said. "I have been wanting to say something to you."

He turned around. "What is it Abby?" He looked scared. I think he knew what I was going to say.

Suddenly, I felt like I could not get the words together. "Well...we have been hanging around a lot lately, and I know that you have been stressed out." I stumbled. I could not think of anything else to say.

He just stood there for a minute. "Listen Abby, I think I know what you are going to say. I think that we need to be smart about this. I don't want to loose our friendship."

"We could never loose our friendship Soda. I can't help how I have been feeling lately. I have tried not to think about it, but I can not help it."

"Let me ask you a question," He said, "How many lawyers do you know that have husbands that work at a gas station."

I was shocked. He thought about getting married. How did he know I wanted to be a lawyer? Didn't he aspire to do more than work at a gas station? When I did not answer he went on.

"Abby, I have always had feelings for you even when we were ten years old. Hell, I think I might even be in love with you. I will never forget how sad I was when you moved away. I would see you at school talking to guys and want to kill them even when I was with Sandy, but our lives have went in separate directions. You are going to leave for college soon. I can not hold you here."

"I planned on staying here for a while and taking classes," I said.

"Why would you do that?" he said. "Pony said you got accepted to Harvard."

"I know you think my life is so great, because I have money, but you don't know how lonely I am. I lost my parents, the only family I have is my aunt, and I have always worked so hard in school, I don't have many friends. I live all by myself, and I am only seventeen. Why would I go somewhere were I have less friends and no family at all. Besides, I can be a lawyer here. If I change my mind, it is not like Harvard is going anywhere."

"But, you have a chance to get out of here! Don't waste it. You are better than this place." He replied.

"What makes me better? Don't forget, I grew up with you." I felt my face get hot, and I knew I was about to cry. He did not feel the same way about me that I did about him.

"Abby, please don't cry."

"You could never make me cry Sodapop Curtis."I was starting to get angry. "You are just a no good hood. I don't know what I was thinking."

Now, he looked like he was gonna cry, and I was starting to bawl. Why did I say that to him? I was so mad at myself. Soda was the nicest guy I ever met, and now I hurt him.

"I have to go. Maybe, we should take a break from one another." I turned around and slammed my car door.

"Abby, please don't go yet!" Soda screamed. But it was too late. I was gone.

To be continued...