built for sin~ sodapop curtis

ten

soda's pov

a happy place. as far as i know, not only is it a place, but a person too. i thought my happy place was sandy, boy was i off.

iris. she's my happy place. a month she's been back, and she's made me feel complete. although i want more than a friendship, i would be happy just sitting in her presence.

"she's perfect," i sighed. "who is?" i turned to see iris standing there. "uhhh, nobody? what?" i said.

"whatever you say, come with me i wanna show you something," she said. "where are we gonna go?" i asked. "you'll see, get clothes on that can get dirty," she replied. "yes ma'am," i said.

after i changed, i followed her as we walked to the bus station. "pleaseeeee tell me where we're going," i begged.

"you'll see!" she said. "fine," i sighed. we sat down on the bus and she insisted on playing rock paper scissors. "i feel like a little kid," i laughed as she 'cut' my hand. "well that's because you basically are one," she said and i acted as if i was offended.

"point proven," she said making me grin. "okay we're here close your eyes," she said putting her hands over my eyes. i walked carefully as she guided me until she said, "okay open," i opened my eyes and adjusted to the sun to see the thing i really needed right now.

"how did you find him?!" i asked running up to mickey mouse, my horse, well not my horse, but my horse.

"well, i went to the stables you used to work at, and asked who he was sold too, and tracked him down," she said. "god you're amazing!" i said and hugged her tight. "he's ours for 2 hours, oh and don't forget minnie over there," she said pointing to the white horse next to him. "her names actually minnie?!" i asked excited. "yeah they bought mickey for that reason," she replied.  "i can't believe this," i said hugging mickey.

"believe it, we're going on a ride," she said putting a saddle on minnie. i grabbed a saddle and put it on mickey, grabbed a helmet, then climbed on.

"you better have a helmet on!" i called as iris rode out. "go get one!" i said as she rolled her eyes and turned back around. once she had a helmet we rode out and into the field.

iris's pov

as soda and i rode the horses around three little words were running through my mind, over and over. 'god you're amazing' did he really think that? i was really only trying to do a kind gesture for him after he helped me here. i guess i did only do it for him, not the others who begged me to stay.

why was it that i always seemed to do things when he asked, or if he was there?

i couldn't possibly like him- no. no no no no.

this is soda we're talking about, i couldn't possibly like him, could i? i mean he has pretty eyes, and his perfect movie star smile an- "hey iris? you in there?" soda yelled. "what? sorry," i said.

"you zoned out," he laughed. "my bad," i replied.

"it's alright, you tired? we can go back if you want too," he said. "no! we still have half an hour, i can last," i replied. "but if you're tired-," "i can sleep on the bus, i'm ok i promise," i smiled. "ok, but if you really need to go back tell me, savvy?" he said.

i nodded. "race ya!" i said.

when we got back to the stables, i could tell soda didn't wanna leave. "we can come back you know," i said taking his hand. "i know, i just miss him, and the stables," he replied, giving me a sad smile. "well, i'm sure we'd be able to get some more time at the stables, besides work, it's not like we have much on our plates," i said.

"you're right, thanks iris," he said and threw his arm over my shoulder.

my arm was around his waist as we walked back to the station. "did the gang know we were here?" he asked. "darry and ponyboy know," i said. "oh good, i didn't tell them," he said. "lucky for you i'm the one with the brains," i joked. "oh yeah! i'm the one with the muscles," he said and picked me up throwing me over his shoulder.

"put me down!" i squealed. "what's the magic word?" he asked. "please?!" i spat. "it was actually popcorn, but please works too," he said and set me down on the bench as we had arrived. 

"i dislike you," i said crossing my arms. "likewise miss ripley," he said.

"you guys are the cutest couple! you remind me of my husband and i when we were young," an old woman said, as she waited for the bus.

"oh we aren't a couple," i smiled at her. "for now sweetie," she replied and i looked at soda and we both laughed. when the bus got to us, we climbed on and i fell asleep almost immediately on his shoulder.

soda's pov

she was laying on my shoulder, out cold. she never sleeps as far as i know. she said johnny's parents keep her up when they yell at night.

johnny hasn't slept there in weeks, we outta offer her a place too. i guess the floor isn't much better either though.

when we got back, i didn't have the heart to wake her up. i picked her up bridal style and began walking us home. i was exhausted, but i'd do anything for her. when i walked into our house the atmosphere changed. it felt as if i was being waited for. i set iris on the couch, covering her in a blanket, and looked to see if either of my brothers were home.

when i looked in darrys room, they both turned to look at me.

"you're back, guess what?" ponyboy said excitedly. "what?" i asked. "i got a raise," darry said. "really?! that's amazing dar!" i said and hugged him. "you're in a chipper mood," darry replied. "i just spent the day with iris and mickey," i said sitting on his bed. "mouse?" ponyboy asked. "my horse," i grinned.

"what? i thought he got sold," darry said. "iris tracked him down, said it was a thanks for getting her to stay," i replied. darry and ponyboy gave each other a look, nodded, then smiled at me.

what the hell does that mean?