Never

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[AUTHOR's NOTE: yes, this chapter is introducing Ren McCormack from Footloose (1984) ...]
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Sodapop Curtis...
"Steve, do you have a fever?" I ask Steve, it's Sunday night I decided to crash at his place. We share two thin blankets, it's warm enough, but Steve is feverishly warm.

"No, why?" He asks. "You're sweating, dude." I brush my fingers against his plump cheeks, glazed with droplets of sweat that ran down his forehead. His baby hairs are sticking to his forehead.

"Uh, hormones," he makes up a sorry excuse. I cock an eyebrow, "really? I didn't know it was possible for 17-year-olds to be this drenched. Maybe something you'd wanna get checked up on." I smile in my joking demeanor. "Wait, no, it was a nightmare. I had a bad dream that my dog died." He explains.

"Steve, you don't have a dog."
"Oh."

I chuckle, rolling over to my other side. I sigh as I remember Ponyboy asked me to be home tonight. He's still having nightmares about Johnny and Dally. I should be there for him.

"Steve, I gotta go. Pony needs me," I prop myself up on my arms and look down at him, his eyes are half shut. "That's alright, you can go then. Talk to you later, Soda." He mutters. "Yeah, goodnight, Steve." I hesitate to leave his side for a moment, but before I can resist any longer I get up and walk out the door.

I'm walking along the streets, passing by some convenience stores. When someone catches my eye, I glance over to the parking lot of a store and I see a boy. I can't tell what color his hair is in this lighting, but it seems like something of a dirty blonde. His hair isn't too long, but his bangs stand out, kinda shaggy. He almost has the same build as me, our facial features look alike, too. He's probably just about my age, he's in his car and he slams his fist down on the wheel as the radio blasts Never, a song recorded by an Australian pop-rock band.

I stop in my tracks as I watch him get out of his car, slamming the door shut and taking a swig from a bottle, which he throws far away and the sound of glass shattering is faintly audible.

He holds you down, but I know you want to run
Well, you're hot, hot, loaded like a gun

The lyrics fade into my memory as I'm mesmerized by the way he moves. Shuffling his feet, getting the rhythm, letting out the pent-up energy he has inside him. The song only gets better.

Oh, you feel, oh, so trapped and confused
Start with nothing, you've got nothing to lose

My lips part in amazement, the little guitar riff makes my soul dance. This sight is something else, it's art. Like, something otherworldly cinematic. Something out of a movie scene when the main character dances their heart out.

He runs across the lot, his moves are so rapid. He does a cartwheel without hands. This is a whole secretive performance unfolding right in front of me.

You can never, never, never, ever, never, never, never, ever hide your heart
Don't ever, ever, ever, ever try
If you don't give your heart wings
You'll never, never, never, ever, never, never, never, ever fly

He takes off his gray sweater, underneath is a white tank top. The way he flips and turns makes me wonder what he does, where he came from? So incredibly flexible and mobile, even more than Steve. I'm frozen until he takes another turn and finally spots me watching across the lot.

He's panting, sweat dripping down his forehead, he just freezes. My jaw is still dropping but I bring my hands together for an applause. He continues staring at me like he's a deer, caught in the middle of the road. The lyrics get more faint as my claps of admiration grow louder, I start whooping like a proud parent.

"You're amazing!" I shout. His gaze adverts from corner to corner, I can hear his heavy breathing and heaving chest from here. "Thanks," he finally responds sheepishly, a slight smile beams on his glowing face, making my own smile grow bigger.

"Man, where did you learn how to do that?" I start walking towards him, he chuckles. "Let's just say I have a lot of free time." "Oh yeah, I bet." I giggle. "What's your name?" I ask him.

"Ren, Ren McCormack. Nice to meet you," he politely holds his hand out and I grab it with a firm shake. "Sodapop Curtis." I introduce myself, which makes him laugh. "That's your name? Is that on your birth certificate?" He asks, everyone asks that when they first learn my name. "Yeah, my dad was a bit nuts." I chuckle.

"I haven't seen you around this area. I hang out here often with my pals. So what's your deal? Have you just been hiding, or are you new?" I give a teasing smirk. "I'm new to town, actually." He responds, my eyes light up. "You don't say?"

He nods, "yeah, how old are you, by the way?"

"17, why?"

"I was wondering if you're a high school student. You know, since I'm gonna be a new student and everything, it'd be nice to have a friend." He says. I sigh, a slight blush embarrassingly making its way to my face. "About that . . . I would be in high school now. It's just, well, I dropped out." I reveal. "I work at a gas station for a living, but I'm happy that way. And my little brother is doing well in his high school. Besides, I was dumb."

Ren scoffs and shakes his head, "yeah, no. I'll be the judge of that. But good for you. You've got siblings?"

I nod my head, "yup. A painfully overprotective older brother, Darry. And my fourteen-year-old brother, Ponyboy."

"Ponyboy," he repeats, "yet another weird name. That's awesome." I chuckle, "yeah. So, are you also in need of friends in this new town? Because if so, I could help with that." I smirk, he gives back the same energy. "Yeah, actually. How could you help?"
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Ren McCormack...
I let Soda do the talking as we're at Dairy Queen and he's introducing me to The Gang. They all seem fairly chill. Soda keeps yapping about how I can dance, how I've got 'tuff' music taste and all.

Soda introduced me to his bud, Steve Randle. He has dark raven hair, brown eyes, pale skin with a light complexion, he has a gap between his teeth and he's wearing a denim jacket with the sleeves cut off.

He avoids eye contact with me for some reason, but in those moments where he does make eye contact it seems like he's glaring at me. His dark eyebrows are furrowed, I'm not scared of him though. He looks more like a soggy cat than a threatening wolf.

"Wow, Ren. Are you as awesome as Soda describes you to be? Or is Soda just being nice because you're new?" He asks, Soda's gaze rests on him. I feel heat travel to my face.

"No, yeah. I'm totally all that." I say jokingly, Two-Bit and Soda chuckles. Steve rolls his eyes with a half smirk, then turns to Soda. "Soda, can we talk? Privately?" He asks.

Soda glances at me blankly, raising an eyebrow in a way that asks, "Are you alright with that?" I nod, letting him know he could go. I sigh, turning to Two-Bit, Ponyboy, and Darry as they leave.

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