Things were looking up for once and, God, did it feel good. Soda had taken me back home after the night with Ben. It had become early in the morning when we got back and apparently Two-Bit found the note after going to the bathroom. He'd gone ballistic and he was about to leave when Soda pulled into the driveway.
I had gotten out of the car and, without walking two feet, was suddenly engulfed in the tightest hug I'd ever been given. When I'd pulled away and saw the tears in his eyes, I started to cry myself. I'm pretty sure Soda just stood awkwardly in the background.
"God Lizzy," Two-Bit said, wiping at his eyes quickly, "I thought you'd jumped on a fuckin' train or something," and I knew when he let out a struggled laugh that he was trying to be funny. The tug at my heart, though, made me realize it was all his act.
"I'm sorry Two-Bit," I'd said, quietly, "I'm so sorry."
He'd just nodded his head and hugged me again. I was scared still, but not as much. In fact, with Two-Bit's arms around me, I'd felt the safest I had in years.
The following days had been like a new life for me.
Jack no longer hung around as much. I was pretty sure he left my mom, but I would never say anything like that to her. She finally started to pick herself up a little one day while in a sober mood. Don't get me wrong, she still drank, a lot, but she seemed to be a much happier drunk then before. And a happy drunk is better than a bitter one, am I right? She got a job down at the diner. Not the best, but it always reminded her to stay sober during the day and leave drinking for the night. Two-Bit had been there for me. Him and Dally got into it, though. Dally won. I didn't care. He tried and believed me.
I had told him everything, though. Everything from dad dying, to my lovely nights at Buck's and all the way to me leaving. Every bad, good, neutral moment. Two-Bit knew it all. He didn't even try to joke, either. I saw him as the serious older brother he'd never been. He promised me that everything was going to be okay, though, and I believed him.
And then we have me, myself and I. Gosh, I don't have a clue where to begin. I started on my road to recovery, starting by telling Two-Bit the truth. I don't know. I've been feeling a lot better than I have in a long time. I don't wake up in cold sweats, I'm not afraid to be alone. Things are just…..better.
"Hey Liz," Darry greeted me as I walked into the Curtis house. I wasn't too shy anymore either. I really went over to see Soda before work. Then I went out and hung with friends. Like I said, shyness really wasn't too obvious with me. I definitely was not totally extroverted.
"Hi," I greeted as Two-Bit flew in from behind me.
"Howdy ya'll!" he hollered as he ran for the kitchen. I rolled my eyes as Soda walked out. He walked out as he was buttoning up his DX shirt. At least he had clothes. The other day he'd been walking out of the bathroom with only a towel on. I may have been less shy, but my face still got just as red.
"Hi Liz," he said, as he walked over and kissed me. He had the softest damn lips I ever felt. He always smelled like after shave, grease and peppermint. It smelled good, too. When I compared him to those sweaty guys from Buck's, he was like heaven on a boy.
"Get a room," Steve mumbled, walking past us, and I smirked. Two-Bit rolled back into the room, grinning like a mad man.
"Hey Soda-boy, when do you and Stevie plan on getting' off work?"
Soda shrugged his shoulders and looked over at Steve.
"Three thirty, right?" Steve nodded his head and smirked.
"Boss, is payin' us like we're workin' til' five, though. Dumbass don't realize we clock out early on Fridays, but he still pays us," Steve trailed off mumbling about how he wasn't ever gonna be so stupid.
"Okay then, it's settled!" Two-Bit exclaimed, clasping his hands together. I cocked an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest.
"What's settled?"
Two-Bit grinned like the Cheshire cat and slapped Steve on the back, "We're goin' down to the lake!"
XxX
I sat with Two-Bit in his car while he whistled along to the Beatles. I had my feet up on the dash and my arms crossed over my chest. My hair flew back as the wind from my open window hit it. At the moment the wind cooled the car down, but once we stepped outside we'd feel like we were on fire.
"I hate the weather here," I said slowly, crossing my right leg over my left. Two-Bit looked over and laughed.
"Why?" he asked incredulously. I shrugged and chomped down on the gum in my mouth.
"It's different everyday!" I exclaimed, "One day it's cold, then it's hot and then there's a tornado!" I huffed, "I don't like it."
Two-Bit laughed and reached over, ruffling my hair. I glared at him, causing his laughter to increase. His laughter caused me to smirk and I rolled my eyes, looking away. Eventually Two-Bit quieted down and lowered the radio.
We sat in a few moments of silence and I enjoyed the scenery. There wasn't much to look at. A few abandoned houses and grass as high as my waist, but it was something to look at.
"Hey Liz," Two-Bit said quietly. I immediately noticed how his tone had changed. I looked over at him while he stared ahead at the road. He sighed.
"Listen, I just wanted to let you know, that I'm real happy you're all better," he shook his head, "You know I wouldn't have known what to do if-"
I held my hand up to stop him, "Two-Bit, it's fine. It was a month ago. Everythings okay now. He nodded his head and loosened his grip on the steering wheel.
"I know, I know. We just didn't talk about it. You told me what happened, but Liz I just need to let you know how happy I am you're okay," he looked over at me quickly, "You know that right?"
I quickly nodded my head and brought my feet down from the dash, "Of course Two-Bit," I said quietly. I smiled and looked ahead at the road, "Everything's okay now, though," he looked over at me, "So let's let it go, huh?"
Two-Bit smiled over at me, nodded his head, "Yeah, just let it go."
XxX
I walked slowly onto the dock in front of the lake. It was dead summer and we were the only damn people at the old thing. Nobody went to the lake anymore. Nobody. The hot sun beat down on my skin, revealed by my blue and purple striped bikini. The thing was old and worn, but I loved it. Believe me, I had no clue why.
I heard someone walk up behind me and slowly slip their arms around me. There was that smell again.
"Hey there," he whispered in my ear. It cause a shiver to run up my spine and I bit back my giggle. He rested his chin on my shoulder and looked out at the lake with me.
"Hi," I replied quietly, running my finger over his hand. I could hear everyone else's voices as they got everything out of the cars. Soda took a large inhale.
"Your hair smells good," he laughed, as he nuzzled into my hair. I laughed and pushed him away playfully, finally turning around. I smiled and shook my head as he just grinned at me crazily.
"Your crazy," I said and he laughed. I thought of the irony. A month ago, I'd been calling my own self crazy. I was better now. So much better.
"Haven't you had that thing since you were like, twelve?" he asked, pointing to the piece of swimwear. I rolled my eyes, pushing him playfully.
"It was thirteen. And I'm glad to know that you're looking at my body so intensely," I smiled and he reddened a little. He shook his head a I smirked.
"No, I mean- I wasn't lookin'," he stuttered. I laughed and put my index finger on his lips.
"I was only kidding."
Soda grinned and shook his head. He quickly pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. I felt his cold stomach against my own. I looked up at him and he pushed a piece of my brown hair, that had now grown slightly past my shoulders, out of my face.
He leaned down and his lips touched mine and I felt my smile growing within the kiss. His hand slowly rubbed on my side and I lifted my hands up so they were wrapped around his neck.
I could hear Darry yelling at Pony to grab the cooler out of his truck and Steve yelling at Two-Bit to stop bothering him. The sounds were reassuring and comforting. I knew those were sounds that would remind me I was going to be okay. I may not have been apart of their gang, but I knew being Two-Bit's sister meant they would always help me if I needed it (Well, except for Dally). I smirked as I thought about how being Soda's girlfriend helped that situation.
Soda's hand reached behind and ran over the top of my back, where he continuously rubbed. I slowly twirled my fingers through his hair.
"Hey there you two," someone said and suddenly I felt myself being pulled away from Soda. I looked and saw Darry, struggling slightly to pick up Soda and Two-Bit holding me up.
"Kid, this was a lot easier when you were ten," Darry grunted and Soda's face reddened a little. I laughed as Two-Bit let out a heavy grunt.
"I'm thinking' the same thing 'bout this girl," he was struggling a whole lot more than Darry was. I laughed and Two-Bit glared, "You think that's funny?"
I nodded, while laughing some more. He rolled his eyes and suddenly I was being thrown into the freezing water. Shock was the initial feeling. For how hot it was, I could not believe that the water was as cold as it had been. I came up from under and saw Soda splashing down beside me. I looked up at Two-Bit who was laughing along with Steve and Pony. Darry was smirking and Johnny was too. I looked over at Dally who had a smirk on his own face.
"You guys suck!" I yelled, shivering from the water. Soda nodded his head and swam a little closer to me.
"Well, if you two weren't playing tonsil hockey…" Two-Bit trailed off smirking. I rolled my eyes and threw water up at Two-Bit where it splashed him a little. He laughed and cocked an eyebrow.
"Oh, it's on!" he announced. He bent down, ready to jump, "Cannon ball!"
I screamed and watched as Two-Bit jumped in right beside me, splashing up water. I laughed and splashed him in the face as soon as he came up. He raised his eyebrows, picking me up out of the water. He threw me a few feet a way and I splashed down.
Before I knew it everyone was jumping in and splashing at each other. When they started getting rough and wrestling, I hopped out and just watched. They were all laughing, I was laughing. Everything was okay. It felt so good to say. I smiled to myself as I whispered the words over and over again.
Everyone was happy, nobody was upset. I was okay. I was great.
"Everything's okay," I whispered quietly. And finally, it really was.
A/N: I can't believe that it's over. This story became a whole lot more than I thought it would be.
One last review you guys! Thanks so much for ALL of your support! It means so much to me!