𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 ❥ 𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬

𝟢𝟣𝟣

"she looks just like a dream. the prettiest girl i've ever seen."

𝐏𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲'𝐬 𝐩.𝐨.𝐯.

"See. I'm way better at math than Liam is."

Val rolled her eyes. "Fine. I admit, you are pretty good at math."

She smiled at me before looking back at her homework, drumming her fingers on the paper as we sat shoulder to shoulder on the couch.

I watched as she chewed on her pencil—something she only did when she was frustrated.

"Can you show me how to do this one more time?" She asked while handing me the sheet of paper. I had my own homework I needed to start but it could wait.

     As I started to explain the problem I felt Val slowly lower her head onto my shoulder before completely leaning against me.

"I need a cigarette." She groaned.

"I thought you were quitting for basketball," I chuckled. She turned her head to look at me and shot me a quick glare.

"Yeah, but I need one to get through this homework. Can you believe that Mr. Brown gave us homework right before break?" She whined.

"Here," I said, handing her the paper back.

"You didn't have to do it for me." She replied but I could tell she was happy about it.

     "I don't mind." I replied. She smiled softly and started on the next problem. As Val did her work she would occasionally look at me excitedly when she got something right. And curse when she didn't. About an hour passed before we had both finished our work.

     We were watching reruns of 'I Love Lucy' as Val's mom and Jessica returned home, wielding bags of groceries.

"Hey guys!" Val said as she ran towards the dining table and started sifting through the bags.

Diane shot her a disapproving look before pulling the bags from her grasp. "Help your dear cousin put the food away, would ya?" She said.

     "Hello Ponyboy," she greeted as she walked towards her armchair. "It's so nice of you to help Val with her homework. Lord knows she needs all the help she can get."

     "Mom!"

     "What? I'm just saying Pony's being a gentleman for helping you out." She shrugged.

Jess had already left to go smoke outside while the 3 of us sat on the couch eating from a bag of chips.

"Val," Diane started, pulling our attention away from the television screen. "I'm going to be at the hospital every night this week so you can either stay with your cousin or Darry's house." She continued.