Soda and Ponyboy walked into their house a little after midnight. Darry walked out of the kitchen and was making his way up to bed. "Hey guys, you have fun tonight?" he asked his younger brothers.
"Yeah, we went to the drive-in and then hung out with Dallas," Pony answered.
"I dropped him off at Buck's before we came home," Soda added.
"You both off to bed now?" Darry asked, "I know I am."
"Me too," Pony agreed.
Soda thought for a minute, he could try calling Steve one more time. He felt too anxious to go to bed anyway. "I think I'm going to watch TV for awhile before I head up."
"Alright, good night," Darry said walking upstairs.
"Night," Ponyboy said following Darry.
"Goodnight guys," Soda said walking into the kitchen. He got himself a glass of chocolate milk and chugged it down. He sat at the kitchen table for awhile before heading back into the living room. Switching on the TV, he wasn't sure yet about calling Steve again. It was pretty late. If he didn't answer, Soda would have that down feeling once again and it would add on to the down feelings he had earlier. Could Soda really take more of that feeling in one night? Another thought dawned on Soda, could he really wait until morning to see Steve again? He wouldn't be able to sleep with that on his mind. How was that different than any other recent night though? Soda doesn't sleep well anyway. These confusing feelings were making his mind run constantly.
After an hour passed of pondering and blankly staring at the TV, Soda got up and went to bed. He'd be up for work in about six hours, maybe he could catch at least a couple hours of sleep out of that. Turning the TV off, Soda got up and headed upstairs. He went to the bathroom and splashed some water on his face.
"Just relax and go to sleep," Soda looked in the mirror, "This shouldn't be this big of a deal. Stop acting like you're...obsessed or something." Soda didn't understand why he was coming off that way anyway, or why that term popped into his head.
As Soda settled into bed, he suddenly heard, "Are you okay?"
Soda quickly turned and saw Ponyboy was still awake, "Why are you still up?"
"You seemed distracted tonight," Pony whispered, "Just wanted to see if you were okay, whenever you finally came up."
"Yeah, I'm fine, just tired," Soda answered laying back down.
Pony yawned, "Okay, if you're sure."
"Yeah, I'm alright Pony. Go to bed now buddy."
There was silence in the Curtis house the rest of the night. Darry and Pony were sound asleep. Soda tried to sleep as best he could, but he only managed about an hour through the night. Soda groaned, "I don't understand why this is happening. Why am I losing sleep over...over him?"
Relief hit Soda when he heard Darry begin to shuffle around. He didn't want it to be obvious something was bothering him, so he stayed in bed while Darry went downstairs to begin making breakfast. To really not cause any suspicion, he waited until the smell of bacon would hit the room and wake Ponyboy.
As Pony began stretching and sitting up, Soda chuckled at him. "What are you laughing at?" Pony asked through a hard yawn.
"You need a comb," Soda sat up and ruffled his little brother's hair.
"Have you seen yours?" Pony smirked, "Looks like you were tossing and turning all night."
"I meant to do this," Soda ran a hand through his hair, "It's called the natural look."
Pony and Soda got dressed and went downstairs to a table of eggs, bacon, and toast. "Morning Darry," the younger brothers said grabbing plates and silverware.
"Morning," Darry sipped his coffee, "How'd you guys sleep?"
"Good," Pony said.
"Slept fine," Soda lied shuffling his food, ready to get to work as soon as possible.
"So," Darry began, obviously trying to decide how to start a certain conversation, "I heard some things."
Soda looked at Pony who looked just as puzzled. Pony looked towards Darry and asked, "What do you mean?" Both brothers tried thinking of what they did last night. They didn't think they did anything that Darry would bother bringing up. He wasn't really using an angry tone either.
"About the drag race tonight, Soda," Darry said looking at Soda.
"What about it?" Soda asked. He was still puzzled as Darry never had a problem with Soda going to drag races. Hell he was starting to let Pony go watch them every now and then.
"Well this isn't one of Shepard's normal school-is-over blasts."
"Where did you hear this exactly?" Soda asked.
"Two-Bit stopped by to see if you were here. I guess Steve was looking for you and Two-Bit was helping. Anyway, Two-Bit told me Socs were getting pretty involved and there could be some huge competition that could lead to who knows what," Darry explained, "And from what's been going on lately I don't think you should get into anything so rough."
Soda knew what Darry was talking about with the Socs. Lately, they had been harassing the greasers a lot more than usual. It was random, no one was sure why they were doing it, but it seemed nothing was off limits. "So, you want me to stay home?" Soda asked. He wasn't going to argue too much if Darry was that concerned. It wasn't that important to him.
Darry sighed, "You make your own choices, you're basically an adult. I'm just telling you that I have concerns about this, because the way Two-Bit was talking about it made it sound like it's going to be real rough, and you really haven't been yourself lately."
"I haven't?"
"Don't try it Sodapop. I notice everything."
"How have I not been myself?" Soda challenged.
"You just seem...off," Darry said.
"Like something is on your mind a lot," Pony added in.
"Sheesh, sorry," Soda said.
"You don't need to say that," Darry said, "We're just concerned is all."
"Well all I've done with my time lately is go out on dates. It's exhausting."
"I guess that's true," Darry agreed.
Soda thought for a minute about the night ahead, "My decision is that I'm going to watch the races, because I need to get out and go enjoy myself, or at least watch something wild and fun. I'll leave if the Socs start something more. I'm not interested in getting caught up in some fight."
Darry nodded, "Well I do agree you should get out and go have fun. Just be careful alright?"
"I will. Besides Tim said he wasn't going to let the Socs get involved."
"Just in case they do though, be careful," Darry said, "What time do you think you'll be home?"
Soda shrugged, "I can't really say. Steve's my ride and he's racing so I guess it depends on him. Or I can walk home."
"Try and be home by two," Darry said. He was aware if Steve was racing, he was going to lose track of time, and anything else going on around him.
"Deal."
Darry then turned to Pony, "Are you going with him or do you have other plans?"
"I'll only go if Johnny goes. If he doesn't then we'll probably just go do our own thing."
"Well I want to know if you are," Darry said sipping more coffee. Ponyboy nodded in response.
"So," Soda began his own topic, "Did Two-Bit say why Steve was looking for me?" Soda could have kicked himself for not being home to find out where Steve was.
Darry shook his head, "No. I did ask if Steve was having an argument with his dad, but Two-Bit said he didn't seem angry."
"I wonder why he didn't come here?"
"Maybe he figured you were the one who called his house and thought you were out," Pony shrugged.
"Maybe. I think I'll get to work early to see what's up," Soda said bringing his plate to the sink. He wiped off his hands and mouth and headed for the door.
"Wait buddy, I'll be ready soon, I can drive you there early if you want," Darry said standing up from his chair.
"No, it's okay. I want to go on a walk, get some fresh air and wake up some more," Soda said getting his shoes on, "Thanks though." Soda walked out of the house and headed for the DX. He could only wonder why Steve was looking for him. According to Two-Bit, he didn't seem angry or having one of his outbursts. Soda's anxiety grew as he walked faster to work. Maybe Steve had something great to tell him. Soda wasn't sure what would so great to share, but he just had to know why Steve was looking for him last night. Hopefully it wasn't another girl to hook him up with. Soda rolled his eyes at that thought. His heart seemed to pound faster the closer he got to the DX, another odd feeling he had been getting lately, but again he tried thinking nothing of it.
Soda walked straight into the garage and found Steve under the hood of a car. He was actually a little surprised to see Steve already hard at work this early. He must have really had something to tell Soda. If he was working on a car though, it couldn't have been happy news. It was more of a way to blow off steam.
"Hey Steve," Soda said walking to the front of the car. Steve looked up, wearing his work shirt unbuttoned, and Soda found it strangely appealing. Steve's face expression sent off a different emotion though. He didn't look angry, more like upset? Maybe confused? "Is everything okay?"
Steve looked around for a moment then said, "You think we can talk?" Steve put his tool down on the car and began pacing around. Soda could tell something was bothering him.
"Sure, what's up?" Soda asked watching Steve walk and run his hands through his hair.
"Yesterday when I drove home, Evie was there. She was standing by my front door."
Soda widened his eyes. Steve and Evie broke it off shortly after Sandy left, because Steve ignored her to help Soda through his depression. At first Soda felt awful for being the cause of their breakup, but Steve assured him they weren't going to last much longer anyway. Evie did everything in her power to make everyone in town hate Steve for his actions, although it didn't work because most of the people knew Steve better than that and knew what had happened to Soda and Sandy, so most of her talk came off as bullshit. Evie was good friends with Sandy too, and wanted Steve to take Sandy's side and put Soda in the wrong for pushing her into another man's arms. Neither Steve or Evie ever tried to communicate since the breakup.
"Wow," Soda said, "Um, what did she want?" Soda could feel the sense that Evie wanted to get back with Steve, that had to be the obvious reason she was there. The idea made Soda's heart slow. He was very happy for Steve when they were together, but now Soda didn't want him near her. He wasn't even sure why he felt so strongly about it, so negatively strong. It wasn't like he cared that Evie took Sandy's side, he expected that.
"She told me she missed me and couldn't stand us being apart," Steve said, "And she's sorry she let our best friend's relationship get the best of her."
"And what did you say?"
"Well she obviously wants us to get back together, but I told her I had to really think about it, because what she did, or tried to do, really pissed me off and I never would have seen her doing something like that. And it just seemed impossible to have a relationship without having Sandy effecting it. If we stayed together, she'd just keep bringing her up. She'd keep bringing you up. I would never be able to hang out with both of you, because she obviously doesn't like you."
"Yeah, she really became cruel over me and Sandy's breakup," Soda agreed, "So do you want to get back with her?"
Steve shrugged, "Do...you think I should give her another chance? Or would that hurt you after the things she said about you and Sandy?"
"I don't know," Soda said thinking about the situation and what happened just short months ago, "Think about both sides, why should you and why shouldn't you?" Soda knew he didn't want them back together; he wanted Steve more in his life than in Evie's. He couldn't tell Steve that though. Was it jealousy? He shook off that idea fast. Even if he was, he had to be there for Steve and help him out like he has been there for Soda all this time.
"Well we just got so close and the relationship was amazing. We were just so right for each other you know? I mean I didn't believe we were in true love like you and Sandy, but we had something," Steve said, "But you know, if she cared as much as I felt she did, she wouldn't have tried to hurt me so bad when we separated. You didn't try to hurt Sandy when you separated, even though she stabbed you in the back, you didn't. And that's real love, at least on your part. Evie tried to hurt me, and you, so maybe she didn't have the same feelings for me as I did for her."
"Neither of our girls felt the same towards us as we did to them," Soda shrugged.
"I guess not," Steve said softly.
Soda nodded, "I guess all you just said answers your questions huh?"
"I don't know, ultimately I feel the best choice is to not get back together. For all I know she's dated a lot of guys by now, one night stands, real assholes, and I'm the official rebound," Steve said slamming a fist into the wall. Soda slowly walked close to him. He could tell Steve wanted his old relationship back, but he wasn't going to get the old relationship. Even if they got back together, it wouldn't go back to normal. Steve didn't want to take the chance to get hurt again, or hurt worse.
"I...I'm sorry Steve," Soda said standing next to him, "I know I'm the reason you and Evie are apart and..."
"Stop."
"...I wish I could..."
"Soda..."
"...make it better for you, make it right, or even..."
"Soda, quit it!"
"...have taken care of myself instead of making you do all this shit for me..."
"Soda! Enough!" Steve barked making Soda back up a few steps. "I do not regret helping you, get that through your head, that's what best friends do! Evie and I are over, and I don't care! I can give up a girl for our friendship! Now stop blaming yourself!" Soda just stood and looked at the ground. His throat felt tight. He couldn't stand Steve being mad at him right now. He tried to think of something to say to make Steve happy, but couldn't. "Soda," Steve sighed, "I'm sorry, but I really don't regret that I left Evie to help you. She couldn't accept me doing something for someone else, doing something against her best friend, so I ended it. Then she told people bullshit lies to try and get my attention. She was obsessed with me, she didn't love me."
Soda just continued to look at the ground, "I'm sorry I upset you."
Steve walked over and gave Soda a small hug, "Man, don't worry it. I ain't getting back with her, it ain't worth it. I ain't giving her a chance to hurt me again." Soda smiled inside when his face came in contact with Steve's shoulder. He hugged Steve back and held on tight, hoping it wouldn't end.
Until a very unpleasant, or maybe even pleasant, feeling creeped up from Soda. He quickly backed away and cleared his throat, "Um, well I better get in the store. We'll talk at lunch." Soda turned away and got over to the store. When he got behind the counter, he readjusted his jeans. "What the hell," he muttered, shutting his eyes tight, "Just relax man." Soda went to grab some boxes to restock the shelves as a distraction.
At lunch, Steve and Soda picked up some food from a drive-thru and brought it back to the garage to eat. There wasn't much conversation happening as they ate their meals. Steve was still thinking about Evie as it brought up old, bad feelings. Soda just wasn't sure what to talk about. He also was thinking about Evie, hoping she really wasn't about to return in their lives.
"Soda?"
Soda looked up from the stool he was sitting on, "What?" Steve was leaning against the wall, his food sitting on the table next to him.
"I'm sorry I brought up Evie and Sandy and everything," Steve said.
"Oh, don't worry about it."
"No, I can tell it's bothering you a lot. You hurried out of here earlier, and you just aren't talking," Steve said, "I really don't think I was debating on taking Evie back. I just needed to vent. I guess I still get mad thinking about her."
Soda swallowed the lump in his throat. Little did Steve know, Soda wasn't upset about Evie because of their relationship being over. He didn't hurry out of here to stop talking about Sandy. He had to hurry out, because a strange feeling was overcoming him as he stayed near Steve. Soda didn't even understand it, he just knew he had to get away at that moment.
"I'm okay Steve," Soda simply replied, "Is there something I can do to make you feel better?" Soda already knew the answer to that. Steve never had an answer to that question, he always just needed time for it to pass.
Steve shook his head, "I'll be fine."
"You know, I think Evie just knows how to ruin your day. She knows if she comes around or anything, you'll be mad for hours and that just gives her what she wants," Soda suggested.
Steve rolled his eyes, "I think everyone knows that."
"Just don't give her that satisfaction," Soda said standing up from the stool. He gathered his garbage and threw it out.
"Yeah, you're right," Steve said chugging the last of his Coke, "Are you riding home with me?"
Soda nodded, "Yeah, sure. I don't think Darry was planning to pick me up."
"Cool," Steve said, "See you in a few hours then." Soda walked out of the garage having the same feeling arise in him that came to him just that morning, making him rush back to the store again.