Stay Gold(PonyBoy x Reader)

Chapter 38

"Hey girl." Kaylen waved and Steve threw his arm around her shoulders. Yohnnie was holding Johnny's hand while she silently ate something from a bag.

"What's this ...?" I questioned

"What's what?" Yohnnies gentle, quiet voice was barely heard.

"Why is everyone here? I don't care, just why this early?" I yawned

"Just decided to have a gathering. A meeting, really." Two-Bit chomped on his chips, wiggling his eyebrows.

"About..?" I was getting nervous.

"You." Kaylen got up and grabbed my hands. She led me to a chair and forced me to sit down. Then she went over by Steve again.

"Alright. Stop being funny." I crossed my arms

"We wanna know why you've been avoiding Pony. Something with Soda? You've been spending time with him. A lot." Two-bit smirked

"What? No! I would never do that! " I shot up out of my seat.

"Awww c'mon y/n! Every girl would drop at Sodas feet. I'm just lucky mine hasn't." Steve laughed while Kaylen playfully punched him.

"I'm different. Really! Just because I won't date Pony does not mean that I like his brothers." I was getting angry.

"Sure it doesn't. Then why don't you date Pony?" Two-Bit smirked once more.

"Because of reasons! If you don't like it, then don't ever speak to me again!" Hot tears rushed down my cheeks as I ran down the hallway, running into Pony. I made eye contact and he looked at me with a concerned facial expression. I just shook my head and pushed past him. I ran to my room and locked the door. I slid down the door and buried my head in my knees. I silently sobbed.

Ponyboys P.O.V.
"What did you do to her?" I walked into the living room.

"Nothing we just talked to her." Two-Bit shrugged and crunched on his chips.

"Yohnnie, what did they do?" I asked the quiet girl. she was always honest. She couldn't lie.

"They confronted her about you, then accused her of loving Soda." She looked back down at her hands

"They what?!" My voice sounded louder.

"Calm. We need to know. You two need to get back together." Kaylen said

"What?! She hates it when people talk about me like that! She doesn't like me. Now you guys made her upset. What is wrong with you guys?" I froze. I sounded like Darry. The last person I wanted to sound like. Everyone was obviously hurt by my words. My gaze softened, then hardened again. I would not say sorry.

"Pony.. Were sorry. Just let us apologize to her." Johnny's sweet voice broke me a little. Why was I being so mean to him.

"I'm sorry Johnny and Yohnnie that you had to be apart of this. But the rest of you, leave her alone. She needs space." I turned and walked away.

Your P.O.V.
After I had no more tears left, I lifted my head. It was throbbing. Great. I quietly opened my door and tiptoed to the bathroom. I locked the door behind me and started a shower. I undressed and stepped into the warm water. I washed and rinsed. I wanted to stay in longer, but we needed to save water, so I got out and wrapped a ripped towel around me. I got changed into my DX outfit and just put on mascara and eyeliner. I left my hair wet and down, then put on my hat. I put on my shoes and walked out the door, then the front door, ignoring the pleads of the people in the living room.

It was an easy shift, and the day went by fairly quick. I closed the doors and then walked to the counter. I popped open a bottle of Pepsi and sat on the counter. I took a sip and sighed.

"Rough day?" Soda came out of the back room, wiping his hands on a white rag.

"Yeah. I don't wanna go home." I looked down at my swaying feet.

"Steve told me. Do people actually think we have a secret relationship?"

"All because I won't date Pony."

"Those bozos don't know anything."

"That's a fact."

"Let's close up shop and go home or else Darry is gonna get mad." I nodded and hopped off the counter. Soda turned off the lights and we both walked out. I locked the door. Then we started home. What a day.