I do not own Se Hintons awesome characters :)
Dally awoke to sun hitting his eyes. Stupid sun.
His body ached from the awkward sleeping surface he had last night,
and from when he fell off it. God, he hated those nightmares. He knew
how Pony felt now. Speaking of Pony, he wondered if he was having
nightmares?
Stretching one last time he walked to the Curtis' hoping they'd
already be done all their family tradition stuff.
As the door slammed behind him Dallas breathed in the beautiful smell
of bacon. His stomach growled ravenously.
Darry looked up from the frying pan he was cooking on to see Dally
walk in. "Hey," he greeted. "Hungry?" That was one thing with having a
bunch of friends that practically lived at your house, you always had
to make lots of extras.
Although Dally declined his gaze never left the sizzling bacon. Darry
smirked and grabbed an extra plate anyways. Dally and his damn pride.
Looking up to see Two-Bit and Steve also walk in he set out the rest
of the plates.
Calling out to everyone that it was ready he set the last dish on the
table. Even he had to admit it looked good. Bacon didn't happen to
often, but boy it was good.
Finally when Pony came down and grabbed his plate Darry allowed
everyone to begin, ignoring the fact Two-Bit was already half done.
"Nice shoes," Soda grinned to Pony, eyes twinkling at his new All
Stars. He had gotten them for him for Christmas, knowing that his old
ones were too small even though Pony never complained.
Pony smiled sheepishly. Christmas had been good. He got some new
clothes from Darry and Soda along with the shoes and an interesting
book that Pony had been reading before breakfast. Out of all of them
he had received the most, everyone had got him something, even Dally
and Steve, although by the expressions on their faces when he thanked
them they weren't aware of their gifts to him either.
Soda had got some new clothes too, along with some other little nick-
nacks courtesy of his brothers and the gang.
Darry smiled. For Christmas Soda and Pony, along with some donations
from the rest of the gang, had saved up and pooled their together to
get him a real nice watch. He really did love it. He couldn't help but
smile at the memory when he opened it and Pony and Soda looked like
they had discover eternal life or something.
Now down to business. "All right. One of my old friends from
high school is coming down to stay with us for a while and visit. But I
want you ALL," when he said this he looked at Steve and Two-Bit
manically," to behave yourselves."
Soda looked hurt. "'Couse I will Dar, don't you trust me?"
"I trust you, I just don't trust them." he explained motioning to
everyone minus his brothers.
Two-Bit tried to look shocked. "US? But Dar-bear, we are always so
well behaved..." he said fluttering his eyelashes at Darry only
stopping once a pillow made contact with his face. "Owwwww..."
"Don't ever, ever call me that again, or I WILL kill you." Darry said
sternly.
"Yes mothe-." Two-Bit began to say but was I interrupted by Soda."When
is he coming?" he rushed in, not wanting a fight.
Darry glared at Two-Bit a second longer than relaxed and looked at
Soda. "She is coming tomorrow. And her name is Jessica, Jess for short."
After the chorus of 'ohhs' and 'ahhs' stopped leaving a flustered
Darry, Soda asked if it was theJess, referring to Darrys best friend
from high school.
He said it was, then went to explain that there is no romance
whatsoever between them. After a chorus of 'bullshit' and sarcastic
'yeah...suurree' he rolled his eyes and said, "I'm honest guys. She
wants me to meet her fiance, to see if I agree with her decision to
marry him. I ain't lying to yah. Her fiancé is even gonna stay here
with us too. His name is Lyle or Mile or something. The line cut out
when she was telling me."
They finished the rest of the breakfast in silence then went to clean,
well really just the Curtis'. Dally noticed Soda slip out of the house
to the porch after a bit. He frowned as he watched the door swing shut
behind him silently. Soda hasn't been acting right, ever since, well,
since Sandy left. Sure he acted alright, but his smile never reached
his eyes, and he was more quiet.
He had been briefed about Sandy, but surely Soda still couldn't be
sad. It had been weeks, and no one could get that hungover over a
broad. Doesn't matter anyways, he told himself. You don't care. But he
did care, which was why he followed Soda out of the house a minutes
later.
He went outside and saw Soda looking out, leaning against the porch
guardrail. He stood beside him silently for a second before deciding
what to say.
"You all right?"
Soda glanced beside him to see Dally beside him, looking out at the
street. "Yea."
"No you ain't. Don't lie to me Soda."
He opened his mouth to lie again but Dally cut him off. "Is it about
Sandy?"
Seeing no need to lie anymore Soda remained silent. Dally would leave
soon anyways. He didn't care. "Soda, she cheated on you, you need to
get over it."
Soda suddenly found the railing very interesting and studied it,
picking away some chipped paint with his fingernail.
Receiving no reply Dally continued. "Soda, listen to me. No broads
worth it."
Soda suddenly felt enraged. He glared at Dally. "She's worth it. I love
her."
Dally had to regain composure after seeing Soda so mad. Soda never got
mad, he even was smiling during the rumble. But he saw how this could
work to his advantage. "And look what she did to you. You still love
her after she cheated on you. After she got pregnant with ANOTHER mans
baby. After she left you during probably the hardest time of your
life. After she left you when you needed her! You still love after ALL
of that! Huh?"
Soda blew up. "YES! I still fuckin love her! I sent her a letter, but
she sent it back unopened! I sent her another, and the same thing! I
don't care! I don't care she cheated! I just fuckin want her!" He
sobbed loudly and Dally winced inwardly. Soda was always happy. He was
always calm. His smile was contagious and he never frowned. He could
make any one feel better, no matter the problem. He held Johnny when
they found him after he got jumped, when everyone was to shocked and
scared to move, and helped him. He helped him when everyone was too
busy trying to help themselves. Dally put down all his pride and
stepped on it. For you Johnny.
"I know what you mean."
Soda looked up with red eyes. "What?" he whispered.
"I know what you mean. I miss Johnny man, but he ain't never coming
back. I loved him, but he still ain't coming back. You gotta accept it
Soda, she ain't coming back. Doesn't matter how much you pray, doesn't
matter how much you love her, doesn't matter how much you need her,
she isn't coming back.
Your hurting the people who are here though. It hurts them to see you
so torn up. It hurts me to see you so torn up.
You were always there, when my parents were splitting and I was
leaving, when I came back, when Johnny died, when I get outta the
cooler, when I get so drunk I can't even stand. Your always there for
me. Your always there for everyone. And we got so use to it, it's like
we expect it. But because we always relied on you, you never had no
one to rely on. And that wasn't fair, so I'm sorry.
But you need someone now, so we are all here for you. We'll help you
get through this Soda, every step of the way."
Soda looked at him silently. Wow. He had not seen that coming. The
most heartless guy he knew just said the most sentimental, the most
meaningful speech Soda had ever heard.
But through all that shock Soda knew he was right. He had to get over
her. He came to a decision. He was going to send one more letter, one
last letter, then he would let her go. It would be a letter of good-bye.
Soda noticed Dally was looking at him expectantly. He knew how hard
that was for Dally to say, but he couldn't think of anything to say,
except... "Wow."
"Ass," Dally growled while trying to get by Soda. Trying being that
Soda blocked him.
Soda grinned up to him. "Theres the good 'ole Dally I grew to know and
fear."
Dally rolled his eyes. Of course, I dive headfirst in a shark tank for
someone and they joke around. "Whatever."
"Seriously though, thanks. I needed that. So you coming back in?" Soda
grinned.
Dally looked at the house, laughter could be heard through the screen
door. "Naw, I gotta go back to Jakes, told 'em I would check in today.
See yah Soda."
"Following orders now are we?" Soda teased while easily ducking the
punch Dally threw at him. "Bye!" he yelled out behind him as he darted
inside the house.
Dally shook his head. "Yeah, bye."
Okay so a little short, but I'm trying to give Dally a meaningful moment
with each of the characters, and I realized after reading a couple other
Fanfics that Soda would still be hurting, and I ended up with this :)
Hope you like :)
To my reviewers, Thank you so much Kari Suttle, your consistent reviews
and great great analyzes make my day :)
xlivilightx- YOUR BACK :D I missed you :) Thank you so much for
reviewing, and it really made my day :) Im glad you like it so much :)
So hope you enjoyed and review please :)