i never said i liked you (book 2)

game plan

{stephanie}

thursday november 25th, 1965
9:00 am

I woke up wrapped in Steve's strong toned arms, I quickly looked at the clock and realized he was late for work. I softly pushed his hair out of his face, "Stevie, baby you gotta get up, you're late for work." He woke up and groaned, "I don't wanna get up," "You gotta, you're late babe." He sighed and sat up, immediately kissing me. He got up and found his work clothes, I watched as he put his shirt on and continued to get dressed. He smiled, "Why are you looking at me like that?" "I just...I think you're very handsome." He happily spoke, "Handsome?? You think I'm handsome?" "I think you're perfect Steve, you're my perfect boy." He got back on his bed and climbed on top of me, putting each of his legs on either side of me, being careful not to crush me. He cupped his hand around my cheek and softly kissed me, "I love you Stephanie," "I love you more Steve." I was softly kissing him when his bedroom door slammed open, "Steve your late for-OH! Oh, I-I didn't see anything....damn, I, will be downstairs." His father quickly shut his door, I looked at Steve, "We'd better go, you gotta get to work and I gotta get home," "We're still on for tonight?!" "Of course babe, of course." He quickly pressed his lips to mine, and we left his room wandering downstairs.

9:30 am

I walked into my house already fearing Darry, he stormed out of the kitchen, "Stephanie-," "I know Darry and I'm sorry, I should've called...I'm sorry I let you down," "I was just gonna say that I'm running late, could you take out some meat for dinner?" "Oh...yeah, of course," "Thanks kid." He quickly kissed the top of my head and was out the door, Ponyboy came down the stairs smiling. I confusedly spoke, "Question, why didn't he yell at me for not calling last night? Oh and follow up question, when has Darell Curtis ever been late for work?." Ponyboy smirked, "I see you're noticing that ole Darry isn't the same Darry you once knew," "Uh yeah!! He hates when we don't call," "Well, he's changed," "How so?" "Darry...has a girlfriend," "Girlfriend?." I looked at him puzzled, "Why hasn't he told me?" "He hasn't told anyone Stephanie, he's trying to keep it a secret...but we all know," "Why's he want it to be a secret?" "I don't know, I don't think he knows how to tell us...he just wants to be seen as the strict older brother." I sadly looked at Ponyboy, "Did I make...did we make him feel like he couldn't tell us?" "Of course not Stephanie! It's nobody's fault, Darry..he doesn't ever wanna put anything between him and his siblings." I broke down, tears welled up in my eyes. Ponyboy took me into his arms and hugged me tightly, "Hey hey, what's wrong? Everything is okay," "Pony, you don't understand...everything is just so stressful," "The plan you made with Cherry?" "Yes! I feel like such a terrible person, all I want is for Cherry to find out if Nancy is trying to take my boyfriend...that doesn't make me a bad person," "I know...it's gonna be okay," "I just keep messing everything up with Steve, my boyfriend...and I can't even make things between us right," "Steph, he loves you...he cares about you deeply, everything is gonna be okay between you two. And this mission you and Kylee and Cherry are on...it's okay, what you're doing is okay." I looked at him, "I love you Ponyboy...I hate that word, but I mean it."

{cherry}

11:00 am

I arrived at the Walker residence at 11 on the dot, and rang the doorbell. The door swung open revealing Bryce, he smiled, "Hey! What brings you by?" "Oh..Nancy and I have plans to go to the mall," he sarcastically spoke, "Wow! Sounds like so much fun." I softly spoke, "Look, your sister isn't a bad person...she just has a special personality," "Yet, you still won't tell me why you're hanging out with her," "Can we just talk about this later?" "No we can't-." He was interrupted when Nancy spoke, "Cherry!? I didn't know you were here! Are you ready to go?" I looked at Bryce and then looked at Nancy, "You know...Bryce should come with us." She looked at me disgusted, "Are you kidding? Why on earth would you want my brother to come along?" "Because he..he needs to get out and make some friends." She looked at her brother than back at me, "I guess he can come, besides if I don't let him he will just complain to my parents," "Alrighty then, let's go!." I got into my stingray as Nancy got into the passenger seat and Bryce got into the back, and we were off to the mall.

11:25 am

We got to the mall after a short drive, Bryce and Nancy still were arguing...even though it's been more than 25 minutes since we left. I finally had enough, "Guys! Please stop arguing, this day is supposed to be filled with fun and if all you're going to do is argue...then you can leave." Nancy looked at me heart broken, "Gosh Cherry, you didn't have to be so rude about that." I didn't want to apologize because I knew what I said had to be said, but I took one for the team. "I'm sorry! I just haven't eaten at all today and I took it out on you, forgive me," "Well, that's quite alright! I know how that is. Let's go find something to eat." We split up from Bryce and found a restaurant inside the mall, once our drinks were ordered...it was time to reveal the "plan." I seriously looked at her, "So...I came up with a perfect idea," "Fill me in!!." I told her the plan that Stephanie and I had come up with, she smiled, "That's genius!! Stephanie's going to think that Steve has some other girl, this is perfect!!." Little did Nancy know, the plan I told her...wasn't exactly the way it was going to go.
__________________________________
~k