Sunsets and Switchblades

Booking a Date (Part 2)

Curly decided to walk Pony home and realizes that he definitely wants to do the whole dating thing with Pony.

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After spending the past hour or so browsing, Ponyboy checked out two new library books and quickly said goodbye to Curly.

"Well, Curly, this was fun," Pony turned to Curly outside the front of the library with a smile, holding securely to his books, "but I really gotta get home now. The Gang is meeting up and there's no way in hell I'm being late and havin' Darry ground me again. So, thanks a lot for everything again, really. See you around!" Pony began hopping down the library steps before Curly grabbed his wrist and pulled him back, which caused Pony to trip over a step and stumble into Curly's chest and drop his books.

"Now, hold on a minute, Ponybaby," Curly smirked down at Pony's beet-red face and wide green eyes and placed a steadying hand on the small of Pony's back, "Allow me to be a gentle-greaser and escort you home, huh?" Curly raised his brows in question.

Pony gave a hesitant smile and furrowed his brow, chuckling lightly, "You... want to walk me home..?"

Curly shrugged nonchalantly and picked up the fallen books, tucking them under his arm, "Sure, why not?"

"I mean..." Pony began walking next to Curly down the steps and slowly towards homes, "you know Darry doesn't necessarily like you that much... or the rest of the gang for that matter."

Curly snickered while putting his hands behind his head, "Well, maybe I just wanted to spend some more time with ya."

Pony's heart sped up and he blushed. It seemed like blushing was all he could do when Curly was around him with his leather jacket, and tight shirt, and greased up curls, and sly smirk, ugh. Curly looked at Pony from the corner of his eye and gave a sly smile at Pony's blushing squirming. As much as Curly loved to watch Pony squirm around- preferably in Curly's bed- he realized he actually wanted to spend some more time with the little greaser. He started asking questions about the books Pony got and that jump-started a giant rant about the stories, which transformed into a long rant about everything and anything with a little bit of input from Curly. Curly didn't mind that Pony could talk forever, he enjoyed how animated the boy became, waving his hands around and giggling with expressions that could have been drawn on him.

Slowly the wind started picking up, making both of them shiver. Even with his sweater, Pony felt the wind prick his skin like pins and needles. He tugged down the sleeves of his sweater over his palms and snuggled more into it. Curly instantly noticed when Pony stopped ranting and began shuddering. It was pretty cold now. Curly heaved a sigh and took off his leather jacket, dropping it over Pony's head. Ponyboy started and scrambled out of it, tilting his head in confusion. Curly thought it was the fucking cutest thing he's ever seen. Not like he'd ever admit it, though.

"Put it on, you won't be cold no more."

Pony pouted a little, "But... you'll be cold then..."

"Nah," Curly gave a sharp-tooth grin, "I'm too hot for all that."

Pony huffed a laugh and put on the jacket. It was easily two times bigger than him with the end going to his thighs and sleeves completely covering his hands plus some. Curly had to look away before Pony gave him something only a cold shower could fix. He could easily picture Pony wearing only his jacket and nothing else. They started nearing Pony's street when Pony grabbed onto Curly's shirt, making the hood stop walking any further.

"Maybe we should say goodbye here," Pony started, "I don't know how my brothers and the gang will react knowing you're with me. You know they're not that fond of you."

"Psh, they wish they could scare me off." Curly started walking with confidence towards Pony's home. Pony hurried to keep up and opened the front gate for Curly. Loud laughter and hoots could be heard from inside. Pony bounded up the step and turned to Curly who waited at the bottom.

Pony gave a hesitant smile and scuffed at the porch shyly, "Um, thank you, Curly, for everything today."

A warmth spread throughout Curly's chest and he smiled softly up at Pony, "It's no problem, Ponybaby."

"I guess I'll see you around, then." Pony began towards the front door, while Curly watched Pony's back walk away. He felt aggravated. He knew that if he didn't ask Pony out, he'd never do it.

"Pony..."

Pony turned, waiting for Curly to continue.

Curly didn't realize how nervous he became all of a sudden. He cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Uh, I was wonderin' if- I mean, um..." He took a deep breath and looked up into Pony's beautiful green eyes, "I was wondering if you wanted to go on a-a date sometime... like maybe tomorrow-if-if that's alright."

Pony's heart almost beat out of his chest. He glanced back nervously at the door, hoping none of the gang heard them but decided that he wanted this. He wanted to go on a date with Curly. He wanted Curly to like him as much as he was starting to like Curly. Pony walked back down the stairs and gently grabbed Curly's hand.

"I would love to, Curly." Pony then leaned up on his tippy-toes and pressed a kiss on Curly's cheek. He beamed at Curly and pressed a small book into Curly's arms before finally leaving for his home.

A large, dopey grin spread its way across Curly's face as he started heading back to his place. Looking down, he read the title of the book Pony got him: How to Hotwire a Car and 150 Other Practices For Every Young Wannabe Thug. Curly snorted loudly at this mess of a book. He would keep the book safe for Pony; besides, he already knows how to hotwire a car. Plans started circling through his head, all involving him showing off his toughness to Pony in some way or another and finally showing Pony the crazy fun world of a hood. Particularly involving taking some poor Soc's mustang out for a spin or two with little Ponyboy in the passenger seat, looking at Curly like the perfect, sexy god he is. Maybe Curly would give the book a skim here or there and brush up on his skills.

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Pony closed the door behind him with a soft sigh and pink cheeks and said a soft hello to the gang and Darry, explaining the new book he got at the library. The rest of the gang all noticed his arrival... and the large leather jacket hanging off of him.

"Hey, uh, Pones," Soda started, a little nervous at the look of some strange greaser's jacket on his baby brother, "who's, uh, whose jacket is that?"

Darry looked up from his newspaper in his recliner, eyeing the jacket silently. Soda was on the floor around the coffee table with Steve and Two-Bit, playing cards. Johnny and Dally who were chilling on the couch, also, looked over in question.

Pony looked down at the large and warm jacket that had the lingering smell of cigarette smoke, rich cologne, and something that could only be described as Curly, and smiled. He practically floated to his room with a giddy smile.

"Curly lent it to me."

The whole gang perked up even more at that, already not liking the idea that the one and only Curly Shepard was hanging around Pony for any amount of time. But, none of them could say anything in return because Pony finally made it to his room, shutting the door with a sharp click, and left the gang perplexed and more than a little worried, especially the older Curtis brothers, who shared a concerned glance.