Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders? When did this happen?!
Ok, so first I thought I would clear up a few things that were brought up.
1. This is purely a dump-Angela story. She and Pony are not going to end up together and another girl is not going to pop up to take her place. I'm not a romance fan, sorry!
2. One reviewer brought up the fact that she didn't think that Steve and Two-Bit would still be in school. I'm going for the fact that Two-Bit keeps going "for kicks" like he does in The Outsiders. Steve's not in school anymore and I'm not sure where I gave the impression that he was. Sorry if I left some hint of that somewhere!
3. As for Pony not being on a date or liking girls, I'm writing from the perspective that he likes girls but he's too shy to ask them out yet. Soda misconstrues this as him not liking girls at all.
4. Pony's age-honestly now I'm so confused that I have no idea how old he's supposed to be in That was Then, This is Now. I've gotten anywhere from 14 and 1/2 to 16 going on 17. I'm just going to stick to 16 going on 17 because I got the impression that The Outsiders events happened a couple of years before That was Then, This is Now.
I also realize that later in That was Then, This is Now, Pony seems to be completely oblivious to Angela's advances. For my story's sake, he's well aware of her. So I guess it's slightly AU.
Finally, thanks so much for the feedback! I really appreciate all of you guys. You make me so excited...and nervous! I hope I don't let you all down. Thanks for reading!
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Chapter 2-Steve: A (somewhat) Fool-Proof Plan.
"I say, play Hooky until she leaves you alone."
"No way! Darry'll skin me for sure."
"Let's die his hair and paint his skin!"
"Soda!"
I watched the friendly banter, feigning boredom. Two-Bit and Soda were having way too much fun with this. Pony's face was totally worth it though-a few more suggestions and he'd probably reached a previously unheard of shade of red.
"You'd totally look tuff with black hair!" Two-Bit chortled.
"You're not touching my hair!"
"Then let's pack up Angela and ship her to Australia!"
Soda really perked up on that idea. He bounced up and down on his heels and added. "We could roll her in bubble wrap, then put her in a box full of those peanut styrofoam stuff, and-"
"Do you want me to be killed by Tim and Curly?" Pony shook his head in disbelief.
"Ignore her." I finally played my trump card.
The room fell silent as all three of them turned and stared at me.
I didn't explain. I just sipped at my Coke and swallowed slowly, relishing in the momentary quiet.
"Ignore her?" Soda was puzzled. I could tell his see-girl-and-flirt mind wasn't computing this novel concept. "How does that work?"
"Trust me, she may get more annoying and angry before she leaves, but eventually she'll give up and go away."
"Are you sure that works?" Two-Bit appeared to be figuring out how such a plan could be plausible.
"Hey, it works with Evie every single time."
"But you're with Evie," Ponyboy pointed out.
Leave it up to the kid to bring up the flaws in a plan. I scowled. "Look, do you want help or not?"
He dropped his gaze, mumbling. "Yes, but I don't want her to accidentally end up as my girlfriend either."
"You never know, she might be good for you." I settled back against the couch. Revenge is sweet.
"Don't even joke about a thing like that!" I didn't know the kid could manage to look so horrified.
Apparently, neither did Sodapop. "Calm down, Pony, you'll have a heart attack! Steve's just pullin' your leg." He finished his statement and sent me a 'you'd-better-be-joking' look.
I just smiled.
"Ignore her.....ignore her.....ig....nore....her..." Two-Bit mulled over again and again. His fingers drummed against his chin as he tried to wrap his mind around the idea. "Ignore her."
"Say that one more time and I'm going to pop you a good one." I threatened.
"Ig-" He paused and looked at me. "A good one what? And how is it popped?"
"Guys!" Ponyboy was exasperated. I think I could see steam coming out of his ears.
Scary.
"Take a breath." I advised.
If I didn't scare the runt so much, I think he would have socked me. His lips formed a tight white line that he still managed to get words through. "Just tell me how this plan of yours is going to work."
"I don't think I like your tone. I feel no obligation to help you if you refuse to even give me the respect I deserve." I tilted my Coke bottle back and finished off what was left in the glass before standing. I tossed the bottle into a nearby trashcan. "Not that this hasn't been fun, but I think I'll be going now."
That got Pony in front of me real fast. His hands pressed against my chest as if he thought that would stop me from leaving. "Don't go! I'm sorry, just tell me what to do."
"You can start by taking your grubby hands off of me." I sneered.
He rolled his eyes, but did as he was told. Man, if I had known that girl trouble would make him obey my every command, I would have tried to hook him up a long time ago.
A kick to the back of my leg made me look down. Soda was frowning at me. "Be nice, Steve."
"Fine." I hunkered down on the couch. Ponyboy sat on the arm, while Soda and Two-Bit sprawled at my feet. It was kind of nice to have such an attentive audience. "There really ain't much to explain."
"Sure there is!" Sodapop piped up. "This is a previously untried method of dumping a girl and I, for one, am very curious to know how it works."
"And I, for two." Two-Bit held up his fingers in a peace sign.
Pony sighed.
"Well, I've just found that if you pretend she doesn't exist, she eventually gets a clue. Just don't respond to anything she says to you-or you could give her those dumb, blank expressions that you always have, Pone. She'll lose you fast if she thinks you're slow."
"Not funny." The boy crossed his arms and pouted. "I do not look dumb and blank, I look like I am thinking....because I am!"
"Well then, give her the impression that you're thinking about anything but her. Ramble on about poems and sunsets...uh, scratch that. Girls like that kind of stuff. Just keep your mouth shut and you'll be fine." I finished with a shrug.
Ponyboy didn't seem convinced that my brilliant plan would work. But he really didn't have very many options left open to him unless he wanted to be shipped off to a foreign country-which wasn't a bad idea, in my opinion. He sighed again. "Ok, I'll try it."
"Good," I turned to Soda. "Now that that little issue is settled, let's solve some more pressing dilemmas-like how to fill my stomach with something delicious."
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The next day, Saturday, I showed up at the Curtis' house promptly at 7:40-ish. Darry's truck was already gone-he had discovered that if he clocked in five minutes early every day, he would be paid for an extra half-hour at the end of the week. Hence, I never saw him in the morning.
"Soda!" I called as I headed to the kitchen to grab a glass of milk.
"I'm coming! I can't find my pants!"
"The jean-napper strikes again." I found an empty glass and poured some milk into it. A wide smile cracked my face. "I think he's officially become a serial jean-napper. This has to be the fourth time this week that your pants have gone missing."
Soda hopped into the kitchen, pulling his jeans up as he went. He zipped them up and frowned. "How come he only takes my stuff?"
"Ain't you heard that stealing is the highest form of admiration?"
"Uh, no. I ain't feeling the admiration...I'm feeling cold because my legs ain't got nothin' on them."
I let out a chuckle that quickly broke off when Ponyboy entered the room, fully clothed. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Aw, let up, Steve!" Soda gave me a friendly punch on the shoulder. "I told him he could hang out with us because he ain't got any homework and who wants to stay home on a Saturday anyway?"
"Ponyboy does." I glared at the culprit, who shifted uneasily.
"Stop being a stick in the mud." Sodapop straightened his DX shirt and crammed nearly a whole slice of chocolate cake into his mouth. Then he slapped on his hat, grabbed my arm, and dragged me out of the house.
Ponyboy trailed behind us.
Just because I helped the kid doesn't mean that his tagging along is acceptable to me, I thought. But I guess I got what I deserved-give in once, and you'll be giving in for the rest of your life.
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Around and around and around he goes! Where he stops, nobody knows!
I watched Ponyboy spin around on one of the chairs he had brought out from the inner office. This was about his sixth time around and now he was making me queasy.
"Stop that!" I barked.
Much to my amusement, he jerked to a halt and balanced precariously on two wheels. Despite his waving hands, the chair toppled and sent him sprawling to the ground. He glared at me from his position.
"You startled me!"
"And you're making me sick! Now be a good little tagalong and sit still!" I glanced out into the DX's parking lot to see if Soda would be coming in here any time soon. It was his turn to keep shop while I took care of the cars.
And that's when I saw her.
"Looks like you've got company, kid."
Ponyboy whirled around from where he had been putting away his chair. His gaze landed on Angela and then switched to me. "Steve-"
"Get behind the counter." I pointed to my feet. As he crouched down beside me, I warned. "No throwing up on my shoes. You owe me big time for this."
Ponyboy just pressed himself against the counter as the little bell above the DX's door chimed. Angela strutted in with a couple of girls-one of them Evie.
Pony is going to be paying me back for the rest of his life! I had that one panicked thought before my face became the epitome of coolness. I leaned my elbows on the counter and smiled at my girlfriend. "Hey Evie, baby, how's it goin'?"
"Not too bad, Steve....but I know of a way you could make me feel even better." Evie ran a few fingers through my hair, causing shivers to run down my spine.
"Oh? And what can I do for you?"
She leaned in and kissed my cheek before murmuring. "Tell me where Ponyboy is."
I pulled away, my eyes shifting to Angela-who was watching the scene with a smirk. So that sneaky little broad was employing my girlfriend to get information? Sorry, girl, that ain't gonna work. "What do you want Pony for?"
"Angel wants to talk to him." Evie batted her long, mascara-coated eyelashes at me.
The runt at my feet let out a faint, choked sound.
I kneed him in what I thought was his stomach. The hollow thud that resounded through the store told a different story. I didn't know heads could make such a sound if they got knocked against something.
My mistake.
Evie's eyes narrowed. "What was that?"
I bent down and grabbed a box of candy bars that had fallen there earlier. Before I stood up fully, I put my finger to my lips to remind the kid to be quiet. He scowled and rubbed his head.
I came up with an easy smile, placing the candy bars on the counter. "Some chocolate bars fell. You want one?"
Evie shook her head. "No thanks....so, you don't know where he is?"
"Nope, haven't seen him."
Angela stepped forward, shoving Evie out of the way. She got up right in my face, though I am pleased to report that she had to stand up on her tip-toes to do so. "I don't know why you are hiding him, but I know you are! Tell me where he is!"
I put my finger on the tip of her nose and pushed her back. "Listen, Angel, I don't even like the kid. Why would I bother to hide him?"
"He's right." Evie agreed, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "Steve only cares for three people-himself, me, and Soda. Speaking of that blonde cutie, let's see if we can find out anything from him."
"Fine." Angela pranced out of the station and made her way quickly to my best friend's work station.
"What do you mean 'blonde cutie'?" I asked my girlfriend before she could leave.
"Well, he is cute. Besides, I think I've earned the right to flirt with him a bit." She headed for the door, calling back over her shoulder. "See you later, Steve......and Ponyboy."
Both of our jaws dropped.
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And there you have it! The second installation of my story. I hope you all enjoyed and thanks for reading!