𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 ― sodapop curtis

𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕣𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟 <3

For weeks I woke up puffy eyed, and barely had any energy to go to work. For the first week, Missy let me off the hook, but after that I was once again required to go to work. Before I knew it, the first day of school arrives, and I wake up, dreadful for the day ahead. I shower quickly, before heading to my closet. After a few minutes, I finally decide on a pair of distressed, baggy, light denim jeans, a white button up underneath an oversized Harvard sweater from my dad, and my black high top Chucks. I put on a pair of gold hoops, and pull my hair into a messy bun, a few hairs falling loose. I grab my keys off of my nightstand, and go downstairs, leaving immediately. I drive to school, absent like I've been for the past 2 months. When I get halfway to school, I find a rusty white truck broken down on the side of the road. I squint my eyes, and realize that it's Sodapop's truck. Pony is standing there, helpless, as Soda lifts the hood. I contemplate driving by, but that would go against my dads better judgement, so I stop. "what happened?", I say, talking only to Pony. Without looking up, Soda says, "My truck broke down again, and if I don't get Pony to school soon Darry'll kill m- Zara!!! Hey!". At that moment, Soda looks up, a smile smoothing out the worried wrinkles on his face. I wince, as the sound of Soda saying my name arouses the once dormant butterflies in my stomach. All the hurt that I tried so hard to ignore returns, my hollow heart shattering. "Hey, Soda...", I say, somberly. Soda hears the sadness in my voice, and his face soon matches my tone. "Zara, can we-", Soda starts, but I cut him off. "I- I can't. Pony, do you want a ride to school?", I say, looking at Ponyboy. Pony bites his lip, and looks at Soda with concern. Soda notices this to, and shakes his head. "Don't worry about me kid brother, I'll figure out how to fix this.", he says, a sad smile on his face. Pony looks from me to Soda a few times, before nodding. "O-Okay.", he says, before following me to my car. We both get in wordlessly, and I drive away. The whole ride we don't talk, just listen to the quiet music in the background. When we finally get to school, Pony gets out immediately, muttering thanks on the way out. Once I am sure he's gone, I break down, the whole in my chest wider than ever.

♥   ♥   ♥

I walk the halls absently, trying my hardest to ignore the gapping hole in my chest. When lunch comes, I consider not eating at all, but my stomach protests loudly. I bite my lip, as I walk through the lunch line. Once I get my lunch, I enter the cafeteria and look around for a seat. That's when I see Ponyboy sitting alone. I force a smile onto my face, and walk over to sit with him. "Hey, Pony!", I say, my voice laced with forced enthusiasm. "Hey, Zara-Mae.", he says, flatly. I furrow my eyebrows together, confused. "What's up, Pony?", I ask, sadly. Without looking at me, Pony murmurs slowly, "Well... my brother... he's very beat up about the whole thing with you... He really wants to talk to you.". Anger rushes through me. "Is he going to tell me something I don't already know?", I say through clenched teeth. Pony looks at me with worry. "He... He might, if you give him a chance and hear him out.", he says, with a slight hope in his tone. "I bite my lip, my mind telling me to say no, but my gut taking over. I close my eyes. Reluctantly, I say, "Fine. Fine, I'll hear him out. Where do you think I can find him after school?".