Inconsquential Love ((Part Two))

Part 18

FLASHBACK

VERA'S P.O.V - BEFORE SODA

I'm walking home from the Curtis residence, reaching my arms up to the sky and stretching lightly on my tippy toes when I hear a voice call out from behind me. "Hey, wait up, V!" I turn and see Dally coming from the side street to the left behind me, smiling as he falls in step beside me now. "Thought I'd find you here." He says cooly, taking out a cigarette and leaning the pack toward me, offering me one. I shake my head as he puts the cig to his lips and pulls out his lighter from his back pocket. "Johnny back there?" He asks, looking back toward the way of the house. 

"Nope, just Pony. Soda left a bit ago to go to work and Pony had homework to do so I figured it was about time I hit the road." I say, kicking a small pebble in front of me. "Where you been? Everyone was hanging out last night."

"Uhhh, yeah." He says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Had a prior engagement. Was a bit busy."

He's not meeting my eye and I smile lightly and shake my head in understanding. "Uh huh." I say. "Prior engagement...not with your friends...that the new code for banging some chick?" I ask. He takes a puff on his cigarette and ignores the question, slinging his arm around me as we walk together a little closer now.

"Whatever." He says simply, exhaling. "You got me now, doll. What you wanna do today?"

The sun was already starting to go down but I sigh as I realize it's probably going to be another night of bumming around and drinking with Dallas. Nothing really new there, though.

As we pass the D.X. I look to see Soda standing there, a pretty blonde girl leaning against her car, box in hand as she talks to him, smiling sweetly jutting her chest out. I watch them quietly, observing. How easy it must be to look like one of those cookie cutter-perfect girls and have guys like Soda drool over you. I look down at my beat-up combat boots and denim skirt which had some dirt on it from sitting on the ground before. I had on a tight, fitted low cut black shirt - it made my boobs look bigger than they were and quite frankly kind of made me feel like I looked good, but even though I felt confident this morning looking over at this girl now I knew I'd never be like her and I felt a pain in my heart a little at the sudden realization of this. She looked so pretty. I could only imagine what her life must be like...I tilt my head as she cracks up at something he's said but he's not smiling much back, more so he looks kind of...I don't know...shy? Sad? 

I had just been with Soda not too long ago, sitting on his front porch as Pony caught up with him about his day and his school, all this stuff that seems fantastic and exciting at that age. Soda and I sat there, listening intently. I had my head lolled back and was soaking in the sun, but when I had opened my eyes I caught Soda staring at me. He looked away quickly but still, it caught me by surprise. Soda had always been sweet to me but Soda was sweet to everyone. Lately, I don't know, he's been...more present? I feel like he's always around. Like I can't shake him if I tried. It's hard sometimes when I'm just goofing off with the gang and have to treat Soda like he's just one of them when sometimes my heart skips a beat looking at him - I had eyes, after all, he was gorgeous. 

I hear Dally laugh next to me as he must be looking at them now, too. "Aw, sweet." He says mockingly. "Looks like she baked him some treats.  Hey, why don't you ever bake me anything?" He says, pulling me closer to him as he grins, cigarette in place still on his lips. I shove him away playfully, finally looking away from them.

"If I bake for you I'll have to put something in it." I tell him, taking a step away from him now.

"Oh?" He says, face lightening up. "Like weed, maybe?"

"I was thinking more like arsenic." At this Dally cackles and Soda looks over at us, and so does the girl, turning around caught off guard by our sudden interruption. I look away sheepishly and push a strand of hair behind my ear. I start to walk off again with Dally but I feel like I'm being watched and I look back toward the store to see Soda's eyes still on me. He looks away for a second but then looks back, our eyes meeting. I don't know why but I suddenly feel a chill rush through me, goosebumps prickling my skin. I see the girl is still talking to him but he hasn't looked away yet and he raises his hand a little and waves to me, smile beaming. He looks...he looks like a goof. I feel my cheeks blush at how cute and awkward he's being and feel myself raise my hand a little now too, waving slightly back.