| 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐒 | 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 | 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Chapter 10 - Friendly Greeting

I stood with uncertainty in front of the small and worn house, the white paint chipping away and the shingles hanging slightly disorderly. The rusty gate squeaked as we entered the area and the concrete steps were spotted with dirt stains as we approached the wooden front door.

I could hear eruptions of laughter and yelling coming from inside the house, which made me feel better about the situation, it even brought a small smile upon my face.

I took in a deep breath before trying to stand steady as to not appear scared. "You alright? You don't have to see him if you don't want to." Johnny practically read my mind. I gave him an assuring smile before speaking, "I'll be fine, no need to worry about me Johnny." I turned my view to the door as Johnny did the same and knocked.

I sat still as the house became quiet and footsteps could be heard, growing louder as the grew nearer to the door. I took in one last breath before watching as a man, looking to be about my age, opened the door. "Oh hey Johnny." He greeted Johnny before the door swung wide enough for him to see me. Johnny, quickly sliding past the boy and into the house, stood behind him as he waited for me to come into view.

The boy opened the door a few inches wider to see me standing awkwardly. A smile adorned his features and I returned the gesture quite sheepishly. I looked at him closely. His hair, oiled with grease, was golden, some falling above his forehead messily. It shined brightly in the light that peered into the house. He had gleaming blue eyes which complemented his white teeth perfectly. He wore a flannel over a white shirt along with jeans that had been cuffed at the bottom. "He's sure a looker." I thought.

"And who might you be?" He looked genuinely to me. "Y/n Lee." I greeted him by reluctantly putting my hand out to shake his. Politely, he grinned and grabbed my hand quickly before announcing himself as, "Sodapop Curtis. But you can call me Soda." I was a bit taken aback by his name as it had been so unusual, though I brushed it off because I took a liking to it, it was unique. "I like your name Soda." We completed the handshake. He smiled before gesturing me inside

I looked back at him with a wide grin as he closed the door behind him, then I looked to the room timidly, boys filling the small space. I was relieved when I hadn't seen Dallas.

The room was small and cramped, not much room left for people it seemed. A dark walnut floor spanned throughout the parts of the house I could see, from the living room and to the small dining room which sat a bit further back in the house to the left. A large couch took up quite a bit of space along with a red cushioned rocking chair which sat in the corner, both facing a small television. Lastly, a brick fireplace stood against the left wall. It was a nice and cozy atmosphere to say the least.

Everyone looked to me then to Johnny with question. "This is y/n." He introduced me. I waved shyly as everyone did the same. "Y/n Lee." I spoke. "Ooo, Johnny's got himself a girlfriend." A large boy, wearing nothing but denim, announced, causing bursts of laughter from around the room and a flustered Johnny to hide his face. I giggled at the sight. "I haven't seen you around here before." Another boy, wearing a t-shirt and jeans, piped.

"I'm from New York. Brooklyn actually." I looked to him as I spoke, he nodded in response. "Isn't Dally from Brooklyn?" Another boy, wearing a muscle shirt with Mickey Mouse printed on the front along with jeans, mentioned. My smile faded slightly at the mention of his name and Johnny looked to me with concern but I mouthed an, 'I'm fine' before looking forward again.

"Yeah, he is." A large man, wearing jeans and a black t-shirt, looked up from his newspaper. I smiled awkwardly as the boys began chattering about Dallas and Johnny soon piped, "Guys, you should introduce yourselves." I smiled at his gesture.

"Well ya know me already." Soda approached me from behind and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, causing my cheeks to become slightly flushed.

"I'm Ponyboy." The boy, who looked to be younger than me, maybe fourteen, got up from the ground and approached me. I examined him quickly. His greasy hair was light brown and had been slicked back, reflecting every aspect the light. His eyes were a greenish gray, a unique color, and they gleamed. "I like the name, Ponyboy."

He smiled and shook my hand lightly before leaving and allowing the next boy come to my front, he was the one who wore nothing but denim. His hair was black and slightly slicked back with grease, a few stray hairs hung over his forehead and gave off a more messy appearance than Ponyboy's hair had. His eyes, blue, were also quite beautiful like both Ponyboy's and Soda's had been. He shook my hand as he introduced himself as, "Steve Randle."

I slightly smiled as he left and the next boy approached me. It was the on with the Mickey Mouse t-shirt. His hair, a light brown color, was brushed upward and hung above his forehead greasy. He had gray eyes that sparkled with a joyful glint. I chuckled at his shirt. "Mickey Mouse?" I smiled. He laughed before putting out his hand to shake mine. I took his hand and shook it. "Yep, I'm proud to say I love Mickey Mouse." He let go of my hand. I giggled. "Two-Bit." He finished. "Nice to meet you Two-Bit."

"I'm Darry." The man who sat still in a chair greeted me, looking up from his newspaper. I waved at him as Two-Bit left to sit back on the floor. "That's everyone." Soda piped. I nodded my head. "Well except Dally." He finished with grin. I kept my smile as I stood still, looking nervously around the room. "Take a seat." Soda urged me to the couch that sat in the corner.

Before I began walking, I jerked my head around to see a familiar face enter the living room from a door that sat in the corner. "What's happening? I heard a different voice." He spoke before turning to face the group, his eye's immediately landing on me and widening.