ITS ABOUT TIME ➤ Ponyboy Curtis

16

𝙿𝚘𝚗𝚢𝚋𝚘𝚢 𝙼𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚎𝚕 𝙲𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚜

     Johnny and I stretched out on our backs and looked at the stars. I was freezing—an unexpected wind blew and all I had was a sweat shirt, but I could watch stars in sub-zero weather. I loved watching stars but knew nothing about them.
"Don't get hung up on that party," Johnny said, and I knew he was talking about Georgia. "She might not go."
"Maybe." I said, wondering if Georgia would decide on staying home.
"That's what you're down about, right?"
I nodded.
"Shucks, I'm sorry for joking bout it earlier. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Pone."
"It's alright, Johnny. " I said, a sadness growing inside me. I was jealous about how she might go to another guys party, especially a rich kid. I'm not going to pretend like I didn't know why I was jealous, I liked her. I liked her a whole lot. More than like her, stronger than like. I knew the word but didn't want to believe I had fallen that hard for her. I was in love.
"How come you didn't tell her how ya felt like you planned? You were gonna take her here and confess." Johnny spoke from beside me.
"I couldn't do it, it had to be perfect." I said, a frustrated bitterness growing inside me. Why did it have to rain? How come the world seem so against me?" I thought. "It was raining and it didn't feel right. I don't wanna do it unless everything's just right. She deserves it."
Johnny peered at me. "You really like her, huh?"
"Big time," I said, closing my eyes. "how could I not..."
Georgia Mathews was the most perfect girl to ever step foot on this earth. I remember the first time I saw her—Georgia had walked across the street after Sodapop invited her over for dinner. I was reading at the kitchen table when she walked in. My eyes were glued to her up until we made eye contact. Her smile mesmerized me. I reckon my eyes drooped and my mouth fell when she smiled. Every since that moment I couldn't quit her. I was addicted the moment we met. She was nature-like beautiful, like a greek goddess or a fairy. There aren't any words to convey how deeply I felt about Georgia. Her heart understood mine and her voice was pure gold when she spoke her insightful thoughts. I thought she had the most beautiful mind that was full of the most beautiful things. Georgia was the most beautiful thing, so of course she had a brain to match. I really, and I mean really, was infatuated with everything she did. The smallest things that she would do made me melt. When's she was reading, she would act out what the characters in the book are doing—scrunching up her nose and scowling because that's what the antagonist was doing. When she was doing her hair she would turn the radio on and sing, not caring how she sounded. She was so pure, so authentic, so real, that it was almost unbelievable that someone could be that perfect. I wanted her so badly. It was a new feeling for me—I had never before been that into girls—and it filled my whole body and mind. She was my dream.
"Ponyboy"— Johnny was shaking me— "Hey, Pony, wake up."
I sat up, shivering. The stars had moved. "Glory, what time is it?"
"I don't know. I went to sleep, too, listening to you rattle on and on about Georgie. You'd better get home. I think I'll stay all night out here." Johnny's parents didn't care if he came home or not.
"Okay." I yawned. Gosh, but it was cold. "If you get cold or something come on over to our house."
"Okay."
I ran home, trembling at the thought of facing Darry. The porch light was on. Maybe they were asleep and I could sneak in, I thought. I peeked in the window. Sodapop was stretched out on the sofa, sound asleep, but Darry was in the armchair under the lamp, reading the newspaper. I gulped, and opened the door softly. Darry looked up from his paper. He was on his feet in a second. I stood there, chewing on my fingernail.
"Where the heck have you been? Do you know what time it is?" He was madder than I'd seen him in a long time. I shook my head wordlessly.
"Well, it's two in the morning, kiddo. Another hour and I would have had the police out after you. Where were you, Ponyboy?"—his voice was rising—"Where in the almighty universe were you?"
It sounded dumb, even to me, when I stammered, "I... I went to sleep in the lot..."
"You what?" He was shouting, and Sodapop sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Hey, Ponyboy," he said sleepily, "where ya been?" Him and Darry were nothing alike.
"I didn't mean to." I pleaded with Darry. "I was talking to Johnny and we both dropped off..."
"I reckon it never occurred to you that your brothers might be worrying their heads off and afraid to call the police because something like that could get you two thrown in a boys' home so quick it'd make your head spin. And you were asleep in the lot? Ponyboy, what on earth is the matter with you? Can't you use your head?"
I felt hot tears of anger and frustration rising. "I said I didn't mean to..."
"I didn't mean to!" Darry shouted, and I almost shook. "I didn't think! I forgot! That's all I hear out of you! Can't you think of anything?"
"Darry..." Sodapop began, but Darry turned on him.
"You keep your trap shut! I'm sick and tired of hearin' you stick up for him."
He should never yell at Soda. Nobody should ever holler at my brother. I exploded. "You don't yell at him!" I shouted. Darry wheeled around and slapped me so hard that it knocked me against the door.
Suddenly it was deathly quiet. We had all frozen. Nobody in my family had ever hit me. Nobody. Soda went wide-eyed. Darry looked at the palm of his hand where it had turned red and then looked back at me. His eyes were huge. "Ponyboy..."
I turned and ran out the door and down the street as fast as I could. Darry screamed, "Pony, I didn't mean to!" but I was at the lot by then and pretended I couldn't hear. He wouldn't have chased after me anyway. I ran until I was out of breath. Then I realized that I had no idea where I was going. I began to walk to the place that I fear safest; Georgia.
I climbed over the Mathews' back fence so Darry wouldn't see me. I didn't want him to know if I was safe. I wanted him to regret it. He wasn't ever going to hit me again.
"Pone?" Georgia opened her second-floor window after I had thrown small stones to grab her attention. She rubbed her eyes and saw my distraught face. Almost instantly she ran downstairs and opened the back door for me. She pulled me into the living room and I finally just sat down on the couch and cried, burying my face in my arms. Georgia sat down beside me, her hand in my back. "Breath, just breath. Everything will be alright."
I finally calmed down and wiped my eyes on my bare arm. My breath was coming in quivering sobs. "I fell asleep- I fell.."
Georgia rubbed circles on my back and waited for me to form the words. "I fell asleep at the lot and Darry got mad."
"Yeah, what happened? I never seen you like this. Was it bad?"
I nodded. "He hit me. I don't know what happened, but I couldn't take him hollering at me and hitting me too so I came over here. I hope you don't mind, I just don't wanna be anywhere else."
I looked up from the ground and saw Georgias worry-struck face. "Oh Pony, of course I don't mind." Her eyelids drooped.
I sat up straighter, almost forgetting the reason that made me show up. "I'm sorry for waking you."
"Never, ever, be sorry for something like this." She cupped my face with her left hand gingerly. "What do you need? I'm here."
My heart swelled up and the next thing I knew I had her around the waist and was holding her tightly. She was quick to wrap her arms around my neck. Her touch seemed to dissolve my advancing hopeless feelings that circulated through me. Her words hit me like a brick—there was a weight of knowing that she cared for me so deeply. I knew she cared for me, but it felt better getting the confirmation.
A singular tear ripped down to my chin. I moved my hand to wipe it from my face which made Georgia lift her head from my chest and cup my face once again. "You'll be alright Pony. Everything will be alright."
I closed my eyes tightly and pursed my lips in hopes to lock in any tears threatening to stream down my face. "Cry." Georgia said. "You need to cry. Let it all out."
Pulling Georgia closer and laying down flat, I began to sob like I had when I first sat down on the couch. Georgia whispered sweet nothings into my ear as I cried into her shoulder. "I don't know what to do, Georgie."
"I'm sure Darry feels awful, you might not think it but he definitely does. You and him need to talk. Not yell or argue."
I let a quiver breath escape my lungs. "I can't do that now. I can't." I couldn't stand to see Darry right now. My anger had turned into fear and slowly mixed with confusion. Why'd Darry have to be this way? What did I ever do wrong?
"I don't want you to. You need space right now, to calm down." Georgia brushed a hand through my hair as she spoke.
"Can you talk to me?" I asked
Georgia wearily answered, "Yeah."
"I just- I need to focus on something else." I clarified.
Georgia's pajamas fell lowly, showing the tattoo that layer just above her waste. It was a dragon fly surrounded by swirling patterns. I traced the lines with my finger tips and goosebumps sprouted on her skin. I must've still been cold.
"I saw a cat today." Georgia started. "It crawled out from under the porch when I was walking up the steps. I screamed a little because I thought it was a gremlin or something but when I saw that it was just a cat I went inside and got her some tuna salad. Can cats eat tuna salad? I don't know but she likes it. Maybe she was a he, I don't know."
A small smile grew on my face. I loved the way she talked. It was more rambling then talking.
"It was a rude cat, though. The moment it was done eating it ran off. Didn't even let me pet 'em. A little ungrateful if you ask me."
I chuckled and Georgia lifted her head to smirk at me. She laid her head back down on my chest and I moved my hand to play with her flaming red hair. "Don't get me wrong, I love Pluto, but I've always liked cats. And also rain..and actually every animal ever. Anything to do with nature really, but you knew that. I remember one of the first times we hung out you asked me why I was staring at some trees and I told you that I liked to make shapes out of the leaves like people do with clouds. And then we sat there, in the lot, staring at trees and telling each other what we saw in them."
Her rambling was endless entertainment. I smiled at the memory. "I would hope you'd remember, it was only 3 weeks ago. Plus your good with stuff like that. Remembering, I mean."
Her laughs vibration echoed through my chest. "Well we've spent almost everyday together since then. I'm not surprised that I remembered but I'm surprised that you do."
I cocked an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean."
"It means that you don't have a great memory." Georgia giggled.
"You're supposed to be comforting me." I stated.
Georgia lifted her head up quickly, her face covered with worry. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be too mean."
"I'm only kidding, Georgie." I chucked. Georgia was so cute that I stayed silent and admired her. More freckles had appeared on her face due to the summer sun and her hair got more vibrant too. Georgias skin was still pale, but a light sunburn draped over her nose and across her cheeks.
"Stop staring, it's creepy." Georgia rolled into the space in between my side and the back of the couch.
My arms stayed around her while she was lying next to me. "What's this from?" Georgia asked, her hand holding my index finger. She was looking at the scar I had on my forefinger from playing a game of chicken with Curly Shepherd.
"Oh, that?" I chuckled. It was such a stupid story that I just had to laugh at myself. "Me and Curly Shepherd played chicken a few years ago by holding our cigarette ends against each other's fingers."
Georgia laughed lightly and rested her chin on my collarbone, peering up at me though her wispy bangs. "Who won?"
"Tim happened to stroll by and he cracked our heads together. He swore he'd kill us both if we ever did something like it again."
"I woulda done the same thing."
I have a small pursed-lip smile. "I know you would. You keep me in line." I chuckled.
Georgia stared deep into my eyes. "Yeah, but I don't have too." I waited for her to elaborate but she just stared at me. I looked at her lips, soft pillow-like lips. I looked into her eyes, emerald coated and drooping. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to kiss her bad. A sudden burst of confidence rushed through me. I grabbed her chin and held it like a book, pinched between my pointer, my index and my thumb. We stayed like that, staring at each other. A small blush formed on her nose when I gently grazed her bottom lip with my thumb. Thoughts raced through my head rapidly. Do it. Do it, do it do it.
Tilting her head up, I licked my lips quickly. I was ready. Georgia's eyes bored holes into my skin. My body tensed up and my face grew hot and my eyes darkened and-
"Well what do we have here?" Two-Bit said amusedly from the stairs. I nearly jumped out of my skin and snapped my hand to my side like a magnet on a fridge.
An unbothered Georgia answered. "Talking. What'd you want, Two?" She flopped her head to stare tiredly at him.
Two-Bit reached the bottom of the stairs and leaned against the banister "Oooh, talking..." He drew out his voice and wiggled his brows. "Well I thought I heard some chitter chatting."
I gulped harshly. "I had a fight with Darry and I needed to talk to Georgia. I'm sorry." I was praying that he wouldn't do anything. Two-Bit was a good friend of mine and I knew he was a real good fighter. If he saw me and Georgie kiss, I was sure he would beat the tar outta me.
"Sorry?" Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow. "Don't be sorry, unless your up to no good." He words came out like a song.
"Quit teasing him, Two-Bit, and go back to bed." Georgia laughed and sat up. My body felt cold now that she wasn't laying with me. Georgia walked behind the couch and pulled out a quilted blanket from a woven basket. "I'll go upstairs and get you a pillow." She said, handing me the blanket and walking to the stairs.
Two-Bit watched her go up, smiling like a chessy cat until Georgia smacked him playfully across the head. Once she had made it to the top of the stairs, Two-Bit walked up to me slowly, making me scared for my life—In every romance movie I had ever watched, the girls father always threatened to beat the crap out of the guy that was going after her. Two-Bit wasn't Georgias father, but he took care of her like one—because he was tall and stalky and was very capable of hurting me bad.
"What happened with Darry?" He asked and I let out a huge breath that I was holding in.
I closed my eyes and felt my heart slow down. It had been beating pretty fast while he was walking up to me. "I got home late. I got home late and.. and he hit me."
Two-Bits mouth fell agape. "Darry hit you?" I nodded. "Wow...I gotta say, I'm baffled by that. Are you alright?"
"It doesn't hurt, if that's whatcha mean." I sighed. "I'm just sick of it. I'm sick of him yelling at me all the time. I bed bet he wishes he could stick me in a home somewhere, and he'd do it too, if Soda'd let him."
Two-Bit was staring at me. "No..." He said, dumbfounded. "No Ponyboy, that ain't right..you got it wrong.."
"Yeah? Then whys he always yelling at me for every damn thing I do?" I snapped bitterly. "No matter what, he's mad at me, even if I haven't done anything. He never hollers at Sodapop, so why does he holler me all the time, huh?"
"It because he cares for you." Georgia walked down the stairs with a pillow under her arm. "He shouldn't have hit you, we all know that, but he yells at you because he cares. He wants the best for you."
I played with my fingers. "Yeah we'll he sure has a funny way of showing it." I mumbled.
Georgia's warm hand cupped the side of my face and I leaned into her touch. It reminded me of a hug, specifically her warm fulfilling hugs that felt like a blanket woven by the sun. "I know." Her whisper sounded like an ocean breeze.
I had only been to the ocean once before and it was amazing. Dad took Soda, Darry and I on a fishing trip. We didn't catch a single fish and Darry was mad because it took us 10 hours to get there and the only ocean life we saw was a hermit crab—Soda named him Donald and made him a house out of sand. Dad didn't care though, he would say "It's called fishing not catching." We stayed there until the sun went down and just before the sunset, we all stripped down to our boxers and swam in the ice cold salt water. I really wanted to go back to the beach. Georgia was the closest I had.
Two-Bit started for the stairs. "She's right, Pony. Hitting and hollering isn't something he should do but you gotta know that he cares a whole lot about you." We watched him walk up the steps and heard him shuffle down the hallway.
Georgia looked down at me, still standing over me. "Do you want me to stay?"
I cocked an eyebrow.
"Oh stop that, Pony." She giggled and fiddled with the frayed ends of the blanket she gave me. "I just want you to feel comfortable."
"Seems like you just wanna cuddle up with me." I teased.
Georgia slyly grinned. "Maybe." She said and returned to the spot she was before Two-Bit came down. "Can Pluto cuddle with us too?" I asked. I liked him, he reminded me of our old dog.
"Two-Bits holding him captive in his room. He wants more 'quality time' with him."
"I do too."
"You like my dog more than me, don't you?"
I grinned lopsidedly. "Maybe."
Georgia purses her lips, partly smiling. "We both knows that not true."
Her head went back to resting on my chest and my fingers went back to running through her hair. My brain went back to thinking of our almost-kiss and we both drifted to sleep.