Dealing—Part 6

Darry's POV

Sodapop was late again. I love both my brothers to death, but their little habits drive me up the wall! Sodapop has his timing issues, and also he taps his foot annoyingly when he's nervous or anxious (drove me insane when we were at the hospital with Ponyboy) and he paces when he's restless. And Ponyboy also tends to wander in late sometimes, along with spacing out and those relentless nightmares! I am amazed at how much patience Soda has when woken up in the middle of the night. I'm sure they don't even notice that they do these things, but I do. I notice everything my brothers do, it seems like. And sometimes there are times when I just want a break from being the father to them—I want to just be the older brother, the one who gets into trouble with them and gives them advice only a big brother can give, the guy they know will look out for them. But I got booted out of my spot there when Mom and Dad died. And I guess Soda took over for me, at least where Ponyboy is concerned. Oh, I don't mean to sound jealous or petty over the fact, but it's true. And that's just the way things worked out. From the way I was running things, it's probably a good thing Soda stepped in. At least Ponyboy had one brother who understood him. But now I understand him a lot better. Wait, let me correct that: now we understand each other a lot better.

"Hey, Ponyboy," I said to him as he stumbled groggily into the living room. "Do you know where Sodapop went? I can't find him anywhere and he's gonna be late."

"Soda's always late," Ponyboy groaned through a yawn. "Ain't he in the shower?"

"Nope. I'm telling you, he's gone out somewhere," I insisted.

Pony eyed his shoes by the front door. "Well, with anyone else I'd say no way because his shoes are still here, but knowing Soda you're probably right."

I grinned. It was the truth. Steve sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Hey, Darry."

"Morning, Steve," I said, and the same feeling I got whenever we woke up to find him on our couch washed over me—a mix of sadness, sickness and annoyance. Not at him, at his pathetic excuse for a father. It bugged us all.

"Where's Sodapop?" asked Steve. I shrugged.

"I was just going to ask you the same question," I replied. Great. Now we were all sitting around waiting for Soda to show up. Knowing him, he would probably pop in the door just as we were about to leave without him. Then we'd have to wait another half hour (okay, maybe not quite that long) for him to dress and such, and we'd all be late for work. But of course Soda, the one who causes us all to get in trouble in the first place, would get off easy, not in trouble at all, just because of that grin of his, and that charm. No wonder he gets the girls all the time. Honestly!

Soda's POV

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. "Sandy?" I choked out, my throat suddenly swollen like I was trying to swallow a baseball. She looked as shocked as I did, and panicky, almost like she wanted to run as far as she could away from me.

"Soda, what are you doing here?" she asked. That was ridiculous.

"What do you mean, what am I doing here? What are you doing here? In Tulsa? Not to mention, in the park closest to my house this early in the morning?" I exclaimed.

Sandy sighed and shifted the baby from one hip to the other. "I'm in Tulsa to see my parents. They have a right to see their granddaughter. And I'm here because I needed some time to think. I didn't think anyone, least of all you, would be here at this time of day! What happened to sleeping in, Sodapop Curtis?"

I shrugged. "I was reading something my brother wrote."

Now she laughed in disbelief. "You, reading? I didn't think it was possible."

I wasn't smiling. This wasn't funny, coming face to face with her and her baby for the first time since she left me to go to Miami. "What's her name?"

"Hers?" Sandy brushed back a lock of blonde hair from the baby's face. "Daphne, after my grandmother. I'm going to call her Daphne."

I took a good look at both of them. Sandy looked just the same as I remembered her from when she was my girl. Blonde hair and glowing blue eyes. I thought almost bitterly that they glowed more when she looked at Daphne than they ever had when she looked at me. The baby's hair was fair too, blonde wisps around her tiny face. But her eyes were brown, soft and sweet. My heart lurched as I realized that although she wasn't my daughter, Daphne looked a lot like me. I guess her own father did too. And that led me to my next question.

"Sandy, who was it? Who's the father?" I demanded. She winced.

"I knew you would ask that eventually, Soda. His name is Pete, but I don't think I'll be seeing him again anytime soon," Sandy said airily, not concerned.

I suddenly remembered what time it was. I'm gonna be late again, I thought angrily. And after I got up so early too! "I've got to go to work," I said abruptly.

"Still work at the DX?" I didn't answer. "Maybe I'll come and see you sometime."

My only response was to give her a disgusted look and walk away.

"Sodapop Curtis, where on earth have you been?" Darry shouted at me as I entered the house a few minutes later. "You're late for work, and you're making me late!"

I sighed and held up my hand tiredly. I was not in the mood to have one of our usual morning fights over getting to work on time. Normally I didn't mind (actually, I thought they were sort of funny) but today I had too much on my mind already. "Listen Darry, can we not do this today? I'll just grab my DX shirt and get in the truck. Just give me a second," I said, heading to the bedroom.

Darry looked surprised that I wasn't arguing about the importance of being on time or something like that, so he didn't protest. "All right. Let's go."

I gave Pony a weak smile to say goodbye and put the theme on the table as I left the house. In the truck on the way to work, I was quiet. I didn't feel like talking. When we passed the park I turned my head the other way. I didn't even want to know whether or not Sandy was still there with her baby…Daphne.

Darry kept shooting me concerned looks as he drove towards the DX. I guess Steve got tired of waiting around for me, so he headed out before I got back home. When we reached the gas station, I jumped out of the truck hurriedly.

"Hey Soda?" Darry said before I could walk away from him.

I turned around but avoided meeting his eyes. "Yeah?"

"Something going on I should know about, little buddy?" he asked. I could've smacked myself on the head. I should have talked more, I thought, I should have been more like myself and Darry wouldn't be so suspicious! I didn't want to tell anybody about Sandy just yet. No wonder Darry was asking questions—normally I wouldn't shut up, and the last time I'd been so quiet like this Sandy had sent back my letter. Man oh man, am I ever horrible at keeping secrets.

I knew I should tell him the truth, he would find out soon enough anyway. I made up my mind to tell him everything, and I opened my mouth to do so right away.

"No. There's nothing going on, Dar. I'm just tired, is all."

Reviews much appreciated. Do you like the way this story is going, or do you have a suggestion to improve it:)