❖ credits to tasteslikepepsicola on tumblr 🌞 ❖

As Y/N approached the D.X, her heart thumped. She could see Sodapop working on a car inside the garage. However, Steve wasn't in sight. She watched the movie star handsome boy wipe a bit of sweat from his brow, and pause to take a sip of water.  As she came closer, he finally noticed her walking towards him.

"Hey, Pepsi-Cola" Y/N hummed sweetly.

"Oh, hey, Y/N" He went back to working on the car, trying to look like he was concentrated on it, but Y/N could tell by the way he stared blankly at it, pretending to fidget with it, that he was just trying to seem uninterested in what she had to say.

"I've barely seen you the past three days," she said.

"Yeah," he mumbled.

"I tried calling... but um Darry and Ponyboy answered each time I called, you never seemed available. I even stopped by today hoping to see you, but um- your brothers told me you were at work so I-" she was abruptly cut off.

"Guess I figured you were too busy fooling around with Steve to want to see me." He shrugs nonchalantly, but his words sting.

"Soda, it's not like that, you and I both know that." She takes a step closer to him, trying to reach out for his face, to rub off a smudge of dirt he got while working on the car. But he pulls away sharply.

"Really? Do I? Do I know that it's not like that? Cause neither of you told me you cared for each other like, like- that until you got caught." His anger fades and his voice breaks by the end of his sentence. His tone softens, "were you even going to tell me?"

"Soda, that was the only time Steve and I did something like that, I- I don't even know why we did it. We didn't even kiss. We just got caught up in the moment." Y/N realizes how desperate she sounds for him to believe her, but she doesn't care. "Please believe me..." her voice trails off.

Sodapop stands above the hood of the car he was working on, anger prevalent in the way his muscles are flexed from gripping the edge of the car so tightly.

The desperation begins to leave her voice as Y/N becomes more frustrated, and it is replaced with indifference.

"I get that it was shitty to see your friends act so out of character, but it was one time, and there's no reason for you to be reacting the way you are." At those words, Sodapop breaks.

He slams the hood of the car shut aggressively, Y/N jumps back. The Sodapop she knew never acted like this. He runs his hands through his hair, tugging at it, he looks like he wants to punch something. He sighs, calming himself down. Finally, he makes eye contact with her with a softened expression.

"You're right, okay? If you want to date Steve, that's fine. I don't care. At all. Make out with him all you want." He flails his arms around, exaggerating every gesture, like he often does when he's upset. "Just don't do that shit in front of me, or in my house."

"No, you don't get to ignore me for three days because of one stupid decision and then pretend you're okay with it because its easier than dealing with the truth."

He laughs sarcastically. "Oh so now there's some whole big hidden meaning behind why I'm upset that my two best friends betrayed me?"

Y/N stands there silent for a minute. Could she be wrong? Did she misinterpret what Darry and Pony had said? No, Soda has to be jealous, that's the only explanation. But what if she's wrong? What if she only believed it so easily because she wanted it to be true?

Softly, she asks, "isn't there?"

He looks away from her, and down at the ground. "No, there isn't." He replies.

Y/N could feel her heart drop in that moment. She hadn't even realized how much she had wanted it to be true, how much she wanted Sodapop to care about her the way she always cared about him.

"Fine." is all she says as she walks away from him, and through the doors of the D.X. Regardless of the hurt she may be feeling, she still owed someone else an explanation.

Above her head, the small chime of a bell rang, alerting the cashier of her presence. Another young teenage greaser stands at the cash register, mindlessly flipping through a magazine that looked to be about cars. He's tall, with slicked back, thick black hair. He almost looked like Steve, but tanner and with chocolate eyes different from Steve's signature green.

Y/N walks right up to the boy, as he chomps on a piece of gum obnoxiously, eyeing her up and down.

"What's cookin' good lookin'?"

Ugh, he did not seriously just use the cheesiest pick up line I've ever heard. Y/N sighed, rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly a little self conscious.

"Is Steve here?" she asked, fed up.

The greaser boy smirked at her. "So you're Y/N?" he let out a low whistle. "You're even prettier than I imagined. And trust me, he was talking about you a lot, so I thought I had a good idea. Anyways how did a girl like you end up with someone li-" he was interrupted by a flustered Steve running out of the stock room.

"Y/N!" he forces a smile. "I see you've met my friend Jess," he slaps Jess on the back, a little too hard to be considered friendly.

Jess turns to look at Steve, casually, then points back at Y/N, "Your girlfriend is here." He says smugly.

Steve and Y/N both immediately rush to explain, speaking at the same time.

"Woah woah woah buddy you are way off base. We are not dating. Nope"

"She is not my girlfriend, okay? We're just friends."

Jess lets out a small laugh, ignoring their claims, and heading back to the cash register. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say. But um, if you're not dating then, does that mean you might wanna catch a movie sometime Y/N." He nods in her direction, flashing a smile.

Steve defensively puts an arm around Y/N. "Yeah, nope. That's not happening on my watch." He replies.

"Relax Steve-o, I'm just messin with ya." Jess winks at Y/N, causing Steve to glare back at him.

Quickly, Steve checks his watch, then smiles. "I've still got fifteen minutes left of my break. Y/N, take a walk with me?" he offers.

"Sure," she accepts.

Jess returns to flipping through the pages of his magazine, as Steve and Y/N walk out of the convenience store, past the garage, and down the road they had walked so many times before. It almost felt like old times, Y/N reminisced about a time when she, Steve, and Sodapop would all walk to the D.X and she would sit at a short distance watching them fixing up cars. Y/N would never admit she actually found it kind of boring, but she appreciated any time she could spend with her friends, since their schedules were already so packed. She also knew the days she would watch them at work they were always happier, having a little more distraction and just slightly more fun. And, if she was being truly honest, she had always loved the way Sodapop looked when he was really into something he was doing, it was one of the only times she ever saw him have a passion. He was a dropout, there weren't many options for a guy like him. And he needed to provide for his family, he didn't have time to pursue his interests. But cars, well they seemed to genuinely bring him excitement and joy. And for that, Y/N was so grateful.

"So," Steve starts, unsure of what to say next. "I guess we should talk about what, um, ya know, happened that night with the gang."

Y/N nods, knowing he didn't know how to continue. Instead of watching him struggle to find the words, she prompted him, "Well, what did it feel like to you? Was it just fooling around, or did it mean something?" Y/N asks, unsure of which answer she would rather hear.

"Honestly, I could stand here and lie to you and say I didn't feel anything, but I just can't anymore. I- I didn't know I felt the way I did about you. But then you were just, there, in my arms. And your skin is so soft, and your hair smells like flowers, and um-" he pauses, blushing. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I care about you. But also, if you don't feel that way about me, we can just pretend this never happened. It's not like I'm in love with you or anything but-"

"Steve?" she cuts him off, smiling up at him.

"Hmm?" he hums.

Suddenly, something comes over Y/N, she doesn't owe anyone anything. Sodapop has made it clear how she feels about her, and she might have a real chance at happiness with Steve.

"Can I just, um try something?" she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Uh, sure." he replies, unsure.

Y/N tries to steady her breathing, before wrapping her arms around Steve's neck, standing on her tiptoes to reach him, and leaning in to kiss him. He meets her halfway, and before either of them fully understand what they're doing, the two of them are kissing. Y/N feels warm, and safe, and comforted, like Dally pulling her into his lap with a blanket, or Darry holding her while she cries because she had another horrible fight with her family. It's like how Ponyboy always listens to her no matter how frivolous her topic of conversations seem. It's like how Two-Bit never fails to put a smile on her face. It's how Johnny always gives up his jacket when she says she's cold. It's almost like the butterflies she feels in her stomach when Sodapop says her name.

When they finally pull away, they are both smiling at each other.

"Wow," is all Steve says.

"Yeah," is all Y/N can add.

"Alright, I know this is all new and I don't wanna scare you off, or think I'm trying to be exclusive all at once but um- do you wanna come to this party with me Friday? It's at Bucks which I know isn't your usual scene, but most of the gang will be there and, I don't know, I'd love to have you there with me."

Y/N kisses him on the cheek swiftly, "I'll be there."

"I'll pick you up at eight?" he beams.

"It's a date." she replies.

*****

Friday came sooner than Y/N could have ever expected. A thousand nervous thoughts ran through her head. But truthfully, what did she have to be afraid of? It was still Steve, and she was still Y/N. They would always be best friends above all.

All her attempts to reassure herself were equally matched with the nagging thought, would Sodapop be there? But no, she was just being paranoid. She knew as well as everyone that Soda was not the partier type. He never touched a drop of alcohol, he always talked about getting drunk off life instead. Y/N finally managed to push her thoughts away from Sodapop so she could focus on getting ready for the night.

She settled on a simple white flowy sundress that fell just above her knees. She let her hair do its natural beach wave type-of-thing, and used a few bobby pins to make it look a little more intricate. She kept her makeup light and natural, as always, with just a bit more mascara and a lip gloss with a peachy tint.

Once she was done, she looked in the mirror and was reminded of how good it felt to dress up a little from time to time. She had always been relatively girly, and although she certainly doesn't wear flannels and boots everyday, she still had to stick to some form of the greaser look. But tonight, it looked like she could party with the Soc's any night. Y/N loved the look, hated the actual concept of a Soc party. Although she doesn't go out much, when she does, she would much rather be with her own people.

Y/N checked the clock across her room, and noticed it was now 7:58 p.m, meaning Steve would be here any minute. She has just enough time to apply a dash of her signature perfume, before there's a knock at the door. Luckily enough for both her and Steve, her parents weren't home, so they didn't have to face any interrogation about where they're going and when they'll be back.

When she opened the door, she could have sworn she saw Steve's eyes bulge out of his head.

"Y/N, you look...incredible." He barely manages to get the words out.

She giggles, cheeks heating. "Thank you, so do you."

The two of them stand there staring at each other for a moment.

"Uh, Steve? Shouldn't we be going now?" Y/N inquires.

A second passes before he seems to return to reality. "Oh yeah, of course. Sorry, it's just- you look really beautiful."

Y/N smiles at the ground for a second, before replying. "Okay, smooth guy. Let's get going now." She loops her arm through his as he escorted her to the car.

*****

When they enter the house, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes fills the air. Loud music is playing, it seems a couple card games are already going on, and the night is just starting.

The couple immediately sees Dallas and Two-Bit and makes their way across the room to them.

"Guys! You made it!" Two-Bit exclaims.

"And...together?" Dally questions.

"Well, I mean, we're here together, but we're not together." Y/N tries to explain.

"Ahh, and how does Romeo feel about Mercutio stealing his Juliet?" Dallas quips.

Y/N is stunned for a second, "Wow, since when does Dallas Winston reference Shakespeare?" she asks.

"Since I heard Ponyboy use that exact same phrase an hour ago and he had to explain to me what it meant. I'd figure you'd get it Y/N." He laughs.

"Oh, trust me, Romeo and Juliet is my favorite Shakespearean tragedy, but I still don't get what you're meaning to relate it to." Y/N added.

Steve let out a nervous laugh, before placing his hand in the small of Y/N's back. "How about you and I go grab a drink, Y/N?" Steve suggests while leading them off. "Catch up with you later guys!" He shouts, already halfway across the room.

For another hour or two, Y/N tried to let loose, she had a couple drinks and danced with Steve. She was having a great time, no doubt. But she still couldn't push Dally's words out of her mind. He was quoting Pony? About Steve and Y/N... The whole situation was messy and she was trying to piece it together as she sat at an empty table watching Steve play a game of pool from a short distance.

And all of a sudden, from across the room, none other than the handsome greaser who she had been trying to push from her mind all night walks through the door. Sodapop Curtis is at one of Bucks crazy parties. But why? And then it clicks all at once. Ponyboy must have been trying to say that, well, if Y/N is Juliet, Steve is Mercutio, that means...Soda is supposed to be Romeo? But in some messed up version where Juliet is at a party with Mercutio, and kissing him, and making out with him during movies with Romeo just feet away.

Y/N felt light headed, trying to process where she was and what she was doing. Sodapop told her there was no hidden meaning behind his passive aggressiveness. He assured her he was just mad because he was shocked, because it could break up their friendships. He practically told her he wasn't jealous. He couldn't be Romeo, he couldn't feel that way about Y/N. Ponyboy must have been severely misinformed.

Before he can catch her staring, Y/N pulls her gaze away from Soda, instead opting to grab onto Steves hand, and leading him onto the dance floor once again. She can feel his eyes on them as they dance, his burning gaze that he had no right to be plaguing her with. Maybe it was the liquid courage, but Y/N thought to herself, fine, if he wants to stare, might as well give him something to stare at.

Just then, she pulls Steve close to her again, crashing her lips on his, while they continue to sway to the music. When they finally come up for air again, Sodapop is nowhere in sight.

"What was that for?" Steve grins.

"You just look so darn cute when you dance," she replies, pecking him on the cheek.

Another hour or so passes by, and the party is in full swing. But Y/N has yet to see Sodapop since he first walked in.

"You know, I'm gonna go grab another drink, you want anything?" She asks Steve.

"I'm alright, thanks though." he replies.

She swiftly saunters off, pushing through the crowds of people, scanning their faces for an all too familiar one.

After a few minutes of wandering, and almost completing a whole lap around the party, Y/N is about to give up. Remembering she was supposed to come back with a fresh drink in hand, she makes her way into the kitchen. Of course, in the comical mess that was Y/N's life, a very intoxicated Sodapop was standing next to Jess as he handed out drinks. Y/N cautiously approached the pair.

"Y/N! Steve actually managed to convince you to come?" Jess joked.

She let out an uneasy laugh, "yeah, I guess he did."

Sodapop completely avoids Y/N's eyeline, huffing at the mention of Steve.

"So what can I get you?" Jess asks.

"Just another..." Y/N pauses, lifting up her drink to inspect it. "Whatever this is?" she replies unsure, giggling a little.

"Coming right up, beautiful!" he replies, before ducking deeper into the kitchen to retrieve the drink, leaving Y/N and Soda alone together, for the first time in days.

The silence is practically unbearable, so Y/N decides to be the first to end it. She takes a seat at the table next to Sodapop. Around them, people dance, sing, kiss, scream, and fight. But not here. Here, at this remote island Y/N finds herself stuck on, it's just her and Sodapop, not knowing what to say.

"Hey," she begins with.

He rolls his eyes over to meet hers, over exaggerated annoyance apparent on his face. "Hello, Y/N." he states.

"How have you been?" she questions.

"Grand." he says sharply, crossing his arms over his chest.

Y/N puffs out her cheeks, lost for words. She's about to go find Jess and head back to Steve, and she even stands up to leave before she feels Sodapop reaching for her.

"Wait...don't leave." he slurs out.

She sighs, but ultimately sits back down.

"I'm sorry I've been like this, the past few daysss." he extends the last word, sounding barely awake.

Y/N says nothing, waiting for an explanation.

He realizes she isn't just brushing him off and he continues. "I- I just don't like-" he pauses, tilts his head back, and scrunches his eyes shut for half a second before quickly continuing. "I don't like seeing you and Steve together. All in my-" he gestures his hands around his head. "all in my face." he finishes.

Y/N bites her lip, not knowing what to say next. He eagerly awaits her response.

"I know, Pepsi-Cola, and I'm sorry I wasn't honest with you earlier." she apologizes.

He lets out a sharp laugh. "That's ironic isn't it?" he stares down at the table, seemingly not focused on anything.

Y/N feels her brows knit together like they do when she's confused.

"What do you mean?" she asks.

Suddenly, Sodapop looks stone cold sober. "It just didn't matter to him at all did it?" he says.

Now, Y/N is more confused than she was before they started talking. She wasn't even sure how that could be possible.

"What didn't?" she pushes for an answer.

"I've been in love with you since the seventh grade, and he still took you from me, like it- like my feelings, our friendship- like it meant nothing."

Y/N's heart sinks. Her head whirls. Her breathing halts. The world stops spinning, just for that moment. That moment where Sodapop said he loved Y/N. Loved...loves? She tried to replay what his exact words were, but her brain couldn't produce a coherent thought.

"You're drunk, Sodapop." is all she can say.

"In fact I am, Y/N." he replies.

Just then, Jess reappears, a drink in hand. He places it in front of Y/N proudly.

"Thanks, but I actually don't think I'm gonna need it. I really think I should bring Soda home." Y/N places her hand over Sodapop's forehead, who looks like hes about to be sick.

"What do you mean? The party's just starting! It's barely past midnight- and I haven't even gotten to show off my impeccable dance moves to you yet." he jokes.

Y/N keeps a hand against Sodapop's cheek. He wraps his arms around her waist, as she is now standing while he remains seated. She messes up his hair a little, affectionately.

"While that is quite tempting, this dumby here is kinda my best friend. And he's pretty much the biggest light weight you'll ever meet." She says, helping Soda rise to his feet. He slings his arm around her for balance. "So with that being said, if you could do me a favor? Tell Steve something came up and that um- I had a great time. And to call me when he gets home so I know he got back safe." She smiles at Jess, about to leave before turning around and adding, "And if you wouldn't mention that I left with Soda?" she says barely above a whisper.

"Your secret is safe with me." He winks at Y/N, before heading back to serve more drinks.

When they had finally made their way out of the party, they began the short walk across town, to the Curtis house.

*****

Wow, that walk takes a lot longer when you're dragging your drunk buddy behind you the whole time. Y/N notes. Darry and Ponyboy are both fast asleep by now, so quietly she sneaks Sodapop into the kitchen.

She manages to get him to sit at the counter without breaking anything in their path. She quickly grabs a glass from the cabinet, fills it with water, and leaves the room for a moment, before returning with a couple aspirin in hand.

"Take these." She hands them to Sodapop, watching as he swallows them to make sure he does. "And drink all of this." She taps the glass.

He smiles at her, amused.

She can't help but feel her face slightly light up at his sudden cheerfulness.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asks.

"Cause you love me," he hums.

Y/N's heart races, but she attempts to remain composed.

"Of course I do, you're my best friend." she reasons.

"No, not like that Y/N. Never like that. Okay? We're more than that. I love you. You see?" His motions still indicate he's intoxicated, but not quite as heavily as he previously was.

Y/N pours herself a glass of water, too, and stands across the kitchen from him, leaning against the counter.

"You don't know what you're saying, Sodapop." Y/N mentions.

He smiles obliviously, before shouting as loud as he can, "I love you Y/F/N! I am in love with you!" She immediately rushes over to him. Clasping a hand over his mouth.

"Oh my god Sodapop, what are you thinking? Are you trying to get us killed? In about two seconds Darry is gonna run in here and he's going to see that you are drunk and then-"

Sodapop grabs Y/N, pulling her into his lap. Y/N removes her hand from his mouth, in shock by his blatant neediness.

"Why don't you just kiss me already, Y/N?" he whispers to her. At this point, her heart is racing so fast, that Y/N is sure he can hear it beat. And as much as she wants to, she can't do this.

"No Soda, come on, not like this. We're better than this. If we're gonna do this, our first kiss will not be in your kitchen at one A.M when we are both drunk." She kisses his temple lightly, before standing up and offering him her hand. He takes it half-heartedly as she leads him to bed.

"So you're saying you've thought about it then? And want it to be special?" he inquires.

Y/N rolls her eyes and giggles. "I didn't say that Pepsi-Cola."

"Well I've thought about it. A lot. More than I should possibly." When he says this, Y/N swears she's died and gone to heaven. Or that she must be dreaming.

Finally, they reach Ponyboy and Sodapop's shared bedroom. Pony is sound asleep, somehow, despite Sodapop's previous screaming.

"Okay,  smooth guy, let's get you to bed." It isn't until the words leave her mouth that she recalls how she used the exact same nickname earlier in the night, to her date, Steve. A wave of guilt comes crashing over her. She tries to brush it off, and focus on the task at hand.

Sodapop struggles to take off his shirt, so Y/N helps him, while he manages to take off his belt and jeans. Standing there in just his underwear, Y/N tosses him a shirt she grabbed from his dresser. He quickly puts it on.

"Turn around, I need to get dressed too." she states. Sodapop obliges, quickly turning around. And then there is silence as Y/N reaches behind her to try to unzip her own dress. Even in his drunken haze, with his back turned to her, Sodapop knows she's struggling.

"Uh- do you need help?" he asks innocently.

She sighs, "Actually, yes." Y/N replies.

Finally, Sodapop stands behind her as she holds her hair up and away from the zipper. He is extremely cautious as he unzips the tight dress, and it falls off her body, and to the floor softly. For that brief moment, there was a shared intimacy between them- the tension was so much. It was almost like, Y/N could have just turned around and kissed him. Well, she could have. But it wasn't right. Not yet. They had waited years for their time, it certainly wasn't right now.

Sodapop's cheeks turned a bright red, flushed, and he quickly turned around to hide this from Y/N. She threw on one of his oversized shirts, and noted that it smelled so much like him and found comfort in that. She taps him on the shoulder, "you can turn around now." she adds.

"Oh," they face each other once more.

"Let's get you to bed Pepsi-Cola."

And then, shes at his bed side. Guiding him under the covers, leaving a glass of water on his nightstand. And wanting nothing more than to stay there with him, possibly forever.

She kisses him on the cheek, "goodnight, Sodapop."

"Why do you always sleep on the couch, there's enough room for two people in the bed." he yawns through his question.

"There's already two people in the bed silly," she glances at Ponyboy, who remains sleeping.

"I guess that's a valid point..." he mumbles. "Have I mentioned that I love you?" he responds.

"A couple times." She kisses him on the nose. "Now goodnight, for real, Pepsi-"

"Do you love me Y/N?" he asks with pleading eyes.

Maybe it was because she just wanted to go to bed, or maybe it was the alcohol, or even because deep down she knew it was the truth, but Y/N responds, "Of course I do, Sodapop, I always have, I always will."

"Always?" he asks.

"Always." she repeats, before closing his door, and heading to the couch for an inevitable restless night's sleep.