I do not own The Outsiders. All characters used, are borrowed with much respect to S.E. Hinton. So many thanks to all of you that continue to read and review!
I willed my hand to stay still as I moved the small brush in a downward stroke. I grinned at my own handy work; amazed I had the capacity to keep the deep red colour within the boundaries with so much to distract me. Her other foot kept moving, brushing up against the inside of my bare thigh and I shot her a warning look and shook my head disapprovingly.
"You're gonna make me mess up." I grinned as I focused my attentions on her toenails as I carefully painted them in the colour of nail polish that she handed me.
"It's okay. You can always get a do-over." Beth bit her bottom lip while her eyes sparkled at me.
"A do-over? Shit, you girls are pretty high maintenance with your lipstick and nail polish and long hair." I grinned while I teased her.
"Well, we don't all roll out of bed being as naturally good looking as you." Beth gave a challenging look, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"I think you got the wrong Curtis." I said, picturing how girls always seemed to swoon over Sodapop wherever he went. That wasn't me at all.
Beth just grinned while she shook her head at me. I smiled softly while I finished the last bit of colour on her small toe, and tried hard to ignore that other foot as it made its way to its target between my legs. I gave her a pointed look as it began to move against me, and I screwed the cap back on to her bottle of red nail polish before tossing it over my shoulder.
"You'll have to tell me more about these do-overs." I smiled as I shuffled my way over, crawling up between her smooth porcelain thighs, finding my way back to my own target.
Beth laughed out loud; that kind of laugh that makes everyone smile because it's real, not phoney. She's brushing the hair from my eyes, and I realize it's probably time for another haircut, but I'm loving the feeling of this simple gesture from her. When she looks at me, I know she's feeling this too; I know I'm not alone in this even though I haven't even had the decency to ask her out on a date despite the fact she's sharing her bed with me. Suddenly, the last thought sucks the joy from me, and I'm feeling guilty as I roll to the spot beside her.
"You alright?" Beth looks at me confused as she rolls towards me, propping her head up on one hand while the other rests on my chest.
"Yeah," I say quietly as I feel my brows come together. I cover my eyes with my hand before I rub them.
"What is it?"
"You deserve more than this." The words come out in a sigh as my hand leaves my face and grabs for the hand of hers that's resting on me.
"We've been through this, Darry. I know what your life is like right now. I'm a big girl; I'm not expecting anything. I just like being with you."
"I don't want you to think I'm here just for sex. I mean, it's great don't get me wrong…" I could feel the heat in my face and I wanted to kick myself. I was making a mess of things.
Beth smiled, and I could've forgotten my name. I barely knew anything about her, and yet I felt so at ease, like being in the presence of someone you've known for years. I wondered if I was out of my league with her; I was pretty sure we had very different backgrounds, but I never once felt that way. I was actually feeling like we fit together perfectly.
"I know what kind of man you are, Darry. I've never once thought you were that type." She looked at me seriously.
"How? We don't know a whole lot about each other."
"You forget, I watched for months how you were with people. I watched the way you took care of your brothers while putting yourself last. Your friends. I watched how you treated us while we worked with your little brother. You're a good man, Darry. I know you're not using me for sex. And it is great, for the record."
I grinned and rolled on my side to face her. My hand moved up to hold a handful of her coppery hair, then brought it to my face so I could smell it. An idea rolled around in my head, but I was worried she wouldn't be interested. I was also worried the reality of it would blow up in my face.
"Maybe we should go out? Y'know…like a date…if you want." I stammered like I was thirteen again, asking Rebecca Greene to the school dance. I rolled my eyes at myself.
"What were you thinking?" Beth giggled lightly as she let her own hand run itself back into my hair.
"Well," I cringed as I spoke self consciously. "My brother thought I should have you over for dinner." I couldn't believe I was actually taking advice from my baby brother about a girl.
"Which one?" Beth gave me a strange look, and I was immediately sorry I'd opened my mouth.
"Ponyboy." I cringed, already sensing this wasn't going the way I had planned out originally. I didn't even know her hometown and I'm inviting her home to meet the family.
"Awe," She was just short of cooing, and I looked at her surprised. "That's so sweet. I think about him all of the time, you know?"
"He's a little young for you, no offence." I frowned.
"Not like that, ya big jerk!" Beth laughed as the hand playing in my hair forcefully shoved my head away and I was laying on my back again. I laughed.
"I had a little brother. He reminds me of him." Beth got quiet, and her smile slowly fading.
"Where is he now?" I asked curiously, noting she used the word had.
"Died. He had leukaemia. Was about Ponyboy's age, I guess. It was a long time ago." Her eyes drifted off to nowhere, no doubt thinking about her brother.
"Is that why you became a nurse?" I asked, somehow knowing the pain she felt. Even though Ponyboy had survived, it still felt as though pieces of him were gone.
"I guess so, although I knew I always wanted to help people."
I eased back up, propping my head on my hand. I couldn't fathom how she devoted her life to witnessing all of the pain and suffering people, children nonetheless went through. I thought about my brother, and the long haul of suffering he was still going through, and shook my head in awe of her.
"How do you do it? Why would you want to? All that suffering." I reached out and softly ran my finger across her cheek. She looked at me soberly.
"If I don't do it, who will? And it's not always heartbreaking. Sometimes we get a miracle; look at Ponyboy. He shouldn't have made it past that first night, Darry. That's why I do what I do."
I wasn't sure I had the right to it, but I felt such pride for my baby brother because I knew what Beth said was true. Not one soul, myself included, expected Pony to last the first night. There was something deep down inside of him that kept him going. That same something that made him stand up to Martin Campbell and his abuse, and take another round in order to protect Soda.
"He's a miracle." Beth's voice was gentle as she smiled.
"Well, that miracle would love to meet you. Whadaya say?" I smiled back at her.
"I'd say, I can't wait."
Beth leaned in and pressed her lips against mine. It wasn't heated, or rushed, just a tender kiss letting me know she cared. My hand combed itself through her lustrous locks of copper when I realized it was most likely getting late. I wondered in the back of my head if I was an open book. She seemed to read my mind.
"Don't go. Please?" She shook her head, as if she was mad at herself. "I'm sorry. You probably have to. Stay anyway?" Her eyes pleaded with me.
"Can I use your phone?" I grinned when I saw her face light up, and she nodded.
"Kitchen." She instructed, her eyes hot as I rolled out of her bed naked and slowly made my way from her bedroom into the kitchen.
It was nine-thirty as I waited impatiently for someone to pick up. My stomach started to pull as I waited and waited, and nothing. My breathing felt a little faster as I hung up the phone. Of course, I played every horrible scenario in my head, from Ponyboy having to be taken to the hospital, to a sadistic rapist/killer breaking into the house. I picked the receiver back up and dialled again, practically hyperventilating. I was about to bolt out of there, naked and all until after the seventh ring, I could suddenly hear music blaring and a breathless "hello".
"What the hell is goin' on over there? Why didn't you pick up?" I yelled, relief not yet washing over me.
"Yo, Soda!" I heard Steve yell over the music and laughing. "It's Superman." There was faint mumbling and suddenly the music was turned down a lot lower.
"Darry? Christ almighty! You ain't still at work are ya?" Soda's worried voice on the other end entered me, and I felt myself relax.
"No. What the hell is goin' on over there? Why didn't you pick up the phone?"
"Sorry 'bout that, Darry. Didn't hear ya over the music."
"Well, turn it down. I don't need the neighbours complainin' at me tomorrow about all the noise."
"Yeah, Okay." I could hear Soda's eyes roll, and I frowned at myself for being what he always called a stick-in-the-mud.
"Where ya at? You on your way home?" Soda asked.
"Uhhh…" I suddenly felt self conscious, knowing that Sodapop wasn't ever going to let me live this down. "Ummm…I sorta ran into someone." Lie.
"Oh yeah?" I could hear the smirk in Soda's voice, and I wanted to strangle him with the telephone cord. "Anyone I know?"
"Shut yer pie hole!" I drawled and rolled my eyes as I had to listen to Soda laugh at my expense. "You done, you little shit?"
"I'll never be done, Darry. You know that." Soda chuckled. "Why you wasting your time talkin' to me? Go get her, Darry!"
"I wanted to check in. Make sure you're alright."
"Yeah, we gotta game of Twister goin' on. Poor Pony." Soda giggled before yelling at whoever was there.
"He okay? I mean…will you be okay if I don't come home tonight?" I winced as the question escaped my mouth.
Soda was silent for a moment, and I wasn't sure what to make of it. I noticed Beth out of the corner of my eye, clad in my t-shirt as she slowly approached me. I lifted my arm, and she slid in underneath it, nuzzling and kissing my neck. I felt myself start to respond.
"Soda?"
"Darry, we're good here. Don't worry your head over nothin'. Get back to your girl."
"I can give you the phone number…" I started, but was cut off by my little brother.
"Darry, would you please just have a good time? Okay? We're all good here. I love you." Soda pushed, and I felt a smile creep onto my face.
"Thanks, Soda. I love you too."
I hung up the phone and looked down at the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. I nodded at her and was rewarded with a huge smile. She bit her lip as she pulled me towards her; her walking backwards towards her bedroom. I closed the distance, pulling up on the t-shirt of mine that she was wearing until it was off of her and laying on the floor in the hallway. She wrapped her legs around me as I lifted her up and slowly carried her to her bed.