As the next morning came upon the Curtis's house, I wasn't sure if it was dread or excitement that had made an permeate home in my stomach.
On the one hand I was very excited to start working on my class work, but on the other hand I was nervous to go and speak with my Grandmother.
My mind couldn't help but lead to sadder thoughts, I wondered if my Grandmother would be disappointed in my direction of choices as of late. I couldn't stand that thought so whenever it came to the front of my mind I pushed it away.
I got up early so that I could get ready and look nice, I was fully aware that visiting my Grandmother would be seen as pointless in some people's eyes. But my Grandmother had been the most important person in my life for so long that I didn't want to go there looking bad or JD like. I wanted to look like the person I was trying to find. The girl my Grandmother had raised, the one who was missing.
I had combed my hair back in a sleek pony tail, had my Mary Jane's all sparkling, my skirt and shirt pressed and a nice sweater to keep any chill away or seem indecent, I was ready. I hoped .
Entering the kitchen I saw both Darry and Soda which was a surprise, I thought that Soda had left for the day.
"Good morning Rachel! You look very nice today I know your Grandmother would approve" Darry said sipping his coffee slowly
"Thank you Darry, I'm hoping she would" I said with a light smile as I could feel the blush spread over my cheeks. I ignored saying anything to Soda, he'd been ignoring me for weeks and I didn't want to let him bring down my good mood. I was sure I would get more nervous as we started our journey.
"Darry's right Rach, you look real pretty." Soda said quietly from across from Darry.
I felt shock flutter onto my face, it'd been so long since Soda had talked to me, instantly I just wanted to hug him and feel his protective arms around me, saving me from all the indecision and uncertainty my life had spiraled into as of late.
"Thank you Soda" I said quietly with a gentle smile trying to hold back my happiness.
"Rachel, Sodapop volunteered to drop you off to see your Grandmother, since he don't have to be in till the afternoon. I didn't want to make the decision for you, what do you think" Darry asked with his serious face giving nothing away with his expressions.
"That would be fine Darry" I said with a gentle smile not 100% sure what was going on, and not daring to allow myself to hope only to be crushed in the end.
"Great I'll give a call to one of the guys at work so they can swing by and pick me up" Darry said standing from the table.
"Why don't we just walk Soda?" I asked quietly I watched as Soda and Darry had a silent conversation before Darry nodded yes.
"We can if you'd like" Soda said with a grin
"It would probably be easier plus this way no one is inconvenienced" I said shyly
"If that's what you'd like Rachel, good luck today! I'll see you in the evening" Darry said walking over to me and grabbing me into a quick hug before heading out the door and heading to work. I listened silently to Darry's truck as he drove away.
"You all ready Rach?" Soda asked me gently his tone of voice bring back memories of our friendship that was currently damaged and broken.
"Yes I'm already Soda" I said with a gentle smile
"Then let's get this party started" Soda said leading the way out of the kitchen threw the living room and out the front door, with more excitement then I'd see him show in my presence for a while, it made my heart hurt slightly with how much I've missed my best friend.
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The walk was rather silent at first, not awkward just searching.
"Rach I don't like this" Soda said staring at his feet while he walked along beside me.
"I'm sorry if Darry made you take me, I promise I won't be any trouble" I said frowning lightly my heart suddenly heavy.
"No I didn't mean this, I mean us and how we've become. I miss you Rach you're my best friend. I was just being a stubborn idiot can we forget it all?" Soda asked me stopping his walking so he could look me in the eyes.
"I like Dally" I said quietly enough for him to hear but not to echo through the streets.
"Okay" Soda said quietly looking down at his feet again contemplating my short sentence.
"Soda I like Dally a lot. I wake up every morning and I miss Dally so badly that it hurts. I think about him a million times a day, wondering if he's forgotten about me, if he's back with Sylvia or even if he misses me. Dally may have moved on I don't know but what I do know is that I like Dally. You have to accept that if you'd like to be friends again" I said in shock. I wasn't even sure where this was all coming from, though I realized after I said it, it was all true.
"I can accept that Rach, because I just want you to be happy, I know I failed at the best friend part before but I promise never again" Soda said after the longest few moments of my life.
I may have liked Dally a lot but that wouldn't keep me from missing my best friend, Soda, if he hadn't been able to accept the Dally part of my life.
"Aw Rach don't do that" Soda said with a small laugh.
"Don't do what?" I asked with confusion
"Give that look, the one that says I don't believe you fully but I'll give you a chance. Do I have to prove this to you?" Soda asked with a challenge in his eyes
"No Soda you don't" I said honestly
"I think I do. Come on" Soda said leading me down unfamiliar streets leaving me know choice but to follow.
I followed keeping up so I didn't lose Soda in all of these back roads, all the while going over our conversation that had led to this. I wasn't exactly sure why Soda was doing this, but I didn't think at the end of the day Darry was going to be very happy. I was sure I was going to get a longer sentence on my grounding tonight after dinner. I didn't even make it to the Cemetery to visit my Grandma.
"Here we are" Soda said bringing me out of my thoughts. My mouth hung open we had somehow arrived at bucks.
"Soda I don't know why we're here but this isn't a good idea" I said backing away
"Rach do you know how to get to the Cemetery or home from here" I thought about it and I didn't it. My answer must have showed on my face.
"Then you have to stick around. I'll be right back stay here and try not to attract trouble" Soda told me with a grin.
I nodded at a loss for what to do otherwise. I walked over to a larger rock and brushed it off gently with my hand before sitting down gently. Buck's seemed so dead from the last time I had been there, it was so strange to me.
I was going to get grounded longer and Soda was going to get into trouble for this, maybe we shouldn't say anything. But then when Darry finds out, and we'd be in more trouble. I also didn't want to lie I wanted to steer away from the bad things that were so easy to do and stay closer to the values my Grandmother raised me with.
"You look like you're thinking real hard about something" Dally's voice said cutting threw my thoughts like a knife, shocking me to the core.
My head shot up like lightning.
"Dally" Was the only reply I could think to give as I saw him standing in front of me looking down at me sitting on the rock.