Come Together|Sodapop Curtis|

Chapter 1- Mourning

/Six Years Later\

Hot tears slipped down my cheeks as I sat shivering next to the attic window looking down on the icy road.

No, I thought. He can't be gone. Not now. Not so soon.

I bearly flinched when I saw the seven boys that I've come to know and love running down the street toward my house. Their faces were flushed from the bitting cold. I heard the door slam beneath me as they walked in. They scattered around the house looking for me, their heavy footsteps giving their location away.

Only Soda knows this hiding spot. He found me here once after my mother died a couple of years ago. I like to sit here when I'm sad, it's nice and private.

Sure enough, ten minutes later I hear the trap door open and a familiar face hop inside.

"No one knows we're in here. I know you like to keep your hiding places a secret," He said causally as he sat down beside me. I wanted to say thank you to him for everything he's done for me but, when I open my mouth nothing comes out.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I looked at him with pleading eyes. His face was red and puffy, he must've been crying, he was pretty close to my dad.

We sat there for a while in a comfortable silence until the boys down stairs realized that Soda wasn't there and they started calling Soda's name as well as mine.

"We got to go downstairs now, the boys will be worried," He said softly standing up, exending his hand toward me. I managed a nod and grabbed his hand as he pulled me to my feet.

I followed him down the latter into my bedroom. I loved my room, it had light blue walls that were covered with pictures of the Beatles, Elvis and other things or people I love. My book shelves were over flowing with records, journals, and of course books. My record player was sitting peacefully on my bed side table and my desk was over flowing with half finished stories and drawings. I glanced at my favorite photo that was sitting in it's cheap frame propped up on my desk, it was of me and the gang posing next to the DX, Steve and Soda in their work uniforms as the rest of us in shorts and t-shirts sweating in the summer sun. Oh, how I miss the summer....

We walked into the living room and six pairs of eyes stared at me with pity.

"She was in her parents closet," Soda lied quietly. I flinched when he said parents, Soda would do anything for me, as I would for him, even lie to the gang. They all nodded and were silent until I spoke up.

"C-can I stay w-with you at your house f-for a little b-bit?" I asked Darry as I began to shake slightly.

"Of course," He said "You can stay as long as you want. We wouldn't want you staying here by yourself anyway." Darry kneeled beside me. I nodded as the shaking got worse and I knew I couldn't hold the tears much longer. He noticed and opened his arms. I jumped into them and sobbed on his shoulder.

"Shhhhhh.... It'll be okay. We're gonna take you home now okay?" He said and as we broke away. Darry is like the big brother to me.

"Mhm," I mumbled and walked toward the door. Soda put his arm around me and we all began the short walk to the Curtis' house. Two-bit began murmuring something to Steve until Dally elbowed him in the gut.

Once we got to the Curtis household I threw myself on the couch as Two-bit turned on Mickey. I watched straight faced as the theme song rung through the house. Soda sat down next to me quietly, the only sounds in the room came from the television. I couldn't stop thinking about my dad, I tried to picture his smiling face but all I could see was him laying on the hospital bed still as can be after his failed heart surgery.