Monday morning, at school, I raced from the parking lot to get to my locker as soon as I could. I was hoping Owen Jasper would stop by and walk me to my first class, or at least greet me with his charming smile, but I didn't see him until European History class. As always, I sat in the front row. I watched the door and the clock waiting for the boy to enter. With only seconds before the bell rang I resigned myself to the fact that perhaps he wasn't at school, or worse perhaps I wasn't as special to him as I wanted to be. I looked down, opened my notebook, and wrote the date on the top of my paper.
"I'm not surprised to see you diligently preparing for class."
I looked over to my left to find the tall, blond headed beauty seated next to me. I smiled, "I thought maybe you were the one not coming to school today."
Owen laughed, "As long as there's football practice after school, I'll be in school." The bell rang before I could say another word and the two of us sat together in the front row. For a shy girl like me, it was a little piece of heaven.
The rest of the week was the same. Owen wasn't able to stop by my locker in the morning because he had to lift weights. During school our paths only crossed during history class, and after school, football practice beckoned. and I rode home with my friends.
In the evenings, I worked on homework, past and present assignments, and Owen called every night just before bed. For privacy, I took my calls in the bathroom with the door shut. Unfortunately, Darry had decided to be very strict with how long he wanted me chatting on the phone with a boy. I was limited to twenty-minute conversations. On nights that Darry worked, Sodapop enforced the limits, but usually gave me an extra five or ten minutes. Soda was sure was different than Darry, he understood love and preferred to see it flourish.
Darry refused to allow me to go on a date with Owen Friday night for reasons he didn't feel compelled to share. So all Friday night after dinner I waited in my dad's armchair for the phone to ring. The minutes ticked into hours and I couldn't help but wonder why Owen hadn't called. At one point Sodapop looked over at me from the couch and suggested maybe Owen was still at work. I humored the idea because he worked nearly everyday for his father at the cemetery. By nine-twenty I figured Soda was right and headed off to bed through the dining room just as a knock came at the door. I turned around to see Sodapop jump up from the couch and pull the front door open. "Hey Owen," I heard my brother say then a faint voice asked if I could come to the door.
I turned on my heels and headed back to the living room wearing an old pair of sweats and a small white t-shirt. I smiled as Sodapop let the young man in. He was still dressed in his work clothes, an old t-shirt, work coat, jeans and boots. His trademark blond hair shaded his eyes that seemed dark against his weak smile. I tried to act casual, as if I hadn't just been ready to cry because he hadn't called. "Hi Owen, did you just get off of work?"
"What?" Owen asked at first then realized I had questioned him because of his clothing. "No, I've been done for awhile. I just… I saw the light on, so I thought I'd stop by." I looked over at my brother and the two of us shared a glance. We could both sense that Owen wasn't being entirely honest. The odd silence seemed to make Owen uneasy as he questioned my brother. "Is it okay if stay here to talk with Scout for the twenty minutes we usually talk for?"
"Yeah, sure," Sodapop said and realized he was the authority in the house since Darry was working, "…but you don't have to go in twenty minutes if you don't want to. It's not a school night, so I am sure Darry won't mind if you stay a little longer."
Owen showed a relieved smile to my brother, stayed still by the front door and looked to me. "Well, it's a nice night and my clothes are kind of dirty. Maybe we could talk out on the porch."
I agreed and grabbed Sodapop's coat from the coffee table. "Can I wear your coat So?" My brother had no problem with the loan, and I followed Owen outside. The two of us sat side by side on the front step.
Owen started conversation. "I wish we could have gone on a date or something tonight."
I crossed my arms in my lap and was glad Owen couldn't see me blush in the dim moonlight. "Yeah, well Darry isn't going to let me go on too many dates till everything else in our lives is cleared up." I looked into Owen's eyes. "But you're here now, so we can call this a date."
Owen's grin spread wide across his face because he liked the idea of calling his visit a date too. "So are you ready to go to Court on Monday."
I shrugged, a few afternoons this week I was required to meet with attorneys involved in the case against Mr. Dobbins. The meetings were mostly to prepare me for questioning and to verify that I was sticking to my story as I told it the day of the shootings. "I guess so. It's a lot of pressure though. The lead attorney reminded me today that I am the prime witness for the prosecution. For sure, Mary Lynn and Casey won't be called unless absolutely necessary."
"Why is that?"
"I don't know. Something about the Court not recommending Mary Lynn and Casey testify against Duke because they are family." I looked down at my shoes and sighed. "I was really looking forward to seeing Casey again. We haven't even written to each other since she moved."
Owen threw his arm around me. "That's too bad. Sometimes it's just hard to keep in touch."
"Tell me about it!" I joked, "I'd have to write a novel to explain everything that's happened in my life the past month."
Owen rubbed the side of my arm with his hand. "I think you'll do fine in Court. Besides it'll be good practice for you to see how the system works. Then when you're the judge you'll know how the other people in the courtroom are feeling."
"Yeah sure," I tried to joke again, "petrified!"
"Come on now," Owen tried to cheer me on. "I wouldn't let Duke scare you too much. There are policemen in the room, he'll probably be in handcuffs and your testimony is all they are going to need to lock him up for a good long time!"
I smiled to let Owen know I appreciated his support. I looked down the street at my tough neighborhood and knew he hadn't just been driving by. Very few Socs drive through our neighborhood without a purpose. "Owen? Why did you come over tonight?"
"I was out driving, so I thought I'd stop by." Owen looked across the street to avoid eye contact. "Are you going to my game tomorrow night? It's a playoffs game, might be my last one of the year."
"Well, if all you're looking to do is change the subject, yes I am coming to watch you play."
The boy frowned a little. "I'm not meaning to avoid the subject. I just wanted to get out of my house tonight, and see you." The words made me smile and Owen added. "See, I just wanted to see your smile."
I looked up to the stars. "I'll never understand why a rich boy like you would come across the tracks to woo a girl from this side of town, on her cruddy old front porch at that!"
"Whoa!" Owen said in jest. "Who ever said I was coming here to woo you? I never said that was why I was here."
I laughed. "Oh … you have a better reason to be sitting here with me?"
"Sure I do!" Owen smiled and spoke through his laughter. "I think your older brother is really cute. You know the tall one with all the muscles." I couldn't help but laugh with Owen at the absurdness of his comment. I gave him a shove and he pretended I nearly knocked him off the porch.
"Well if you came for Darry he won't be home for awhile. I guess you'll just have to settle for Soda or Ponyboy."
Owen sat back up, so close to me I could feel his breath on my cheek. My heart began to pound as the smile faded from the boy's face. "Why can't I just settle for you?" I held my breath and didn't respond. Owen leaned down, his blond bangs swept across my forehead and his warm lips gently kissed mine. Immediately, I kissed him back, long and soft. Inside my chest I swore my heart skipped a beat and every nerve in my body tingled with joy. The two of us slightly backed away from each other and Owen softly spoke. "Would you have preferred I had just called instead of stopping by?"
I gathered my breath and slowly spoke. "No, stopping by is just fine." We both smiled and leaned in towards each other for a second kiss. This one was just as soft and warm as the one before, but longer, and perchance a little more passionate as Owen wrapped his arm around me and held my body close to his.
When the second kiss ended, Owen reached up with his hand and caressed the side of my face. "See… that's why a rich boy like me came across the tracks to woo a girl from this side of town." We smiled together in relief that we both felt the same affection. "Do you think Darry'll let me take you out tomorrow night after the game?"
"It wouldn't hurt to ask."
"You do that, because I have to work at the cemetery again all morning and most of the afternoon, and I really don't want to not see you tomorrow."
"Well then, I guess I'll have to beg him instead." I said and flashed a devilish grin. "But if he insists on chaperoning our date you're gonna be kissing me and not him, right?"
Owen paused as if he was considering between the two of us. I playfully punched him in the arm. "Ouch! You didn't have to get all rough! I'd have picked you to kiss!" Owen rubbed his arm pretending it hurt. "You know, you don't look it, but you're a tough little girl."
"Yeah right…" I said, trying to look more demure then street tough. "That must be why my brothers all call me Sissy!"
"You're nickname is Sissy? How did you get that name?"
"A long time ago Darry started calling me that because I wouldn't join in to the rough games the boys played. Everyone in my neighborhood has called me Sissy since, even my parents did!"
"Your parents called you Sissy?" Owen's face showed a bit of concern.
"Yeah, but at first they thought it was short for, little sister. Once they found out the real reason the boys all called me that, the name had already stuck."
"That is so cute," he laughed. "I think it's pretty cool you have such a close family…"
Owen was interrupted as Darry pulled up to the curb in his truck. Quickly, I moved away from Owen so we weren't seen sitting so closely as Darry came through the front gate.
"Hi Owen." He said in a tired voice. "Time to call it a night, Sissy."
Owen and I giggled when he said my nickname. Then I looked up to my brother. "Okay Darry, I'll be right in."
Darry stopped in the doorway and turned back towards the two of us. "Say goodnight."
Owen and I both understood that Darry wasn't going into the house without me. My date stood up and bid goodnight and farewell to me and Darry. Then he happily wandered off to his car and rode away as Darry hustled me into the house. That night I laid awake in bed for an hour remembering my first true love kiss, and wondering if Owen was laying awake thinking about me too.