A/N: Thanks sooo much for the reviews! You guys are what keeps me writing, if you didn't R&R I'd just die and stop writing...so thanks :) haha well hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own any part or characters of The Outsiders. But I do own Valerie!
I layed my head on Ponyboy's shoulder and let out an exaggerated sigh. He didn't budge. I sighed again, hoping he'd look over at me. He turned the page of the book he was reading and kept on ignoring me. Well I don't think he was actually ignoring me because he's always getting caught in his own little world. I sat back on the couch and tried to think of another way to get his attention without yelling at him because I found out that that does not sit well with him.
I smirked to myself as an idea popped into my head. I simply took my left hand and placed it on his leg, moving it a bit higher and lightly squeazing it. He almost immediately looked up and his book slipped out of his hand and onto the floor. I wasn't usually that suggestive, but I knew it would get his attention and I was right. I took this opportunity and moved to sit sideways on his lap.
"Good, you're done reading," I said.
"I wasn't, but I guess I am now," he chuckled, putting one arm around my waist. The redness started to leave his face and I hadn't even noticed him blushing before.
"Well I'm so bored and we aren't doing anything."
"I was reading," he frowned.
"That's boring," I pointed out.
"To you," he countered.
"Exactly! So let's do something fun."
"Your kinda fun or my kinda fun?" he asked.
See, that was the problem. His definition of fun was going to see a movie...and actually watching it. My definition of fun was, well being compared to that, going to see a movie and not remembering anything about it, if you know what I mean.
"Any kind of fun. I'm so bored," I complained more.
"Fine. You want some ice cream?"
"Yeah," I smiled, my eyes probably lighting up at the idea of ice cream.
"Are you serious? It's about ten degrees outside."
"You already said something! Now I want ice cream," I whined.
"Fine." He got off the couch, watching me fall on my butt.
"Oww," I cried.
"Sorry, but I just couldn't resist," he said, as a small smile pulled at his lips.
"That wasn't funny, you know."
"It was kind of funny."
He put out his hand and helped me up all while keeping eye contact with me. He kept my hand in his and brought it up to his lips to kiss it. I smiled at the touch of his lips against my skin and let out a sigh.
"I'll go get the ice cream," he grinned. I nodded and after he grabbed a coat he left.
I sat down on the couch and realized that having Ponyboy gone was even more boring than watching him read. Although it wasn't always boring when he read, because sometimes he let me lay my head on his shoulder and read with him. Soda had informed me that I was the only one who was allowed to read over Pony's shoulder.
Soon curiosity got the better of me and I wandered off down the hall and opened the door to Ponyboy and Soda's room. I walked over a few dirty shirts and socks and started looking at the huge stack of books sitting on Pony's desk. I picked up the one on top and looked out it, yawned, and put it down on the desk. I must have set it down harder than I thought because it fell right off the desk. I bent down to pick it up and noticed that the drawer on the desk was slightly open. I looked back down the hallway and listened to make sure no one else had come through the house. When I was sure that I was alone I opened the drawer, cringing when it squeaked ever so lightly. After getting it open I looked through some of the papers that he had in there.
Science paper? No. History mid-terms? No. Theme Paper? Not quite interesting enough. Then I came across a spiral notebook with a plain, black cover. I opened it up and the first thing that I saw was a poem. I knew it wasn't his because I remembered him talking to me about that very poem. Something about being gold. I flipped through a few more pages until I came to one titled: You. I glanced down to see my name in the last line and decided to read the whole thing.
I read it over a couple of times to be sure that I was reading it right. Ponyboy had to be the sweetest guy I'd ever met and this just made him seem ten times sweeter. The boy was like no other. I was curious as to why he'd never let me see any of this stuff, when we'd been together for almost three months. I could feel tears in my eyes and I quickly shook my head, trying to get them to go away. I wasn't upset, they were pure tears of joy, maybe even love. No, not love, definitely not love. Not at fifteen! That's way too young to feel like that about a boy, right?
"What are you doin'?" Ponyboy asked from behind me.
I gasped and turned around so fast, the notebook dropped to the floor. I watched as Ponyboy's eyes flew to the notebook and his whole facial expression changed.
"What are you doing?" he asked again.
"I, was um, I was just..." I searched my head for an explanation, while still trying to wipe the tears away, "I got kinda bored while you were gone."
"So you went through my stuff?"
"Well no...I mean this drawer was open and then it kinda just slid open some more...then your notebook just kinda...fell out and I picked it up, but it was kinda accidentally open..and my eyes kinda just started reading it?" I tried. It was probably the lamest excuse I've used, but I didn't have anything else.
"So you kinda went through my stuff?"
"Maybe."
"Dammit, Val," he sighed.
"What? I just wanted to-"
"No! You don't get it...You just don't get it."
"What don't I get, Pony? Huh?"
"You just...you just don't get it," he repeated.
"Fine," I said, picking up the notebook and handing it to him. He looked down to see what page I was on and when he saw what what was written he looked back up at me.
"So you read this?" His voice was softer now, but he didn't sound right. He sounded..almost embarrassed.
"I did," I confessed.
"Great."
"Ponyboy, I don't know what you think I think of this, but you're probably wrong," I assured him.
"You don't think it's stupid...or dorky?" I honestly couldn't believe he was asking me this.
"Of course not," I told him, "I think it's the sweetest thing ever."
"Really?"
"Yes. I can't believe you didn't want to show to me."
"Well...I was gonna show you...for our three-month anniversary," he said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh." I looked down at my hands because I had single-handedly ruined his anniversary gift.
"Yeah, but...don't feel bad. It was a stupid idea anyways."
My head shot up at this. "No, it wasn't!"
"Look, I'll get you a new gift."
"I don't want a new gift. I like this one," I smiled.
"But you already saw it."
"Read it to me...and I'll consider that my new gift."
"Okay, if that's what you want," he shrugged.
I waited a minute while he looked down at the paper for a few minutes then he looked back up at me.
"You're pretty and you're smart, You always pull at my heart. I can never keep my eyes off of you, And so I choose to never do," he had been reciting it by memory as he looked into my eyes, "You make me smile with every word, I love the way you're free as a bird. You are the best thing I could wish for, I could never wish for anymore. You know how I feel and I know how you are, Valerie...you are my shining star."
"Sounds even better when you say it," I informed him.
"Really?" he asked, even though it didn't seem like he was really paying attention to our conversation.
"Mmhmm."
His lips were on mine not a second after that and I heard his bedroom door shut. I figured he had kicked it closed because his arms were tightly wrapped around my middle. Then something that he hadn't dared to do, happened. He slipped his hand about half-way up the side of my shirt, very slowly, but he still did it. I continued to kiss him though, even if he had just skipped first base and got to second. Soon enough, though, his tongue slide into my mouth and I did the same with mine into his. So he hit a double, good for him.
"Pony, I- What the hell?" Darry barged in on us.
"Darry," Ponyboy said awkwardly.
"You know the rules," Darry said firmly. I knew them as well.
"Yeah, I know, Dar. No girls in the bedroom." Darry gave us a nod and left the room.
Ponyboy turned back to look at me with his face as red as a tomato and I couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm thinkin' maybe you should play baseball," I suggested.
"Baseball? Why would I...Oh!"
"Come on. Let's go before Darry comes back," I teased.
I took his hand and led him back to the living room and stopped abruptly when I saw the whole gang there, most of them with raised eyebrows, looking at us. Ponyboy bumped into me and I felt his hand hit my butt and surpressed my laughter because I knew he'd be blushing for that.
"What were two doin'?" Two-Bit asked, emerging from the kitchen.
"Nothing, Two-Bit," I groaned.
"Better not have been doin' anything. I'll kick your ass," he said, looking at Ponyboy.
"Would you stop threatening him!" I yelled.
"Not unless he stops touchin' you."
"Well-"
"Alright, man, I'll back off," Pony said.
"Oh yeah, say that after you stick your hand up my shirt," I blurted out, turning to face him. His eyes grew wide and he looked past me. I turned back around to see a very unhappy Two-Bit.
"You're dead, Ponyboy," he said, before setting down his beer and cracking his knuckles.
"Look, Two-Bit, nothin' else happened, I swear," Pony defended himself, walking around the table to avoid crossing paths with my brother.
"I don't care if nothin' else happened. You were feelin' up my sister."
"Soda...a little help here sure would be nice."
"Sorry, buddy, but you went and did the wrong thing. You don't ever let the older brother find out what you've been doin' with his kid sister," Soda chuckled.
"I ain't kiddin', Soda!"
"Alright, alright," he said, standing up from the couch, "Two-Bit, lay off."
"Why should I?"
"'Cause I say so," Darry interrupted, "Ponyboy, take Valerie out to the porch."
He did as he was told and quickly took my hand. We went out to the porch and Darry shut the door on us. I desperately needed a cigarette, but I was still angry with Two-Bit so I just paced back and forth on the porch steps.
"Val, calm down," Ponyboy said.
"No! He has no right to tell either of us what to do. I cannot even believe he thinks that he can say that to you."
"Valerie, look at me. He's your brother so I get that he wants to protect you and I sure as hell ain't gonna stop him. I'm gonna respect him."
I stared in disbelief at him. He was on Two-Bit's side!
"Are you seriously saying that you're on his side?" I asked.
"Not exactly, but I'm not against him."
"Fine. Be that way, see if I care," I smirked, sitting down on the couch and crossing my arms.
"You can't be mad at me," he laughed.
"Oh, yes I can. Just watch me."
He took a seat next to me and must have been watching me for a while before he reached around me and pulled me into his lap.
"It's kinda hard to be mad at you when you won't leave me alone," I groaned.
"That's the point."
I looked at him as he said this and realized that it was incredibly hard to stay mad at him for very long. I hated the way I felt about him and how he made me turn into the girl I didn't even know existed.
"Why can't I stay mad at you," I sighed, laying my head against his chest.
"I don't really know," he answered.
The door opened and Soda stepped out. He seemed to still be having a conversation with someone who was still inside the house until he looked over at us. I lifted my head and gave Soda a questioning look.
"What's up?" Ponyboy asked.
"Just tryin' ta get him to understand you two," Soda answered, meaning Two-Bit.
"Good luck with that," I muttered.
"And also to talk to you guys," Soda added.
"About what," I asked, sitting up a bit in Ponyboy's lap.
"Well," Soda started, "You guys've been goin' out for like three months and-"
"Two months and three weeks," Ponyboy and I corrected at almost the same time. I looked at him and we both smiled.
"Yeah..." Soda shifted uncomfortably and I wondered what he had even come out there for.
"What I'm...trying to say is...well you guys are close and all...and Darry sent me out here to...to talk to you guys about..."
"Jeez, Soda, spit it out already," Ponyboy teased.
"Darry's makin' me give you a sex talk," he confessed.
"What?" Ponyboy's voice cracked as he asked that, but I didn't blame him. Sex wasn't even something I was really thinking about with Ponyboy.
"Darry wanted me to-"
"Don't say it again," Pony said, slightly glancing at me.
"It has to be done, Pony." Ponyboy and I avoided each other's eyes as we nodded to Soda.
"Alright...well before I do this, how far have you guys gotten."
"Umm," I stalled, hoping Ponyboy would answer.
"I...I uh got...um," Ponyboy stuttered.
"He got to second base," I admitted.
"Kudos, man," Soda grinned at Ponyboy, "But since you guys are gettin' like that and all...I guess Darry's right about this whole sex talk. You know that we ain't gonna stop ya from doin' it, well at least I ain't, but that don't mean ya gotta be careless with it."
"Soda, we know," I whined.
"I, um, actually gotta talk to you after this," he said, making me groan about whatever separate lecture I was getting.
"But seriously, you know you gotta use protection and if anything ever...happens, you guys come to me first, okay?"
"Yeah, we get it," Pony told him. I noticed how red Pony's cheeks were and realized that mine were probably just as red.
"M'kay. Now, Pony, go on inside so I can talk to your girl," he laughed. In response Ponyboy rolled his eyes, but gave his brother a smile. I climbed out of his lap and he walked inside. After Pony left, Soda moved to sit next to me on the couch.
"Don't worry, it ain't gonna be awkward or anythin'. Just wanted to talk to you 'bout Ponyboy."
"Oh, great."
"Just for a minute."
"Fine, go ahead," I told him.
"Now I know you and Ponyboy are goin' along good and all..but truth is, he ain't ever had a girlfriend before so you gotta go easy on him."
"You don't think I already know that?" I raised my eyebrow.
Soda chuckled, "You look like your brother." I scowled at this and he only laughed more.
"Do we really need to have this conversation, though?"
"I think so... So like I was sayin' ya gotta go easy on him. I know you've been goin' out for a while, but still I happen to know for a fact he gets nervous with you."
"He does?"
"Yeah, but hey don't go tellin' him I told ya. He's got a pretty good idea about what's he supposed to be doin', but for some reason you really got a hold on him, Valerie. Never seen him like that before."
The more he talked about Ponyboy being nervous around me, the more upset I got. That's not how relationships were supposed to work...He was supposed to be used to me by now, which I thought he was. I guess he'd been lying the whole time -he's too good of a liar.
A/N: Yeah...I wasn't sure how to end this chapter lol. Some quick notes: Angela has not been forgotten in this story, nor has Curly, don't worry and I know it seems like speeding it up three months was a little much, but this story will be shot over a span of a longer time so it kinda works out. But please review! Oh and what'd think about the poem? Because I do love to hear your thoughts! And give me any suggestions or requests and I'll see what I can do :)
