"We're here," Soda said softly as he pulled over. The sun was beginning to set and we were near a lake.

"We are?" I asked confused. I didn't bring a swim suit and even though it was spring, there's no way it was warm enough to swim.

"Do you trust me?" He asked.

I hesitated. Not because I didn't trust him. I guess just because I was so wrapped up in him. "Yes of course I trust you."

We got out and walked down. There was nobody else here. Just us, a large oak tree, a pier, and some fireflies. It was peaceful and I could hear frogs and crickets making music along the lake. We walked over and sat on the edge of the pier. He had his legs dangling over but I had mine crossed in criss cross position. Neither of us had said anything in a while. But it wasn't an awkward silence. It was good.

"I would sit here," he began and his tone was serious and soothing. He was looking at the water and I was looking at him. "Every time I got in trouble." He grinned and then looked at me. "Which was a lot."

He paused again and looked out at the water. "My mom and dad took us here every Saturday. It was our place. Darry, Ponyboy, and I would play football over there," he pointed to our right. Right where the oak tree was. "I would either push Ponyboy and he'd cry or id run off. Or one time during the fall I jumped into the water when my mother told me not to. I never listen. I liked to cause trouble. Thought it was funny. But every time I did my dad would make me sit here and I couldn't talk and I couldn't move until my time was up. I'd just stare at the water. Then my mom would come sit by me, right where you are. And she tell me she loved me and that I had to start listening better."

He was lost in memory but he was smiling to himself. I didn't dare move a muscle. I was too focused on him.

"Then when they died I came here. I sat down and decided to do better, for Darry. I didn't want him to have to raise us. Pony was so young I knew he'd need help. I just wanted to be better. So when things got bad at home or I got upset about something I came here. I guess when I was a kid it was my time out place. Now it still kinda is. Just a time out from the world so I can just sit here and not talk and not move and just look at the water and think. And it's nice."

I felt tears form their way into my eyes. I didn't know what to say. But I knew what I wanted to do. I gently put my right hand on his face and turned him to me. I pulled him closer and kissed him softly. He kissed me back and shortly pulled me even closer. We kissed for a good minute before I pulled away.

"I'm sorry you went through that," I said.

"Me too. But I know I'm gonna see them again, so it's okay."

It was quiet again but not for long. He pulled me close and we kissed once more. After I just laid my head on his chest. We laid there and listen to sounds made by the wind and the animals. He held me close and I knew in that moment I wanted Sodapop Curtis. I wanted to be with him and I wanted to stay with him. We just sat there all night. Few words were said. But mostly we kissed, and if we weren't kissing, we weren't talking or moving, just looking at the water.

Short chapter but sweet as hell lol I'm single af and I'm so jealous of Jo here ugh.