8. I'll be right here waiting for you

Pony's POV

When I reached the lot I found it abandoned.
I was a bit sad.
But what had I expected?
That Claudia suddenly would show up, although she couldn't know if and when I will be here at all?

I shook my head and was about to turn around again when I heard my name.
I turned towards the direction the voice was coming from.

And there Claudia really showed up and smiled at me.
I couldn't help smiling at her, too.

"Hello Ponyboy. How are ya?" she asked and came towards me.

"Hey Claudia. Nice to meet ya. I'm well and ya?" I answered her.

"It pleases me to hear that. I'm fine, too."

We were silent for a few minutes before I admitted quietly, "I wouldn't have thought that I'm really gonna see ya again."

Claudia replied smiling, "I had said if ya wanna see me again that we're gonna see us again then!"

"Well, anyway I'm glad to see ya again." I answered quickly, not showing her my confusion about it.

There Darry's request came to my mind and I considered how I could start this subject skillfully without acting obtrusive right away.

"Um, Claudia, my brother approached me to ask ya if ya would like to come to us for supper today, so that my brothers and my other friends are able to meet ya, too."

Gee, did I really sound like a complete idiot?
What should Claudia think about me now?

"It doesn't seem to be all right for you, does it?" she asked me.
She probably read my opinion about it from my face, because she replied without waiting for my answer, "Please don't regard me as ungrateful now, Pony, but I think that it's still a bit too early to introduce me to ya brothers and friends, 'cause we don't know each other that long. That's why we should get to know each other better at first before ya introduce me to the others. What do ya think?"

She expressed exactly what I felt.
That's why I only nodded.
With that this subject was done for both of us in the first place, to my relief!

We talked quite a while until I noticed that I had to go home again to avoid that Darry's gonna fuss unnecessarily.

"I'm sorry, Claudia, but I've to go home now."

"Ya don't need to be sorry 'bout that, Ponyboy. It's all right! I understand it, honestly! I don't wanna as well that ya get trouble with ya brother."

"Thanks! Um, we're gonna see us again?"

"Yeah, if ya want to!"

"Um, ok. What about meeting here again tomorrow?" I asked.

Claudia smiled and replied, "If ya wanna, I don't mind. I'll be here!"

"Ok. Shall I bring ya home?"

Claudia shook her head. "No, ya don't have to. Ya only would be late this way. It's ok, when ya go home right now."

"Sure?"

"Yeah, don't worry 'bout me. I can handle it." she said and smiled again.

I've rarely seen someone, who smiles so much like Claudia.
Unfortunately, that's pretty rarely in this neighborhood.
Greasers don't show any feelings!
They don't cry, they don't smile, anyhow not such a warm smile.
The only smiles most greasers stoop to, are either as false as it just can be, scornful or a put on inviting smile from greaser-girls.

And I haven't seen no greaser smile so heartily.
Even Soda's smiles are often only covering his fear, grief, problems and confusions.
I got that since his outburst at that time when the thing with Sandy happened.

"Well, then until tomorrow." I said goodbye and waved to her.

She waved back.
Then I turned around with a contented smile.
When I turned around once again Claudia already was gone.
So I walked home again.

Darry was a bit surprised that I haven't brought Claudia along, but he understood her attitude towards it and accepted it.