Revolution - An Outsiders / Sodapop Fanfic

Three

By the time Sydney, Soda, and Steve had gotten to the gas station, Soda had made up his mind; he was not going to bother Sydney. He figured, she hadn't liked him that much to begin with if she left, right? And she wasn't even back for him, she was here for Johnny and Dally. And of course she didn't like him, she was clearly way above him. He was embarrassed he hadn't seen that before.

Sydney spent the whole day with Steve, much to Steve's irritation, as no matter how many times they tried to change the topic of their conversation, Sydney kept bringing up "Why isn't Soda talking to me?" again.

She slapped herself on the face after the twentieth time but then decided to continue on, "I mean, he was fine this morning."
"I've told you this a thousand times!" Steve said, "His depression probably got him."
Sydney gave him a sad face.
"Come on, don't take it personal."
"But he still talks to you!" Sydney protested, "and he'll go home and talk to Darry, and Ponyboy, and Two-bit, too. Everyone but me, Steve. And I don't understand why!"
She let out a frustrated cry that made Steve throw his hammer.
"Well here's a crazy idea," Steve said sarcastically, "Why don't you go up to him and ask him?"
Sydney stared at Steve, simply dumbfounded.
"You're telling me that if I go up to Soda and ask why the hell he ain't talking to me... He'll just explain everything?"
Steve shrugged, "Well I don't see why he wouldn't."
Sydney laughed as if Steve were crazy.
"Yeah, because when people are mad at you to the point that they're avoiding you, they really just want to talk to you."
Steve shook his head in defeat.

"I have an idea," Sydney said suddenly, "Steve, can I get you anything from the gas station?"
Steve opened his mouth to reply when Sydney cut in.
"That's placed near the counter?" She added.
He thought about it and Sydney just hoped he'd even know what was by the counter.
Finally, he answered, "Just a coke."
"Got you," Sydney smiled as she jumped off the hood of the car and ran inside.

Sydney threw open the door and looked around, her eyes landing on Soda behind the counter. He looked away before they could make eye contact. Sydney furrowed her brow. She headed on over to the candy and coke, saying loudly;
"Fuzzy peaches for me... And a coke for Steve-"
Soda looked over at her with an eyebrow cocked in confusion, but his eyes didn't linger long.

"Can I get you a cola, Pepsi?" Sydney asked when she got to the counter.
Soda silently scolded himself for laughing a bit when ringing up her fuzzy peaches. It was just funny how she hadn't changed at all since she'd left.
"No," he simply turned down the drink.
There was no way he was going to let Sydney pay for him.

Sydney did not like this answer.
"Soda," she said seriously.
When he ignored her, she asked, "Sodapop, what is going on?"
"Nothing," Soda handed her the coke and the candy, "this is life as usual."

Sydney squinted at him and then left without a word. Steve meant to question what went down in the gas station but before he could do anything, Sydney shook her head.
"Talk to him," she told Steve as she passed, "I'm going to see Pony and Two-Bit."

I was in the kitchen and Two-Bit was in the living room watching tv when the front door flew open.
"Hey," I heard Sydney call.
"Hey there!" Two-Bit replied.
"Soda, Steve, you're home from work early," I said and I knew my brow was furrowing.
Sydney sounded irritated as she said, "No they're not. It's just me-"
And as she entered the kitchen, she said to me, "because your brother's being an idiot."

But that was all she said. She left me and sat on the couch opposite Two-Bit and glared at the tv screen as if Mickey Mouse had done her wrong.

"He's mad at me," Sydney said to no one in particular, keeping her eyes on the screen, "He won't talk to me... Not even to tell me why."

I didn't understand. This was Soda she was talking about? That's so unlike him, and Sydney too... His best friend that he's missed so much.

"You know what?" Sydney asked, her eyes still on the screen, "if he's going to act like this, maybe I don't even want to be his friend. I need to surround myself with nice people who make me feel good about myself. Like you two. That's it then, I'm not going to even bother with Sodapop."

"Well that's good," Two-Bit said, "seeing as he don't want you bothering him."
He laughed.
Sydney did not.

For the first time in five minutes, Sydney tore her eyes from the tv. She glared at Two-Bit, dared him to say more. He didn't though, he threw his hands up and looked away.

"That isn't like him, though," I said finally.
"I know!" Sydney agreed, "it's driving me mad!"
"I thought you weren't going to do anything about it," Two-Bit said.
"But I want to," Sydney collapsed on the couch, "I miss Soda."

That was good, I thought. Sydney should miss Soda. A world without the two of them side by side is a world I don't want to live in. They're too good together. Soda is so much better with Sydney.

"What are you going to do about it then?" I asked.
She stared out the window, brainstorming. Every once in a while, her eyes would light up for a fraction of a second but then they'd go back to normal as she dismissed the idea. Suddenly, a look of realization wiped over her face and she almost laughed. She looked at Two-Bit, and then she looked at me.  She sighed and said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world;
"I'll write to Abbey."