Kay so this is chapter nine. I personally don't think that this is one of my better chapters so if you don't like it, i'm very sorry just don't yell at me please.

Chapter 9

Soda looked down at his hands in his lap. I had obviously said something I shouldn't have. Why did I have to open my big mouth?

I didn't want to say anything worse so I just sat there. I wanted to say something, but nothing would come to me.

"Let's go outside," He finally said, still looking at his hands. He got up right after he said it and I followed silently.

When we got outside he sat on the stairs of the porch, -- I sat beside him -- staring in a daze.

"My parents died not too long ago. It still hurts to think 'bout it." Soda told me. He sounded really hurt.

"Soda," I put my hand on his arm in comfort. "I'm sorry." I paused. "I wish I could say I know how you feel, but…" My voice trailed off. Sure, I had lost a lot in moving, but to never be able to see my parents ever again? That's a whole other story. I never actually finished my sentence, we just sat in silence.

After a couple of minutes I realized my hand was still on his arm. I pulled it off very quickly because I became really uncomfortable. I looked down at my knees and became very fidgety.

"Do you wanna go back inside?" Soda asked suddenly. I looked at him when he said this. He finally looked at me.

I just shrugged at first. "It doesn't matter; if you want I'll go back inside." I knew I wasn't being much help, but I hated it when people asked me to make a decision that involved other people.

He let out a chuckle. I assumed it was because of my answer. I guess he decided we'd stay outside because he never got up to lead me inside the house. I looked up and found myself staring at the moon. I kind of dazed off because all of a sudden I was being nudged.

"Huh?" I asked startled.

"You've been looking at nothing for about 5 minutes." He explained laughing slightly at me.

Embarrassed, I tucked hair behind my ear, the only thing was, no hair was in front of my ear. "Oh, sorry, I was kinda in my own little world," I said shyly. Yet again, we sat in silence.

Not even two minutes after we had our little conversation (if that's what you could call it), Ponyboy and Johnny came outside.

I turned around as soon as I heard the door open.

"Oh," Ponyboy said surprised. "I was wonderin' where you two went." He said as soon as he saw Soda and I.

"Well you found us." I stated oddly. That was my attempt at a joke. Unfortunately, Pony just looked at me like I was insane. I just shut up and decided not to attempt jokes anymore.

"So what're you two doin' out here?" Pony asked while Johnny just stood at his side silently.

I didn't think Pony needed to hear about what we had talked about. If Soda wanted to tell Pony about he was welcome, but I didn't want him to tell him while I was there. So that's why I quickly said, "I needed some air."

I'll admit it, I was embarrassed. I felt bad that I had brought something up that I shouldn't have. Of course I didn't know, but I still felt bad.

Ponyboy said that he and Johnny were going to go for a walk and left. Johnny said bye to Soda and me and so did Pony.

Soda and I continued to sit on the porch and I noticed a chill. Subconsciously, I started rubbing my arms.

"You cold?" Soda asked.

"No I'm fine." I reassured him. Okay, I lied, I was cold.

Soda looked at me with a cocked eyebrow. A shiver ran through my spine. I blamed it on the cold, but deep down I knew it was because of him. "You're rubbin' your arms." He pointed out.

I smiled a little. "Kay, so maybe I'm a little cold."

"Let's go inside, we can come back out when your mom's comin'." Soda told me. I agreed seeing as I had no other option.

We walked back inside and were again ambushed by greetings. Two-Bit came over and started chatting with me. I couldn't actually tell you what we were talking about though. We were just sharing stories and one story would lead to another. All I know, is that when Soda came over to take me back outside, Two-Bit and I were talking about cats. Don't ask me how we got on that subject, because I do not know.

When Soda and I walked outside I asked him, "What time is it anyways?"

"11:45." He replied.

I nodded my head to acknowledge his answer. We stood for a couple more minutes and all of a sudden I dropped to the ground to sit. I crossed my legs and sat there childishly. I felt eyes looking at me so I looked up. Soda was staring at me with an amusing grin. He began laughing and then joined me by sitting.

"You wanna know something?" He asked.

I looked at him for a minute. "I'm afraid to say yes." I joked.

"No, it's nothing bad." He joked as well.

"Okay, what?"

"I have never met anyone like you." He said. I couldn't tell if he was joking or serious.

"Is that a good thing?" I asked confused.

"It's a good thing." He assured me.

I kept looking up and down the street, trying to find my mom. Where is she? I panicked. I think Soda could read the panic on my face because he began questioning me.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I replied.

"You look kinda fidgety." He pointed out.

"I'm just looking for my mom." I stated.

Another 10 minutes passed and my mom still wasn't there. I was panicking even more now.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"I dunno. Come on inside, let's go check." He suggested.

I got up and followed him into the house. Ponyboy was back by then and he looked at me oddly. I guess he thought I'd already be gone. Two-Bit and Steve had already left, so now it was just Dally there. Dallas looked at me when I walked in and blushing with embarrassment, I began pulling the sleeves of my sweater down farther over my hands.

"It's 12:10." Soda told me because I was looking down, not wanting to make eye contact with Dally. "You wanna call home again." I looked up at him.

"Do you have another phone?" I asked, trying not to be loud. Soda just stared at me.

"Why?" He asked.

"Well…" I began. "They'll look at me." Again, Soda just stared at me. I didn't wait for him to say something like 'You're insane', or 'You need some mental help'. "I don't do good when people look at me. I don't like a lot of attention on myself."

Soda smiled an apologetic smile. I understood his glance.

"I have to use this phone don't I?"

"We only have another one, but it's in me and Pony's room."

"Alright, I'll suck it up and use this one." I said and walked over to the phone. Darry was sitting in the chair right by me and when I walked over, he looked up at me.

"I thought you left." He said. He sounded surprised.

"No one came." I replied embarrassed. "Could I borrow your phone again?"

He said nothing, but made a hand movement to say, 'It's-all-yours'.

I sat down by the phone and dialled. My mom answered this time. I asked her where she was and she told me she couldn't come get me because she had a drink not realizing that she had to pick me up. She asked if I could find my own way home and I said sure. Then we hung up.

Darry asked me if everything was alright, which surprised me. He didn't seem like the, 'tell-me-your-problems' kind of guy. I guess I must've sounded disappointed, but to tell you the truth I was. How can a mother have a drink because she didn't realize she had to pick up her daughter? I assured Darry that everything was fine and then walked back outside because Soda was on the porch.

"I'm really sorry Soda." I said.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because of my mother. She didn't realize she had to pick me up." Why me?

"It's no problem. Is she coming now?"

I knew this question was coming. "Well, when she didn't realize she had to pick me up, she had a drink so now she can't come pick me up and I don't want to be a bother and get someone to drive me. God I'm sorry." I began walking away.

"Laurie, come back here." Soda commanded. I did as I was told and went back.

"You're not bein' a bother. I'll drive you home." He said.

"Thanks." I said.

Soda and I went back inside. I said thanks to Darry for putting up with me and said bye just in general.

We got into the truck and Soda started it up. Once he put his foot on the gas pedal, I held on for my dear life. I directed him to where I lived and when I wasn't telling him where to turn, I was praying for my life.

When we pulled up in front of my house, I just sat in the car for a moment.

"You got a nice house." He complimented.

"Thanks." I said breathing heavily.

"You okay?" Soda asked.

"Oh, just fine. Geez Soda, you drive like a mad man." He laughed when I said this. I laughed too, but then I became serious. "Thanks, Soda. For everything. The movie, the introductions, everything. You've been really nice to me, and I really appreciate it."

"Hey, it's no problem. Like I said, I've never met a girl like you, and that's somethin'." I smiled when he said this. Then I said bye and got out. What a night.

Kay so that was chapter 9. Thanks so much for the reviews! Please keep them coming!