Chapter 17

It was the end of rush hour on Friday and 2 minutes until the end of my shift. I could hear the bell on the door ringing, signaling the entrance of another customer. I didn't look up, the long day had worn me out and I wondered vaguely if I even had the energy to pour one last cup of coffee.

"How can I help you?" My voice was soft and distant.

"One small coffee." The voice was familiar to me, but I couldn't place it. I continued to pour a cup of the bitter liquid and placed it on the counter.

"That would be 98 cents, please." I said, automatically.

"Mattie?"

"I'm sorry, sir, my name is..." I was suddenly pulled from my haze to glance up at a pair of green-gray eyes. A rush of emotion overtook me, and my heart stopped. Ponyboy Curtis was looking at me, unsure.

"No, sir, you must be mistaken, I'm not Mattie." I hastily collected his money and exited through the back door. I could hear his voice calling me back.

I leaned against the back door, letting the rain hit my face, mixing in with tears. He was here, with me. I felt guilty for shrugging him off, but I couldn't see him again. I'd lose my mind if I saw his face again. He would force me to go back to Tulsa. He was my weakness.

Then, a new batch of feelings erupted in me. Why was he there? I told him not to come! He promised!

"Mattie!" I heard him call from the alleyway. Hastily, I pulled my rain slicker over my head and put my hood up.

"Mattie!" He followed me as I walked onto the main street. I was hoping to disappear into the crowd.

"Go home!" I hissed, under my breath, "Leave me in peace!" But all that was heard by him was, "I'm quite certain I don't know who you're talking about." I continued walking, trying not to glance over at him.

In my mind, the past few minutes were playing over again. His wonderful eyes...

"Mattie, Please!" He grabbed my arm and turned me around; I could see the tears that glazed his eyes.

I didn't know what to do, the joy of seeing his face was flooding through me like a wave. I could see the goose bumps on his arm rise up from the chill in the air.

"Why are you here?" My voice cracked as I asked him, but I didn't give him time to answer because, soon my arms were around his neck in a tight hug.

"Pony, I'm so sorry," I sobbed into his shoulder, "Oh, I've missed you. I've missed you so much."

"Shhhh, calm down. It's okay. Relax." He rubbed my back in soothing circles. I was wrapped up in his warmth and the wonderful feeling of his arms wrapped around my waist.

I don't know how long we stood there like that, but when I finally calmed down the rain was hitting us a little harder than before.

"We better go, it's gonna pour." I grabbed his hand and led the way to my apartment, only 3 blocks away.

When we got there the door was locked, I got my key out of my pocket and opened it. I didn't let go of his hand.

"Grace?" I pulled Pony in the door with me. "That's funny. I didn't think that she had lessons on Saturdays."

"Come on," I said finally letting go of his hand, "Do you want a drink or something?"

"No, I got a coffee, thanks." He said smiling.

"I know you hate coffee."

"Okay, I do. Do you have any Pepsi?

"Of course!" I handed him a bottle and got one for myself.

We sat and talked on the couch for over an hour. At first it was small talk. 'How's the weather?' type of talk, but we didn't stay on those conversations long.

"Do you really like it here, Mattie? Is it everything you wanted it to be?"

"Yes," I answered. I loved it there. There were buildings that touched the clouds, millions of interesting people and places to see, the smell of hotdogs on a street corner, Broadway.

That's why I couldn't be happier

No, I couldn't be happier

Though it is, I admit

The tiniest bit

Unlike I anticipated

But I couldn't be happier

Simply couldn't be happier

Well - not "simply":

'Cause getting your dreams

It's strange, but it seems

A little - well - complicated

There's a kind of a sort of : cost

There's a couple of things get: lost

There are bridges you cross

You didn't know you crossed

Until you've crossed

And if that joy, that thrill

Doesn't thrill you like you think it will

Still -

With this perfect finale

The cheers and ballyhoo

Who

Wouldn't be happier?

So I couldn't be happier

Because happy is what happens

When all your dreams come true

Well, isn't it?

Happy is what happens

When your dreams come true!


But there was no Ponyboy. "I don't know." That last thought had made me think again.

The phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.

"I'll be back in a minute." I told Pony and went to pick up the phone.

"Hello...Grace?" I asked she sounded like she was crying. "Are you alright?"

"No, listen, my Dad had a heart attack." My heart sunk. I had met her parents once when they had Easter dinner with us.

"Is he alright?" I asked and thought again, "Where are you?"

"I'm at a payphone. I've got to go catch a bus up to the hospital. I just wanted to tell you."

"Okay, Grace. I hope everything's alright."

"Me, too."

"Be safe and I'll talk to you later. Call me."

"Okay."

"Bye."

"Goodbye."

"That was my roommate, Grace. Her Dad had a heart attack."

"Oh," Pony's forehead wrinkled, "Will he be okay?"

"She didn't know." There was an odd sense of foreboding buried deep in my chest that I wished would leave. "She's headed to a hospital upstate where her parents live right now."

After a moment of silence, Ponyboy spoke up. "It stopped raining."

That night I took Pony around the city to see Times Square. The lights amazed him as they amazed me.

"You should see the Christmas tree here in the winter. It's huge!" I told him, laughing and pulling him along as we ran through the crowd.

We walked block after block, our eyes gleaming like 2 kids in a candy store.

"That's the biggest department store in the world." I pointed to Macy's.

"I've got an idea." I grabbed his hand and we took a risky run across the street.

"What are we doing?" Pony asked as I led him into the doors of the Empire State Building. I didn't answer him.

"2 tickets to go to the top, please." The man waiting there took my money and handed me the tickets.

"Thanks."

Pony wouldn't stop fidgeting the whole elevator ride up there.

"Have you ever been up here before?" He looked over at me nervously.

"Yeah, once with Grace." I reassured him by taking his hand in mine.

We stood at the top of the Empire State building for over an hour. It's amazing how you can lose track of time when you're on top of the world with your best friend.

"Everything is so much calmer from up here." He whispered.

I nodded, admiring the way the bright lights of the city stood out against the night sky. I shivered as the cool breeze wrapped around my body.

"Cold?" He asked.

I nodded again. He slipped his arm around my waist and I tensed slightly, and then relaxed again.

"Pony?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you're here." I look up at him, his eyes sparkling like I'd never seen them before.

He didn't answer; he just stared into my eyes. His lips were inching ever- so-slowly toward mine. I closed the gap, easily, letting my lips dance over his. I let my arms drape around his neck, pulling him closer to me.

Okay, I'm done for today. Hopefully, I can post another chapter tomorrow! Please Review! The song is from Wicked (My favorite musical!!!) and I don't own it.