de facto 〖 ponyboy curtis 〗

fifteen.

Jo-Lynn

Earlier in the week Ponyboy asked what else Jo liked to read but surprisingly enough for him, he was able to guess the one type of books she actually liked. Fiction books usually put the girl to sleep and books about people's lives or teaching you stuff felt boring and she could never focus long enough. Poetry was actually gripping to the girl; usually a poem was short enough that she didn't have to wrap her mind around a whole story but she liked when there was a good mix of short and lengthy poems. When the guy asked her favorite poet, she answered with ease: Gwendolyn Brooks. She had wanted her most recent collection of poems but never really had the money to get it and when she did have the money, she couldn't find the book, it was like it wasn't meant for her.

Wednesday they went to Windrixville and Thursday they had a relatively normal day. Yesterday, Pony surprised the girl with the thing she'd wanted for so long. Ponyboy read the book before giving it to Jo but didn't make any notes or marks except little stars on his absolute favorites because he wanted her to know it was all hers. Her heart leapt when he brought out the book yesterday and slid it across the table in the library, it even had a cute little bow on the corner. She threw her arms excitedly around Ponyboy who couldn't hold back the smile on his face.

Today, Jo was emotional; a little overwhelmed and anxious but she really didn't wanna be. Reading through the poems really helped Jo unwind that morning after she had herself a good cry. She spent most of the morning and afternoon in her room. Breakfast was a couple pieces of toast and some eggs that she quickly made before returning into her room. At about one, she began rummaging through her closet to find her outfit. Softer colors always complemented her skin well so she pulled out a few options, a peach colored skirt with a white shirt with long bubbly sleeves, a light pink dress, and a baby blue dress. The peach outfit was her favorite but it was a little short and the blue one was alright, but when she tried it on she felt like it was unflattering to her body. The pink one was alright, it was flowy and soft but she didn't love it, it felt so girly and sometimes she just isn't in the mood for that.

"Jo," Calvin says, knocking on her door

"Come in," replied the girl, going to put away the two dresses.

Her brother walked in and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "Ma's worried about you. She heard you cryin' earlier and said you've barely been out of your room or whatever."

"Just feelin' a little... I don't know."

Calvin understood, she felt 'I don't know' often; that was what she told him when she didn't wanna say she was anxious or upset. Their mother was at the door next, she had to leave for work soon but she looked all ready and took a seat beside Jo on her bed. "You alright, baby?"

Jo shrugged. "I'm cool."

"Where ya' goin'?" She asked, motioning to the outfit sitting on the bed beside the book she was enjoying.

"Oh," Jo absolutely hated lying to her mom but she couldn't tell her she was going on a date. "I—uh—I made a friend at school and we're gonna go hang later." She glanced at Calvin who gave her a look that communicated his question well enough and the younger girl nodded slightly.

"That's great! What's her name?"

"It's... Penelope."

Calvin chuckled and Jo couldn't help but glare at him. "Great! I'm real happy for you, babe, you need to get out more. Relax a bit."