i never said i liked you (book 2)

aquainted

{stephanie}

friday november 26th, 1965 (thanksgiving day)
8:00 am

I stared at my ceiling as the memories from last night just kept replaying inside my mind, Steve and I had never fought like that before. Sure we've argued, but never like last night. There was a knock on my door before it slowly opened, Darry stepped in and shut it, "Morning Steph," "Oh uh hey Darry." He sadly looked at me, "Are you okay?" "What?! I'm fine," "It's just, I heard you and Steve fighting last night." I looked down and softly spoke, "Oh...you heard that?" "Yeah, I just wanted to make sure that you're okay," "I'm fine, I..told him that I wasn't coming home for Christmas break." Darry winced, "Yikes!" "I didn't think he'd get so upset, he thinks I care more about college than I do about him," "He'll get over it Steph, I'm sure of it," "Why does he always make me the bad guy?" "That's just the way he is Steph." I sighed and looked at him questioningly, "When should I tell Sodapop and Ponyboy?" "I mean you could tell them today, no it won't be long before Steve blabs away to Soda anyways," "But todays thanksgiving, it would ruin their day," "Would you rather have them hear it from Steve? Or you?" "...your right."

8:25 am

I pulled myself together and made my way downstairs, Sodapop and Ponyboy were sitting in the living room scrounging down on some cereal while watching tv. I walked in and sat down on the couch, Ponyboy smiled, "Morning Steph! Happy Thanksgiving," "Happy thanksgiving to you as well, I was wondering ...can we talk?." Both Ponyboy and Soda nodded, they turned off the tv and gave me their full attention. Sodapop smiled, "What's up sis?" "So..next month is December, and Christmas," "Yeah," "I..am not coming home for Christmas break." They both looked at each other, Ponyboy sadly spoke, "How come?" "Well, my sorority is having a special Christmas party and it's tradition that all the members attend, it's really important. I hope you understand." I anxiously waited for them to say anything at all, Sodapop's softly smiled, "It's okay Stephanie, we understand," "Really?!?" "Of course!." I wrapped my arms around Soda, "Thank you for understanding." Darry spoke up from the kitchen, "I'm gonna need all of your guys help today, you know how it is here on thanksgiving with all the boys," Ponyboy sighed, "Yeah we know, plus we have 2 other people coming." I confusedly spoke, "Yeah Kylee and who else?" "Nancy." I froze, "Oh...Nancy's coming over for Thanksgiving?" Sodapop smiled, "Yeah! Isn't it great?!?" "Mhm."

I pulled Ponyboy out of earshot from Soda and Darry, "She cannot come over today, she just can't. I already have enough going on," "There's not much we can do Steph," "Ugh! I already hate today!."

{steve}

10:00 am

I laid in bed with depressing thoughts, last night was just a total blur and I never should've over reacted the way I did. There was a knock at my bedroom door before my father opened it, he gave me a look, "Hey bud, don't wanna sleep the whole day away, do you?" "I'm starting to think I might," "How come?" "Steph and I got into a pretty bad argument last night, I don't think she wants to see me right now," "But Steve you have to go over to the Curtis's...the boys aren't used to having thanksgiving without their parents," "I know but-," "No buts about it! You're going." Before he could leave my room, I hastily spoke, "But dad! What do I do about me and Steph?" "Just apologize Steve," "But-," "Even if you weren't in the wrong," "She's the one that's not coming home for Christmas," "Do you love her?" "Yes! Of course I do," "Than let it go."

{cherry}

10:30 am

I dialed Steph and waited for her to answer, finally she did, "Hello?" "Hey Steph," "Hey Cherry, what's up?" "Well...my parents decided to go out of town for Thanksgiving," "And they didn't bring you?" "Oh..they left before I woke up." She went quiet, "Oh Cherry, I'm so sorry," "It's nothing new, I was just wondering, could I come hangout with you, your brothers and their friends for Thanksgiving?." She went silent for a moment before she hesitantly spoke, "Cherry, I would love to have you over, but Nancy is coming over," "Oh..." "I know! She literally has her own family and she thinks she can just come over and push herself into mine!," "She saw that I kissed Bryce yesterday," "What did she say?" "Not much, she knows about us hanging out at the diner the other day, I can't figure out how she knew about that." Steph quietly spoke, "Oh..my brother told her," "W-what?!? Why?" "Because he thinks everyone is friends, I don't know! What did you say to her," "I just said that I was talking to Kylee to try and get alcohol," "Alcohol?" "That's all I had Steph! I didn't know what else to say, but I'd watch my back if I were you...I have a feeling it won't be too long before she figures everything out."

{nancy}

12:30 pm

After continuous thoughts about the entire situation, I figured out what I was going to do. I knocked on Bryce's bedroom door and waited for him to open it, he swung the door open and questioningly looked at me, "Yes?" "Would...would you wanna go to my boyfriend's house for thanksgiving?." He looked at me puzzled, "What?" "Look, mom and dad won't be back from their press conference until tomorrow. I don't want you to be alone on thanksgiving," "When have you ever cared about me being alone?" "Don't be a dick Bryce, I'm actually taking your feelings into consideration." He thought for a second before speaking, "Fine."

{soda}

1:00 pm

Around 1, all of the boys started arriving. They had all made it except for Steve, which was unlike him, Steve was never late for Thanksgiving. Stephanie sauntered down the stairs and quietly spoke, "Is Steve here?" "Not yet." She nodded and made her way into the kitchen but was stopped short at the sound of knocking on the door, I spoke, "I can get it!" "It's fine Soda, I'm right here I can get it." She opened the door and her face immediately fell, Nancy was standing there talking to Steve, while her brother awkwardly stood there with his hands in his pockets. Nancy smiled, "Hey Steph! Look who I ran into on the way in!." Steph scoffed and ran upstairs to her room, slamming the door. I sighed and put a smile on my face, "Well! Thank you for making it Nance." I went to peck her lips but she turned her head and pushed past me, she scoffed, "What's wrong with your sister today? Or is she always just this dramatic?" "Oh...she's, she's just got a lot going on right now," "Mhm, sure." I allowed Steve and Bryce inside, and shut the door. I smiled at Bryce, "Hey Bryce! I'm glad you came, gives us a chance to get to know one another better." Nancy glared, "Soda, I didn't bring my retarded brother over here so that you both could get acquainted," I gave her a stern stare, "Then why did you bring him over here?" "I wanted him to meet Steve, duh!."
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~k