Sunburn (Stevepop)

Ch 6- A lot to not think about

The following morning I woke up with a slap to my arm. Darry threw me out of bed in a second and I barely had my pants on before I was out in the living room. Ponyboy looked at me with an egg stuffed in his mouth and mumbled "Told you you'd be late for work if ya stayed up so late" and Darry told him to be nice. They threw my DX shirt at me and I darted out the door. Steve was leaned against his car with a cigarette between his lips, looking cool as ice- and then some. Really, I couldn't tell you why he doesn't get girls asking him out constantly. Maybe it's the attitude, but Dally gets the girls that like the whole bad boy thing all the time. But Steve isn't nearly as "bad" as Dallas, and I hope he never his. I like Steve the way he is.
During the school year Steve works part time and I work full time, but since it's Summer Steve sticks around all day. I like Summer, even though I'm not in school.
Two-bit found us at work a few hours in, and Dally showed up later, hanging out before the date Two-bit was dragging Dallas along to. Two was going with Kathy, and she was dragging Sylvia along too, even though her and Dal have been broken up since him and Johnny got together.
"Ya know the ladies are all hanging out together now?" Two said in between mouthfuls of Nerds that he stole.
"Are they really?" I questioned.
I guess that would explain why Kath was taking Sylvia as a forth-wheel.
"Hey-wait a sec Mathews, how the hell do you know?" Dally asked harshly.
"Kathy tells me things. What? Your girls don't, like, talk to you about stuff?"
"Sandy talks to me! She tells me about her family a lot... And school..."
Two-bit laughed at me, but I can't imagine why. I reverted my attention back to Steve, who was walking back from the pay phone.
"Evie just called, she's coming by soon with Sandy," he mumbled.
"We couldn't get any work done if we wanted to!" I laughed.

Steve pov
I'm not going to have Two and Dallas around along with Evie and Sandy. One, because Evie hates Dally and she's not too keen on Two-bit either, and two because that many people is real distracting while I'm trying to fix an engine. I shooed them away, chucking stolen Nerds at Two-bit as he sped off and Soda laughed. It's always rewarding to make Soda laugh, its lively and infectious, and it's always paired with a real nice smile.
An hour came and went; I took my sweet time fixing some soc kid's taillight. Every time I turned around I found Soda was looking at me through the window of the DX mini market. I could feel my face get more flushed each time I caught his eye. I was hoping I didn't look stupid standing around right then, even though I don't tend to get self conscious about how I look at work.
I took a smoke break at one point since Soda was busy inside and nobody there needed my expertise. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a familiar short blond with long hair and a sweater, and a darker girl, nearly a head taller, wearing too much makeup and short shorts. Sandy and Evie.
"Hi Steven. Nice burn," Sandy said sharply and sarcastically, eyeing my pink shoulders. She sped past me to head inside, leaving Evie there with me.

Soda pov
Sandy came by the DX finally, and Steve gave her an angry glare that she ignored.
"Hey Sweetie-pop!" she said cheerfully.
All I could think of was what Two-bit said about her and her guy at the movies. She smiled so genuinely and she hopped up on her tip-toes and kissed my cheek like she always has. I smile back anyway, I'm just trying to cherish what time I've got left before she leaves me for that other guy.
She explained that she had no plans with her friends today and noticed she hadn't seen me in a few days, which is why she came. She gestured to the window, where Steve and Evie were talking.
"Evie decided to come too, you know they haven't even spoken to each other in a week and a half?"
Steve argued last night that he doesn't love Evie anymore, apparently he hasn't even talked to her. He's not even trying to fake it...
"I tell you what, I'm getting sick of hearing her worrying and crying over him all the time, baby."
"If you're sick of it, imagine how he feels," I chuckled.
There's really nothing funny about it, but I felt kinda bad saying it at all. I'd have to be crazy not to pretend like it's a light matter.
She sighed, taking a look outside at Steve and Evie, both of them looking more than unhappy. It saddens me to see my best friend so miserable, it really does. I tried not to think about it, but I've got a lot to not think about.
"I don't think I'm okay with you hanging out with Steve anymore, Sodapop..."
My head snapped in her direction, "Wait, what?" I asked sharply.
"He's not treating Evie right, guys like him are no good! I don't want you around him all the time, he's not a good influence on you!"
"I... Are you serious...?" I stood bewildered for a moment, "Sandy, he's been my best friend since grade school. I'm sorry, baby, but I don't care if you don't like how he is with your friends! I mean... Gosh, she doesn't treat him so great neither!"
I tried to explain to her the reasons why he doesn't love Evie. I recalled the times that I'd been told she got upset with him, and how it got to Steve after a while.
I'd never thought much of it before last night, but their relationship has always been in a rough state. I've just always been one to say "it's none of my business" and act as a shoulder to cry on after the fact. Well, more like a pair of ears for Steve to complain about it to, but still.
She looked startled for a second, and muttered, "Well can ya blame her for being unhappy?... I mean, being with a guy like that... I couldn't date him and still be happy, and you couldn't either!"
"Ya know what?" I said, "I bet I could, in fact I'd be so lucky! He's a good guy, and I don't think I like you comin' in here, telling me I can't be friends with him anymore!"
That was a damn bold statement, but I have to defend my friends!
She sighed, with nasty look on her face and her hands up defensively "Alright fine, I'm goin'... You two are way too close, by the way..." and she stormed out.