Sunburn (Stevepop)

Ch 4- Morbid shit

Third person

Soda ranted for at least an hour or two about Sandy, worrying about their future and why she cheated. They'd walked around the park until it was dark, and then sat down at a very clean, untouched bench. After Soda vented everything he possibly could about her a couple times, they starting talking about other stuff. He mentioned how he found out from Two-bit again, and he said he's glad it was him that saw and not someone like Johnny. Johnny probably wouldn't have told him, at least that's what Soda thought, but Two-bit can't keep a secret if his life depended on it.
But as far as Steve knew, Two never told anybody his secret about Evie, so he tried defending him to Soda. Of course in the process he had to tell Soda that he never loved his girlfriend, but somehow this seemed as good a time as any to him.
"Ol' Two-bit kept that a secret for me," Steve smiled.
Soda's mouth hung open in shock. His use of the word never, the way he said it so casually, and all of the times he's seen them make out in plain sight, added quite a bit to his surprise. He simply didn't believe it.
"W-what happened? You two are great together, what could be wrong?"

Steve pov
Soda sure does sound confident in my relationship with Evie, especially for not even being a part of it. He doesn't know just how great together we are! What if she was a crazy druggie and he just didn't know it, then he'd be sorry.
I started getting defensive, and he didn't look surprised. Of course he doesn't, I'm always defensive. How else do you stand up for your pride?... That's not like Dallas, he's always acting on the offensive, without ever trying to defend himself.
I learned that from talking to Two-bit, he knows a lot about people. I'm more book smart myself-well, cars, but still. I just don't think too much about people, unless it's Sodapop. But I guess you can't blame Two for getting good at knowing people, since all he does is talk with friends.
Anyway, I didn't think telling Soda about Evie would end up in him denying it for me! I got pretty mad real fast. Come on, he was talking on and on about Sandy and how much he loves her and misses her and wished it was him getting dirty kisses at the movies instead of that guy. And now he's trying to tell me about the stability of my own relationship?
"Are you sure you're not just stressed out because she might be leaving? Like, maybe you're just saying you never loved her so it won't matter when she-"
I was tired of listening to that before he even started. I huffed and groaned loudly to cut him off, then leaned against a tree and stared at a rock on the ground. He did stop for a second, but then, in a more sharp and exasperated tone, finished his thought.
"I'm just saying, Steve, you shouldn't just ignore that you loved her because it's going to end. You don't have to hate every ex you had. Don't just erase all the good that came out of being with her."
"What good?" I snapped, "Getting dragged to boring chick movies? What about getting lectured after every single thing I do, just 'cause she don't trust me to stay alive for 6 hours by myself?! Or the completely out-of-wack sex drive maybe?"
He stood up and put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it tight, "The love, man... You love her-"
"No I don't!" I pushed him off.
He backed off and I could see he was breathing heavily, and sweating too.
"Just because you 'n' your life 'n' your girl 'n' your brothers are all happy-go-lucky and positive doesn't mean mine are too! I-I love somebody else, just like Sandy does, alright Sodapop?! Morbid shit like fake love is everywhere, buddy, welcome to the real world! God..."
I felt a sting of guilt as he looked at me in defeat. At least what I said was getting through to him, but I still didn't feel good about it.
As much as he was sweating, I was probably ten time sweatier. I just admitted that I have feelings for another person! I'm no good at keeping stuff in when I'm mad, everything just comes out in a blind rage. Nearly half of what I said are a prime example of that... I felt the urge to storm off, be away with the situation until my shift starts tomorrow. He had a similar look in his eye, like he's thinking the same thing. Maybe it's a best friends thing that we can't abandon each other, or it's just too late for greasers to be walking alone, but either way neither of us did leave. We just stood there, looking at each other, sweaty, guilty, and awkward.