I'm Broken Enough

7

Y/n POV
I had so much fun hanging out with Steve after school yesterday. It feels so great to finally have a friend in this town so I don't have to go straight home after school and do nothing all night. Hanging out with him just felt so natural, like we had been old friends hanging out for the millionth time.

I felt bad for him about all of the things that he told me about his parents, it's terrible and I completely understand what he's going through, because I am too.

After Steve went to work, I just decided to go home because, what else was I to do? I also had some assignments that I needed to catch up on, so I wanted to have time to do those too. Steve and I decided to not meet up tonight, since you know, we hung out only hours earlier.

When I got home my parents were already there, but I guess they chose to ignore me because I wasn't sitting at home all afternoon, and they technically couldn't call me "antisocial" or anything else rude. Naturally, I went up to my room so I could be unbothered for the rest of the night, and not be forced to converse with my parents or the rest of the family.

...

The next day I went to school excited to see Steve and his friends again. When it was finally lunch time, I approached the same table I had been sitting at for the last couple of days now.
"Hey Steve" I said taking a seat next to him at the table, "hey" he said turning to me and smiling.
"I had a great time with you yesterday" I mentioned to him as I started to eat my lunch, "yeah me too" he responded.

Some different people were here today than yesterday. Ponyboy and Johnny were both here again but Dally was not, instead Two-bit sat in his place.
"Surprised to see you back here" Two-bit commented, unaware of the events that had occurred the other day. Once Steve filled him in, he said "well good for you for sticking up for yourself, it's nice to have a new face hanging around here". I gave a small smile in return and we all continued eating.

"Hey Steve want to hang out again today?" I asked him near the end of lunch.
"Sorry I can't today, I have to work almost immediately after school" he told me, "maybe another day? Or tonight?".
"Sure, tonight's good" I told him. Then the bell rang signaling the end of our lunch period, and we all headed our separate ways to our classes.

Steve POV
Damn, I'm a little disappointed I have to work after school now. I'd much rather be hanging out with y/n. It's fine though because I'm still going to see her tonight, although I'm going to be tired as hell.

Whatever, it'll be worth it.

After school ended I walked to the Curtis' house to meet up with Soda, who also had a shift at the same time as me. I was still trying to find out the right way to tell him about y/n, so that he wouldn't overreact about my behavior this past week.

I got to his house and called for him from outside and waited. I figured that I'd just tell him about her on the way to work. But of course that didn't work out, he talked to me about something else the entire way there. I was too distracted by my own thoughts to hear what it actually was about, though.

We got to the DX and went to separate areas, so I guess that was the end of trying to tell him privately.

A couple of hours had finally passed and it was the end of my shift, and Soda and I walked back to his house together. I was finally going to say something to him, but as I was opening my mouth to do so I suddenly couldn't speak.

I got cold feet.

I don't know why this was making me so nervous!
It's fine, I'll just tell Soda another day that's all.
A day when I wasn't acting like a little bitch or something.

We got to his house and the entire gang was there. I went into Soda's room to borrow some more comfortable clothes than the uniform I was wearing. I came back out to the living room where everyone was talking about school, boring.
I'm guessing it was Ponyboy who started it by mentioning something to Johnny, and then someone else joined in eventually leading to the rest of the gang.

"Well, what was your favorite book you read in English class then?" I heard Ponyboy ask       Two-bit, who answered "what makes you think I read those stupid books at all?".

The rest of the gang laughed at his comment, while Pony gave him an annoyed expression.
"Yeah I don't know how you enjoy all that reading stuff Pony kid, it's all a snooze fest in my opinion" I added on to the conversation.
"Please Steve, what part of school do you find interesting at all? Obviously the only reason you go is to see y/n" he told me, which made the room go silent.

"Hey, didn't she say that you two hung out outside of school? Guess he doesn't even need to go to school to see her" Two-bit said nudging Ponyboy, to which he shrugged.
"Wow, they might as well be married" Dally said to Two sarcastically, which made him laugh.
"That's not funny" I responded a little too quickly, which raised his suspicions.

"Oh boo hoo Steve, we're not making fun of your girl don't worry" Dally told me. I glared at him, "she's not my girl Dallas shut up".

"Who the fuck is y/n?".

Everyone's attention shot to Soda, who was confused on the other side of the room.

Oh shit, I still never told him.

"Soda, I meant to tell you before but I never had the chance-" "Steve that is bullshit" he told me cutting me off.
"She's a girl who sits with us at lunch" Ponyboy quickly joined into our conversation to rat me out.

"She's a soc too" Two-bit added, which made Soda raise his eyebrows.
"Oh really? And am I the only one here who doesn't know about this?" He asked.

I looked around the room.
Everyone was there except for Darry.

"Uh yeah" I answered him cautiously, "Steve you better explain yourself real fucking quick" Soda threatened me.
"Fine fine!" I gave in and started to explain.

"The reason you found me outside the other day wasn't just because I needed to get out, although that was one of the reasons, that's where I was meeting her. We ran into each other in the middle of the night one day last week and then just kept meeting out there".

"Oh my god he was sleeping on the street for her! No wonder he's in love with her" Two-bit shouted.
"Fuck off I'm not in love with her!" I yelled back at him when Darry came out from his room.

"Hey! Watch your language and stop yelling!".
"My bad" I mumbled and then got back to my story.
"So then she started sitting with us at lunch that's all, she's just some girl I met".

"A soc girl" Ponyboy made sure to add, "you know that label means nothing to her" I shot back at him and he shut up.

"Don't forget about the part where you two hang out after school, alone" Dally said, to which I respond "it was just a one time last minute thing. She asked me right as we were leaving the school".

"Aw she asked you? Maybe she does find you attractive after all" Two-bit said still mocking me.
"Stop talking about her like that!" I told him, "fine fine I will, but someone's a little defensive that's all I'm saying" Two said in defeat. I huffed at him crossing my arms.

"Well then if we all know her so well then we must invite her over here tomorrow, and you can go ahead and ask her Steve" Soda told me.
"What?" "If she wants to hang out, might as well just let her come over here" he told me.
"Oh well fine. I will then" I told him.
"Good. Can't wait to meet this girl you kept a secret from me for so long".
I laughed at him, "ok Soda".

Well I guess I'll invite her when I see her tonight, then.