Between the Lines

Chapter 12- Patterns

But his attention kept drifting.

Emily twirled her pencil when she thought. Always the same direction. When she leaned over her notebook, her hair fell forward just enough to brush her cheek, and she tucked it back absentmindedly without looking up.

Soda's chest tightened.

He shifted in his seat, annoyed with himself.

Get a grip.

When class ended, Emily packed up quickly, moving with purpose. Soda stood too, falling into step beside her without thinking.

They walked together down the hallway.

That was new.

They weren't touching. They weren't talking. But they were moving side by side, and that alone was enough to turn heads.

Emily felt it. She could feel eyes on her back like a weight.

She stopped abruptly near the stairs.

Soda nearly ran into her.

"This can't keep happening," she said quietly.

Soda frowned. "What can't?"

"This," Emily gestured vaguely between them, lowering her voice. "People are watching."

Soda's jaw tightened. "They always watch."

"Yes," she said sharply, "but not me."

The words hung there.

Soda softened his tone. "We ain't doin' anything wrong."

Emily met his gaze, eyes bright with something complicated. "That's not how it works."

He understood that more than she probably realized.

They stood there a moment longer, suspended in something neither of them wanted to name.

Then Emily straightened. "We should keep it school-related. In public."

Soda nodded slowly. "Okay."

She hesitated, then added, quieter, "After school is fine."

Soda's heart thudded hard.

"Yeah," he said. "After school."

She walked away before he could say anything else.

At lunch, Soda sat with the boys, pushing his food around his tray more than eating it.

Two-Bit watched him for a moment, chewing thoughtfully. "You're distracted."

Soda glanced up. "Am not."

Steve snorted. "You been distracted for weeks."

Dally leaned back in his chair, eyes sharp. "You're thinkin' about her."

Soda stiffened. "Drop it."

Darry's gaze flicked up. "You gotta be careful."

Soda's voice hardened. "I am."

Dally scoffed. "Doesn't look like it."

Ponyboy spoke up quietly. "People are talkin'."

Soda looked at him. "About what?"

"About you and Emily," Pony said. "About why she's always stayin' late. About why she's sittin' next to you."

Soda's stomach twisted.

Darry leaned forward. "This is what I was warnin' you about."

Soda pushed back from the table. "I didn't ask for this."