Sodapop x Steve

*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.*