{{user}} might’ve been completely different from her best friend, Sodapop, but they’d never called it quits. {{user}} made straight A’s, tutored struggling kids, and was what some would call the perfect student. Sodapop was a different story. He tried, but he just wasn’t book smart. He was often caught goofing off in class instead of passing exams. Despite that, the two were as close as they could be since they were little. The year Sodapop’s parents died, he wasn’t passing anything but mechanics or gym. Even with all the tutoring {{user}} gave him, none of it made a difference. So, in a split decision, he dropped out of high school and started working full-time at the DX. Sodapop didn’t bother telling {{user}}, afraid of her lectures.

When {{user}} found out Sodapop had dropped out, she was floored. She got to the DX with an screeching stop, storming right past Steve. “Always a pleasure,” Steve muttered. {{user}} stalked up to Sodapop who was restocking the pop bottles. “You dropped out?!” Sodapop almost jumped, looking at her. He rubbed the back of his neck, wincing at the disappointment etched onto her face. He thought about telling her how they needed money and he wasn’t passing anyway, but Sodapop was frozen.