The Life Of Me- An Outsiders Love Story

four

Tears
Steam
Down
My
Face.
Why, father?
Why do you drink?
Why
Do
You
Put
Me
Through
This?
Why was I even born?
Why
Can't
I
Just
Die?
I finally get to the Curtis's house.
I run inside.
"Ponyboy?!"
"Babe?!"
I run into his arms.
He asks if I'm okay
He asks if I'm hurt
All
I
Can
Do
Is
Cry.
He tells me I don't have to answer.
We just walk to his room.
He picks me up,
Bridal style.
He whispers soothing things to me.
He kisses my face, lips,
Neck.
He tells me that he's here.
I believe him.
I need him.
He's here.
The gang's here.
I'll be okay.
I manage to fall asleep,
in his arms.

***

I wake up the next morning.
Soda walks in.
"Did you two..."
"Uh, I wish, but no."
"Darry ain't gonna believe that,
Ya know."
"I know."
He sits next to me.
"Rough night?"
"You could sat so."
"How bad was your dad?"
Enough to make me want to
Jump
In
Front
Of
A
Train.
Y'all
Are
What
I'm
Holding
Onto."
Soda looks at me.
"I'll always be here if you need me."
"Thanks, Soda."
He leaves.
Darry walks in as soon as I lay back down.
He raises an eyebrow.
"Did you two..."
"No, Darrel, we didn't."
"I'll trust you, Estelle."
He leaves. Ponyboy wakes up.
He pulls me into him.
We kiss for a few minutes.
Dallas walks in.
Then leaves.
If it was anyone else, they'd be redder than a tomato.
But I get the feeling Dal doesn't really
Care.
We walk out into the kitchen.
CAKE.
THERE'S CHOCOLATE CAKE.
OH MY GOD.
I screech and grab a slice.
Pony laughs.
"What the hell was that, Ess?"
"Nothing, pony, nothing."
Dal walks in.
"Party at Buck's tonight.
Everyone welcome."
Ponyboy looks at me.
"Will you be my date?"
"Of course."
He kisses my forehead lightly.
"It's a date, then."