Faded (The Outsiders FF)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Pony's POV

I held Riley in my arms, and she snuggled up to me. We stayed like that until she looked up at me with her eyes red. Her expression was soft and sad. She could make anyone upset by just looking at her. She put her head on my shoulder and let out a shaky breath. She had calmed down a lot, but some tears were still streaming down her face. I wiped one away with my thumb, and she smiled glumly at me. I hated seeing her like this. She buried her head in my neck. I held her tighter. I know this is hard for her. I rubbed her back soothingly, I think it helped some, because she pulled away and looked up at me. She wasn't crying anymore, but her eyes were still red.

"I'm sorry Pony. I don't know what-," I stopped her in her sentence.

"Hey listen no apologies. It's okay. You can come to me for anything, and I'll be there to help you through it no questions asked, ok?" I asked.

"Ok," she replied and smiled. I smiled back then looked around, and saw a lot of eyes on us. Most people turned quickly around when I looked at them.

"You wanna get out of here?" I whispered in her ear.

She took a deep breath then answered, "yeah."

We walked out of the DQ, not even bothering to wait for our cokes, and started walking aimlessly. It was around 3, and it was starting to get a little chilly. I felt a breeze on my back, and noticed my shirt was wet.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I kinda got your shirt when I was crying," Riley said letting out a soft chuckle, and sniffling.

"It's ok," I said smiling at her. We sat down on a park bench, and Riley let out a sigh, and she rubbed her face with her hands. I wanted to wring her father's neck for making her like this, but feeling like that wouldn't help anyone. All I can do is comfort her, and help her through this. I couldn't help but wonder what exactly happened that night. I felt awful bringing it up, but I had to know. I broke the silence lingering above our heads and asked.

"What exactly happened last night?" I asked slowly. Riley let out another deep sigh, and waited for what seemed like an eternity, but was really just a few seconds before answering. "I walked in the house and was greeted by the unfamiliar smell of alcohol..."

She told me the whole story, and the part when she walked into Sarah's room the next day and found her bruised up. I wish I hadn't asked because now I was back to boiling. I was clenching my fists off and on. Riley noticed, and held my hand.

"Pony, I know you're mad, but I need you to calm down. You aren't making this any better," she said quietly. I think she was still shaken up from having to relive the experience. I looked into her eyes, and stared at her perfect face, and her red watering eyes.

"I know. I'm sorry," I said to her, my gaze not leaving her eyes. How had she done this to me. I had only just met her a week and a half ago, and she was the only thing I ever thought about. I know it sounds so cliché, but it's true. She had let go of my hand, and gestured toward the sky.

"It's amazing isn't it?" Riley said, I tore my gaze from her to look at where she was staring. She was talking about the sunset. It was amazing. The sunset has always made me happier. To me it signifies a fresh start. The end of one day, and the start of another. When I have a day I wish I could just forget forever, the sunset helps me. It doesn't make me forget my problems, but it helps me to remember that there is still good, and there is always tomorrow to make things better. Today though, I don't need the sunset to make me feel better. Only one thing could make this day better.

"Riley?" I asked.

"Hmm," she answered half-listening half-thinking.

"I need to tell you something," I waited and continued when she didn't respond, "I...I...like you, a lot. You are all I ever think about. You're, you're perfect. Your hair, your eyes, your...everything. I knows it sounds kinda corny, but I do. I love your laugh and your smile..." I could feel my cheeks and ears burning, and I stopped talking when I heard her laugh quietly. "What?" I asked her, wanting to know why she was laughing. I was scared to death that she didn't feel the same, that she would want to be "just friends" I would be devastated if that was what she would've said.

"I never thought I would hear shy little Ponyboy Curtis say all that to me. I thought I was going to have to soon," she said looking at me and grinning. I reached for her hand, and grinned back.

"It wasn't easy," I said to her.

"I like you, a lot, too," she said smiling. All of a sudden her hands flew to her head, and she started laughing loudly. It started pouring rain out of nowhere, and we were drenched in a matter of seconds.

"Come on we'd better go," I said getting up.

"No wait!" Riley yelled.

"Why?" I said.

"She took my hand, and smiled. "Let's dance," she said pulling me towards the grass.

"But you'll-" I stopped my self. "We'll get sick," I continued.

"I don't care," she said. I smiled at her carefree attitude, and she pulled me to her. She put her right hand on my shoulder, and I put my left hand on her waist. We interlocked our fingers and outstretched our other arms.

We skipped around laughing and dancing like we were five. We weren't graceful, it wasn't elegant, but it was fun. I twirled, and spun her, and we danced to the sound of each other's laughter in the rain.

The ground was getting muddy, and wet, and Riley slipped. She screamed and I caught her as she was falling. I had her in my arms, and it felt right to be so close to her. We both laughed at her clumsiness, and I started to lean in to kiss her, but was interrupted by the sound of a car horn.

I looked up and saw Darry's truck at the road. I pulled Riley back up, and frowned. We started walking over to the truck, and Soda yelled,

"What are you two doing in the rain?" At first I thought he was being sarcastic, but I realized that it was really dark right now, and he probably could barely see us.

"Coming home," I lied. I looked to Riley and she continued.

Riley's POV

"We were at the movies when it started to rain so we started running to your house, because it's closer," I told them quickly.

"Are you su-" Steve started, but I cut him off.

"Oh crap!" I yelled, "what time is it?! I forgot about Sarah! Shit! Shit!"

"Calm down, Soda said. Darry went and picked her up. She's at our house. They called us, and said we were listed as the person to call when no one comes to pick Sarah up. Did you do that?"

"Yeah kinda. I changed it this afternoon when I dropped her off. I didn't want my dad to answer the phone, pick her up, then get pissed off at me. I was gonna tell you when I got back. I didn't think I was gonna forget today. Man, what kinda a big sister am I?" I said buckling myself into the truck. Pony sat beside me in the tiny backseat, that was practically squished against the front seat. Steve started to drive to the Curtis' house.

"You're a human big sister," He said looking at the road.

"Huh?" I asked utterly confused.

"You're human. You forget things. Although I have a feeling there was a reason you forgot," he answered.

"STEVE LOOK OUT!" Soda screamed. When Steve was talking to us he had turned around to look at us, and didn't notice the upcoming curve. We rammed into the railing on the road, then the car started spinning uncontrollably in the water that had flooded the road. He slammed on the brakes and the truck toppled forward. It slid into a tree and I was jerked forward, but my seat buckle kept me in place. My chest was hurting really bad, and the truck was on it's side. I felt sharp pains all over the left side of my body. Blood started dripping off my nose immediately, then everything started going fuzzy, and I blacked out

A/N I know this one was kinda short, but a lot happened, and I already know what the general idea for the next chapter is gonna be. So review and tell me what you think will happen next! Also I know that in chapter four Riley says they had lived there for about three weeks, but it was supposed to say a week. I've changed it already. Ok well that's it. Thanks for sticking with the story so far!

~Kenzieloo,