The Outsiders Meet Katrina

Part 2

Storm

SODA

I wasn't actually asleep. I was laying on my back with my eyes closed, on the pile of clothes thinking about everything. At least, I was trying to think of something besides the storm.

I figured that Alyssa was asleep beside me, because I hadn't seen her move since I had put her down, and her breathing seemed regular. I hoped she wasn't having trouble sleeping with all this noise.

As I was laying there, I suddenly felt her body shiver. Without even thinking about it, I threw my arm over her. I perched myself up on my elbow, and peered over her shoulder. I saw that her eyes were open.

"Why are you still awake?" I asked, moving her hair out of her face.

"How in the world do you expect me to get any sleep in this?" She replied, in a somewhat sarcastic tone.

She rolled on to her back, so she was looking directly into my eyes, and I could tell there was no sarcasm in her face. Her eyes looked fearful but she was trying to hide it.

"I don't know. How did Two Bit, Steve and Pony get to sleep so fast?" I asked, tracing little circles on her stomach with my fingers.

She took a hold of one of my hands, and moved in closer to me, snuggling in close to my chest.

"Must be sound sleepers." She said, half laughing. "Man, you're warm."

I put my head back down on my pillow and reinstated my arm over her, pulling her even closer to me.

"You're not scared, are you?" I asked.

Alyssa smiled. "Not when I have a big strong guy beside me, protecting me." She said, turning her head, so she was again, looking into my eyes.

I laughed, and leaned down to kiss her.

"Well, when you're madly in love with someone, you try your hardest to protect them." I said.

"So, you're madly in love with me, huh?" Alyssa said, smiling.

"Is there anything past madly?" I asked, rubbing my fingers down her face.

" I don't know. I've never loved someone enough to think about that." She said.

"You're in love with me, right?" I asked her, knowing that of course she was. I just loved hearing her say it to me. It made me feel secure, like everything I was doing was worth it.

She leaned over to me until we were almost touching, and smiled that gorgeous, heart melting smile of hers.

"Madly." She said, softly, kissing me.

I drank in the moment. Even though I kissed her all the time, every single time felt like something brand new.

After about five minutes of pure, teenage kissing, we separated. Although it had been a whole five minutes, I wanted more: a lot more. I didn't dare say that to her though. Our kisses were sweet, but passionate, depending on the mood, and how long it had been since we last made out. They were never lustful. Nothing we did ever was. That was one of the things that I loved about our relationship. I had figured out a long time ago that we were all about the romance, never about the sex, and I had promised her when we first started dating, that I would never pressure her into doing something she didn't want to do. We didn't need to satisfy ourselves that way. Not until we were both one hundred percent ready to. She knew it too. I knew that when she was ready, she'd tell me.

She laid her head back down on the pillow next to mine, and I did the same on my pillow. We were still facing one another, and just kid of looking at each other. We decided to finally settle down and try to get some sleep, when the biggest thunder clap I had ever heard, shook the whole entire building. It snapped me out of my half conscious state, and I shot to life.

I could see people around me starting to panic. Some were crying, others were just looking around trying to figure out what happened. A lot of children seemed extremely scared, and their parents were trying to calm them down as best they could.

I pulled Alyssa closer to me, and geld on as tight as I could. I didn't want to let her go. For being a big strong guy, even I needed a little reassurance, and she was it.

After that shockwave died down, people got quieter again. Alyssa turned her head so she could see me.

"I don't know how much longer I can take this, Soda. I'm trying really hard not to freak out, but it's not working. I keep telling myself not to panic, but I can't help it. This is by far the scariest thing that has ever happened to me." She said, her voice soft and scared.

I moved Alyssa's hair out of her eyes, and used my fingers to wipe the stray tears that found their way to her cheeks.

"I know babe, but we're going to get through this. Just promise me you won't leave me alone. I need you just as much as you need me." I said, trying to keep my own voice steady.

"Soda, you know I'd never leave you." She said, clasping my hand firmly in hers.

"You're the only thing that keeps me going, and I'd be completely lost without you." She said.

I smiled at her, and kissed her again. Not for too long this time, however, because another thunder clap sounded above us.

Alyssa buried her face in my chest, and I stroked her hair until it subsided.

We laid back down on the makeshift bed, and she took her head out of my chest, and laid it on my shoulder.

"Soda, I'm glad I'm here with you." She said, quietly.

I kissed her one last time, and pretty soon she was asleep in my arms. Truth be told, I was almost asleep myself.

I looked down at her, and couldn't help myself from smiling. The small bit of light that was shining in, was enough to light up her face, and made her look absolutely beautiful. Don't get me wrong, it's not like she wasn't already beautiful, but all you people that are in love with someone know what I mean.

Even though there was a storm raging outside, I felt almost completely peaceful. I had a feeling that it wasn't going to last long though. Once the storm ended outside, another one would start between people trying to get home, or get to their family, or just get out. Fear does that to people, I've found. People are going to panic, and go crazy, and people may even get killed. There were going to be a lot of those scared, angry people who just want to get out, and I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be pretty.

Just before I finally dropped off to sleep, I prayed a silent prayer to anyone who was listening. I prayed that we'd all be okay, and no one would get hurt. I figured that if there was a God at all, he's understand. He'd understand that I'm not ready to die yet. I wanted to get married and maybe even have kids if the time was right.

I knew how Johnny must have felt before he died. He was younger than I am, and he didn't have anyone to love him except for us.

In my case, I had plenty of people I loved, and I just couldn't lose them. Not now, I needed them now. I needed Darry's support, and Pony's admiration. I needed Steve's friendship, and even Two Bit's comic relief. Most of all, I needed Alyssa's love and trust, and everything else she gives me.

I couldn't lose anyone else in my family, or any of my friends. I just don't think I could handle that again.

Whoot! I'm starting to get better at this updating thing. Please R&R!

Jess

P.S. HAPPY NEW YEAR!