I KNOW I'm an horrible person for not updating earlier, I'm very sorry! I guess college has just been stressing me out lately, I haven't felt like writing much anymore, but hopefully things are going to change soon. Also, this chapter kind of sucks and I know it, so don't be too harsh with your reviews…thanks!

Disclaimer: I only wish I did own The Outsiders!

3 – Not the doctor

Soda had a day off on Monday and he offered to come and pick me up when I was done with classes and then go somewhere and have lunch together. I was waiting for him, outside the building, reading the newspaper of that day, April 26th. The headline caught my attention: President Nixon announces the withdrawal of 20,000 more troops from Vietnam. I was halfway through the article when someone's hands covered my eyes. "Guess who?"

"Clint Eastwood?" I joked.

"I thought you liked Marlon Brando!" Sodapop exclaimed, removing his hands from my eyes and sitting beside me.

"No way, Clint Eastwood is so much better!" I smiled.

Soda grinned. "Wanna go? I parked in Carroll Street, because everywhere else was full."

"That's okay, I don't mind walking a bit." I took his hand and intertwined my fingers with his. "What did you do this morning?"

"Nothing interesting. I slept some more after you left…then cleaned the kitchen…and checked the mail…you got a letter from Lewis."

"That's awesome, he hasn't written in awhile!"

"I know…so I thought…I'd bring the letter with me." He grinned. "It's in the car."

As Soda turned the engine on and drove off, I read the letter. It bore the date April 19th.

Dear Sybil, I know I haven't written in awhile, I'm sorry about that,but I hope you haven't been worried because I'm perfectly fine. I'm thinking of moving once again, I just don't know where, and before you ask, no, I don't intend on coming back to Tulsa, but I may visit, if you want me to. How's it going with college? If I'm not wrong, you should get your degree in a month or so! Sometimes I think I was wrong not to attend college, but you know at the time, when I was eighteen, I didn't really think much before acting. Now I'm twenty-five, I guess I'm getting old enough to recognize my many mistakes from when I was a teenager. I'm not complaining though… I hope you,Sodapop and Ponyboy are well. Say hello to them for me.

Take care,

Lewis Forrester

"Short and to the point. It's really Lewis." I ironically said, after I had finished reading the letter outloud.

Soda replied: "He sounds like a true writer, I guess you have that in common."

I went silent for awhile, until Soda parked the car and turned to look at me: "Sybil? Are you okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah, let's go! I'm so hungry!"

We entered some bar and while Soda went to the counter to order I finished reading the main article on the newspaper. Since many soldiers were coming back to the US, I was hopeful the war would end soon. I knew Soda wouldn't find any peace until it happened.

"Food'll be here in a minute." Soda sat beside me and put his arm around my shoulder. "Reading something interesting?"

"Our President says troops are coming back." I eyed Soda carefully. He didn't bat an eyelash, so I guessed he was relaxed enough to stand what I had to tell him next: "Soda, I…booked an appointment for you with…Dr. Williams…"

"I thought we had already talked about this." He replied, removing his arm from me.

"I know, but-"

"What? You thought you'd just ignore my opinion and go ahead?"

"I just want you to be alright and you need some help, Soda…you know you do…" I whispered.

"I don't need help! Dr. Williams ain't got a clue what I went through, no one has!"

Those last words hurt me more than anything. "I know I don't…I wish I could understand, but if you just see the doctor once, then I promise I won't bug you anymore!"

Soda didn't say anything. "Please?" I insisted.

"Fine, I'll go." He muttered. Before I could say anything, some waitress served us and we started eating silently. Soda was looking everywhere but at me. I thought I'd just keep quiet…

"Sybil!"

"Sophie!" I smiled, looking up at my once best friend. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, I'm getting something to eat!" she then looked at Soda. "Hi, Sodapop…remember me?"

"Sure I do, nice to see you again." Soda smiled forcefully. He wasn't in the best of moods.

"Do you want to sit with us, Sophie?" I asked her.

"No, thanks! Jeff's over there, getting our lunch…" she pointed at the counter. "I saw you and thought I'd say hello, that's all…"

"Have you found a place to stay yet?" I asked.

Sophie suddenly looked uncomfortable: "We…not really, but I'm not even sure we're staying in town…I'm not sure what Jeff wants to do…I don't think he likes Tulsa that much…well, I'd better go…see you!" she reached her boyfriend and they left.

"She spoke like she's Jeff's puppy or something." Soda muttered. "What's wrong with her?"

"Don't talk like that, Soda…she loves him-"

"More like she's afraid of contradicting him."

"Just because you don't like taking advice from other people, it doesn't mean she-"

"Please! It's crystal clear that she depends on her boyfriend. That ain't good."

"I don't get what you mean."

"I mean…that Jeff guy doesn't look like a nice person to me. I don't know him, but you can just tell…if I was you, I'd try to find out if Sophie's got problems." He explained.

I sighed. "Are you sure you're not just saying this because you don't like hippies?"

"Pretty sure."

We silently finished eating. I knew something wasn't right with Sophie, but I thought if she had serious problems she'd come to me and tell me everything.

-------------------------

Dear Lewis,

I was really happy when I found your letter. Actually, Soda found it and gave it to me. We're all fine, Ponyboy too.

I glanced at the clock: I was waiting for Soda to come home from Dr. Williams's appointment. I was very anxious to know what the doctor had told him.

You're right, I'm graduating this May. I can't believe in less than a month I'll be getting my degree. I can't believe college's almost over! It's time I start looking for a job.

Writing that down made me feel nervous. I had never worked much before, except for a couple of part-time jobs when I was in high school.

You wrote you don't want to live here in Tulsa...I respect your decision, but I wish you'd at least come by and stop for a while. We haven't seen each other in two years and I miss you deeply…

Last time I had spent some time with my brother was Thanksgiving, two years and a half before.

It would also be nice if you moved not too far away from Oklahoma…so we could get together for the holidays, the birthdays and all that jazz…

I was starting to ramble and I wished the front door would just open and Soda would come in. Luckily, that happened soon. "Soda!" I got up.

"I told you I didn't want to go there, Sybil!" he exclaimed, angrily taking his shoes off. "I told you I didn't want to talk to some jerk who feels superior to anyone because he's got a degree or two, but you didn't listen to me!"

"What happened?" I was starting to worry.

"Well, I kinda…I kinda lost it…after he told me I should see some shrink."

"You didn't hit him, did you?"

"No!" Soda looked like he was almost going to laugh. "But…we should change doctor, alright?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "What about the shrink thing?"

"Do I look like some madman to you? I don't need no shrink!"

"I know you're not mad, but maybe all the doctor meant was, you'd feel better if you talked to some specialist about it…about… Vietnam…" I whispered.

"That's out of the question. I saw Dr. Williams like you asked me to and you promised you wouldn't bug me about it anymore, remember?"

"Sure, but-"

"I'm going to take a shower!" He left the room. I tried to go back to writing the letter, but I was too confused. Not much later, when Ponyboy came home and the three of us had dinner together, Soda looked like his usual self. Maybe he's right and I should really stop bugging him, I thought. But despite the fact he had been at the doctor's, I couldn't feel any better.