Sunsets and Switchblades

Outfit Check (Part 3)

Pony needs Johnny's help with choosing an outfit for Pony's date coming up.

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Ponyboy bounded about the house with barely restrained excitement and the only two members watched him run around. Sodapop and Steve had already left to take on some extra shifts at the DX station, and Darry did the same with his roofing job. The only people in the house were Two-Bit and Johnny, both on the ratty and scruffed up couch.

"What's the rush, Pones?" Two-Bit grinned as he watched Pony contemplate between two outfits-wait, nope, it's three now- "Got a hot date or somethin'?"

Johnny's eyes widened and his eyebrows went under his hair in question and looked at Ponyboy for an answer. Pony tensed up and stammered, holding the clothes close to his body.

"What?! No, of course not! I would nev- I mean, why would you- Just- Shut up, Two-Bit!"

At a quick pace, Pony all but ran to his room and slammed the door shut. Now Two-Bit's eyebrows were raised and he gave a low whistle.

"Wow, he is freakin' out about somethin'," he glanced at Johnny, who was looking at the spot where Pony was intensely, "You know something about all that?"

Johnny shook his head no, "No... but, I'll go check on him." He said quietly and got up to follow his best friend. Two watched him go for a bit, and then shrugged and turned on the TV for Mickey Mouse, nursing a lukewarm beer he found under the couch.

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Johnny slowly opened the door to Pony's and Soda's bedroom to find Ponyboy still deciding between three different outfits and running his hands through his ungreased hair. Pony glanced up as he heard Johnny step and sit on the desk chair and thumb through a book on the desk, but continued with his decision making. A couple of silent minutes passed before Johnny spoke up.

"Are you actually going on a date?"

Pony looked up and stared into Johnny's eyes for a minute, debating on telling him anything. Johnny's large, dark eyes stared back innocently. Ponyboy sighed- he couldn't say no to his best friend- and, to be honest, he's been dying to tell someone about Curly. A shy smile grew on Pony's face and he squealed quietly, "Yes, I am.... With curly!"

Johnny raised his brows, "Curly?!"

"Yes, Curly. Curly Shepard. From the Shepard's Gang. Curly.... And, I. Am. So. Nervous," Pony scrambled over to Johnny and grabbed his hands, "Please, Johnny, don't tell the Gang. I don't know how they'll react, and with my luck, it would involve me grounded forever and never seeing Curly or the light of day ever again!"

Johnny rolled his eyes and looked at Pony fondly, "You are so dramatic, Pones, I'm sure Darry will only ground you for a couple of years, maybe."

"It's enough for me to die of boredom, Johnnycakes, death is no joking matter. Also, I need your help with something."

Johnny put the book down and looked at the pile of clothes on the bed and floor and then back at Pony, "You need help picking out an outfit?"

Pony sighed in relief and looked at Johnny hopefully, "I knew you would help me out, Johnnycakes. So. I need help 'cause I have no idea what style to go with."

"Style?"

"Yes, style!" Pony lifted up three different outfits, "This first one is saying 'I-am-a-normal-greaser-doing-normal-everyday-things'." The outfit was Pony's normal fit of Converse, jeans, and a form-fitting black tee with a varsity jacket from track. Johnny eyed it critically, then nodded for Pony to go on. Ponyboy put the second outfit up in front of Johnny, saying "This one says I- am- super- cute- and- I- am- in- desperate- need- of- a- strong- man- whose- name- is- Curly- Shepard." He had light jeans with small holes in the knee, a large baby blue hoodie, and a white belt, so he could tuck in the sweater and make his waist a little bit more noticeable. Johnny looked and nodded again.

"Okay, so this last one is a maybe, I'm not really sure 'cause I've never worn something like this. I asked one of Soda's ex-girlfriends about it and she said this was what to do, so." He held up some black skinny jeans with holes in the knee and thigh area, black fishnets to go under them, a black crop top with the sleeves cut off, and a red flannel.

Johnny looked at Pony in confusion. Pony huffed and tossed the clothes back on the bed.

"Well?" Pony questioned, "Which one should I go with? I've never been on a date before and I don't know if I should go normal, or cute, or hot because Curly is like hot all of the time, no matter what, so I need help, Johnnyyyy."

"Okay, okay, calm down, jeez," Johnny placed his hands on Pony's shoulders in an attempt to calm down his over-dramatic friend, "How much time do we have until the date?"

"A couple of hours..."

"Okay, listen. We'll figure it out alright, but first, you need to chill out, okay?"

Pony nodded dejectedly with a pout.

"Okay, first, how about we weigh our pros and cons over some food... if that's okay."

Pony laughed and started dragging Johnny towards the kitchen, "Johnny, you know Darry doesn't mind if you eat something. Besides, you're right, I have some time to spare until Curly picks me up. But, Johnny, you gotta promise me not to tell the Gang or anyone, okay? Not yet, at least. Pinky promise, dude." He looked at Johnny with large doe eyes and held out his pinky.

"Yeah, alright," He hooked pinky with Ponyboy's, "but, you gotta promise me that if he does somethin' weird or makes you upset I'm allowed to tell the Gang."

Pony rolled his eyes with a long sigh but agreed.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll tell you. Now, c'mon, Darry made some chocolate cake this morning and we still have a lot." He dragged Johnny to the giant chocolate heaven that was in the fridge, hoping to kill time in its sugary depths.