3
One afternoon, Ponyboy and Johnny talked me into walking with them to The Dingo for some ice cream. I didn't mind it much, but as we were walking, we passed by Danny and Mira's house. I knew Mira wouldn't be home. She was at her dad's for the weekend.
"Hold on a minute will ya" I said to them as I ran up the front stairs to knock on the door.
Danny answered the door.
"Hey Darry" he said enthusiastically. It was the first time I saw him alone since he started going out with Marion. They were inseparable.
I smiled at him.
"You busy?" I said.
"Actually, no. Marion is studying with her friends tonight and Mira is at my dad's, so I'm here alone"
"You wana come to the Dingo with us?" I asked
"Sure" he said grabbing his keys and closing the door. I was glad he could come. I missed him.
We got talking and it was as though we were never apart. I wondered how I ever did without him. He didn't remind me of Mira at all. They were so different.
The four of us sat in a booth inside the store. There were usually a lot of kids that hand out at the Dingo but on weekends it was double. They were mostly greasers because the Socs had another place on the other side of town to hang out at. I'd been to both but I liked the Dingo better.
We hung out there for a while then headed for the lot.
It was a quiet night. Johnny and Ponyboy started playing around with the football and me and Danny sat on the grass and talked.
"Have you studied hard?" He said to me
"As much as I can" I said. I wasn't really that worried. I had worked hard all year so I knew all the work inside out.
"The prom is in a week you know" he said. I didn't really understand what he was getting at so I just nodded.
"You know Marion is going to move in with us" he said apathetically
I almost choked on my saliva.
"Huh?" I said coughing.
"She aint getting along well with her mother"
"So you guys are… fully serious" I said trying not to think about it too much, but I knew my ears were going red.
"Yeah I guess"
He shrugged and got up.
"I gotta go back to studying. I'll see you at school ok"
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Mom and dad were more nervous about the prom than I was. I decided I wasn't going to be nervous. My final exams had consumed all the stress I was capable of having. I intended to take it easy.
"Come on mom, I have to go! I'm going to be late" I said but she was fussing over me in front of the mirror, fixing my tie, combing my hair. If any of the guys had seen this I would've died.
Dad walked into the room and stared at me with a strange smile on his face. He gave a quick look to mom and she walked out of the room.
"Darry I don't need to remind you about the birds and the bees" he said
I could feel my face redden. "geez dad, I aint like that" I said in shock. I wasn't even thinking about that sort of thing. Mira and I were taking it as slow as it could get.
"Yeah I know you aint but just don't be following the crowd." He walked out of the room leaving me in absolute bewilderment. Parents can be so strange sometimes.
When I got to Mira's house, Marion and Danny were there too.
"We thought we'd get a lift from you" Marion said in her usual annoying voice. Danny just shrugged. I tried to figure out again what the hell was he doing with Marion
She's so annoying.
Mrs Jefferson came in the room to greet me. She smiled at me. Mira must've told her to be nice.
"Sit down dear" she said pointing to the couch, "Mira will be down in a minute."
I took a seat and she sat next to me. She was trying really hard to be friendly.
"You know, when I was in high school, I was voted prom queen" she said proudly.
"Really?" I searched her face for any sign of beauty but to no avail.
"I'm ready" Mira called down from the top of the stairs.
She slowly walked down and stood at the bottom waiting to see my reaction. She looked beautiful but she was wearing black velvet pants and a silver top - not the dress I bought her.
"Oh Mira, you look beautiful" her mother said.
She blushed slightly.
"We'll be in the car" Marion called out and she and Danny went out to the car.
I walked over to Mira and took her hands into mine.
"Well? What do you think?" she said sweetly.
"You've disappointed me" I said a little harsher than I intended.
Suddenly, her smile faded and her eyes darkened.
"Have I?" she said hard-heartedly pulling her hands out of mine and backing away.
"Mira, I didn't mean it like that" I began but it was too late. She ran up the stairs and into her room, locking the door behind her.
I turned around and found Mrs Jefferson in my face, her arms crossed over her chest. She gave me a dirty look.
"I think you should leave" she said.
I walked out to the car and chucked the keys at Danny.
"Here take it"
"aint you going?" he asked
"Nope. Just have it back by mid night"
He shrugged and drove off as I started on my walk home.