Ponyboy stared at Dally with a gentle smile and nodded. Dally awkwardly patted the youngest member shoulder. It wasn't comfortable but Ponyboy appreciated the fact that Dally was trying his hardest to help the young member. The front door of the Curtis's were now opened. It was Darry.
Darry looked like he aged ten times faster than what anyone could have expected. Dally walked out of the Curtis but everyone wasn't worried about Dallas Winston at all. He could hold his own and they knew he wasn't going to self-destruct not any time.
Pony leaned against the kitchen counter watching Darry placed groceries down on the counter. Darry handed a letter to Pony. It was in Soda's handwriting. Pony held a smile on his face before ripping the letter opened.
Dear baby,
How's it goin back home? I miss you guys so much. I hope you and Darry are getting along well. No fighting remember you guys promise to me. War is tough. I don't want to worry Pony but I know you are strong and tuff. You not a little kid anymore so I'm going to give it to you straight. I'm worried so many people die during war but I holding onto my strength of getting back home, back to my family, back to the gang. I can't tell Darry all this. He already stress enough so I'm telling you Ponyboy.
You are sure tuff considering after everything you went through. You went through so much more than any kid I know.
I love you Ponyboy Michael Curtis.
Sincerely,
Sodapop Curtis.
Pony folded the letter before placing it on his desk. Darry started cooking dinner and that's when Ponyboy decided to step outside of the Curtis residence. He saw a girl sitting on her back porch. She was new. Ponyboy gave her a gentle smile and the girl smiled back at her while fixing her afro. Ponyboy waved his hand at the girl.
"You new around this part."
"Yeah." She responded back to Ponyboy. Ponyboy walked over by the fence that was separating the Curtis and the girl's house.
"I'm Ponyboy." Ponyboy introduced himself and took his hand out and placed it over the fence. The girl stared at Ponyboy while smile still on her face. "I know strange name."
"Not as weird as mine. My name is Lovely Garden." She said while chuckling a little bit.
Yelling was heard from inside the house and Ponyboy couldn't help but flinch slightly.
"Look, it was nice meeting you Ponyboy but I should get in there before dad have a fit." Lovely spoke to Ponyboy and Ponyboy nodded.
"I wish I could stay outside and watch the sunset but I guess tomorrow." Lovely continued to speak while wrapping her body. Lovely had a pretty face and even though Ponyboy never thought a girl was attractive but this girl wasn't like any of the other girl. Darry placed his hands on Ponyboy's shoulders while Ponyboy couldn't help but stare at the girl face which had a black eye over it.
Ponyboy felt his heart clinch and looked at Darry.
"You knew that someone moved in next door." Ponyboy mentioned to Darry as they walked back into the house. Darry nodded.
"Yeah, it's a white and black couple with a girl that's 16." Darry shrugged and Ponyboy looked at Darry. "Dally told me about them moving in next door."
Ponyboy sat at the table eating dinner. Two-bit had the tv on full blast, Dally was now back into the house. it was never spoken of but everyone knew that Dally now lived with the Curtis's. Ponyboy went back to rooming with Soda's so Dally's room was Pony's old room.
Later that night, Ponyboy saw that his room was across from the girl's bedroom. The girl stared outside of her window and Ponyboy waved at her. Both teens opened their bedroom window.
"Hey"
"Hey, yourself."
It was a new bruise placed on her check but she was trying to cover it up. Ponyboy felt incredibly bad for Lovely. A girl who's name was Lovely didn't look so lovely in that moment.
"Do you want to do something with me tomorrow? It's this incredible place that have amazing sights for sunrise?" Ponyboy mentioned to Lovely. Lovely smiled beamed bigger till it covered her face.
"Cool, I'll see you tomorrow." Ponyboy closed his bedroom window and so did Lovely. He closed the blinds shut.
The next morning, Ponyboy got ready to leave his room but Dally stood in front of the bathroom with a cheeky smile on his face.
"I'll be okay." Ponyboy stated to Dally and Dally handed his switchblade to Ponyboy.
"If you going out with that Lovely girl, you gonna need protection. People aren't about black people down here." Dally informed Ponyboy and Ponyboy nodded.
Ponyboy knew how horrible it was for black people. They were treated lesser than greasers themselves and Ponyboy hated how some greasers treated them like they were trash.
Ponyboy and Lovely met on their front porch. Lovely's hair was no longer an afro but straight. She had a cap on her head and some overalls with converse. Lovely was pretty and Ponyboy couldn't help feel the redness in his cheeks.
"Ready." He greeted the girl. Lovely nodded and they walked down the streets till their found an empty field watching the sunrise together. Ponyboy found someone to watch the sunrise and sunsets like Johnny would have done.
The wind blew Lovely's hair out of her face and that's when Ponyboy saw the extent of her bruises. Ponyboy felt that ache. He didn't know this girl but Ponyboy wanted to protect her and save her. He didn't want to fail her.
Lovely's face were battered and lips was busted. Ponyboy faced forward to stare at the sunrise.
"My parents died years ago but i still miss them." Ponyboy told Lovely while putting his knees against his chest.
"My mom died last year leaving me with my alcoholic dad." Lovely muttered while she was slightly shaking. Ponyboy took off his jean jacket and handed it to Lovely. Lovely smiled at Ponyboy. She placed her head on his shoulder and continued to let the wind breeze and silence fill the space.
