𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 | 𝐩.𝐜

𝐭𝐞𝐧

___

I sat on the curb of the DX with Ponyboy at my side, eating the crust of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

He offered me a piece which I simply declined, I wasn't feeling too well.

The way Don looked at me, it wasn't a hateful glare, it was disappointment.

Which is even worse.

Steve was inside chatting with Sodapop, I didn't even know Steve went to school until today.

Pony says he's very focused on his studies so we don't see him around school very often, to which I thought was a reasonable answer.

Johnny was beside me twiddling his thumbs. He hasn't looked at me all day which made my nauseating stomach ache worsen.

I heard Pony start to talk to Johnny but I minded my business, frankly I was too tired to listen in.

I had been missing quite a lot of school since me and Pony have been hanging out. Even thought the reason for us spending time together was for studying.

But I guess not a lot of studying happens.

It's my own fault really, and I feel bad for bringing Pony down with me.

He's smart, and he shouldn't agree to skipping with me just because he likes me.

I started to feel guilty, like I had just been punched in the gut and couldn't catch my breath.

I think i'm going to start going to school more, and study more. Not for my sake, but for Ponyboy's.

Pony shook my shoulder and smiled, "Ready to head back?"

I pursed my lips and nodded.

"Coming Johnny?" I turned to face the small boy.

His cheeks darkened and his bottom lip quivered.

"Mhm" Was all he could choke out.

I stood up brushing off my skirt, Pony grabbed my hand and I stiffened.

Nobody really knew about us, I suppose they just suspected.

But with Johnny right there, and Sodapop and Steve less then five feet away I panicked.

I cooly let go of his grasp and picked at my finger nail. Pushing out my top lip while I bit my bottom one.

I lightly smirked, maybe he would think I was playing hard to get.

Which definitely wasn't the case, Pony could ask me to marry him and I would be the one with a knee on the ground.

I was just a coward, plain and simple.

I shuffled away awkwardly with Pony and Johnny on my trail.

We walked into the school, the smell of old books and sharpened pencils made me wrinkle my nose.

It had gotten to be very hot in the afternoon, like most. So I had taken off my yellow sweater and was left in a white polo.

Sometimes I could just kick myself, I know how the weather turns out. Cool and frosty in the morning, sweltering hot in the afternoons, and frigid in the night.

I think i'm not smart nor street smart. But Dally says that's not true and i'm very smart when I want to be.

Dally.

My stomach ached again and that nauseous feeling that had left oh so quickly soon returned.

It was not welcomed.