Revolution - An Outsiders / Sodapop Fanfic

Six

"SODAPOP PATRICK CURTIS, WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!" Sydney screamed when she entered the office. She slammed the door behind her, muffling her shouts.

"WHY ARE YOU SO MAD AT ME? WHAT DID I DO?" She was running her fingers through her hair, like she always did when she was frustrated.
"I CAME BACK TO TULSA TO SEE YOU. BECAUSE I MISSED YOU. AND YOU WON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME. WHAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY HAPPENED BETWEEN THE DAY I GOT HERE AND THE DAY AFTER? WHAT CHANGED, SODA?"

She stopped pacing and looked at him. Immediately, her face and harshness fell. He was sitting on the couch against the wall opposite the door, crying.

"I'm sorry," Soda whispered.

Sydney couldn't be angry at him like this. I used to say that no one ever got mad at Soda, Sydney was the first. But she wasn't mad anymore. She sat beside him and silently begged him to tell her what was wrong.

"It was the socs that started it all," Soda whispered, not looking at her, "They were right, I'm not good enough for you. You're the nicest person I know. You like everyone no matter what they are. You don't fight. You help people on the street, give tips to almost everyone that helps or serves you. You're stunning. I hope you notice every single person staring at you in awe because that's really how beautiful you are. All the girls around here cake their faces with makeup and go through five bottles of hairspray a day- you're natural. It's real nice.
"You dance in parades and on New York stages, train with the Russian gymnastics team, have tea with the queen, go to parties with Elvis... How am I supposed to compete with Elvis?"

"I like you better than Elvis," Sydney said truthfully.

Soda shook his head and continued, "You're so smart. The smartest person I know. You're going to go to university and become some sort of scientist and change the world. You're so smart-"
"Soda, I don't know what you're talking about. You've always been smart too. We'd get the same grades in school-"
"That was because you helped me. I couldn't do it on my own when you left. I was failing all my classes but gym. I dropped out."

That was news to Sydney. She'd always thought that Soda was as naturally smart as she was.

She let out a tiny laugh, "Then I guess we really are equal. I dropped out too."

Soda stared at her in shock. His jaw dropped.

"I was traveling with Abbey, I didn't have time for school. I dropped out. Abbey's been teaching me a little, but there's no way I'm getting into university."

"That's crazy," Soda said. He couldn't believe it. "I thought you would be the one person who never stopped going to school. I thought you cared too much about having a successful life, thought you were going to turn into a soc.
"No. That's Shawn," Sydney said remembering her brother, "his plan is to work until he's thirty and has a wife and family of his own, a big house and a well paying job that he probably won't like. That's when he'll be happy, when he's thirty.
"Abbey's like that too. Kind of. She wants to stay in school but at least her school's fun. I'd much rather be happy now."

"See?" Soda said, "You've got your priorities straight. You're not just book smart, you're street smart too. I'm telling you I'm not-"
"Yes. You. Are," Sydney made herself clear, "Quit saying that."
Soda protested, still in tears, "No I'm not! Sydney, I wasn't even good enough for Sandy!"

Sydney rolled her eyes. What was the deal with this Sandy chick anyway? She stood as she spoke.
"Soda, if Sandy couldn't see how lucky she was when she had you, then she does not deserve you. Leaving you was her mistake because you are the best person I know, no matter what you say. I can't stand seeing you down because of her. You said yourself all the greaser girls were trashy. Get over her. Tell me, what was so great about her anyway?"

I knew why Soda was so in love with Sandy. I didn't think he was ready to tell Sydney exactly why yet. But maybe he would feel like he couldn't lie to her, like he owed her the truth.

He hesitated, "I promise I'll tell you sometime, just not now? Please?"
Sydney nodded her agreement and held out her hands. Soda took them and she pulled him to his feet. Sydney through her arms around him.
"I'm sorry," she cried into his neck.
"What are you sorry for?" He asked, "I'm the one who's been treating you like crap. I'm so sorry."
"I'm sorry I ever made you feel like you weren't good enough. I never want to go another day without speaking to you."

Steve snuck in and joined their hug. He started crying too. I'm guessing it was because his two favourite people in the world were speaking again.

They looked to each other. It was crazy how much they'd grown but how little they'd changed. They were the same kids that cried together when they found out Sydney was moving, the same kids that cried together when Mickey Mouse was sold.

They smiled at each other. They were same kids that smiled at each other when they'd won top of their grade six class. The same kids that smiled at each other when Mr. And Mrs. Lucas got married. They were the same kids that laughed and teased Darry and Abbey together, cheered me on at my races and cheered Johnny up after his parents beat him. They were the same crazy kids that made Dally laugh for the first time ever. They were Sydney Lucas, Sodapop Curtis, and Steve Randle; the gold trio, best friends, always.

That evening was one of the best in my life. We celebrated the reunion of Sydney and Soda by one of our old favourite traditions. On summer nights, the gang used to get together and sing. Not that most of us were any good (at least not back then) but it was always fun.

"Abbey goes first," Two-Bit announced. Abbey always went first because out of all the people in the gang, she was the one who could sing.

She thought hard about what she wanted to sing, finally, deciding on Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley. Didn't surprise any of us, we used to call her the Queen of Rock N' Roll.
Sydney took initiative to sing all the background parts. They sounded nice.

We made Soda go next. I think he was thinking about Sandy when he sang Runaround Sue by Dion.
"This is my favourite song!" Sydney cried when he told us what he was singing.
We knew this one was going to use multiple male background voices, so Darry, Two-Bit, Steve and I took the parts that went "hey, hey!" And "awwwwwww!"

When Soda got to the fast part, Sydney jumped up and grabbed Abbey's hand, telling her to dance with her. The two of them did some of funniest dance moves I've ever seen. They did not look like professional dancers, but they moved to the music well. Sydney was having the time of her life. She was so in to it. At some parts when Soda sang, "A-Sue goes inside with other guys," Sydney would go right up to Two-Bit or Steve, or even me and do a little turn with us or something. It amused Soda. This'll sound cheesy, but I could see him falling in love with her, just watching her dance. The best part was near the end, when Sydney decided to dance with Soda, pretending to flirt with him. He played along and pretended he was totally not interested. In the end, she tripped and knocked herself, Soda, and the side table over. It wasn't the funniest thing I'd ever seen, but it was close.