Greased Up 2 - Life After Death - Sodapop Curtis

Chapter 5

It had been a week since the funeral and I was already visiting. The air was warming, memories from winter were slipping from me.

I still wore a jacket, though. It may be warming up, but there was still a nip in the air. Sighing, I crossed my arms and searched for my long lost friends.

Around the middle I found them, their flowers deteriorating by the hour. "It's not much, but it's something." I said softly as I put down wild dasies I had picked from someone's yard.

I sat down on the mildewy grass, which looked cut from not too long ago. I started to trace the inside of the names engraved in the stone.

"You know... I feel like I'm the only one who's showing emotion in the gang. Like, the only one who's truly grieving, you know? Everyone else doesn't even mention you guys anymore..." I looked down to my hands and sighed. "At least Ponyboy is showing it. He just doesn't talk about it. You know, I've seen him writing a lot. I sure would like to read it."

The air felt cold. Colder than it was before I got here. I rubbed my eyes and sighed. "Kat... why are you always here?" I looked up and there she was, sitting next to me.

Kat turned to me and gave me a soft smile, almost sympathetic. "Sodapop... You have to let me go. I can't leave until you accept that I'm dead." She said, her voice echoed in my ears.

I hiccuped the air. She was actually talking to me. I felt my eyes and throat burn. "Why am I only seeing you?" I asked.

She shook her head. "You've accepted it. You aren't dwelling on it like with me. Just let go."

I shook my head. " I don't want to let go, Kat... I can't."

Grabbing my hand, Kat sighed. "Soda..."

My heart fluttered. I loved it when she said my name like that. Soda. It gave me chills.

Suddenly, everything came to me. The first time I ever saw her. How she would playfully dance at Buck's parties, and not grind like other girls. How she laughed at the smallest things. When she was with Dallas, and how happy she looked...how warm and heartfelt she was...

Then, it went in slow motion. I saw her trying to leave the house, and how Darry had to pin her down. And how she reached out for Dallas...and how she screamed. Oh God, the screaming...

The gun. Her wet, sorrow filled face. Her dead body... and how I held her and cried.

I sighed, and my pain left me like my air did. It all just left. But I still felt all of them deep into my soul. Like they were officially a part of me.

Then I let go of her hand. I let go of her. Of everyone.

Relief.

Bliss.

Silence.

I'm sorry this was short too. I really am running out of ideas sorrry !!