ʜᴇʀᴏ

guilty

Later that sunday afternoon, soda was going up to the dx to take a look at his car's post race damages. I decided to tag along, i needed to get out of the house and away from dally.

after a few hours of working on the car in the garage, we were taking a break in the store. the air conditioning felt nice.

soda and i were sitting on the counter together, drinking cokes in silence.

"what's up with you?"
i asked

"what's up with you?"
he snapped back.

i rolled my eyes and turned to face him.
"you've been acting so weird since the brawl last week."

"i haven't.."
he said, sounding like he was convincing himself more so then me.

"yes you have, everyone can see that you've been moping around the last few days so why? what's wrong?"
i asked.

soda looked down at his feet, he looked like he could cry.
"fizz?"

"what?"
i snapped, getting frustrated.

he looked up at me, tears in his eyes.
"they did that to you because of me, didn't they?"

i sighed, my expression softened.
"soda.."

"didn't they?"
he repeated, raising his voice.

i bit the inside of my cheek and looked away from him.
"bryce was mad.. about that race you beat him in two weeks ago."

"damn it!"
he yelled, standing up and throwing the glass bottle against the wall. it shattered, leaving a mark on the wall, and the glass scattered onto the floor.

"sodapop.. i don't blame you. they would've found another excuse to do what they did anyway. that's how they are."
i said, putting my hand on his shoulder.

"i should've been there. you shouldn't have been walking alone."
he said, pain seeping from his voice.

i got down from the counter and wrapped my arms around him.
"it's okay. i'm okay.."

he wrapped his arms around me and laid his head on my shoulder, crumpling into me.
"you're okay?"

i nodded.
"i am, i promise."

we just stood there hugging for a minute.

he pulled away and looked at me.
"now, what's been going on with you? you've been acting weird all day."

i huffed and sat back down on the counter.
"nothing."

"oh don't do that, fizz."
soda said, standing in front of me with his arms crossed. he reminded me of darry when he did this.

i took a breath and shrugged, looking around.
"i don't know.."

"why do i have a feeling it has to do with dallas?"
he asked.

i looked back at him in surprise.
"how do you know?"

"because he's been acting weird ever since the race last night too."
he laughed.

i nodded.
"jamie thinks dallas has feelings for me and told me to stay away from him. last night, jamie saw us talking and got all mad. they almost got into a fight. i don't want to keep making him angry so.. i can't talk to dally anymore."

"do you think he likes you?"
he asked, raising an eyebrow

"i don't know anymore."
i laughed, frustrated.
"at first i thought there was no way but last night, he acted different. but, i didn't mind it."

he laughed.
"oh, i know you didn't."

i playfully kicked his leg.
"shut up.."

"so what are you going to do?"
he asked.