Ok here is chapter 4. Enjoy.
I don't own The Outsiders
From then on we studied only at Jessica's house. She insisted and I couldn't resist. When we finished studying we'd watch a movie or listen to some of her records. April knew about it and didn't mind. Well, to be entirely honest I didn't specify to April that we were watching movies and stuff. So she thought that we were just studying, and from talking to her I realized that Jessica didn't specify it either.
Another really weird thing happened - Jessica introduced me to some of her friends. All of them were socs and all of the sudden they started being nice to me, saying 'hello', asking how I was doing. Seemed too good to be true, but I liked it. It was nice to be acknowledged by people rather than be treated like trash. Maybe socs are not so bad after all, I thought, or at least some of them.
As for the gang, I didn't tell them the details except for Johnny. So they also thought that I was just studying with Jessica. But one day I was talking to Steve in the hallway when this supersoc Kevin Johnson passed me by and said 'Hi Ponyboy.' I saw Steve freeze, but I had no choice but to say 'hi' back to him. After he left, Steve started questioning me how it happened that the soc was saying 'hi' to me. So I had to tell him the whole deal about Jessica. So after that the gang knew.
One day we were in Jessica's room after studying. She just got a new Elvis record and she was showing it to me. I told her to put it on and she did. We were sitting on her bed kind of close to each other. Jessica was wearing just a black t-shirt and jeans. She looked cute like that. Almost like a greaser I thought. So we were sitting there listening to Elvis and that song came on - the famous one that goes 'Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you.' Very much to the point, I thought, because I had to admit it, to myself at least, that I was falling in love with Jessica. As if reading my mind she tilted her head abruptly, and before I knew what was going on I felt her lips crash into mine. I hesitated for a moment and then started kissing her back. What am I doing ?, I thought, but it was too late. After we stopped there was an awkward silence. "I got to go," I said quickly and got up and left. On the way home I tried to process what just happened. By the time I reached my house I knew that I had to break up with April and ask Jessica out.
When I entered my house Johnny was there, and I was really thankful for that. I said a quick 'hello' to Darry and Soda and dragged Johnny to my room and told him what just happened. He was thoughtful for a moment. Then he cleared his throat and said "if you really like her you should go for it. Who cares that she's a soc. You can't help who you fall in loove with."
"Ain't that the truth." I replied.
"And besides," he added "you said even socs are treating you better now."
"So you don't think I am a traitor for liking a soc?" I asked. He shook his head. I hope the rest of the gang would have the same reaction when they find out.
After my conversation with Johnny I felt a little better about the whole thing, but now I had to face the hard reality of breaking up with April. It would've been so much easier to do it over the phone, but that wold be just so low. I couldn't stand myself if I did that. I dialed April's number.
"Hello," she answered the phone.
"Hey April it's me. Are you free right now I kinda need to talk to you."
"Yeah, I'm free, what's going on Ponyboy are you in trouble.?"
"No, I'll tell you when I see you. Can I pick you up now and we'll go somewhere and talk. "
"Sure." She sounded cold all of the sudden. I think that maybe she guessed what this was about.
I picked her up a few minutes later, and we went to the lot to talk. Johnny was still at my house so I knew there wouldn't be anyone at the lot and we could talk freely.
"So what is it?" April asked when we got there.
"Listen," I said hardly holding my breath. "I'm really sorry April, but I don't think we should see each other anymore." I tried to be as gentle as possible bringing this news, but I guess there is just no gentle way when it comes to things like that. She frowned. "I knew it," she whispered. I think she wasn't able to speak so she just mouthed with her lips "why?" I was silent - I couldn't bring myself to tell her that I was dumping her, because I was in love with her cousin. It was true though I didn't just like Jessica. I was in love with her or so I thought. "Is there someone else?" April whispered. I nodded still unable to tell her the truth. "Who is it? Anyone I know?" Her voice was barely audible.
"Yes," I said, "please, please don't take it the wrong way. I didn't plan on it - it just happened."
"What just happened?" she asked, and I could tell she was close to tears.
"It just happened," I repeated. "I'm in love with your cousin Jessica." At this point her facial expression changed to shock and she started crying. I just couldn't stand that. I wanted to hug her and comfort her, but obviously that wasn't possible considering the circumstances. "I hope we can stills tay friends," I said.
" Whatever," she said through tears and started walking back. I couldn't let her walk all by herself - it was getting dark and she could get jumped.
"I'll walk you home," I said.
" Whatever," she said again. So I walked next to her all the way to her house. She stopped crying, but she didn't say a word the whole time. I felt really lousy.
The next day I saw Jessica right before my math class like I always do. "Listen about yesterday, what happened," I said, "did you mean it or was it just one time thing?" I couldn't believe that I was so direct with her, but I needed to know plain and simple. I was in no mood to play games. She gave me a sideways glance. "Well," she said after a pause, "I really like you Ponyboy, but I know that you are going out with April... " she trailed off.
"I broke up with April last night."
"You did?" She seemed surprised, "was it because of us, because of me?" she said.
"Yes," I replied, "and that's why I need to know if you were serious yesterday or was it just a spur of the moment. In other words what I'm' asking ..." I cleared my throat, "is would you go out with me?" She looked me right in the eyes - "sure Ponyby. I would love to go out with you." She gave me a smile. She had a really beautiful smile. "So how about this Friday?" I asked.
"Sure, will you sit with me at lunch tomorrow?" My math class was after lunch so I couldnt' sit with her today but I surely could sit with her tomorrow.
