Inconsquential Love ((Part Two))

Part 5

I wake up to the sound of water running and I open my eyes, stirring gently.

Wait. This isn't Johnnys apartment.

Holy crap I'm still at Sodas.

I bolt upright on the couch and look around, confused and bewhildered. I fell asleep here last night? My brain scrambles to catch up before I quickly remember that nothing happened. We came inside and kept talking late into the night and I guess, at some point, I just passed out. 

The water shuts off and from the side Soda steps out with a towl around his waist and I just about faint. Good lord this boy was blessed. 

I eye his wet, dripping torso and look down to the slight bulge coming through the towl. My memory flashes back to all the times I'd been with him, my legs wrapped around that waist, his hands in my hair and I look away before I lose myself. When I look back to his face he's grinning like a big goofy bastard and my heart swells. "Morning, Vee." He says softly, voice sounding like he was on cloud nine.

"Morning." I tell him, rubbing the back of my neck. "I-um, I guess I fell asleep?"

"Yeah, you could say that. You talk in your sleep too, you know that?"

My cheeks burn hot as I stare at him, eyes probably bulging. "I-what?! What did I say?"

Soda shakes his wet hair and then runs his hand through it, slicking it back. "Something like...mmm, oh, Soda, that feels so good -" He says, grinning, mimcking my voice.

I pick up the pillow next to me on the couch and throw it at him, knocking him with it. "I did not! And I don't sound like that!" I say, laughing now.

"Okay, okay. Maybe not that. But you did mumble something I couldn't quite make out so for all we know it was what you were thinking."

Well, I was certainly thinking that now. He shoots me another grin then leaves, going to get change I assume. I hope. I was starting to feel like I couldn't help myself and I wanted to just go into his bedroom and shut the door - for old times sake. We could do that couldn't we? It wouldn't be that bad, he was single now and I was single now and then I'd just go home. Just get it out of my system, right?

Ugh, no. No! What was I thinking? I'd been here less than a week and I was already getting weak.

He comes back into the room fully dressed for work but still, of course, stunning to look at. He tells me he'll drop me off at Johnnys but asks if I'd like to hang out again tonight and despite my better judgment I say yes.

I'm walking out to his car with him, his hand on the small of my back and we're laughing at someting he's said when I look up and see Dally.

I stop, feel myself flinch on instinct. For a second I think I'm hallucinating but by the look on his face this is definitely real.

He's looking at the two of us, Soda's hand on me and before I can even say anything I register the hurt and shocked look on his face. I feel my heart crumble to see that familiar look but then I hear a voice calling and I look to see a girl with her head out the window to the building above us. "Call me!" She yells down to Dally, who looks up at her and then back to me as if he'd been caught.

Oh. So he was just with someone who lived in Soda's apartment. What a great coincidence. I want to quip that I'm glad he couldn't catch up with me because he had to be home to Slyvia yet he has no problem going out with anyone else he pleases.

I can't hide the look on my face now when he looks back to us. I'm hurt, but disgusted. I can't believe this is the person he's become now - just some sleezeball who gets around from girl to girl and then goes home to his actual partner. It made me feel sick to think about.

"Dally." Soda finally says, as if he had been waiting for him to have done the talking. "Look whose back -"

"Yeah, yeah I know." He says lamely, adverting my gaze now. "Little early for you two to be hanging out together. Or did you maybe spend the night?" He says, shooting a look to Soda, who just laughs. He says it as a light hearted joke between friends but by the look in his eyes I know he's serious. I don't like how he feels like that's something he can just ask - or even something that concerns him.

"I don't move as fast as you, Dal." Soda says, not feeling the need to offer an explanation, though I'm not entirely sure what he's said is true either. 

How did I get here? It's like no time has passed. I still feel uncomfortable as ever and I'm still sandwiched in between these two. They can't be serious. 

I shimmy slightly away from Soda, straightening up and crossing my arms. "Still too busy for me, huh Dal?" I ask, feeling suddenly braver with Soda beside me. Being around Soda always made me feel more confident  - maybe because of the way he looked at me. There wasn't a moment with him that passed where I didn't feel beautiful, he had always made sure of that.

Dally looked uncomfortable, a look I was used to. He masks it for annoyance but I knew him better than that. Dally puts on the tough guy act extra hard whenever he's actually just not control of a situation around him. "Look, Vee, maybe we can catch up soon but I'm just...busy." He says, not meeting my eyes.  Soda takes a step forward and I follow suit.

"Yeah, well, I'm not going to be here real long so maybe I'll write you." I say, hearing a hint of venom in my own voice and being surprised by it. God, why was I letting him get under my skin like this? Just let it go, Vera.

I walk with Soda to his car and don't turn to look around. I wasn't going to hold my breath for Dallas Winston to talk to me. I knew it was pointless - because my Dally was gone and this creep took his place.