Sunburn (Stevepop)

Ch 12- Going out

Steve pov
For the first time in years, I spent my Saturday morning at home today. Double points for a Summer day, too. Most days I'm out of the house the second I'm out of bed. But today I've got nowhere to go. Not even work, since it's one of those occasional Saturdays that Buck gave us off for "vacation". We're pretty sure it's just because he holds parties on those days anyway. Plus I'm nursing a hangover, not waking up until noon.
I waited out a couple hours lying in bed, with the window by my bed cracked. I was hoping a breeze would come by, but even the wind was hot, so I shut it. The air was so humid and thick with the smell of my own sweat, my headache was getting worse by the minute.
The sudden ringing of the phone in the main room startled me. I leaped out of bed and ran to pick it up. The second I opened my bedroom door there was a wisp of cool air that hit me, or at least it felt cool in comparison. I hurriedly answered the phone, making sure to not wake my dad, who'd gotten home later than I did last night.
"Randle," I said quickly, trying to use a slightly deeper voice than my own.
Sometimes people call for my dad, but I don't want to wake him up so I handle it myself with a fake voice. Now I have to answer the phone with that voice every time I get a call, which gets embarrassing, but people don't tend to notice unless they're Soda or Evie. But they were understanding about it.
"Relax, it's me," Evie's chipper voice said.
I don't think Soda understood so much as Evie did, since he had such great parents before. I tend to talk to her more about that kinda family stuff anyway, because it's one of the things she can't bitch at me about. I'll miss that when she's gone I think.
"Hey Evie... What's goin' on?"
"So I know you weren't quite you last night at the movies, and that's okay! I mean, e-except for the kissing, you're always a great kisser!~"
Last night? All I thought about was Soda crying and kicking me out, and me yelling at him right as I left. Fuck last night. I could hardly remember anything else. Not so much because of the hangover, but because the only thought in my mind was talking with Sodapop.
"Oh, yeah..." I agreed mindlessly.
She giggled softly, then said, "I only bring it up because I was hoping to see you again today, to talk about it, or just continue where we left off... If you're not busy?"
"I'm not busy," I said. I know I'm either gonna have to break up with her or have sex with her, and I really don't wanna do either of those things. But I think if I stay in much longer I'll die of heat, boredom, and sadness.
"Where were you thinkin'?"
She told me to meet her at the park in 4 hours, but I left early just to get out of the house. I left a note on the counter, like I always do, even though I don't think they ever get read. Went to the park with Evie. Back soon -Steve
It's for peace of mind, really. I also brought a switchblade for the same reason.
The bright sun stung my eyes when I opened the door, but that's probably just the hangover talking again. The sun beat down cruelly on me and the denim jacket I wore to cover my arms, since the sunburn was starting to peel.
I sat at a bench in the park, and out of boredom I whipped out the switch. I inspected the wood bench, and after a while I found myself carving shapes and things into the wood. About an hour passed, and all of the sudden I felt a firm hand on my shoulder.
I turned around, and Two-bit Mathews was standing over me. It surprised me, but I'm disappoint in myself for letting him surprise me at all.
"Hey buck-o, how's- WOAH!.. Wh-haha!-what is this?"
I looked and I realized suddenly that I'd carved on every inch of the bench. Not a single bit was untouched by my switch. It was completely covered in little triangles and squares and the occasional swear word.
"Guess I zoned out..." I muttered. I stared in confusion at my work and at myself. I'd completely covered it without thinking at all...
He laughed real loud, even for Two-bit, "Man, it finally happened! You snapped, you're crazy! Call the warden of the mad-house, ol' Steve's off his rocker! Haha! Your marbles, my friend, where'd they go?!"
I stood, "Would you shut up! It's just that Soda's most of my impulse control and I haven't seen him all day..."
He laughed again, "You haven't seen Sodapop in sixteen hours? I never thought I'd see the day!"
Sixteen? "Oh all of the sudden you can do mental math?"
Realistically, we go periods of sixteen hours not seeing each other all the time. It's not like we're constantly in each other's company just because we're best friends, even if he's almost all I can ever think about... I'm just particularly on edge right now, so impulse control is at an alltime low. I put the blade down suddenly afraid.
"For you baby, I'd even do physical math," he made a fake winky face and laughed again. I swear, Two always making gay jokes and pretending to hit on me is probably what made me realize I'm into guys. That made me feel sick too.
We sat down and he told me about his plans for the day, and what he did last night with Kathy.
Finally he turned to me and asked, "So how was talkin' with Soda last night, buddy?"