𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐑'𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄 || sodapop curtis

010 | secret garden

❝And so the lion fell in love with the lamb.❞

WE SAT IN Sodapop's room, and I could tell he wanted to know this story. It wasn't a very interesting one, it was just me, a girl who wanted to save a boy from being jumped. But, I guess there actually was more to the story than that. I think he was more interested in the drafted part though.

"So tell me, Francesca. The whole story." He demanded.
"Okay- so I was just walking to the DX one day- I'm pretty sure your familiar with it."
"Yeah, I used to work there with Steve."
"Oh I didn't know that. I saw Ponyboy getting jumped by a couple' a socs, and I couldn't stand to let that happen. I ran over to him, and held off them soc's with my blade. Pony had a busted pop bottle but I was sure he wouldn't use it- he was in no shape to anyways."
"Yeah, that's what the gang always says."
"The gang?"
"Oh. Me and my two brothers and a couple' a friends. We aren't an actual gang, we're like brothers in that way. You get to know each other real well when you grow up in a tight-knit neighborhood like that."

As I thought about it more, I realized that Sodapop was just like me. He grew up on the East side of Tulsa, and has probably seen too much. I had one question though- how did he get here?

•••

"... I could really go for a cigarette now."
"They don't let you smoke here, huh?"
"Nope. Apparently the prince can't smoke." He replied sarcastically.
"I snuck some in my suitcase, usually smoke 'em on the balcony."

I hadn't gotten a chance to look at his face well, the mask covering it. He had just removed it, and he was movie star handsome. I don't think I have ever seen such a good looking boy from the east side of town. The way his ocean-blue eyes sparked, you could just see how pure of a human being he was.

I told Sodapop the rest of the story, how the socs left and hanging around the DX with Steve and Ponyboy. I had asked him why Steve had been so bitter about certain things, and he told me that he didn't have the best home life; his father had always told him to leave and never return, then make up for it by giving him five or six bucks the next day.

"Don't you think we should get back to the party?" I asked.
"Or..." He started. "I could show you a secret place here in the castle."
"I would love that." I giggled a bit.

He took my hand and I followed him back through the hall, but this time a different way. We went down a flight of white-stone stairs, and into a large foyer. There was a golden chandelier that held many candelabras. The candles flickered in the slight darkness as we walked towards a set of elegant french doors.

"After you, my lady." He said opening one of the doors.
"Thank you, sir." We laughed.

I couldn't believe my eyes. The doors revealed a secret garden. The garden was surrounded by many different types of flowers and plants. A floating bench lie beneath a large blossom tree. I took a seat on it, and Sodapop sat beside me.

"Y'know, I haven't known you for very long, maybe 20 minutes?" We laughed. "But you seem like a lovely young lady." I blushed slightly at his comment.
"And you seem like a wonderful- young man?"

He took my hand, and I looked into his eyes, they were like soft chocolate pools as he stared back into mine. Was I falling in love with this man? I didn't understand how I could possibly be, but in this moment it didn't seem impossible.

We slowly leaned towards each other, into a kiss. A kiss! I simply couldn't believe it. I had known him for about 20 minutes, and now I was in love with him. Was this one of those cliché love stories where a prince falls in love with a has-been? Well, I guess it was actually just two kids from the East side who have seen too much falling in love.

Or was it, love at first sight?