Ponyboy and I sat together at the kitchen table working on the piles of homework we were expected to complete. The house was quiet because Darry kicked Soda, Steve and Two-Bit out right after lunch. I think the three of them were tinkering with the cars in the side yard and Darry was watching television. Upon occasion, I would look over at Pony to see he was still on the same page of his science book from a few minutes ago, or staring out the window. For the twelfth time I tried to redirect his focus. "Pony, you gotta concentrate and get your work done."
My brother shook his head and moaned, "I know." Pony flipped the page he was staring at. The doctor had arrived early this morning and given Ponyboy a clean bill of health, so I wondered if my brother wanted to do something else with his day, other than homework.
"Maybe after dinner Darry'll take us for a ride if we get a lot of this work done."
"Yeah, maybe." Pony said absently and a knock at the front door drew his attention. My twin jumped from his chair and walked to the front door. I leaned back in my chair, peered through the kitchen doorway and noticed Darry grinning at me. Then I looked to Ponyboy who was looking my way over his shoulder. "Scout, it's for you."
I walked to the door to find out who was waiting outside on the porch. "Owen?" I gasped and worried about the appearance of my house and myself. "What are you doing here?"
"I hadn't done my European History assignment yet and thought maybe you'd want to study with me."
"Here?" I blurted out.
Owen looked at me wondering where else we would need to go to study. "Well… yeah, if it's okay with your brother."
"It's fine," Darry said and kept his eyes on the television.
Nervously, I remembered my manners. "Um… sure, come on in." I backed up into Ponyboy who was still standing by the door. "Pony! Hey … this is Owen Jasper. Owen this is my brother Ponyboy." The two boys said hello to one another while I stayed frozen staring at them. Honestly, I had no idea how to handle the situation. I had never been on a study date and had never had a social boy who liked me inside my house.
"Why don't you two work at in the dining room, so Pony can get his work done in the kitchen." Darry saved me from my dumbfounded response.
"Okay, the dining room is right over here." I gritted my teeth because of my uneasy babble. "Sorry about the house, my parents always intended on fixing it up better, but they never seemed to get the money or the time." I pulled out a chair for my guest.
Owen leaned close and whispered in my ear. "Don't worry about it. I don't really care what your house looks like. That's not why I'm here."
His soft breath sent goose bumps up my back and I breathed a little sigh of relief, "I'll get my books." I walked into the kitchen and gathered up my European History book, a pen and my composition pad. Before I turned around my eyes met with Pony's and he gave me a weird sort of look that I couldn't understand. I wasn't sure if he didn't like my behavior, or if he didn't like Owen. Either way, I only cared for a few seconds. I returned to my study date and had a great time reviewing the historical facts about World War One.
Over an hour later, Owen looked behind him at Darry, who had fallen asleep on the couch. He then glanced to the kitchen to find that Ponyboy had wandered away from the table. Once he knew we had some privacy the boy leaned toward me with a smile. "I really missed you last night." I felt a warm flush roll through my body as our blue eyes met. Owen cocked his head a little. "I couldn't trust I'd see you at school, so I wanted to be sure to see you before then."
I took in a breath to calm my jittery stomach. "I'm glad you came over. This has been nice."
Owen reached across the table and grabbed my hand. "I got football practice and work all week, but I was wondering, maybe Friday after dinner we could hang out or something. Do you think your brother will let you go out?"
I looked over at Darry then back to Owen. "I'm not sure. If he says it's okay I'll probably have to be home by ten, if that's all right."
"Sure!" Owen sensually rubbed the top of my hand with his thumb. "What do you want to do? We could see a movie, go to Rusty's or maybe just hang out here."
"Here?" I asked again wondering what was so great about my rundown house. "Why would you want to be here?" I realized my tone had been condescending and wished it hadn't been.
"I don't know?" Owen sat back in his chair and looked around. "It's comfortable here, you're comfortable here, my friends aren't bugging us here. How are those for good reasons?" Before I could answer, what was left of our gang walked in through the front door to make me feel uncomfortable.
"Scout, you didn't tell me you were expecting company." Steve started to taunt me. "Isn't that cute, you two studying together."
I avoided eye contact with Steve and looked over at my study date. "You want to go outside and get some fresh air?"
"Sure!" Owen and I walked past the gang and Two-Bit couldn't resist making kissing noises before we stepped out the front door. I could feel my ears burning with embarrassment as I turned at the steps to look in Owen's direction. I anxiously licked my lips hoping some topic of conversation would come to mind. I studied Owen and noticed him wipe his palms on his pants.
He observed my stare and let out a little exasperated laugh. "Sometimes my hands get sweaty when I'm nervous."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Nervous?"
"Yeah," Owen said and looked around. "Being around your brothers makes me kind of nervous."
"Don't worry about them. They can't hurt you too bad."
Owen laughed and looked down at the items strewn across the porch floor. He leaned down and grabbed the football out of a wooden Pepsi bottle crate. "Do you want to play a little catch?"
"Sure." I led the boy down the steps and into the side yard by the street. Like a good host I took the long walk towards the back porch. I was sure to walk far enough away to impress him with my football skill, but close enough to carry on a conversation. Owen gently tossed the ball to me. I easily caught it and threw back a fast spiral pass that hit him hard in the chest.
"Whoa! Nice throw!"
"Thanks, Darry taught me. Growing up I didn't have the option of not knowing how to throw and catch the ball." I caught the pass to me and threw the ball back. "We all used to play football every weekend, but we haven't played since the day I skipped the game to go to my friend Casey's house instead." My mind drifted to the past incident and future trial. "I guess I made the wrong choice that day," I said slowly.
"Or the right choice," Owen said with his ever-present optimism and walked closer to me. "Did Casey live in this neighborhood?"
I shook my head yes and turned to look at her old house as a cold chill climbed up my spine. I pointed across the street. "She lived right there, the brown house with the porch."
Owen looked at the house and sighed, "So on top of having to deal with that day you have to see the house everyday too? I don't know how you keep from going crazy"
I muttered too soft for the boy to hear, "I didn't."
"What did you say?"
I shrugged my shoulders and avoided the question. "Some days it's really tough, but mostly I don't look across the street. If I keep busy I can forget most of everything I've been through. That won't be as easy next week."
Owen stood by my side holding the football in his strong hand. "Next week? What happens next week?"
I shoved my hands into my pockets and stared at the dying grass beneath my feet. "I've been subpoenaed to appear in Court and testify against Duke Dobbins, Casey's dad." I anxiously smiled and looked up into Owen's blue eyes. "I guess I should tell you now that I won't be in school."
Owen smiled back. "Thanks for the advance notice. You shouldn't worry though. I bet you'll do fine and get him put behind bars for life."
I looked back across the street at Casey's old house and spoke slowly, "He can't get life in prison… nobody died." Owen didn't know what to say, so in place of words he wrapped his arm about me and rubbed my shoulder a little. "The court thing wouldn't be so bad if Casey was going to be there, but for now they don't think they are going to make her come back to testify. Right now, it all rests on my shoulders." I shivered a little. I wasn't sure if it was because of my fear or the chilly wind.
"Come on let's go back inside." Owen pulled me in the direction of the front porch and glanced at his watch. The time surprised him. "Oh, I gotta go. My parents have this Sunday dinner rule and I can't skip it."
"That's okay." I told him and we walked up the front porch steps. "Thanks for coming over. I had a good day."
"Me too," Owen put the ball back in the Pepsi crate. As we walked inside the house the aroma of baked chicken told me dinner would be ready soon. Owen walked across the living room to collect his books from the table then came back to the door. Intensely, he looked down into my eyes and my heart began to pound in my chest. The two of us could easily feel everyone's eyes watching us, waiting to witness a first kiss. "I'd like to say I'll see you at school tomorrow, but I kind of know better."
"Don't worry, I'll be there."
Owen grinned and turned to leave. On his way out the door he bid farewell to the rest of the gang and took one last look at me before he pulled the front door shut behind him.
I made sure the door was shut tight then turned to find the boys grinning at me.
"What no kiss?" Sodapop teased and Two-Bit and Steve laughed along with my brother.
"There better not be a kiss!" Darry demanded as he set the dinner dishes on the table.
"Come on Darry!" Sodapop yelled back. "You know there's gonna be kissing!"
I interrupted and sat down in my mom's armchair. "Can we please change the subject?"
"What's the matter with this subject?" Two-Bit called out after a sip of beer.
Darry answered, "Everything! I don't even want to think about Scout being with a boy. One thing is for sure, I am going see to it she makes it down the aisle in a white dress!" Darry laid the final plate as I looked at the gang in horror. I could tell from their uneasy faces they had never shared with Darry my little secret from one hot summer night. My oldest brother never looked our way as he disappeared into the kitchen and yelled. "Find something else to talk about!"