built for sin~ sodapop curtis

three

iris's pov

tacenda. tacenda means some things are better left unsaid. in this situation, it's true. sodapop and i haven't said a word about what we told each other since the day we said it. and for good reason. i'd never told anyone about how alex treated me until that day.

i thought it was normal. after awhile i realized it wasn't.

when sodapop told me about sandy i felt terrible because i know how it feels. there's just been an unspoken peace between us. we still aren't fond of one another, but he's at least somewhat tolerable now.

"you've changed ripley," dally said. "meaning?" i asked as i picked a flower to smell it. "you're so care free," he said. "isn't that a good thing?" i asked. "look where it got me," he said. "well i'm smart, you're not," i joked and smiled. "yeah whatever man," he said. "so when are you leaving?" he asked. "how'd you know?" i asked. "your mom said you've never stayed anywhere more than a month," he said.

"damn you mom," i said. "next week, but don't tell the guys johnny's the only other one who knows,"

"whatever you say," he said. we walked into the curtis house and i sat on the couch, still holding the flower. "that's my seat get up," soda said walking in. "no can do," i said. "move iris," he said. "geez you're grumpy," i said and sat in darrys chair. "hey pone will you put this flower in a vase?" i asked.

"you have two legs," soda answered for him. i rolled my eyes and smiled at pony. "please?" i said. "yeah sure iris," pony said. i gave soda an innocent smile and he just rolled his eyes. "where's johnny?" i asked. "asleep in ponyboy's room, some socs got him good again," two-bit said.

"i hate socs," i said. "don't we all," steve said. "i should get going, i've got things to do and i need to get a dress for tomorrow," i said standing up.

"that reminds me i need to get our suits ready pone," soda said. "see you guys later," i said and walked out. i didn't really have much to do except pick out a dress. so i just walked. i somehow ended up in the woods. i knew where i was, i used to come here when i was little. my mom would yell and i'd run here. the waterfall and the trees seemed to calm my senses.

i took off my shoes and put my feet into the water as i listened to everything around me.

"you said you had things to do," i turned and saw ponyboy. he sat next to me making sure he didn't get wet. "are you following me?" i asked. "no just wanted to see what you were doing," he replied.

"i used to come here when my mom would yell," i said. "i've never been here," he said. "it's always been my happy place," i smiled. "well i'll leave you too it then," he replied. he kissed the top of my head and walked away. i laid back on the ground and looked up at the sky through the whole in the trees. i closed my eyes and just listened to the water fall, and the wind blow through the trees.

how could i leave a place like this? i don't know whether to stay or go. i don't know where i'd go, i've been almost everywhere. maybe washington? haven't been there in awhile. i sat there thinking awhile then finally put my shoes back on and walked to a nearby store. i put my hands in the pockets of my dress, as i walked in and saw an old man was the only one working.

i went up and down the aisles and grabbed a coke and put a pack of cigarettes in my pocket. i kept my right hand in my pocket with the cigarette box and paid for the coke. he didn't have a clue.

i walked out of the store and someone walked up behind me. "if you're gonna follow someone try to make it less noticeable," i said.

"what do you mean follow someone? i'm not following you," pony said. "dal you can come out of the corner now," i shouted and dally walked out. "see ponyboy? i told you she was too smart man," dally said. "why are you following me? am i that irresistible?" i joked. "i don't know, i just wanted to see what you were doing," pony said.

"and by the way, stealings my job give me the cancer sticks," dally said. "no these are for me," i said. "oh and sodapop, the bushes is the worst place to hide," i added. "you scare me," soda said hopping out of a bush. "you guys scare me, why were you following me be honest?"

"johnny told us you weren't staying, i just wanted to make sure you weren't gonna run off on us without saying goodbye again," ponyboy said.

"i'm sorry," i sighed. "i won't leave without saying goodbye this time okay?" i asked. "okay," pony said and i hugged him. "now, who's the soc that beat up johnny? i'm not havin' it," i asked. "not sure, he had rings though," pony shrugged. "i gotta go in that store down the road if you guys wanna follow me there too," i said proudly and started walking.

they walked with me and i found a cute black dress for the funeral. although i don't show it, i'm devastated about their parents.

their mom was a better mom to me than my own, I'm gonna miss them so much.