An Unlikely Allie

Chapter 27

Soda's POV

I still felt like I had a knife in my stomach.  I couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that Darry told me not to come home.  Was he really going to cut me out of his life over this?  What about Pony and Phaedra?  Do I storm home and make them listen? 

Steve hugged me from behind and jolted me out of my thoughts, "Soda, it's gonna be ok.  He was just shocked, ya know."  He rubbed my arms, "c'mon let's go get some food, head down to the track?"

I sighed, "yeah, ok."  We headed over to Jay's.  They don't ID and we both needed a drink.  We entered the dirty bar, it was nowhere near as gross as Charlie's but that ain't sayin' much.  We each ordered a burger and a beer. 

"Phaedra called the DX.  She asked me to come home," I mumbled before taking a bite of ny burger. 

"You'll see her tomorrow," Steve gave me a sad smile.  He was trying to understand, but he didn't have a real family.

"Yeah..." I gazed off into the distance.

"Alright," Steve sighed, "let's go to your house.  But if I get my head bashed in by super dope, I'm breaking up with you."

"Don't worry Stevie, I ain't gonna let anything happen to you."

After we ate, we drove to my house.  I hesitated for a moment before bursting through the door.  I didn't even look at Darry, instead I hugged Pony and Phae tightly.  Phae was shaking a little, "are you ok?"

She clung to me and Ponyboy, "I need all of you here."

Darry stepped forward, "I told you not to come home for a day or two."

The house became deathly quiet while Darry and I stared each other down, "this house ain't big enough for the two of us," I heard Two-Bit say under his breath, causing Dal to laugh.

"Soda, I just can't deal with this right now."

Phaedra let me go, "deal with what?"

"Tell them Soda, tell them what I saw today," he demanded.

I saw fear flash across Steve's face for a brief second.  He was just as scared of rejection as I was.  I held my head up high and said clearly, "I'm gay." 

The silence in the house was deafening.  Nobody said a word.  The twins were having one of those silent conversations.  Darry was glaring at me.  I just wanted someone to say something!

"Is that what you an' Darry fought about?" Phaedra asked as if in shock.

"Well, it wasn't much of a fight as Darry made it pretty clear that I wasn't wanted."

Phaedra glared at Darry, "you got mad over something as superficial as that?" She threw her arms in the air, "who the fuck cares if Soda likes guys?"

"Yeah, they have gays all over New York," Dally through in his two cents.

Pony moved closer to me, "I don't care, you're my brother." Johnny nodded in agreement.

Darry ran his hands through his hair, "Soda, can I talk to ya? Alone?" He headed toward his room. I gave the twins a quick hug and followed him. He closed the door, "listen, Soda. I overreacted. It's just being a homo is dangerous. I don' want you to get hurt, savvy?"

"Don't worry, Dare. I ain' gonna advertise it in the paper." I joked.

He glowered at me, "that's not what I meant, little buddy." He threw his arm around me, "you're my brother. I don't understand it, but I got your back."

I hugged him hard, "thanks, Darry. That's all I need to hear.