| 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐒 | 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 | 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Chapter 14 - Friends of Friends

The cigarette hung loose from my lips as I sat still in the tub of cloudy gray water, for the smoke had tinged it. I took the blunt from my mouth, blowing out another line of smoke to fill the air. I looked to my hand that was free of a cigarette, it was pruny, as if those of an old woman's.

The water had grown cold and the room and house became quiet as my father had left early for work. The morning bath was a routine, yet it felt unusual as I sat alone. The way the water stayed completely still, the silence felt unsettling, and for once in my melancholic life I didn't enjoy the feeling of being lonely.

I sat up from the tub, feeling groggy as I did so, for the heat that I had sucked from the water had greatly overwhelmed my body. I dried myself slowly before wrapping the stiff and uncomfortable white towel around my body. I took one step before reaching the door to the bathroom, opening it with a sigh before walking a small distance to my room.

I closed the oak door as I looked to the dresser, once again ready to put together another outfit, though this time I hadn't been as enthusiastic about it. I slugged over to the its front as I looked to it with tiredness, my eyelids almost feeling like a heavy weight as I stood still and weary.

From the top drawer of the dresser I pulled out a dark red wrap around top which had been slightly cropped and covered with a monochromatic floral pattern. Then, from the bottom drawer, I pulled out a black mini skirt, golden buttons in the middle of the skirt ran from the top to the bottom seam. I threw both over my body, the skirt first then the top.

I then moved to my bed, sitting down upon it as the comforter nearly sucked in the lower part of my body. I looked through my purse which sat next to me to find my compact mirror which I had began using almost every day. I picked it out and flipped it open, looking disappointed at myself as the bags under my eyes hung dark and the white of my eyes were bloodshot.

I quickly turned backwards to find my makeup which sat unordered in the bedding. I grabbed the few things I needed then turned back to the mirror. I did my makeup as usual, a bit of foundation, peach blush, red lips, brown eyeshadow along with a darker color in my crease, and finally a thin layer of mascara on my eyelashes. "Perfect." I thought as I slammed it closed, promptly stuffing it back into my bag.

Once again, as always, I threw on my worn brown go-go boots to compliment my outfit. I grabbed my purse along with my leather bomber jacket, ensuring I wouldn't freeze as much tonight, and rushed out the door.

~

The morning was chilly and the almost dead grass was dewy as the three of us sat down at the foot of the large tree that stood high in the middle of the lot. We stayed silent as we took in drags from our cigarettes, blowing out long lines of smoke afterwards. Almost as if a competition, we had been challenging one another to see who could blow out the longest line. It was early and more peaceful than ever as the sun slowly began peaking over the foothills.

"I really like when the sun rises." Ponyboy spoke as he took a drag from his cigarette. "Me too." Johnny and I replied simultaneously. "I don't know how to describe it, I guess it's just the colors in the sky, or maybe the way the light slowly moves around the landscape." Ponyboy watched the glistening sky carefully, intrigued by its golden sheen. "Yeah..." I trailed off as I also stared into the horizon, the light providing a golden tint to the billowing clouds.

"I could see em real well from the roof of my apartment. I always went up there during the sunrise or sunset." I took in a puff of smoke from my blunt. Both Ponyboy and Johnny nodded in understanding before it went silent, only the gentle, sweet singing of leaves in the wind being heard.

The light danced gracefully through the large tree which we all sat under. The orange light tickled my forehead in twinkles as it passed over me, bringing the bright of full daylight upon the neighborhood. It was peaceful, to say the least. My body felt tranquil and relaxed as the warmth was brought to me, and I no longer felt lonely in that moment, for Johnny and Ponyboy both sat relaxed beside me.

"Didn't think smart asses like you would willingly hang around with these delinquents." The familiar voice rang out. Me, Ponyboy, and Johnny looked out to see Dallas as he walked towards us, a lit cigarette hanging loose from his mouth. I merely watched him as he came to our front, towering over us and causing the light from the sun to be blocked. "Does it matter?" I questioned before taking in another puff of smoke. "Just an observation." He shrugged. I rolled my eyes in reply to his wit.

"What do you want Dallas?" I questioned. "I was coming to hang out with the Curtis', seems you've already beat me to it." He commented as he crouched down to my level, getting in my face with a smirk. "You're being a real wise ass today. Aren't you Winston?" He only smirked more at my reply.

I hadn't seen Dallas since the night he walked me home, yet ever since then he had a large grasp on my thoughts, for he lingered in the back of my mind as if a pesky insect. Now I looked only a few inches from my face as he had a smirk plastered wide across his lips, and I couldn't help but scoff at his petty remarks.

There was clearly an awkward tension between all of us, and it wasn't going away. The silence also encased us like a bottle as we sat there. Soon enough, though, Ponyboy spoke up. "Hey, now that we're all here, do you guys want to come over?" We all looked over to him as we nodded in agreement.