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Sodapop Curtis didn’t half-ass anything he did. It was in his smiles, a little too friendly to strangers walking into the DX. It was in his punches, never holding back whether he was in a rumble or a bar fight. Soda put full energy into everything he did. And love was no exception.
When Soda loved, he loved for real.
Soda was not a shy flirt. It was no mystery why he was regarded as Tulsa’s “pretty boy”. Or why girls naturally drifted to wherever he was. He did everything with purpose. It made people feel safe. Like he was genuine. But he could never be genuine when it truly mattered.
He wasn’t used to this.
He wasn’t used to sneaking glances when he thought Steve wasn’t looking. He wasn’t used to a brush of skin contact sending little sparks of electricity all the way to his brain. He wasn’t used to loving someone like he loved Steve. Each day he spoke to Steve, there was a growing sensation somewhere deep in his heart. Something he couldn’t quite name. But it wanted more.
It was a slow day at the DX. It was the afternoon on one of the first days of summer vacation. Sunlight spilled through the window behind Soda, illuminating the shop in a dream like hue. Soda leaned over the counter flipping through today’s paper. Every so often his eyes would flit over to Steve hunched over a car part or another. It wasn’t uncommon for them to be shirtless on the job, especially now that it was summer. Soda committed every muscle, every inch of Steve’s skin to memory. His gut twisted. Staring felt like a crime and Soda remained guilty.
Soda jolted his focus back to the news headline when Steve turned. “It’s too hot to get anything done in here”, Steve straightened up, leaning slightly to stretch his spine. “Soda?”, he took a step towards the boy when no response came.
Sodapop cleared his throat and put the paper down, “huh? Yeah”. Soda met Steve’s eyes and immediately looked down, his face suddenly heating. ‘Glory Soda, act normal’.
Steve looked at him funny but seemed to let it go. He clapped a hand on Soda’s shoulder “Eh, I give up. I’m gettin’ a glass of water. Holler if ya need me”. Steve flipped an oil stained rag off from his shoulder, haphazardly wiping his hands and retreating to the back room.
Soda sighed over the counter once more. Trying and failing to ignore the tingles where Steve’s touch lingered. This was getting bad. If he couldn’t handle a day at work with Steve, how was he gonna handle him stayin’ over at their house or eating breakfast together? I mean, those certainly weren’t habits Soda was willing to let go of, but everything felt different now. There were new layers under everything that used to be simple now, and it seemed like Soda was the only one who noticed.
Soda ran a hand over his face as the DX door chimed. A woman walked in. She looked older, 30’s to 40s, yet she dressed closer to a teenaged soc girl. She kept walking until she could touch the counter, her face right in front of Soda’s. “What’s the matter with you?”.
Soda flashed her his signature grin, although a little more tired than usual. “Rough day”, he admitted, “how can I help you?”.
“Oh darling, you have no idea what stress is yet, how old are you, nineteen?”, she propped her elbows on the counter, a hand under her chin.
Soda chuckled, but leaned away slightly. “How can I help you?”, he tried again. It wasn’t often that Sodapop found himself at a loss for words. Again, Soda was by no means a shy person. He had plenty experience with rejecting women kindly. But most women usually took the hint by now.
She reached out, wrapping a hand around his wrist. “You know, you remind me of-“
“who the hell are you?”, Steve stood in the doorway, eyebrows scrunched in something between confusion and anger. No, definitely anger.
“Do you put your hands on every store clerk you meet? He’s seventeen!”, Steve marched up to the pair, grabbing Soda’s arm away.
The woman’s face turned red, Steve barely let her stammer out an excuse in before leading her out the door and slamming so hard the bells above the door nearly fell off. Steve didn’t even care. He kept watch until she drove away. “Well, her car drives fine. Dunno what business she had comin’ in here”. Steve grumbled, approaching Sodapop who was in the same position since that entire interaction. Soda couldn’t figure out why Steve was so bugged by the interaction. He knew Soda could handle himself. The woman wasn’t even a threat.
“You’re not too bothered are you?”, Steve searched Soda’s face with eyebrows twisted in what would have been anger to anyone else. Soda knew what it really was. Concern.
“Yeah, yeah. No bigge”, Soda rocked on his heels and looked away from Steve. Their faces were inches apart and if Soda kept looking at him with those eyes, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep from closing the distance. That was a scary thought.
It apparently wasn’t the right answer because Steve wrapped around the counter and threw an arm around Soda’s shoulder. “Yeah Soda? Let’s go sit. No one’s comin in anyway”.
Soda obliged. He knew Steve could read him like a book. Enough to know that something was up. But he was certainly wrong about why.
They sat side by side on the ragged old couch in the back room. Steve flicked a light switch on. The sun had gone down just slightly.
“Glory Soda, I’m not like Darry or nothin-“, Steve sighed, trying again, “I’m not good at comforting people but are you sure you’re alright?”.
Sodapop knew Steve. Steve never had been an emotions kind of guy. He’d go pale and run out of the room whenever anybody cried. Hell, when he felt bad, he’d go out and punch things, always relying on Soda to bring him back and talk him down. Out of all the greasers, Steve was one of the least likely to try and comfort someone. Yet, Soda realized, that Steve had always tried for him. Steve was all soft touches and patient words when Soda needed him.
Soda turned away, sniffling and subtly wiping his eyes.
Steve gaped in horror. “What’s goin on!?”, his hands hovered above Soda, too scared to touch him.
“No, I’m sorry Stevie. I don’t mean to worry you”, Soda smiled. “I just- I’ve got somethin’ to tell ya and ya gotta promise you won’t hate me”.
Steve shook his head, “I couldn’t hate you Sodapop, you’re my best buddy. Would you please stop crying”, he added the last sentence a bit softer.
Soda wiped his eyes again. “But I don’t want to be your friend Steve”.
Steve’s eyes widened and he froze.
“You mean more than just a friend to me Steve”, Soda’s voice sounded weird to his own ears. He didn’t want to know what Steve had to say to that. Steve’s silence prompted Soda to start again. “I know it’s weird and you probably won’t look at me the same but I just wanted you to know”.
A calloused hand reached behind Soda’s neck, resting there tentatively. Soda gasped, finally meeting Steve’s eyes. They were searching his own, ‘is this allowed?’ they seemed to ask, ‘is this real?’. He must have found his answer.
In a second the gap was closed and Steve’s lips crashed against his. His kissed just like he was. Blunt and confident and caring. Soda’s hand met Steve’s other hand, intertwining their fingers. And for a moment they could forget about what this meant for them. To love even though they weren’t allowed. It didn’t matter. It was only Steve and Soda in here. And everything was simple, just like it was supposed to be.
Soda pulled away. Staring at Steve through his lashes. Lips pulled tight in a grin too big for his face. Steve took his hand from Soda’s neck but his other hand was still holding Soda’s. It made something flutter in Soda’s stomach. It was a silent gesture that said ‘You matter to me’.
Steve broke the silence, “Glory ya didn’t have to scare me like that, ya could’ve just said so” Steve breathed out, catching his breath, “I thought you were leavin me behind for a second there”.
Soda chuckled, cheeks flushed, “I wasn’t sure if you were- y’know”. Saying it out loud felt like too soon. Too reckless. Soda wasn’t even sure what this was yet; it hadn’t fully registered that he just kissed his best friend.
“Soda, I’ve loved you for years” Steve almost whispered “I just never thought I could have you”. The confession was like medicine for Soda’s heart. Healing every bit of anxiety he’d felt before. He leaned his head against Steve’s chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken a bit. Although they’d done it before, it had more weight to it now. It felt right.
“Isn’t this a pretty little mess we’ve got ourselves into”. Soda laughed. That laugh that Steve could listen to for hours on end. He’d do anything to keep Soda that way. Steve threw an arm around Soda.
“Worry about it later, Soda. We’ve got all summer”.