Summer Nights // Sodapop Curtis

Nineteen

I checked myself out in the mirror one more time, fixing my hair again and smoothing out the wrinkles in my striped dress. It was just about seven on Friday night, and Soda would be coming to pick me up at any moment. I put on my grandmother's necklace, and I was finally ready to go. When I heard the doorbell ring, I ran downstairs before anyone else could get to the door. When I saw Sodapop standing there, it took everything in me not to cry. He was wearing a plaid button down shirt and nice jeans. His golden brown hair was combed back and without grease.

"Callie, you look beautiful," he said, and my eyes started to water.

"You look beautiful too," I said, and then I laughed. "Handsome, you look handsome." Sodapop laughed. "Well, let's go!"

We walked to his truck, and he ran ahead to hold the door open for me.

"So, where are we going?" I asked him once we were both in the car.

"It's a surprise," he said with his signature smile, and all I could think about was how it was my last night with him, and that I would be back in Chicago by tomorrow night.

We drove for a few minutes with the music loud, and I recognized that we were near the drive-in, but there were cars everywhere, which seemed unusual.

"Where are we?" I asked when Soda parked the car. There were people walking around everywhere, and when I climbed out of the car and looked up, I saw a giant ferris wheel.

"Tulsa's annual carnival is here this weekend, I thought you'd like to go," Sodapop said, walking over to me.

I grabbed his hand and we walked up to the from booth, paid for our tickets, and entered the carnival. The carnival was full of people, the music was loud, and the smell of fried food floated in the air.

"Want to try out a game?" Soda asked me.

"Only if you win me something," I teased him.

"If I win, you owe me a kiss," He smiled.

"Deal." We walked over to the first game booth we saw, stuffed animals lined the walls and a man with bright red hair stood behind the counter. There was a bucket of baseballs and a bunch of glass bottles lined up on the table. Soda handed the man two dollars and picked up a baseball.

"You got this," I smiled.

"I know," he grinned, and he threw the baseball. The bottle shattered as it fell to the ground, and Sodapop had a big smile on his face.

"Gotta throw two more to win a prize," the man behind the counter told us. Soda threw two more baseballs, sending both bottles flying to the ground.

"Here ya go," the man said, handing Sodapop a purple stuffed monkey. We walked away from the booth, with smiles on our faces.

"This monkey belongs to you," Soda said, handing me the stuffed animal. I held the monkey to my chest, and kissed Soda on the cheek.

"Bumper cars?" I asked him.

"You know it," he smiled, and we headed off in the direction of the bumper cars.

After a long night of carnival games and dancing to our favorite songs, I knew that our date was coming to an end.

"Can we go one last place before we leave?" I asked.

"We haven't gone on the ferris wheel yet," Soda said. I grabbed his hand as we walked over to wait in line.

We sat down in our own little seat on the ferris wheel, and I realized that this could be my last moments with Sodapop.

"This has been a really great night," I said, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"I love you Callie, I really love you," Soda said, and my eyes began to water. "What's wrong?" He noticed that I was on the verge of tears.

"I have to tell you something," I said, my voice cracking.

"You don't love me," he said, looking down.

"No! Sodapop, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone!" I grabbed his hand to reassure him. "But I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Leaving?" He asked.

"We're going back to Chicago," I said.

"I thought you moved here," he said.

"I lied, I thought you wouldn't want to be friends with me if you knew I was leaving," I explained. "Please don't be mad, I didn't want either of us to get hurt."

"I'm not mad, I'm just...hurt. You didn't have to lie to me Callie," Sodapop said.

"I know, Soda, I know. I made a mistake," I cried.

"It's okay," Sodapop said, wrapping his arms around me. "It's okay, but these are our last moments together, let's not spend them being upset."

Once we were off the ferris wheel, we walking back to the car, holding each other's hands. The car ride home felt short, and I scooted as close to Sodapop as I could.

"Do you want to say goodby to the rest of the gang?" He asked.

"I can't," I shook my head, tears spilling out again.

"What's gonna happen to us?" Soda asked.

"We can't drag this out if it's not meant to be," I said.

"We're breaking up?" He asked.

"If it's meant to be, we'll be together again," I told him, struggling to get my words out.

We both held each other tight, crying. We sat together, embraced in each other's arms for a long time, but it wasn't long enough.

"I should go," I said, and he got out of the car and held the door open for me. I hugged him tight, and I never wanted to let go. "I love you so much Sodapop."

"I love you so much Callie, I'll see you again, even if it isn't for a while," Sodapop said, and he leaned in and kissed me softly.

I couldn't talk without breaking down completely, so I took one last look at Sodapop Curtis, the boy I loved, and I went inside the house.

A/N

that was the last chapter, and I am working on the epilogue right now. I hope you've enjoyed my story, and I am excited for you to read the ending.
xx
maddie