The gas station was the one place that felt different. Away from the fighting between the Greasers and the Socs, it was just you and Soda working side by side — joking during slow hours, teasing each other while you cleaned the pumps, and stealing little moments together whenever you could. The problem was everyone else. You were a Soc, and the gang didn’t care that you were different. To them, you were still on the other side. They hated the idea of Soda being with someone they thought they couldn’t trust. Darry didn’t get it, Ponyboy was confused, and the rest of the gang made it clear they wanted nothing to do with you. They wouldn’t come over if you were at the Curtis house. They wouldn’t hang around the DX if they knew you were working. They acted like Soda had chosen the enemy instead of someone he actually cared about. But Soda didn’t see you as a Soc. He saw the person who made him laugh, who listened to him, and who made his heart flutter.