Under The Willow Tree

Chapter 2

"Soda..." I stood up so quickly the kitchen chair I was sitting on fell to the floor with a bang.

"Ponyboy, go see Johnny at the lot." I said quickly.

"But-" He argued.

"Now." I snapped. The front door slammed as Pony walked out the front door.

Soda hugged me tightly and I took the envelope from his hand, ripping it in half and then again and again until it was in small pieces.

"You know she doesn't deserve you Soda..." I looked up at Soda.

"Callie you don't understand...!" Soda ran his hands through his hair.

"Oh I don't understand how it feels to have someone you love stab you in the back?!" I answered, my voice raising to match his own.

"Callie-" Soda lowered his voice.

"You need to forget about that-that....bitch." Soda's head snapped in my direction whenI swore.

Soda looked down at me, our eyes meeting and locked. I could feel the heat radiating off of his body. I licked my lips, "Soda?" I mumbled, looking up at him.

"Callie..."

"CALLIE BRYNN WINSTON!!!" I heard the door slam as Dallas stormed into the house. "Did you plan to tell me a fucking Soc hit on you today?! Or were you going to tell me after he told Kensley he had a crush on you?!!" Dallas shouted.

I felt the blood drain from my face. "Dal-" I started.

"A Soc?! Really?!" Dallas shouted, his face turning red.

"I THOUGHT YOU KNEW BETTER!"

I glanced at Soda as my lower lip trembled as I bit down hard onto it, as my eyes filled with hot tears.

"Can we talk about this later... please~" I said softly, I hated the fact I might cry in front of my brother or worse Soda.

Dallas grabbed my wrist tightly, glaring down at me. "Soda look after her, I'm about to kill a Soc."

I felt Soda's hand on my shoulder as he pulled me from Dallas' embrace. I heard Dally's angry footsteps as he slammed the front door.

I wiped tears from my eyes, Soda looked down at me. "Cal... are you okay?" He asked softly.

"Yes I'm fine." I lied through my teeth.

"Callie I'm your best friend. I've known and loved and supported you for 5 years, I know you better than that." Soda smiled reassuringly, rubbing his hand down my right arm.

"You don't love me. No one does. Dallas doesn't, my parents don't." I sighed. "No one will ever have more than a crush on me because I'm not worth pursuing." I felt hot tears once again in my eyes.

High school was bad enough when you have never dated anyone and get teased for it. Worse when people have liked you and don't do anything about it.

"That is not true and you know it!" Soda hugged me tightly, making my bun come loose as I hugged him back, my hands connecting around the back of his chest.

"Yes it is Soda."

"No it is not."

"Then WHY HAVEN'T I DATED ANYONE?! HUH?" I even surprised myself. "Sorry." I quickly apologized.

"Because you haven't found the right person." His voice was soft as his eyes met mine and I felt a rush of heat.

"Oh-... and when is that going to happen?" I blushed softly as I sighed in anger and hopelessness.

"Maybe you'll meet the right guy.. and you'll just know? Or you have already met him-" I looked at the hardwood floor and Soda spoke, pretending the words 'maybe you already met him' didn't my heart pound a little faster.

I took a step back as the hair tie holding my hair up finally came undone and I put it around my wrist, my hair falling down my back.

I scoffed, I didn't like being flustered I didn't like the fact I was shy. I didn't like the fact I was so much different from Dallas and that people never assumed we were siblings. I could be confident...right?

"If I've already met him then why would he wait- why wouldn't he have said something." I asked, my tone accidentally innocent as my eyebrows raised.

Soda shrugged,"Maybe it's not the right time...?" He sat on the couch and this time I was the one pacing.

I rolled my eyes, running my hands through my hair.

I was worried Dallas was going to go back to jail, I was worried Sandy would send more letters, I was worried about Ponyboy and Johnny, I was worried most of all; about how Soda's expression suddenly changed when he looked at me. It went from friendly like it always had to something deeper, more alluring, like a bee to honey I wanted to step closer to him.

I had never seen that kind of look before.

Chapter 2: 805 words