𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐑'𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄 || sodapop curtis

011 | utopia

❝When I saw you, I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.❞

WAS THIS REAL? Was the only thing I was thinking. I had actually done it, I had kissed him. I was scared that he would actually get to know me, then not like me. I guess you could say that I really couldn't believe myself. What were we going to do? One thing I know is that this love just couldn't last.

"Sodapop, we need to get back to the masquerade."
"Says who?" He replied with a smile.
"Alright, but you won't get in trouble, right?"
"Francesca, honey, let's get out of here." That stopped me dead in my tracks.
"W-what do you mean?"
"I don't like it here- I want out. You saved me."
"How did I save you? The love is you choice anyways."
"No, it's not. They choose it for me; they pick the most beautiful girl." His face saddened as he explained it. "But you, Francesca are different. Your like that light I have been looking for all my life."
"Out of all those pretty girls, you choose me?"
"You are most definitely beautiful, and don't doubt that for a second." I smiled at him.

•••

"So, what are you saying?" I finally asked him.
"I want out of this place, I want you."
"We literally just met." I felt stupid for saying that.
"I know, but your different than all of those other girls, can't you see that?" No, I really couldn't.

He packed whatever he must've had of his personal belongings in a white briefcase. We would escape out the back, drive to my hotel, get my stuff, and leave. (Or at least that's how he put it.) I never imagined my trip to Italy for a masquerade would end like this.

"Where are we going to exit the castle? There are guards literally everywhere."
"You think I don't know my way around this castle? There's a secret exit I will take us too. My car is parked out there too. Are you ready?"
"Yeah, let's go."

He grabbed my hand and took me down a different staircase. It was a slightly hidden area that the staircase led to; but I guess that was the point. There was a large door in front of us, and Soda put in a passcode that opened the door. We stepped outside, and I saw his car. It was a very expensive looking one; it couldn't have been his.

"This is your car?" I asked him as I climbed in the front seat.
"Well now it is." He smiled with his contagious smile.

We took off and I gave him the directions to my hotel. Luckily, it wasn't far from the castle. The car ride wasn't awkward- which I was glad about. I felt like I had known Sodapop for much longer than a night. I somehow felt- connected to him. He played some music that greasers obviously listened to.

"You really are a greaser, aren't you?"
"Sure am." He smiled. I guess he was proud of his label.
"Is that it?" He asked pointing to a hotel in front of us.
"Yeah, that's it."

He pulled through the parking lot, and we got out of the car. We walked through the door and into an elevator. I noticed that he was staring at me from the side.

"Why are you staring at me?" I laughed.
"Well, you just look so pretty I can't help but to stare." I blushed at his comment.
"Where are we gonna go? Like after we leave the hotel?"
"We certainly can't so back to the castle, they are probably already looking for me."
"Let's fly back to Tulsa."
"What?!" He said a little too loud, realizing it.
"It's the best thing for both of us, if you think about it."
"I guess." He said.

I used the key to open my hotel room door, and grabbed my suitcase. There wasn't much for me to bring, so everything fit in a small luggage carry on. I realized what I had forgotten when I saw Sodapop sitting on my bed.

"Is this yours?" He asked, holding up the teddy bear my father had given me as a child.
"Y-yeah." I said, my cheeks flushing a rosy pink color.
"Hey, I understand. My brother Darry's twenty and still has one. Let's get out of here." He said handing me the stuffed bear.

We walked back out to Soda's car, and started for the airport. This masquerade madness is over now. I thought. Everything was almost perfect. I looked forward to meeting Sodapop's friends, (besides Steve and Ponyboy.)

We soon arrived at the airport, and we're waiting for our flight. I guess Sodapop took some money while he was packing. Our flight didn't board until three in the morning, but we were able to take a small nap on the airport chairs.

"Feels nice to be normal again, all that royal crap was getting in my head." Said Sodapop.
"Yeah."