Chapter Twelve: Makeover?
Suze refused to speak to or even look at Ponyboy at school the next day. Her heart was breaking, but she had her pride.
Instead of sitting with him and his greaser friends at lunch, she sat by herself and read a book. Once or twice she glanced up at Ponyboy to find him staring at her, and she would quickly avert her gaze and continue glaring at her book.
A shadow fell over her table. It was Angela Shepard. "Why aren't you sitting with your boyfriend?" she asked in a hard voice.
"He's not my boyfriend," Suze said. "We just had a fight and aren't speaking."
"Why? You wouldn't go out with him?"
Suze said nothing and went back to reading her book. How was she supposed to tell Angela that Ponyboy was being ornery because she had to send his best friend into the afterlife?
"Oh," Angela said. "I see. You like him, but he doesn't get it."
Suze's head shot up. "What?" she exclaimed. "No! That's not it at all!"
"Denial. Its okay, Suze, it happens to the best of us."
"But it's not—!" Suze protested in vain. Angela stopped her. "What you need is a makeover."
Her words hung heavy in the air. After a moment, Suze broke out laughing. "A makeover?" she said. "What is this, some dumb beach party movie or something?"
"I'm serious," Angela said with a straight face. "You want Ponyboy to like you back, you need to look the part. Trust me, boys don't like girls who don't dress like they want."
"Ponyboy isn't like that!" Suze snapped. "If he were, I wouldn't like him! As a friend," she added hurriedly, but it was too late.
Angela crowed, "I knew it!"
"Shut up! People are staring!" Suze hissed.
"Suze," Angela said patiently. "What could it hurt? Just bear with me for one day. You watch. You'll love it so much, you'll never want to change back."
"Um," Suze said intelligently while she thought about it. Angela was looking at her expectantly. What could it hurt? Suze glanced at Angela's high heels. In those shoes, a lot.
She sighed, defeated. "Sure," she said grudgingly. "But why are you doing this?"
Angela shrugged. "You need some help, Suze," she said. "It's my way of doing community service."
"So, basically you feel sorry for me?" Suze said, beating around the bush. Angela nodded, unabashed. "Basically. Meet me after school," she added before walking away.
Suze sighed and put her head down. What had she gotten herself into?
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"Two-Bit?" Ponyboy said. "Yeah, Pony?" Two-Bit said distractedly. He was busy fiddling with his switchblade.
"Why does Suze keep looking at me and then go back to reading?"
Two-Bit glanced subtly over at Suze. Angela Shepard was talking to her. "Uh oh," he muttered. "Pony, you'd better make up with her soon, cause if Angela gets a hold of her, I shudder to see the results."
Ponyboy sighed inwardly. If only it were that easy, he thought.
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"Johnny, tell Suze to get over her personal life and just bloody tell you!"
"Dally, I can't! I can't just barge in on her when she's in school! Anyway, I've waited this long, I can wait a bit longer, just give her time. I want to see Ponyboy and her happy together before we leave them forever!"
"Whatever. I'm gonna go have a little talk with Miss Thing…"
"Dally! NO!" Johnny groaned, but it was hopeless. Dally was fading already. Johnny sighed and shrugged to himself. Oh well. Might as well. He faded too.
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"Suze!" Dally shouted, appearing in front of her as she walked out of school. She looked surprised to see him, but didn't stop and walked right through him.
Dally yelped with laughter. "Don't do that!" he roared. "That tickles!"
Dally followed her around, shouting, until Suze finally lost it and turned around and hit him in the face.
He was surprised at how hard she could hit. "Hey!" He shouted as she took off running. "You—!" he faded, still cursing, and as much as he searched, he couldn't find her anywhere.
Little did he know that she was in the last place he'd ever look for her.
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I know, I know, it lasted about three seconds. But whatever. Next chapter up soon.