After a long break of all things Outsiders, I have come back to make this oneshot a full story! This story also has a spotify playlist of songs that fit Pony's emotions in this story, full of classic rock, and some pop. You can find it by going to "dirty grapes" on spotify. Enjoy!
I woke up to The Monkees playing on the television, loudly. I liked their music, but found the show corny. Davy Jones was cute though. Oh no, I'm not a fruit, am I? I just think he's attractive, right?
Anyway, Lily is awake. She's showering, and I avoid looking at her when I brush my teeth. I don't see her that way, and she didn't see herself that way either. Lily wore makeup sometimes though. Does that make her like those girls from Brumley? She can't be, since she's not like them.
I should tell you how I met Lily. I noticed her sitting alone at the cafeteria one day, with her messenger school bag, sketchbook, and journal. She had on a gingham shirt, pink and white with army boots. I wanted to talk to her, but I had to tutor a kid named Joseph. The next day, I tried to talk to her, and she screamed at me to back off. Oops. I remember how her checkered shirt tightened around her sides, and I wonder if she was able to breathe after screaming.
The day after that, she came up in a paisley shirt to apologize. I forgave her and let her sit with me and Joe. We chatted about books and movies. We liked different kinds, but thus, liked the same things. She invited me to her house.
I remember coming into her house, she had several brothers and sisters; Hasumi, seventeen, Jeffery, eight, and Sunny and Shun, both five. Her siblings had Japanese names and English names, they got to choose which ones they wanted. Her parents seemed nice, her mother drew pictures and her father worked for city hall.
Lily came downstairs then, in a rose print button shirt. She showed me around her house, they had a garden that was bursting with Christmas colors, and a dirt bin with worms, cardboard and rotten fruit. She then showed me her room for last. It was colorful, with purple and brown, and crap on the walls, like posters. She even put records on the walls! Lily had a desk with candles, a record player, and drawers filled with bones, rocks, shiny bottles, broken glass, and feathers. I still wonder where she got all that... even though I've seen her put rocks in her pocket before!
After showing off her record collection, and very girly scrapbook of dream outfits and famous guys, we had dinner of a grilled chicken sandwich and a salad with chicken and an apple turnover for dessert.
I feel bad since when she came over to our house, in a shirt covered in fake flowers and flats way too small, we only gave her oven heated popcorn chicken and chocolate ice cream. She didn't seem to mind though. She liked my gang, except for Two-Bit, who wasn't there. She finally met him when she came over to my house again for New Years Eve. They had on the same Mickey shirt and same Keds. That time we did better with the food, which consisted of mini turkey sandwiches, honey BBQ chicken, cheese and crackers, and grapes and a peanut butter chocolate ice cream for dessert. We had a good time. We played games and smoked Parliments, Lily's favorite. I learned more about her, learned that she was born in Tokyo, moved to Oklahoma City when she was five, moved back, then recently moved to Tulsa. She played violin, and had an amazing teacher back in Japan, an older man. I told her about Johnny and Dally, though not the whole entire story, just that Johnny died in a fire, and Dally died running from the cops. I think she would've liked Johnny, though he wouldn't like her. Lily certainly wouldn't have liked Dallas!
The next morning, in 1966, Lily and I watched the sunrise. She scooted close to me, and snuggled. Oh God... She was cute! I was never really in love before, but then... I saw a future with Lily. Those next times I met her, I was as awkward as a donkey.
A week after that, we were off to New York for a class trip. Something about art. Lily and I were at a park together, her in that shirt with an embroidered cow and ankle boots, she asked, "Do you like me?" I swallowed and said "Yeah."
"Well you're pretty cute." There was a silence. "Well, you wanna kiss?" She asked. I nodded, and went in. It was quick, but cute. Lily smiled and said "Wanna go on a date?" I said yes.
That night, we had dinner at a restaurant that was also a piano bar. We got a table away from the class, and I had mac n cheese, while Lily had broccoli soup. I remember her shirt and shoes well. A shirt with forest design, and small white heels. I've always wondered how women could walk in heels. I tried to walk in my mom's once when I was bored, and I fell. But Lily never fell.
We saw plays and stuff too. Lily was fond of them. I'm still more of a movie person.
Here we are now. It's almost summer and Lily and I are going strong.
She's out of the shower by now, and it's time for mine. They have nice smelling soaps, bought from this lady who always smells like berries and looks like she could be Janis Joplin's twin. She's pretty nice, and I've talked to Darry about taking me there. He still says our unscented soap is perfectly fine.
I was the greaser in this relationship, and yet I was also the only one who shampooed, I thought as I showered. Lily admitted that she doesn't, her hair is greasier than mine! She's still so pretty though.
After my shower, the thoughts came back. Will I ever graduate? My teachers know that I will, but what about the time Johnny and I ran away? I missed so much then! To me, that little moment does matter. Darry wants me to always get good grades, and if I get a C, he's disappointed in me.
I get dressed, and look at Lily's collection drawers afterwards. She's been collecting a lot more lately, thing like shells, coins, crystals, beads, bottle caps, buttons, keys, and lighters. Lily has a big book collection that I rival. It's kept on an oak bookcase to the side of her bed. She also has a big collection of stuffed animals that honestly made it hard to sleep in the bed.
After looking around, I head downstairs, The Monkees still playing on the tv. I can hear her siblings talking about it.
"Peter's so cute!" Sun says in a high pitched voice.
"I like Davy myself." Hasumi answers. "He's so handsome."
"Good morning." I interrupt.
"Morning Ponyboy." Lily says, as she eats her fruit. Lily loved fruit, and was always eating it for snacks or breakfast. "How did you sleep, besides waking me up?"
"I slept... fine." I lied. I don't want Lily to worry about me, because she'll tell her parents, and they'll tell Darry. And you know how that'll go!
"What do you wanna do today?" Lily asked. "You know, before you gotta go home."
"How about the library? It's air conditioned!"
"Perfect!" She finishes her coffee and gets up. Lily, like Darry, always drank black coffee, though that certainly didn't make her as bitter as Darry.
She puts on her cowboy boots, fixes her jeans, and heads to the door. I put my shoes on, grab an shoppingmode apple, and leave with her.
On the way, Lily talked about The Byrds, as usual. I always was fond of them, my favorite member was Michael. I think he's cute too, but that don't make me a fruit, okay?
Anyway, after listening to Lily ramble, we walk into the library. I feel a rush of cold air, along with hearing the whirring of the doors. Lily runs off to go pick out what she usually read; poetry, anthropology, sociology, classic horror...
I'm left alone.
What should I do?
I search through the magazines instead of books. I've been less interested in reading lately, but then again, have been less interested in anything lately. I'm sure there's been some good movies out, but who cares? What if it's not good, what if I'm bored?
What if there's a fire?
I immediately start looking for fire exits, anywhere to get out in case I'm engulfed by flames, like in that old church. What if I lose Lily, or the nice ladies who work here like I did Johnny? What if I have to fight again for them?
I didn't like fighting. I would always get badly injured afterwards, but at least I got pampered, with food and presents. I'm currently getting pampered by Soda now, but I ain't injured.
Maybe I am on the inside, with the way I'm feeling.