𝙰 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚎𝚝 𝙳𝚎𝚟𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

Pony's POV

It made us all awkward how close to her chest Sodapop wiped the stain on her shirt. We tried to look away, but it felt impossible. I wasn't really paying much attention to her chest, except for that first second when he made the move. After that, I was staring at her face, completely mesmerized.

Her hair fell over her shoulders like water in soft cascades, and her eyes twinkled under the light like they held their own little sky. It stirred something strange in me, a tingling feeling deep in my stomach. Something stronger than what I felt when Cherry was around.

"So..." Sodapop cleared his throat, snapping the moment in half. We all glanced at each other again. "Tomorrow's Wednesday. Anybody else busy?"

"I'm going to work," Steve said, leaning back against the seat.

"What time is it?" I asked.

Johnny squinted at the clock ticking on the wall in front of us. "Seems like... seven-something?"

My eyes widened instantly. I pushed myself up, trying to squeeze past the table. "Shoot, I gotta go. There's school tomorrow, and I don't want Darry to skin me alive for being late."

"Oh shit, I forgot 'bout school," she said, standing up too. It was easier for her to slip through, the boys moved aside like Moses parting the Red Sea.

We all followed after her, waiting together while Steve paid the bill. Same price he usually pays when Soda comes along, except this time it wasn't Soda who ate the most.

We left Dingo's and split up. Sodapop, Steve, Y/n/n, and I got into the car while Johnny and Dally walked off together.

"It's getting pretty dark out here, ain't it?" Soda said, glancing out the window.

Y/n looked up at the sky. "Yeah... it really is."

"You could stay with us again. It's dangerous out there," I suggested.

She tilted her head, looking at me. "Really? I don't want to both—"

"I'm too lazy to drive you wherever you live anyway, Y/n," Steve cut in, pretending to yawn.

After a bit of insisting, she finally agreed. Steve dropped us off at the curb in front of the house, and we listened as his car sped off down the street.

We walked through the gate and up onto the porch. I cleared my throat and opened the door, stepping inside to find Darry sitting on the couch, reading a newspaper. When he saw me, he lowered it onto the coffee table.

"Right on time, Ponyboy. You know what I was 'bout to do if you came late again? I would've—" He paused, eyes shifting. "You brought Y/n again?"

(Hopefully she didn't hear that near-lecture.)

"Yeah, she's staying again. Pony and I don't want her walking around by herself, so we invited her over. What do you think?"

"I don't mind," he said simply, picking the newspaper back up.

"Uh, Darry? Do you mind if I use your telephone? I need to call Ma' about this."

"Yeah, sure. It's over there." He pointed without looking up.

After a minute or two, she came back, a soft smile on her face. "She said it's fine. Thanks, guys."

Sodapop already had a blanket ready and handed it to her.

"You go to school, right?" Darry asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"I could drive you both tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'd just have to drop Soda and Steve off first if you want to stop by your place and change."

They worked it out, and she thanked him before he stretched and headed off.

"We oughta sleep now," Soda said.

"Alright. Goodnight, guys."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I laid down, staring up at the ceiling, but sleep didn't come easy. The house felt quieter than usual, like everything had settled into place just a little differently tonight.

From the corner of my eye, I could see her curled up under the blanket Soda gave her, breathing slow and steady.

That same strange feeling stirred again in my chest, like something just starting to grow roots.

I turned onto my side, trying to ignore it, but it stayed there... quiet, persistent.

Tomorrow was just another school day.

But somehow, it didn't feel like it anymore.