built for sin~ sodapop curtis

two

iris's pov

unhinged. that's what everyone says i am. at least, that's what mostly everyone's told me since i got back. 'unhinged ripley' is what i hear most people call me. it doesn't bother me. i'm not completely unhinged like they think, i'm extremely in touch with my emotions most of the time.

they can think what they want about me. what's important is what i think of myself.

i wouldn't say i'm perfect because that's exactly what i'm far from being. when i was off traveling the world, i was a disaster. that's why i never stayed anywhere. but now, being back with all the boys, i never wanna leave. i know i have too, doesn't mean i want too.

"iris come on, your mothers a mess she needs you," dad said. "dad i'll stay the rest of the week and half of next week, that's it," i replied. "but your mother," he said. "doesn't want me here, she hates me dad face it," i said. "that's not true, c'mon iris you're only 17" he said. "i'm almost 18," i shrugged. "in 4 months," he said but i just walked out onto the porch. i looked to the left of me and saw johnny's mom yelling at him. i ran over there and put my arm around him.

"i'm gonna go get a burger with him mrs. cade, see ya around," i said and johnny and i began walking down the street. "thanks iris," he said and i smiled. "i wasn't kidding about the burger, let's go to dairy queen," i said leading him to the right. we got to the bus station and i set some money in the drivers hand and we sat down.

once we got to dairy queen we got our food and found a nearby park to eat at. "so you're leaving again?" he asked. "yeah, how'd you know?" i asked.

"heard ya talking to your pap earlier," he said. "do you gotta leave?"

"i'm sorry johnny i just can't settle for anything," i sighed. "don't you miss us?" he asked. "of course i do, i'll try to get here more often this time," i replied. "i'll hold you to your word," he said and i smiled. "hey is that curly shepherd?" i asked and he nodded. "damn that kids grown a lot," i said. "it has been 4 1/2 years," he said. i just cocked an eyebrow.

"am i the only one you mouth off too?" i asked and he smiled. "and pony, you two are the only ones who don't care," he said. "mouth off to the others and i'll take care of what they do," i said. "don't wanna get into that habit if you're leavin," he replied. "fair point," i said. we eventually got back to our houses, well the lot, but we still got back.

to my displeasure, soda was at the lot. "hey sodapop," johnny said. soda wiped his face and looked at us with puffy eyes. "what happened to you?" i asked accidentally sounding a lot like a spoiled soc. "wouldn't you like to know," he said. "i know i'm a bitch, now what happened?" i asked. "sandy and i broke up," he said. "oh, i'm sorry," i said putting my hand on his arm. he looked at me and sighed. "it's whatever, see you later," he said and walked home.

"you didn't have to be rude," johnny said. "i didn't mean to be i just have a habit of being rude to him," i said. "i'll apologize later okay?" i said and he nodded. later that day after johnny had gone back home, i went to the curtis's to apologize to sodapop. i might not be a fan of him like everyone else, but i still felt bad.

i knocked and nobody answered so i just walked in. "anyone home?" i called. nothing. i looked around when i walked in soda's room and he was wide awake staring at the ceiling.

"hey," i said and he looked over. "ripley," he said. "i just wanted to apologize for earlier, i know break ups are hard and i shouldn't have been such a bitch about it," i said. "how would you know about a break up?" he asked. "believe it or not, when i was in new york i had a boyfriend," i said playing with my dirty blonde hair. i sat down on the corner of his bed and he looked at me.

"why don't you have one now?" he asked. "i've never stayed anywhere long enough to keep one," i said.

"why don't you stay?" he asked. "ask me tomorrow," i said. "what was your boyfriend like?" he asked. "his name was alex, he was amazing while it lasted," i replied. "what did he do that made him so amazing?" he asked. "he talked sweet, a little slow, but sweet. i don't know something about him drew me in," i said.  "was he actually a good boyfriend?" he asked. "no, he treated me like a sack of potatoes in front of people and alone," i replied.

"sandy was the complete opposite," he said. "she was only nice to me in front of everyone else,"

"sodapop if she wasn't a good girlfriend why'd you stay with her so long?" i asked. "i don't know okay? i don't even know why i told you i've never even told steve about that," he sighed. "well i won't tell him," i said standing up. "you don't seem to want me here so i'll go," i said. "thanks for the talk i guess,"