𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚜' 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

When I left, it was around 2:32 in the afternoon. The walk was calm despite the busy streets and nosy passersby. The Curtis' house felt the same when I arrived.

I knocked, holding nothing but a small plate of pie Ma' had insisted I bring.

"Comin'!" Ponyboy called before I could knock again. He opened the door with a grin.

"Hey, Pony."

"You didn't have to knock, y'know," he said, stepping aside. "The door's open to anyone... well, except Socs, of course."

"Yes siree'bub," I replied with a smile, patting his back. "So, when are they coming?"

"Dunno. Soda and Steve are still at the DX, but don't worry—Soda never gives up on a hangout."

"Oh...okay." I handed him the plate. "Ma' said she wanted to give y'all somethin'."

"Aw, thanks. Looks real good."

"Yeah, Ma' makes 'em great. You gotta try one."

"Sure will. I doubt the others will get a bite."

I lingered awkwardly, trying not to look like an idiot.

"Want a soda? We've got plenty," Pony offered, tilting his head slightly.

"Sure, thanks."

As he walked toward the kitchen, my eyes caught a small copy of Gone with the Wind tucked into his back pocket.

"You've read Gone with the Wind?" I asked.

He glanced back. "Yeah...uh, I've been meaning to. Johnny bought it for my birthday."

"That's sweet of him."

He returned with two cans of Pepsi, handing me one and popping open his own. I sank onto the couch, watching him flip to a cartoon.

Soon after, Soda and Steve burst in, hollering.

"Hey Ponyboy, where's Y/n?"

"She's on the couch, you idiot," Ponyboy called, lifting his chin at them.

"Hey Y/n!" they said in unison.

"Sorry for bein' so late, had a hoard of clients today."

"Girl clients," Steve corrected.

"It's fine," I said. "Ya'll coming in your DX shirts?"

"No ma'am. It's a hangout. We ain't goin' dirty, darlin'."

Sodapop winked. "Yeah, we don't look good like you. You really took the time, didn't you?"

I blushed. "Well, I...just got ready. Nothing fancy."

"Aw, come on—learn to appreciate yourself. You look good," Steve added.

I felt my face heat up and quickly covered it. "Yeah, well...if ya'll don't hurry, the day's gonna pass by."

"It's 3:01, sweetheart. Too early for you?"

I peeked at Sodapop. "Time flies, ain't got much left."

His lips curled into a smirk. "Not enough? Then I'll make it up in another way."

I rolled my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart. "Whatever—Pony and I will stick around."

They nodded and went their separate ways—Steve to his home, Sodapop to the bathroom.

I followed Ponyboy to the kitchen, tossing my empty soda can into the bin.

"I swear those two are trouble," I huffed.

Ponyboy chuckled, opening another can. "They get perky when they get comfortable around someone."

"They spend a lot of time together, huh?" I asked, resting my arm on the table.

"Yeah. Double-dates, rodeos, games..."

He grew quiet, moving silently around the kitchen like an agent on a mission.

"You've been awfully short lately. Something on your mind?" I asked.

He tilted his head. "What?"

"You got something in mind, don't you?"

"Am I that obvious?"

"Well, in the morning you were a talkin' motor without brakes. Now you're like a sentence long before goin' quiet."

He hesitated, eyes meeting mine.

"Well...do you think I should talk to a girl who doesn't accept me for who I am?"

"Who, Cherry?"

"Yeah."

I studied him. He looked thoughtful, lost in the weight of his own questions.

"Crushes are tough. Some people have the courage to ask what the other thinks; others just idolize them from afar, drowned in their own world."

He stared at the wall, silent. I smiled softly. "We can talk about something else if you want."

"Yeah...we should," he agreed, offering a small smile.

I was thinking of something dumb to say. Something that would probably crack a wider smile on his face.

"Hey Pony?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I give you a new nickname?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Like what?"

"Stallion Child."

His gloomy expression vanished. He rolled his eyes but grinned. "Absolutely not."

"I was joking. But hey, look at that smile—too handsome."

He looked surprised, ears pink. "What about you?" he asked, clearing his throat. "I know your first name probably feels...weird sometimes, like when parents call you to scold you."

I chuckled. "Y/n/n sounds fine. I wasn't bothered much."

"Y/n/n? Sure."

He handed me a slice of chocolate cake from the fridge. We walked back to the couch.

"So, me and Two-Bit want to invite you to hang out during school."

"I'd love to."

"Startin' tomorrow? We usually go outdoors at lunch."

I nodded, taking a bite. "Sure."