Chapter Three
Soda POV
I couldn't understand why we hadn't met this friend of Keegan's.
"Hey, honey."
"Hey."
My wife kissed me and grabbed the food from my hands.
"Where's Keegan and James?"
"Don't know where James is, but Keegan's with that girl."
"Her name's Scar."
We both turned to see James coming through the front door.
"Hey, your dad said to call him when you got home. He's coming back home next week."
He smiled.
"Okay, sounds good."
"You look pretty excited about that yourself."
My wife smirked at me. I smiled.
"Yeah. I've missed Pony."
"I don't. Hey, Lydia."
"Steve Randle, have you ever heard of knocking?"
"How long have you known me?"
I pulled James into the living room.
"Why don't you guys want us to meet Scar?"
He frowned at me.
"I don't have a problem with that. Who does?"
"Keegan. He keeps dodging it."
"Well, I'll have you meet her in the morning when she picks us up. Sound good?"
"Sounds good."
"What sounds good?"
We turned to see Keegan.
"I'm gonna bring Scar up to the door in the morning. Uncle Soda wants to meet her."
His face paled.
"Dad, no..."
"You can't keep riding with her if I don't meet her."
"Come on, relax Keegan. I'm sure..."
"She won't meet you..."
James looked confused.
"She shouldn't have a..."
"She won't... She's already said she won't..."
"Why not?"
"I can't tell you."
"Keegan..."
"She won't..."
Scar POV
"No..."
"He's not gonna notice anything! Come on! We can't ride with you anymore if you don't..."
"Just say you're going to the bus stop. I'll pick you up from there..."
"Scarlett..."
I winced.
"No. No deal."
"Whatever. I'm tired of this shit. Don't pick us up. We'll ride with Cam."
He hung up on me.
I decided not to go to school the next day. I really didn't wanna face Keegan, so I took the day shift at work so I'd be off that night. The bell rang.
"Hi, welcome to Bonn..."
I stopped. He walked up to me.
"Are you Scar?"
I swallowed.
"I..."
"Well...?"
"I..."
His tone was soft. He didn't look mad or anything. He looked kind of worried after seeing my expression.
"Look, I know you're Scar. I just wanna talk."
"I think I'm gonna be sick..."
I ran to the bathroom and emptied the contents of my stomach. Seeing him up close... It was too much for me. When I walked out, he was standing there.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded.
"I saw your truck outside. I'm guessing you're not at school because of that?"
I nodded again.
"I just wanted to meet you. I mean, my son and nephew are with you all the time."
He shoots me that same grin that gets Keegan out of trouble. I don't look him in the eyes. I can't. I fish around in my brain for an excuse.
"I just... I don't like meeting new people. It... It gives me really bad anxiety."
He frowned.
"But, you meet people working here."
"Only because I know I'll never see them again."
When did I get this good at lying?
"I didn't mean to upset you. I knew you were a good kid."
We talked for a few more minutes before he told me that they could still ride with me. It was the oddest interaction I'd ever had. He could tell something was off. I know he could.
My shift ended at 3:00, and I went home and climbed into my bed, planning on just sulking the rest of the weekend. I was in a not-so-peaceful sleep when I felt a hand rubbing circles on my back.
"Hey. Hey, wake up."
"Hmbfrbuber..."
He chuckled.
"Come on."
He turned me on my back. I opened my eyes. He frowned.
"What?"
"You look a little pale."
He put his hand on my head.
"You don't feel warm."
I sighed.
"What're you doing here, Keegan? What time is it?"
"It's 7:30. I went to Bonnie's, but you weren't there."
I sat up and rubbed my eyes.
"Yeah, I took the day shift."
"You didn't go to school..."
I laid back down and buried my face in my pillow.
"Hey, it's okay. It's my fault..."
"It's not your fault."
I propped myself on my elbows, facing the headboard.
"I met your dad today."
I looked at him. His eyes widened.
"What? How?"
"He saw my truck at Bonnie's."
"And?"
I got up and headed towards the kitchen. He followed.
"I puked."
He made a face.
"So that's why you're pale. You always get sick when you're stressed."
I grabbed two bottles of Pepsi and threw one to him.
"He said I could drive you."
"Anything else?"
"He... He kept staring at me. I don't think he put it together, but he could sense something."
"Are you ever gonna tell anyone?"
"I don't know... I never would've told you if I hadn't heard you that day..."
*flashback*
I'd only been in Tulsa a couple of months, but I liked it. I saw one of my friends after school one day at the store I worked at. I walked up behind him. He was talking to Jason Shepherd's dad. I was about to say something when he spoke.
"So, how's ole Sodapop doing?"
I froze.
"He's good."
"Still causing trouble?"
I could hear him smile.
"Always."
"I'm sure he is. Gotta go, son. Say hey to your dad for me!"
He waves and then turned to face me.
"Hey, Scar! Scar?"
He said my name again when I hesitated.
"Sodapop's your dad?"
I became aware that I was nearly shouting. He widened his eyes.
"Yeah...? Why?"
"I think I'm gonna be sick..."
I ran to the bathroom. Later that day, I told him how I knew his dad. I'd heard my dad talk about Keegan, too, but that name didn't stick out as much as Sodapop.
"We've gotta tell dad! He'll..."
"No! We can't!"
He eyed me.
"Why not?"
"We just... Can't..."
I never told him why...
*end flashback*
"So, you were in almost the exact same position today. It took you a couple of days to get over that."
"I know... Wait, I thought you were going to the big race tonight?"
"Not tonight. I already ordered pizza. Your favorite, plain cheese."
The next couple of weeks went by without a hitch. Until the money my mom usually sent me every Wednesday didn't come.
I didn't need it. My mom had spent all of our savings to own the tiny house we moved in to. All I had to pay were a few bills. I had enough to cover it. But, it did help me to be able to do things on the weekends. I thought that she'd just been too short that week.
I was right. The next week, she'd sent me double with an "I'm sorry" on it. The next Wednesday, there was no money again. I sighed. It was the day before Thanksgiving, and we'd been out of school for the break. When I got home from work, I was shocked when I walked in the door.
"Mom?!"