Stepping Stones to my Heart (Sodapop Curtis Love Story)

Chapter 20: The Jaws of Detention

I will not attack my teammate.

I will not attack my teammate.

I will not attack my teammate.

I was on sentence 87, 313 more to go.  It was nine o’clock and I slept for the first twenty minutes until Coach came in to check on me and made me write a hundred more sentences. 

I will not attack my teammate.

I will not attack my teammate.

Each time I wrote, the white chalk became shorter and shorter.  It left white powder on my hands making it look like I was getting handy with a ghost.  I constantly looked from the green chalkboard to the clock that seemed to be ticking backwards instead of forwards.  Not to mention it was the middle of winter and the classroom was freezing.  All I had was sweater and it started developing frost.  It was bad enough I had to get up early this morning, but now I have to freeze. 

The window propped open from outside and Soda climbed inside.  He was in a leather jacket, which he rarely ever wore, and his face was as pale as snow.  “Hey baby.” He said.

“What you doing here Sodapop Curtis.” I said throwing my chalk at him, “Thought you already got out of detention.” I laughed. 

“Well I knew how much you didn’t wanna come here this morning, so I thought I’d entertain you.” He replied. 

I pondered for a moment twisting my face.  “Why stay here?” I asked. 

He raised a brow.  I ran towards the window grabbing his hand in process.  I saw his rusty truck parked in front of the high school and hopped into the drivers seat.  I revved the engine and sped away from the building. 

Soda cranked the stereo up loud and Gloria blared from the car.  I swerved into the local Dairy Queen.  We got two cokes, two burgers, two fries, and two ice creams; you could say we were hungry.  After we finished our breakfast, we laid on top of the truck digesting our food. 

“Where do you think we’ll be in a couple years?” he asked.

“Probably…millionaires in California.” I responded.

I let out a few chuckles and he playfully hit me in the arm, “I’m serious!”

“Alright, alright, we’ll probably still be here, working crappy jobs, living life.” I said seriously.

“Do you think anything will change?”

“What like the socs?” I was stumped. 

“No, like us?  If we would still be together?” he corrected.

“What? Like if we get married or something?” I asked.

“Yeah, what do you think? I like it.” Soda smiled at the clouds.

I turned over and hugged his torso.  I felt his sturdy arms wrap around my rib cage.  Nuzzling my head into his chest, I said, “I like it too.” He kissed the top of my head.  “What do you think is gonna happen?”

“Hmm, I’d say we settle down and I’ll find a job and support our family.” He beamed with his dreamy eyes, “And we’ll have a lot of money.”

I looked up at him dazzled, “Now your dreaming!”

“So what? We all dream and some of them come true.  Its like how you think everything happens for a reason, you think its up to the universe and I think its up to my mind.  You can do anything you put your mind to, that’s what my dad told me.” Sodapop announced. 

I just nestled closer to him; this is the guy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  This is a guy would will support me off nothing and put me first.  I’ve seen my dad abuse my mom and call her things and be real mean.  Its something no woman deserves and as much as I hate my mom, even she doesn’t deserve it.  It’s nice to find someone who treats you the way you’re supposed to be treated. 

“Hey, what do we have here?” Two-Bit’s voice rang as he walked up to us.  “Don’t mind if I steal her from ya Soda?” 

“Nah, I gotta take care of some things.  Don’t keep her out too late.” Soda joked as he jumped off the roof of the car and gave me a peck on the cheek. 

Two-Bit and I started walking around for who knows what reason, he’s my best buddy, he’s probably just bored.  ‘I gotta take care of some thing.’ What did Sodapop mean by this.  Was it something to do with our conversation or that my birthday was coming up or errands.  Two-Bit snapped me back into reality.