Light filtered through the open window in my room, successfully stirring me from my sleep. I was still dazed; I didn't know where I was until I heard Soda let out a heavy sigh from underneath me. I looked down at him, surprised. He was so good-looking when he slept. I somehow manage to wiggle out of his grip.
"Soda, get up. We can't get caught here." I pushed on his chest, wiggling him. Soda swatted away my hand.
"Mmmm, Kaylyn, don't..." Soda moaned. That was very sexy. And I wasn't even kidding. The way he moaned my name...it drove me absolutely crazy. I had only heard it once, but it was just that...interesting.
"W-wake up..." I shivered. Soda's eyes opened, blinking a few times before he sat up and stretched. Boy, he was just gorgeous. He wasn't like those people who were real ugly in the morning. He woke up gorgeous, he went to sleep gorgeous. He smiled at me.
"Mornin'." There was an awkward silence. Everything that had happened yesterday felt like it had happened weeks ago, but it still felt like it happened. We both had to be honest about the letter; I did see it and knew I did. I had to know why. I wanted to know, I had to know, why did he write that letter? What was Sandy's advice? Simply to move on? Get over her? Why would she say something like that to anyone? I felt so confused and hurt, I wanted to be filled in on what's happening.
"The letter..." Soda's eyes narrowed. I guess he didn't want to talk about it, because he turned away from me and refused to look me in the eye. "Please. You can't make me suffer like this anymore! I can't stand it! Tell me, please, are you still in love with Sandy?" I was afraid of what the answer might be, but I had to know. Now. I felt real pathetic. Just tell me....
"I don't, I swear I don't! Not as much as I love you." Soda grabbed me, pulling me to his chest. "Why did you run away last night? We could've talked it out at home."
"No. I would've died from embarrassment. I just...broke down. I couldn't do that..."
"So running away and making us worried is better?"
"Well, what could I do!?" I shouted. "I didn't know what I was doing, okay? I love you so much, and learning that you're still in love Sandy...I didn't know what was happening." I began to tear up again. It wasn't my fault...it wasn't. I didn't know they cared so much! I just seemed to be hurtin' Sodapop again and again with everything I said.
"C'mon, Kaylyn, you know we all care about you. You'd had us all worried sick when you were in the hospital. You just won't let any of us take care of you! We wanna help, you're like family."
"Am I replacement?" I asked quietly, ducking my head down to avoid his gaze. I could still see his face though, his confused and disbelieving face.
"W-What?" He stuttered, those beautiful blue eyes of his growing wide with surprise. I felt so much pain right then.
"Am. I. Sandy's. Replacement?" Soda shook his head.
"You're crazy. Come on, we've gotta get you home." I pushed him away.
"No. Answer me! Am I her replacement?"
"No, okay? You and Sandy are complete opposites, okay? You and her are completely different. Everything you do is different. Things were different for me an' Sandy, things were easier but they weren't as...we just didn't...love each other as much as we both thought." Soda's voice quieted to a gentle whisper. What does he mean? sandy would rant about how Soda would do all these sweet things for her, how he was the perfect man. "She didn't love me. I didn't really love her. It was just a crush."
"Then what about me? Am I just some crush that you can throw away?"
"No! Why do things have to be so difficult..." Soda sat on the bed again, placing his elbows on his knees as he buried his head in his hands. Oh, Sodapop, I love you. I love you more than anything. I wanna be the girl you give your jacket to, the girl you wanna see every day, the girl you cuddle up to every night, the one girl you truly love more than anything.
"Things between us aren't gonna be okay, are they?" I asked in a strained voice. How were things gonna be between us? Would it ever work out? I just wanted to be happy. "I just want to be happy..." I crawled over to him, laying my head on his back. We quietly comforted one another, him softly touching my hand and me just hugging him. I dunno how long we just sat there, but I know it was the best time of my life.
We left a few hours later. The sun was high in the sky, glowing brightly and burning my skin. I've never tanned too well. I didn't much like the sun.
"Didn't you have work today?" I asked, tucking my hands into my pockets. Soda looked up at the sky, shaking his head.
"Naw, Steve's gonna take over for me today. He owed me one."
"Well, we've already said we loved each other, maybe now is a good time for a ...date?" I didn't know why I was so nervous. He had already said twice that he loved me. Why was I scared about asking him on a date? It was probably because we hadn't ever really, officially 'been together'. Soda smiled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"Sure. It's a date." Now, the date wasn't very interesting. Well, it wouldn't be interesting to you. For me, I was happy. I finally got to hear Sodapop talk about himself, about his family, though I already knew a lot about them, and what he wanted to do in the future. He talked more about it, how he wanted to have a beautiful daughter and a wife that loved him. Soda was a good guy, he deserves a good woman to be by his side. But is that woman me? Our date was done after about an hour or two. We were intercepted by Dally. Boy, was that interestin'. He wanted to train me today. Soda didn't agree with it, he had the same view as Two-Bit, but he wanted me to be safe. He musta realized by now that none of them could be around me constantly.
The training session wasn't like anything I had ever experienced before. I used so much energy in one day. Dally introduced me to a person named James, who was an expert at training people to fight. He taught me the rest of the day. He said first, he would train my legs, since my hand was still broken. Now, that was exciting. I actually had to block everything he threw at me, and he doesn't kick softly. I had bruises up and down my legs by the end of the day, but I had also learned to dodge, and learned how to visualize where the person was going to punch or hit. I also learned James doesn't go easy on already injured people. He taught me something about watching their hip movement to see where their legs or arms were gonna go. It was actually pretty useful, something I wouldn't forget soon. I was well on my way of learnin' how to fight.
"Kaylyn!" Was the first thing outta Soda's mouth as I walked through the door. I had been given a change of clothes by Dally, a cut pair of sweatpants that hung a little below my knee, some dirty converses, and a plain white, sleveless shirt. You could see the bruises and cuts on my arms were healing up, but some new bruises appeared on my legs. Soda wasn't too happy about that, and neither was Darry. He had said something about 'girls shouldn't be forced to learn how to fight.' I don't think he was too amused with the fact I had some new bruises all over me. I was kinda, happy, though. They really cared about me. It was like the family I never had.
I was sore all over, though. I had to go back to the Lot for some more training tomorrow, too. Dally's friend had to leave town tomorrow, so that would be my lasy day. It was probably gonna be the most painful, I could feel it in my aching legs.
Ponyboy was feeling a lot better today, in fact, he even went to school. Darry thanked me for taking care of him, he even tried to give me some money. I couldn't believe it! He was offering me a home to live in, and he was trying to pay me money. I turned it down, he seemed confused at first, but I explained it to him, well, I told him straight out. Darry wasn't like those normal muscleheads, he had some brains in his head. Enough so that he should've gone to college. I could see why he didn't though, but I hoped he'd save up all the money he needs to go to college when Soda an' Pony are old enough to live on their own.
I was layin' on the couch at around nine at night. it was the first time I had rested today. I helped Ponyboy cook dinner, then I helped Soda do dishes, I helped Darry fold and put away clothes, and I never rested once. The house was finally quieting down, Darry had gone to sleep for the night, and so had Pony. Soda was still awake though, he was in his room doin' something, but I can hear him shuffling about back there. He could never really keep still, could he?
"Heya, Kaylyn." I had been waiting for him to join me on the couch for quite awhile. I mean, its been a whole hour since we last got to even see each other. I dunno about our relationship, whether I'm his new girlfriend or not, but I wasn't going to ask. I wasn't going to complain either. I was happy that he even spent time on me.
"Haven't seen you in a long time." I laughed. He dipped down, placing a light kiss on my lips before sitting next to me. I blushed. I still wasn't used to the whole kissing me whenever he felt like it, thing. He kissed me on the lips in front of Darry! I felt embarrassed, but not because it was Soda kissing me, it was because Darry didn't look surprised at all by it! Like he knew me an' Soda were already a couple. Gosh, did everyone know?
"I'm tired..." Soda smiled, resting his head on my shoulder.
"Then go to sleep." I played around with his hair for a second, resting my head on his. I could hear his breathing over the T.V. He was blowing on my neck, now, making me shiver in delight. That felt real good. It made me paranoid though. What if Darry or Pony came outta their rooms for some reason? We would be caught doing...um, doing whatever you call this.
"But I don't feel like it," He groaned, his arms wrapping around my stomach as his lips glided against my neck. I shivered. Now that was something he hadn't before.
"D-don't do that..." I shivered, as he kissed my neck again. It kinda made me giggle, too. That tickled. He did it again, this time though, he softly sucked on one spot. I bit my lip, which didn't stop me from making a low moan, and squirming against him. I tilted my neck to the side more, giving him more room I guess. He chuckled, kissing up my neck, to my cheek, and finally landing on my lips. Next thing I knew, I was being pushed down by Sodapop.
Now, that was the best night of my life.