Back to You

A Big Night

Blanca and Erin were getting ready for their dates. Blanca was beyond ecstatic about it. She was going on a date with Sodapop! Well, Soda didn't call it a date. He just asked if she wanted to get something to eat and if Johnny and Erin wanted to come. But Blanca called it a date.

"What should I wear? Leggings or jeans? Or should I wear a dress? A skirt?" She was throwing clothes out of her closet, all of them scattering all over the room.

"Well I'm wearing leggings, boots, and this flowery shirt." She held up her outfit so Blanca could see. She looked it over and nodded in approval.

"Johnny's going to love it!" She said before turning back around to the closet. "But I still need help."

There was a knock on the door before Rachel, Katlyn, and Paige came strolling in. "Woah!" Rachel looked around at all the clothes that were thrown around the room. "Blanca, calm down." Blanca continued to throw clothes. A shirt came flying out of her hands an hit Paige in the head.

"Seriously." Paige grabbed the shirt and threw it on the bed. "You need to just relax, girl. No need in making a mess."

"Are you kidding!" She said loudly as she grabbed Paige by the shoulders and shook her. "Sodapop Patrick Curtis asked me to go on a date with him! I can't 'just relax'!"

"You're not the only one going, remember?" Erin said.

"I know. I needed someone to help me out. I don't think I could be by myself without making a fool of myself. I almost fell off the counter at the DX yesterday. And he was standing there watching me too!" Blanca fell back onto the bed, letting out a big, drawn out sigh. "I'll probably do something stupid. He's just so cute and funny, and I would really like for this to work out."

"Aww. I'm sure it will, Blanca. Trust me," Erin told her. "I'm sure he likes you back."

"I hope so." Blanca rolled over on her side to face Erin. "I don't know how you're able to keep your cool around Johnny. When I'm around Soda I feel like my stomach will explode with butterflies and I'll do something stupid."

"Well...I was used to being around him before I really liked liked him. You know I liked him before I came here, but once I was here it just got stronger the more I was around him. Especially at the church. But the butterflies were bad." Erin smiled. "If you think your stomach feels like it will explode just wait until you kiss."

"Oh gosh! I haven't even thought that far ahead."

Erin laughed. "Everything will be fine, Blanc. Right now just focus on the date."

...

Sodapop had agreed to drive everyone to the restaurant. He never would say what it was and it really scraped on Johnny's nerves. But Johnny pushed the thought aside to enjoy the car ride with his girlfriend.

"Stooop!" Erin dragged out with a laugh. Johnny smiled as he messed with her hair, moving it into her face. He liked to pester her just to see her laugh. Erin fixed her hair and put it into a low ponytail. "There. Now try," She said, sticking her tongue out at him.

Johnny grabbed her hands and pulled the hair tie out. "Ahh! No!" Erin cried. Johnny only laughed. Blanca looked back at them from the front seat.

"What are you two doing?"

"He's being mean!" Erin said with a smile. Blanca just smirked and shook her head. Erin was trying her hardest not to laugh. Every time someone would mess with her like this she couldn't help but laugh. Especially now that it's Johnny. "I hate you."

Johnny rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh sure you do," He said as he rested his forehead against hers.

"I do. I'm serious." She still couldn't keep that smile off her face and neither could Johnny. He reached down and grabbed her hand. He was just about to lean in and kiss her when Sodapop slammed on the brakes, making them both get thrown forward. Blanca screamed. Johnny wrapped his arms around Erin as they fell back into the seat.

"Soda!" Johnny screamed. "Watch what you are doing!"

"It wasn't my fault! That car pulled out in front of me!"

Erin was a little shaken but she was okay. She sat there with her arms around Johnny for a few moments. No one really said annything until they got to the restaurant. When they got there Sodapop got out of the car and opened the door for Blanca. She smiled at him. "Thank you, sir."

"You're very welcome, madame."

Erin laughed a little. They weren't even dating and they were already acting cute.

They all walked inside. The place wasn't too fancy, but it was really nice. It was a small steak house, but, unlike 2019, no where near expensive. Some teenagers were there on dates and so were adults.

The waitress showed them to a table. Johnny pulld out a seat and gestured for Erin to sit down. "Thank you, Johnnycake."

Johnny smiled at her and sat down beside her. He reached down under the table and grabbed her hand. She looked over at him and smiled widely. What did I ever do to deserve him? To deserve someone so kind?

"Blanca," Soda started. "tell me about yourself. What was life like in 2019?"

Blanca pressed her lips together and thought for a moment. "Um, well, it's fun." She laughed at herself. What type of description is that? "I'm homeschooled, that's why I don't really want to go to school yet here. I have a brother who's the same age as Erin. Just a year and a half younger than me. Uh..." She paused and thought for a moment.

"How did you met Erin?" Johnny interrupted.

"Church. We've been friends since we were little kids."

Soda grinned and rested his head in his hands. "Tell me a story about you two. A funny one."

"Hmm...that's a hard on." Blanca and Erin both thought it over.

Erin snapped her fingers together. "Oh! How about the time I was over at your house and it got really dark out and we decided to go walk through the woods."

"Wait. Wait." Johnny stopped her. "You walked through the woods in the middle of the night?"

"Oh yeah. We were looking for something me and my brother buried as kids. We never found it. But it was worth it. Even though I spranged my ankle from stepping in a hole."

"Oh wow. Anything else?"

"We got chased my a raccoon. Sort of." Blanca added. "How old were we? I was 11 and I think you were 9."

Erin laughed. "Yeah, that sounds right. We were crazy! Still are."

"Oh, definitely!" Blanca agreed.

The boys both smiled at them as they told more stories. Erin and Blanca would both laughing hysterically at some things and give crazy examples. The boys loved it! But not even the most happiest times end on a good note.

Blanca's phone rang. She ignored it the first time but it rang again. She checked the number, stood up and went to the bathroom. Sodapop looked worried. "What was that about?"

Erin shrugged. "I don't know. I'll go check." Erin stood up and walked to the bathroom. She went to open the door but it swung open and Blanca almost ran into her. "Hey, what's—"

"Ponyboy said that he needed us home."

"Why? Blanca, what's wrong?"

"He said that Katlyn broke down crying...then her body faded, or something. He said that they all went back home."