I stood in the dimly lit doorway, peering anxiously out the window. I thought I heard a car pull up, but it just drove by. I don't know why these planned rendez-vous made me feel so nervous. I just plain didn't like being around people that weren't part of the gang. I had grown up with those guys and I felt pretty comfortable around them. They always treated me like "one of the guys". If they only knew… They always attributed my boyish behaviour due to the fact that I grew up with three brothers, yeah I guess I was kind of a tomboy.
My date was due to be here in a few minutes, and I suddenly felt self conscious. Was I wearing the right thing? Did my hair look okay? I bit my fingernails worriedly. I considered calling Ponyboy but changed my mind. He would probably say I looked fine in anything, and he doesn't know much about what to wear on dates and such. I could count on Soda for advice with this kind of stuff. "Soda!" I called out.
He immerged from the family room, grinning good naturedly. "Yeah, Natty? You excited for your date?" I wasn't excited at all. I dreaded going on these stupid blind dates that Soda kept setting me up for. It's just so hard to say no to Soda though, he had practically begged me to go out with Sandy's cousin. He seems to think that happiness revolves around dating. Maybe I would actually be happy if I could date someone I was interested in, I thought wistfully. I had only agreed to go out with Jacob, or Joseph, or Justin, whatever his name was, because Soda had promised he would do my chores for two weeks.
"Do I look okay, Soda? We're just going to the movies, do you think I should have dressed a little more casual?" I was wearing a light blue skirt, and a patterned cardigan and blouse. I would much rather be wearing something more comfortable. The worst thing was these silly shoes that my brothers had gotten for me for my previous birthday. They were tight and pointed and left marks on the side of my feet. I didn't dare complain however, I knew they had cost a lot of money.
"Trust me, Natty, you look great! Guys love it when girls make an effort to get all dolled up." He seemed to sense what was on my mind. "Don't worry about it, just have a good time, maybe this guy will be the one!" I doubted it but I made a show of smiling and flashing Soda a thumbs up sign.
Suddenly a loud honk came from the driveway. I looked out the door and saw a beaten up car running on the driveway. That would be Justin or Jeremy or Joseph, my date.
I grabbed my purse and bounded out the front door.
"'Bye Dare! 'Bye Soda! 'Bye Pony!" I faintly heard Darry yelling after me to be back by midnight.
I wasn't excited about going out with some guy I didn't know, but I did really want to see that new Dianne Baker film. She was positively dreamy.
And who knows? Maybe my date had a cute sister?