Love Culture In The 1960's ('The Outsiders' Fan fic)

Chapter 32

「Chapter 32」

With Steve fast asleep in his room Soda and I took our conversation outside. Sitting on the porch we sat side by side waiting for the other to speak first. I was surprised to see him again so soon and I wasn't sure whether or not I should be nervous to hear what it is he had to say  to me.

"I want to apologize for how I spoke to you earlier." He began. "You didn't deserve to be spoken to like that. I let my emotions get the better of me and that ain't right."

"No, I should be the one apologizing-"

Before I could finish he had cut me short. "No Cordy, I'm the one who freaked out on you and accused you of things I should've never thought of you. I've been insecure about our relationship and all this drama with your parents only worsened it."

"What is there to be insecure about?"

"I've been wronged before. What my ex had put me through. . . I can't deny it didn't affect the way I acted tonight. I guess part of me still hasn't moved on from it."

Again I was hearing about his ex. Just what exactly happened between those two? "Would it make you feel better if you told me about it?"

"I suppose you deserve to know." He shifted uncomfortably where he sat as if preparing himself to tell me the story. "I dated this girl named Sandy. I was smitten and thought that she'd be the one I'd eventually marry some day. She fooled me real good. So naturally it came as a shock to me when I found out she cheated and got herself knocked up. Left without saying a word and made it clear as day that she, someone who had me under the impression that she also wanted a future together, had actually wanted nothin' to do with me."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. To think someone usually so bright and cheery had gone through something so awful. "I'm sorry you had to go through that." It explained why he had his doubts, though I wish he had more faith in me. 

"Wish she made it obvious how terrible she truly was before we had even gotten together. Would've saved me so much grief." His joke was half hearted but you could tell by his tense shoulders that the memory had caused him great discomfort. "I know you aren't like her, but my experience had kept me from dating for a while. Taking a leap of faith with you, it was a big decision for me. To trust someone like that again."

"I'm happy you decided to. I promise I wont make you regret it." Scooting closer to him he kept remained unfazed by my closeness to him. Soda was acting strange. "What's wrong?"

"Me telling you about Sandy, that isn't why I wanted to talk to you tonight." Judging by his reserved demeanor I knew this wasn't going to be good. "I spoke to your parents and they made me a deal."

Those words alone had caused me to worry. "What kind of deal?" 

He was hesitant to speak at first. "They offered to write me out a check, but only if I agreed to break up with you."

"They tried to bribe you?!" My blood was boiling. I felt disgusted by their sneaky behavior though to be honest it didn't surprise me they'd stoop to that level.

He nodded. "They did. I refused their offer which they weren't all too happy about but they continued to try and reason with me. I didn't care about the money, they can keep every last cent of it. What I did care about however was your well bein'. After thinkin' over the other things they had told me, I realized how selfish I am to want you to stay with somebody like me."

"Soda, what do you mean by 'somebody like me'? You're a great man that any woman would be lucky to call theirs. You cant let what my parents said get to you." I reached my hand for his but he pulled away.