Greaser Girl // Sodapop Curtis

The Warning

"You ready to go to the DX?" Soda asks, he's pulling on his shirt.

I finish brushing my hair.

"Yup!" I say and walk outta the room before he can catch me.

I grab an apple and twirl the ring on my hand. I can't stop looking at it.

I fear if I stop looking, it'll all be a dream.

When I turn around, Soda is standing behind me watching me watch the ring.

I smile at him and kiss him briefly on the lips.

I walk out of the door and down onto the sidewalk. Soda follows close behind.

He catches up to me and holds my hand.

"Ya know, we should figure out when we're actually gonna get married." He says suddenly.

I knew he would talk about this, and I'm sure he wants to get married sometime soon. He doesn't like to take his time with anything.

"When were ya thinking?" I ask him.

"In a year or two."

I'm very surprised, I thought for sure he would say a few months at most, not years.

He sees my expression, "Well, ya know, Ponyboy in school and all. I can't just up and leave. And we kinda have to be 18 before we can live on our own." He explains.

"I'm real surprised, I thought you'd say a few months at most."

"Haha, naw, we're still so young." He says jokingly.

I'm glad that he doesn't want to get married soon, I still need time to be a teen.

"What do ya mean, 'Live on our own'?" I ask.

"Well, ya know, I've never really wanted to stay here in Tulsa. It's not a nice place. I was thinkin we could all move out to the limits of the city, so there's more space." He replies.

I like where he's comin from, but I don't think the rest of the gang would like that. It would have to be just us.

"I see, but do ya really think Darry's gonna want to?"

"Well that's why we wait till we're 18."

"Oh, I get it." I reply.

We continue to walk, and as we reach the DX, I see a red corvette drive out. It's real pretty.

We start our shifts, a few people come in to get something checked, like normal.

Around lunch, Steve finds me.

"Here, some guy came in lookin for ya. Told me to give you this." He says as he hands me a note.

I take it from his greasy hand and open it.

Watch your back, they're comin.
- RW

I shudder, it's from Richie. He's warning me about my dad's gang. They know where I went?

Steve is watching me, and gives me a concerned look.

"What?" He asks.

I hand him the note to read, and sit on a stool.

His eyes widen, and he quickly sits down too.

Soda walk in, sees us both, and furrows his brow.

"What goin on?" He asks.

I try to talk, but I just stutter. Steve is the one who says somethin.

"Caren got a note from her ex sayin-." He starts, but decides to just let Soda read it.

Soda takes it from him and reads it. When he finishes, he looks just as pale as Steve and I.

Soda looks at me again, and walks over.

He lays an arm around me, in a comforting way.

"There not gonna hurt ya. We won't let that happen." He promises.

I nod, and watches Steve get up and leave. I don't know where he's goin.

"Come on, lets go get somethin to eat." He says, and helps me stand up.

I don't say a word, I'm just pondering my death.