"Does this look burnt to you?" Darry was standing with his back towards you with his head turned back. He was referencing his back which, after a long day playing in the sun and water, was most likely burnt.
You stepped up behind him, fingers brushing over the tanned and freckled skin of his shoulders, looking for any change in color. "I'm not sure, it's hard to tell. We'll probably know when we get home though."
A mixture or impatience and regret vibrated from his throat. "I hope it's not too bad. Roofing is hell with a burnt, peeling back."
The sun was just beginning to settle on to the horizon, painting the previously azure sky with soft pinks, reds, and purples. Today turned out to be a miracle. Both Soda and Darry had the day off for once and there was no way those boys we're going to waste it sitting at home. As soon as they both got their schedules earlier this week and saw that they were both free Saturday, the planning begun. Ponyboy and Two-bit managed to tag along, as well as the girl Soda had been seeing lately. Steve unfortunately was left working in the shop, having to work the shift Soda got off.
You packed up lunches, gassed up the truck, and took off to the lake 20 minutes out of town. The sky was blue and the temperature was blazing, typical for Oklahoma in early August. You couldn't have asked for a better day.
But now it had come to a close. The sandwiches and snacks were gone and heat had gotten to you all, tiring you out. You all couldn't wait to get back home and just lazily hang out, especially the working boys who wanted to make this day last as long as they could.
Darry pulled his shirt to, leaving the buttons undone and turned around to look at you. You were leaning against the drivers side door of the truck and he stood just off to the side of you, bracing his arm against the top of the door.
"I already see a little color on you," He traced his finger along the apples of your cheeks and you felt the tightness and the slight burn.
Smiling you looked up at him and replied with a shrug, "Yeah, that usually happens." The dying summer sun was casting a halo of golden light around him and it almost took your breath away. You've never seen someone more ethereal.
"Hey! Big Dar! Y'all thinking about taking off without us and leaving me to babysit the kids?" Two-bit pulled you both out of the moment you were sharing as he and the rest of the group walked up the grassy hill to the parking lot. The kids of course were Pony, Soda, and his girl Linda.
Darry only moved his head to reply, "I might have if y'all took any longer. How about we all get some ice cream? I'm buying." He looked back at you and winked, knowing that ice cream was your favorite. A smile couldn't help but pull itself on to your lips.
"Hell yeah I want ice cream, especially if I don't have to buy!" Pony hollered back causing a chuckle from Darry. Any money that kid ever got was through his big brother, and whether Darry knew it or not, Pony had bought quite an assortment of things on his expense.
The truck was loaded up, Soda and Linda in the bed, you and Darry in the cab, and Pony and Two in his beat up old Chrysler. The car's took off down the gravel lane leading towards the main road back into town. Sliding over in the truck bench you rested against Darry's side, his arm laid over your shoulders to accommodate you more.
"Thank you for today Darry, it was such a blast."
You couldn't quite see his smile but you knew he had one on his face, "Yeah, it was great, wasn't it?"
And with the setting sun, and a promise of ice cream and sunburns, you wouldn't want to trade this day for anything.