Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Bob and I met at Pershing Park that night just before ten like we always did. He was sitting on the edge of the fountain, looking up at the night sky. The stars were best in the park, something I learned with Ponyboy when he'd drag me out to watch the sunset with him. I pull my cardigan around me as I make my way towards him. The days were getting colder with the approaching January weather.
Hearing my footsteps, Bob looks in my direction, a smile on his face. I loved our nights in the park, we were free to be ourselves. There weren't any reputations dragging us down or anything getting in our way. It was just us, two teenagers who were slowly falling in love with each other.
"You know, you took me by surprise today," I say as I stop in front of him. "Partnering up with me and all."
Bob chuckles softly, holding his hand out for me. I take it, letting him guide me to the fountain. Once I was seated next to him, he turned to face me. "I didn't have the heart to see you sitting alone." He says softly before kissing the back of my hand.
I feel myself blush and lean into his side. "Is that all? Or is the smallest part of you starting to drop the bias towards greasers?" I tease lightly, the smile wide on my face.
He tenses slightly, his hand gripping mine tighter. I knew the divide between us was still a touchy subject and he wasn't quite comfortable with the idea of being friends with someone like me yet, but he was working up to being open.
"I'm trying, Sunny..." He says softly. "I'm really trying. I don't want to act like I don't know you when we're in school, and I don't want to act like I hate you either. Because that's so far from the truth, I don't hate you, I never could. You're so different from the others..."
I sit up, putting my hand on his cheek. "It's okay..." I tell him softly. "I was only kidding. I know you're trying, and it's going to take time to be fully comfortable with it and that's okay. You don't need to rush or feel so pressured you want to burst. We'll work on it, together."
He nods, leaning into my hand. "How're you so different? You could be a soc if you really wanted to."
"I have a good home life. My parents aren't drunks or abusive, they don't fight with my brothers and me or each other. They're gentle. They believe in love, no matter what shape or color it takes. They raise us to believe in the good in the world, that's why my kid brother is so gentle. He likes to see the good in people."
He's silent and I could only guess that he's digesting my words. "Tell me about them... your family."
We've never talked about our families before. I always got the feeling that it was a touchy subject for Bob and I didn't want to make him feel bad by talking about my own.
