"You know", Steve said a few weeks later, "Pony's gettin' more attention from the gals at the DX than I think Soda ever has."
I stopped by his and Evie's house on my way to work that day to see Andrew for a bit since it was a Saturday. Steve had come home for his lunch break.
"Really?" I asked as I held Andrew in my arms. "I find that pretty hard to believe. Soda gets the Socs and the greaser girls."
"You better believe that your boyfriend does too", he told me in between bites of his sandwich.
"Sure", I said sarcastically. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"Then come over one day and see for yourself."
A week later, I did exactly that. Mrs. Brown was sick that day, so the shop was closed since she ran everything and there was no other manager. The dance studio was closed for the day too since there was no heating and dancers plus cold weather don't make for a good combination.
It was a cold early-December day. There had been frost on the ground that morning and the cold wind bit into me as I walked.
The bell over the door of the DX jingled merrily as I walked in, rubbing my hands together and pulling Pony's letterman jacket tighter around me.
There were five girls occupying the area near the counter where Pony worked. Some of them leaned against the counter and pushed their breasts together with their elbows so more cleavage was visible. All five of them turned towards me when I walked towards them, shooting me dirty looks as I went. Their faces were caked with makeup and they had skimpy clothing on. They couldn't have looked more like stereotypical greaser girls if they tried.
"Honey!" I called over in an attempt to get my boyfriend's attention. He was turned towards the wall, stocking shelves.
He whipped around and a smile broke onto his face. "Hey, darlin'. How're ya doin'?"
I smiled and got behind the counter, giving him a peck on the lips. "Good. You?"
"Even better now."
The girls at the counter were fuming. Some of them leaned onto the counter further to make their cleavage even more visible while others were standing up straight with their arms crossed and noses in the air.
Ponyboy just seemed to notice they were there. "How're y'all doin' today?"
"Good", they chorused.
"Ain't you girls cold? It's forty outside and you don't have jackets."
"No, we're fine", one said. "Hot, even."
She looked at him seductively as she said that, pulling the neckline of her dress down slightly.
"Okay then", he nodded and turned back to me. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"
"Mrs. Brown's sick today", I answered.
"Aw, hope she's alright."
"Me too."
"So're you gonna stay with me all day?"
"I'm plannin' on it", I laughed, slipping off my jacket. There was a little heater behind the counter that made the space warmer.
"Great", he beamed.
We talked as he continued to stock the shelves, me sitting in the chair behind the counter. The girls were relentless with their advances. They leaned against the counter and occasionally said some flirtatious things to Pony. But he never seemed to notice what they were doing.
Every time I looked at the girls out of the corner of my eye, they were glaring daggers at me and after a while I was sick of them and their flirting with my boyfriend.
"Pony", I said as I stood up and walked up behind him.
He turned around to face me. "Yeah?"
I stood up on tip-toe, grabbed his face in my hands, and kissed him. I could tell he was shocked for a moment, but he quickly kissed back and wrapped his arms around my waist.
The girls all scattered, some of them huffing and other grumbling to themselves as they left.
We took a minute to catch our breaths when we finally pulled away.
"What was that about?" Pony asked me. "Not that I'm complaining."
"Didn't you see those girls?"
"Sure, I did. What about 'em?"
"You didn't notice them flirting with you?"
"They were flirting with me?" he asked, knitting his eyebrows together.
"You're hopeless", I laughed unhumorously.
"Were you jealous?"
"No", I lied.
"Lily", Pony said as he looked into my eyes, "were you jealous?"
"A little. Yeah", I admitted.
"Darlin', you don't need to be jealous", he told me and wrapped me in a hug with his arms around my shoulders while mine curled around his middle. "You know I'd never leave you for them, don't you?"
"Mm-hm", I hummed into his warm chest.
"You're not just sayin' that to get me off'a your case, right?"
"I'm not just saying it", I assured him.
"Good", he said before kissing the top of my head.
XxXxXxXxXx
A couple weeks later it was Christmas. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground and cold air that cut your cheeks like knives when it was windy.
It had been arranged that I would be going to the Curtis' house early on Christmas morning and staying over that night.
That day, my family woke up a little earlier than usual so we could open our presents before I went over to the Curtis'. I got the usual few worn or clearance dresses and some second-hand books.
After we opened our gifts, I rushed upstairs, changing from my pajamas into a blouse, skirt, and tights and slipping on my flats. I pulled my hair into a Dutch braid, put on my jewelry, and packed up my overnight things.
Running downstairs, I quickly brushed my teeth and said goodbye to my family before slipping on my jacket and leaving the house. I could see my breath in the early-morning air as I walked and shivered a little whenever there was a breeze. I put on some gloves as I walked, switching the bag of small gifts from one hand to the other as I did. The gifts weren't much, but they were something and there was something for everyone.
I knocked on the Curtis' door, which was opened a moment later by Ashlynn.
"Hey", she smiled and hugged me. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too", I laughed. "How was staying over here last night?"
"Chaotic", she sighed, "but fun. Let's get you inside before the cold gets in."
We walked inside the house and I hung up my jacket and gloves before dropping my backpack off in Pony and Soda's room.
"Everyone in the living room?" I asked Ashlynn.
"Yup." She nodded to the bag in my hand. "Gifts?"
"Yup", I repeated with a laugh before going into the living room.
"Hi, darlin'", Pony smiled at me and stood up, giving me a hug. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas", I said back, giving him a peck on the lips.
"Ugh!" Two-Bit cried. "My eyes!"
We laughed, causing Andrew to giggle from Evie's lap.
"Hi, sweetie", I cooed. "Look at how cute you are!"
He had on a little red onesie with a Santa embroidered on the stomach.
"Ms. Young made it for him", Evie told me as she readjusted her son.
"She's one of the sweetest women you'll ever meet", I said.
"Damn right, she is", she agreed.
Everyone started exchanging and unwrapping presents. I got A Wrinkle in Time from Rachel and Two-Bit, Catch-22 from Ruth and Darry, and a book about world history from Sodapop.
"How'd you know I liked world history?" I asked him as I gave him a hug in thanks.
"I didn't", he laughed. "Pony told me."
"He gave most of us ideas on what to get you, actually", Darry said. "Since y'all know each other the best."
My boyfriend's face turned pink, so I kissed his cheek. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and kissed my temple.
Evie then handed me a gift wrapped in the familiar brown wrapping paper that my parents used. It looked like it was a box.
"They're not much", she said as I peeled back the wrapping paper and opened the box, finding a pair of silver three-inch heels. "They were mine when I was younger, so they're a little worn, but I think they're wearable. Hopefully they fit you. I think I wear the same size now as I did then."
"Thank you, Evie", I told her and leaned out of Pony's hold to give her a hug. "They're real pretty."
"I'm happy you think so."
"Whaddya think, Andrew?" I asked him. "You think they're pretty?"
He cooed in response.
"That's exactly what I thought", I smiled and rubbed his cheek.
"I'm next!" Ashlynn insisted, shoving her gift into my hands.
"Alright, alright", I laughed. I set the heels down and started opening the gift. It was a Barbie doll in a black and white bathing suit, heels, and her hair in a ponytail. I looked up at Ashlynn with a confused expression.
"That's the Barbie doll I stole from you about ten years ago", Ashlynn laughed.
I wracked my brain trying to remember what she was talking about before finally vaguely remembering her taking the Barbie doll that I had gotten for my eighth birthday and starting to laugh too. "Where did you find this?"
"In a drawer in my room that I haven't looked in in ages."
"Thanks, Ash", I laughed and gave her a hug.
Ponyboy leaned over, reached under the Christmas tree, and handed me what he took out. It was wrapped in several layers of wrapping paper and I cocked an eyebrow at him.
"It's breakable", he explained.
I nodded and started to carefully unwrap the present, finding a small snow-globe. I held it up closer to my face and saw a figure of a Monarch butterfly inside before tipping it and watching the white flakes fall on and around the butterfly.
"It's so pretty", I muttered.
"I thought you'd like it", Pony smiled.
"Thank you, love", I said, giving him a kiss.
"You're welcome, darlin'."
When everyone had given out and gotten their presents, Darry cleared his throat, causing us all to turn towards him.
"I got a gift to give to Ruth", he said.
"Babe, you already gave me my present", Ruth reminded him and held up the new notebook that he had given her earlier since she worked as a receptionist and needed to write things down.
"That's not everything", Darry said.
"You didn't have to get me anything else."
"But I wanted to."
Ponyboy hugged me closer and was trying to keep a smile off of his face, as was Soda. I had a feeling they knew something that the rest of us didn't.
Darry stood up and helped Ruth up as well.
"Ruth, I love you so much. When I first saw you when I almost dropped a hammer on your head, I knew you were the one for me", he said, causing everyone to laugh. "Since we've been together, I've been happier. You make me a better man. So, I guess what I'm tryin' to say is…", he trailed off and took something out of his pocket before getting down on one knee and opening up a box, revealing a ring. "Ruth, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Ruth's hands went over her mouth and she started to cry.
"Yes!" she yelled. "Yes, of course, Darry!" She knocked him onto the ground with a hug and kissed him. We all cheered and clapped for them and I couldn't help the tears coming to my eyes.
When they finally broke apart, Darry took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto Ruth's finger.
"So you knew about this?" I asked Pony.
"Of course I knew", he laughed. "You really think Darry would ask Ruth to marry him without talking to me and Soda first?"
"True", I admitted.
"Well", Two-Bit laughed and clapped his hands together, "who's ready for breakfast?"
We all sat down at the kitchen table and talked as we ate. Ruth rested her head on Darry's shoulder and they never stopped looking at each other the entire meal.
"Can I see?" I asked as the dishes were cleared away, gesturing to her hand.
"Of course", she smiled.
I took her hand and looked at her new ring. It was a simple- a gold band with a single small diamond- but it was very pretty and looked nice on Ruth's thin finger.
"Hey, y'all!" Soda called to us in a taunting tone. "Look what we got!" He walked in from the living room with a sprig of something in his hand.
"What in God's name is that supposed to be?" Darry asked.
"Mistletoe!" Steve exclaimed.
"That's a piece of the Christmas tree", Pony said.
"You're no fun", Soda told him and stuck out his tongue, Pony following suit.
"We're gonna put this in the doorway and whoever goes under it's gotta kiss", Steve explained.
"Steve, we know how the whole mistletoe thing works", I said.
Soda Scotch-taped the "mistletoe" on top of the doorway with Steve standing next to him. Of course, that meant that when the job was done the two best friends were standing next to each other…under the mistletoe.
They looked at each other with shocked expressions, obviously not expecting their plan to backfire, as we laughed at their expense.
Steve cleared his throat. "Okay…new rule. If two boys or two girls get caught under the mistletoe they gotta…", he trailed off and turned to Soda for help.
"Kiss 'em on the cheek", Soda quickly responded.
"Yeah", Steve nodded. "You gotta kiss 'em on the cheek."
"So?" Darry asked after a minute. "What're y'all waitin' for? Kiss each other on the cheek."
"Oh yeah", Soda said, seemingly forgetting the rule he had just made. He leaned over and gave Steve a quick peck on the cheek before making a b-line to the couch and sitting on Ashlynn's lap, causing her to groan at his weight.
"Babe, what the hell do you think you're doin'?"
"I needed to get away from Steve", he stage-whispered.
Steve rolled his eyes and picked up Andrew. "Hey, buddy. You like your gift?"
Andrew had gotten a little stuffed bear from Evie and Steve and hadn't let go of it the entire time he had been at the house.
He just yawned and blinked sleepily.
"I think it's time for you to go to bed", Steve told his son. "Dar, can I put 'im in your room?"
"Sure", Darry agreed, and with that Andrew was whisked away to the other room to take a nap.
I tried to never get up from the couch for fear that I would get caught under the mistletoe with someone other than Pony, but after a while of talking in the living room, the precaution slipped my mind and I went into the kitchen to grab myself a Pepsi from the refrigerator. When I walked back into the living room, I was caught in the doorway with Sodapop.
We both just stared at each other for a moment, wondering how we were going to get out of our situation. The problem was that we couldn't get out of it since everyone had seen us walk under the doorway together.
"You gotta kiss", Rachel told us.
I leaned over and kissed Soda on the cheek. "There."
"No, you gotta really kiss 'im", she insisted.
"No", I told her sternly. "We aren't kissing. No."
But they wouldn't give up that easily. Almost the entire gang egged the two of us on for a good while until I finally relented.
"Fine!" I exclaimed. I turned towards Soda and gave him a peck on the lips that barely contained any contact. It seemed to satisfy the gang, though, because they shut up.
The condensation on my Pepsi had made my hand wet and I wiped it on my skirt before going over and sitting on my boyfriend's lap, putting the drink on the coffee table.
Pony felt tense and kept his eyes glued to the T.V while he clenched his jaw.
"You okay, honey?" I asked.
He ripped his gaze away from the T.V and looked at me for a moment before picking me up and carrying me over to the doorway where his kissed me. I kissed back, of course, and wrapped my arms around his neck to hold myself up as the gang whooped and wolf-whistled from the living room and kitchen.
"Ponyboy Michael, are you jealous?" I asked with a laugh when we pulled away.
His cheeks and the tips of his ears turned slightly pink. "A little."
"Soda's like my brother", I told him. "I love you and only you."
"I love you too", Pony said, lightly kissing my forehead and putting me back down on my feet.
XxXxXxXxXx
A few weeks later while Ashlynn and I were teaching, the receptionist burst into the room.
"Lily, Ashlynn", she hurriedly told us, "you need to go right now."
"What?" I asked frantically. "Where?"
"At your boyfriends' house. Someone called and said you need to get over there right now."
Ashlynn and I looked at each other and then Madame Evelyn.
"Yes. Of course. Go!" she exclaimed.
We ran into the area where we got changed and didn't even change our clothes, just our shoes, before shouldering our bags and booking it out of there. We ran all the way to the Curtis' house in our leotards, ballet skirts, and tights, not even caring how insane we must have looked or who got in our way as we ran down the sidewalks. Even though it was January, we couldn't feel the cold.
When we got to the house, we burst through the door to find everyone in the living room. Darry was pacing and looked totally distraught as his fiancée watched on from the couch. Ponyboy and Soda were sitting on the couch and crying. Two-Bit was leaning against the wall, nervously flicking his switch-blade in and out as Rachel stood next to him and rung her hands. Steve was trying to console his best friend, but to no avail. Evie was rocking Andrew while she walked around the room. Pony and Soda's crying seemed to have triggered the same reaction from Andrew since he was wailing in his mother's arms.
"What happened?" I almost screamed. "What happened?"
Tears started to leak out of Darry's eyes as well and he wiped them away hurriedly with the back of his hand. No one except the brothers seemed to know what was going on.
"Answer me, goddammit!" I yelled. "Someone tell me what's wrong!"
"You might wanna sit down for this", Darry told Ashlynn and I in a throaty voice.
Ashlynn looked like she was about to start shaking so I grabbed her hand and sat her down in Darry's recliner as I sat on its arm.
"You wanna tell 'em?" Darry asked, turning to the couch.
Soda looked up and choked out a sob. "I-I've been drafted."
"What?" Ashlynn asked as tears sprung to my eyes.
"I've been drafted", Soda repeated in a soft voice.
Then I started to cry, along with Ashlynn. I slid down into the seat with her and we held each other as we sobbed. Everyone else started to cry then too. Even Steve and Two-Bit.
After what felt like hours, I felt a light pressure on my back. I picked my head out of Ashlynn's neck to see my boyfriend standing next to me with tears streaming down his face. Sodapop was next to Ashlynn.
She and I both launched ourselves into our boyfriends' arms. Ponyboy squeezed me so hard around my waist that I thought I would have thought that it would have made me suffocate if I didn't already feel that way. It felt like my throat was closing up and before I knew it, I had started to hyperventilate.
My breaths were becoming fast and I felt like I simultaneously couldn't get enough air into my body and couldn't get enough air out. My head was incredibly light and I started to feel like if I didn't hold onto something, I would keel over. In general terms, I was in full anxiety-attack-mode.
"Darry, get 'er a paper bag!" I heard Pony yell. But I passed out before Darry could even get out of the living room.
XxXxXxXxXx
When my eyes opened, the room was as dark as it was behind my eyelids. I stared at the non-visible ceiling for a moment and tried to remember how I got wherever I was. My thoughts backtracked until they got to Soda announcing that he had gotten drafted. I swallowed thickly and sat up, needing to get out of the room I was in as soon as possible. I felt like it was closing in on me and I desperately needed air and light.
After finally finding and opening the door, I figured out that I had been in Soda and Pony's room. I walked into the living room to find everyone scattered around. My boyfriend was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes trained on his shoes. No one was talking and the T.V wasn't on, so the room was completely silent other than my footsteps.
Everyone looked up at me when I got into the living room's doorway. Tears came to my eyes as I stood there and studied everyone's tortured expressions.
I blinked rapidly and walked across the room to Ponyboy, burying myself in his chest and starting to cry.
"Ponyboy", I whimpered.
"I know, baby", he muttered and kissed my head. "I know."
"He can't go."
"I have to, Lily-flower", Soda said quietly from the couch, where he was sitting with Ashlynn tightly in his arms.
"But what if something happens? What if you…what if you die?"
"I'm not gonna die."
"You can't guarantee that", Pony argued.
"I'm goin' with him", Steve announced.
"No, you're not", Soda told him sternly. "I won't let you."
"Neither will the government", Darry broke in. "Andrew's your dependent. They won't let you go."
There was silence again for a few minutes before Two-Bit spoke up. "I'll go."
"No, Two-Bit", Soda said.
"Yes, Soda", Two-Bit retorted back. "I'm sure as hell not lettin' you go to 'Nam by yourself."
"Keith, this isn't just an 'oh, I'll go with you across town so you won't be alone' sort of thing", I told him. "You're saying you're going to voluntarily join the army and go thousands of miles away to fight in a war that nobody supports."
"I know damn well what I'm saying. I'm not gonna let Soda do that by himself. If he goes over there with nobody he knows, he's gonna be even worse off than he would be than he would be if I went with 'im."
We all knew that he was right, so nobody argued.
"Why do you have to go?" Ashlynn asked Soda, burying her head into his shoulder.
"I wish I knew, sweetheart", he told her and held her closer.
OH MY GOD WHY DO I KEEP DOING THIS TO YOU PEOPLE!? I'm soooo sorry it took this long for me to update. School has kept me insanely busy and I haven't had much time to write. I've been debating with myself about someone from the gang being drafted for a while and finally decided to go through with it. But Darry's getting married! I'm excited for that myself. I love y'all and stay gold!- AthenaRavenclaw13