"Does he always hit you like that Sam?" Dal asked with soda and two backing him all the way. "Yea. But its not his fault." I said keeping him out of trouble. "What do you mean it's not his fault he hit you not the other way around!!" "Yea, but I deserved it. I didn't do what he wanted me to do, or I talked to another guy." I said. "What did you not do that he wanted you to do?" Darry asked. "He wanted me to runaway with him and marry him. He wanted out of Tulsa. He wanted to go to New York.  And not any of the good parts either." I said. The guys all just sat there for a second. "What guys did you talk to that he didn't like you talking to?" Soda asked. "You guys." I said bluntly. "Even pony soda and I?" Darry asked. "Even you pony and soda." I said. Dal had his fist clenched and his teeth gritted so hard I thought he was gonna break a tooth or something. "When will you get it through your thick skull that it was his fault nothing you did made it your fault sam!!!" Steve yelled. "I swear imma kill him." Dal said through gritted teeth. "No your not!!" I said yelling at him. I really just wanted to forget him. "Let's just forget him. Thats what I'm wanting to do now. I got the revenge i needed now I'm done with him. I can't be protected all the time. I'm gonna go to bed I got work tomorrow." I said walking to my room. Everyone mumbled night.
I woke up early and got dressed. I put on a white tank top with a pair of ripped up shorts. I put on my dx shirt over my white tank top. I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail then I put on a pair of boots and walked out of my room. The same time as soda. "Girl I'm not changin." He said then snapped his fingers and walked off sassily. I just shook my head and laughed then walked into the living room. "Want some cake Sam?" Darry asked.  I shook my head no. Steve and two walked in. "Hey doll." Steve said as soon as he seen me. "Hey Steve." I said. "Oh hey Sam. I was talking to the cake." He said with a chuckle. That made everyone on the room laugh. The Jamie walked in. "Sam come here." Jamie said walking in. She had a bag in her hand. "Here take this. I gotta go for now but I wanted you to have this. I'll be back in a few days." Jamie whispered to me. I was confused. "Where are you going?" "I gotta go out of town for a few days take care of some stuff. It explains it all on the bag promise. Just don't let your brothers see it. Or anyone else for that matter." Jamie said. I nodded. "Bye Sam. Bye guys." Jamie said walking out the door. She had a smile on her face but sadness in her eyes. "What's in the bag?" Darry asked. "Nothin." I said looking at him then at the bag. "Jamie seemed real secretive about it." Dallas pointed out. "It don't matter. I gotta go to my room for a second." I said. "What did ya forget?" Soda asked. "My choker." I said. I didn't really plan on wearing it today but I am now. He just nodded. I walked into my room put the bag in my closet then grabbed my favorite choker necklace. I put it on real quick the walked back into the living room.  "Better." I said.  "Come on Sam we gotta get to work." Steve said. I nodded. "Soda shoes." I said getting ready to walk out the door.   "Actually I'm not going today.  Sandy needs me she don't feel so good." Soda said. I really wished he wouldn't do that. I knew better than that. I know what she has been doing but I ain't about to tell soda though. "I wish you wouldn't do that." I told him. "Why not?" Soda asked. "Nothing soda. It was just a thought." I said. "You will find out in time." I mumbled. No one heard me. "Come on Steve lets go." I said walking out the door. Steve was right on my heels.  "What was that about?" Steve asked as we walked out of the house and down the street.  "Promise you won't tell him." I said.  "Tell soda what?" Steve asked. "Sandy is cheating on him." I said. "Well how do you know that?" He asked. "Me and Jamie were at a party the other night and we seen her there with another guy." I told him. "Are you sure it wasn't soda?" Steve asked.  "Steve I think I know what my own twin brother looks like. Besides the guy had black hair." I said. "Great soda is gonna get his heart broke. Ya know he wants to marry her and Darry told him to wait till pony gets out of school so that he can help with the bills and soda try's to convince Darry that he can be married and still help with bills and stuff?" Steve asked. "Yea I know me and Darry both tell him that. I try telling him that being married comes with more responsibilities and he can't pay for both." I said. "What responsibilities would that be?" Steve asked. "A wife and ya know what that brings, a little ankle bitter." I said. Steve nodded true.  "Soda don't want an ankle bitter though." Steve said. "Yea he does. He sits and tells me that when he and sand y get married and have a girl they are gonna name her after me. I'm the one who doesn't want a kid." I told Steve. "Soda always told me that you couldn't be around babies because you wanted one so bad." Steve said. "I don't. I can't stand the thought of having a tiny human being  to take care of. At least not yet. I can screw up my life but not a little babies life who doesn't even know left or right or and engine from a steering wheel. I meed to fall flat on my face more that way I know what's right and what's wrong." I preached to Steve. He just nodded we got to work and clocked in. We really didn't do much all day. No one really came in since soda wasn't there. Steve and I got to talk all day really. A few people came in but not many. We walked home at about three and sat down on the couch and watched tv till everyone got home. Steve and I fell asleep for about thirty minutes till soda walked in. He almost looked like he had been crying. We woke up when we heard the door open and slam shut. I knew what was wrong before he could even say a word. I didn't want this to happen but I'm glad it happened sooner rather than later.  Man I really didn't want to hear about this though. I feel real bad for soda. I just don't know what I'm gonna do yet but I'll figure it out.