I Fell For PepsiCola

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"He's all good to go!" The docter smiled. Darry nodded and followed the docter out the door to fill out forms for Soda's release.

"I can't wait." Soda whinned and laid back down on the bed. Ponyboy elbowed him playfully.

"At least you didn't stay in the hospital for three weeks." Pony chuckled.

Soda shrugged. Ponboy and I sat on both sides of the bed. Steve was at the end of the bed, smiling, knowing his friend was coming home. "Hey, you come down by the DX. There's some hot things down there." Steve hollered. Two-Bit nudged him and mentioned him to quiet down. I laughed along with Ponyboy, but everyone was off today and I didn't like it one bit.

"Oh trust me, once I'm out of this hell hole, I'll be back to myself." Soda replied, he gave me a look of happiness. I couldn't wait till he got either, I want to do some much things with him before the summer ends. Darry walked back in and smiled.

"You're good little man!" She smiled. Soda did a "yes" motion with his fave and fist. He hoped out if the bed and Darry handed him clothes that he brought from their home.

"Hey are we gonna tell him?" Pony whispered towards Darry. Steve's face froze, he didn't move one muscle.

"Well, we ought to. Rumble is a rumble and we need every guy and girl we can get." Darry said eyeing me. What did he mean by girl?

"Excuse me," I looked towards Darry. "I don't wanna be in this without a good reasoning." I gave them a firm look.

Darry swallowed hard. They weren't going to tell me the reasoning. That's for sure, but they could tell me why they needed me, seeing how it involved me yet again. Ponyboy shifted in his chair uncomfortably. Two-Bits happy face was replaced with concern and certainty. That did not suit him, at all. Steve on the other hand is Soda's bestest friend so he's obviously going to tell Soda something. He couldn't just leave his friend empty handed. I hope not or that'd be rude. I leaned back in my chair, I was a greaser just as much as they were and I was a gang memver too so they had to tell me, there's no keeping secrets from me. One way or another, I will get my answer.

"Socs attacked Tim Shepherd last night. Half of his gang didn't make it." Darry mumbled. I gasped knowing that Tim was just with us yesterday morning, in the bright sunlight and heat of the day.

"Fuzz came but blamed nobody. Said that greasers deserved their actions for attacking socs." Steve added on.

Wow, we lost fellow greasers to a blood thirsty battle. Bullcrap is what all of this was. I had enough of this, I couldn't wait for this rumble to happen.

"Ok, tonight? Tomorrow? Please tell me when?" I asked, ready to get it over with. Darry shrugged.

"That's what we don't know. We have a meeting with Bob and Ross tomorrow night in the lot." Two-Bit chimed in after levels of quietness.

Soda came out, frowned and shook his head. "I heard it all and we are not having Macy fight in this. People can die in rumbles."

"Yes, we know." Darry replied.

Soda smiled faintly and shoom his head, "let's party, get high. Somethin' to get our minds off of this." Soda snickered. I couldn't help but blantly laugh.

***

We were all at the Curtis'. Eating cake and playing poker. We were heading out to the Dingo again, hoping for a better turnout this time. Good thing the socs are having a beer blast neer wallnate corner. They're favorite place to get drunk and lose their virginity. They're stupid.

I sat beside Soda most of the time, we talked about what we wanted to do for the future. Then we started talking about Mickey.

"No, my mom is looking for a new horse. We may sell Mickey." I said. Sods frowned, golly he was happy that I had Mickey, he finally got the horse somewhat back into his life.

"Sell him to me. If take real good care of him. Heck, we'd show in rodeos here." Soda smile was faint, he really did love that horse. I thought about it carefully, maybe I could keep Mickey just for Soda. He's love that, but I hope he loved me more.

I knew that my mom wanted to get me a good horse, she wanted me to make money for her. That's how my mother is. Ever since my dad left us, she's been money crazy. All I know is that she has been looking at a retired pro rodeo barrel horse with the registered name as missedopportunity.  Golly, she was a beautiful mare too. Same size ad Mickey, but she was just a palomino instead of buckskin. Maybe dometime in the future, me and Soda can go on nice trail rides.

"I have no doubt you will." I replied. Soda nodded and Steve started to sigh. A long and heavy sigh.
"Hey muscles, we're outta cake." Steve gave Darry puppy eyes and he laughed. I couldn't help but smile.

"I'll go get more." Darry said. Golly, for a house full of boys, Darry did a good job of "mothering" around. Geez, kids back at my home town would laugh at Darry. But not me, it's like he's their hero after their parents, you know? Soda stared at the wall, Steve was in the kitchen, washing the cake plate and setting it on the counter. Ready for the next one. Ponyboy took over the arm chair and Two-Bit was still on the floor watching Muckey Mouse on tv.

"Where's Dallas Winston and his smartass?" Steve joked coming from the kitchen to sit by Two-Bit.

"I don't know man. Dar, he told me that he sliced Tim's car tires. Tim is probably after him." Soda mumbled. He kept staring at the wall then looked down, with a facialexpression that I couldn't pinpoint. "Same ol' Dally, same ol'." Soda sighed.

I was glad he wasn't here, he didn't deserve to be here with us right now.
"He got a blade?" Steve asked.

"Nah, he never carries a blade now after what Johnny did with that switch." Two-Bit finally spoke after what felt like years of silence from him.

"Fair deal, Tim will fight fair." Steve nodded.

We all watched tv until Ponyboy started to fall alseep. Soda on the other hand had trouble falling asleep.
"Eh, I'm beat. I'm gonna go to bed." Ponyboy sounded lousy and tired. We walked side to side, down the hall and into his room. I was hoping we we could go home but Two-Bit had other plans.

"Shoot kid, I forgot!" Two-Bit laughed while slowly getting up, he struggled for a minute to regain his balance. "We stayin' here tonight. All of us is going to the meeting 'morrow."

I nodded, more Soda time for me. I liked this plan, but one thing is for sure... I get the guest bedroom and Two-Bit gets the couch.