Chocolate Cake and Beer for Breakfast

Twenty Four

"Gosh Pone, I can't believe you can get this girl offa a roof but you haven't taken her out on a real date yet! Gee whiz," Steve rambles as he arm wrestles Soda again; they never stop. "You know, Alice, you could always drop horse-man over here and go for a real man, if you'd like."

"Shut up, Steve! You know I don't like that name!" Pony yells, next to me on the couch. The second Steve said 'drop horse-man' Pony grabbed my hand protectively, like he was afraid I'd actually take him up on that. The court case is tomorrow, and this whole past week Ponyboy has been very tense, spending every moment with me, which don't get me wrong, I love, but it also reminds me why he's tense, causing me to be tense too.

"What? Horse-man? Horse-man! Horse-man!" Steve yells, triumphantly, as he slams Soda's arm into the table and runs a victory lap into the living room, yanking Pony on the ground jokingly. I giggle, used to this "horse"play.

"Shut up!" Pony yells a muffled holler from below Steve as the rumble around on the ground.

"Let's fight! Yeah! Let's fight!" Steve hollers. He loves to rouse up Ponyboy; seeing him mad feeds Steve his energy.

"You know, while you guys fight, I'll just sweep in and carry off Alice, all for my own," Two-Bit interludes, coming from behind me and carrying me bridal style to the dining room. I'm giggling and kicking my legs the whole time. "Make me another chocolate cake! Then we'll go drink some beers and watch a movie! I'll take you out on a date, like a real romantic. You'll like that, huh, beauty girl?"

"Back off!" Pony ran in, taking me from Two-Bit, as Steve came in and tackled Two-Bit to the ground. Pony set me down and grabbed my hand again, causing Soda to poke Darry and grin his wide movie star grin. Pony then pulled me towards his room, finishing the whole incident with a "she's mine! You all're just jealous I found her first!"

"True that."

"Mm."

"Darry, have you ever seen anything so sweet? Pony and Alice forever!" Soda whispers the beginning loudly, but ended with a whoop. Pony then pulled me into a quick kiss, and led us into his room.

It was still early morning and the sun was direct into Soda and Pony's room, adding a warm and sunny tint to the scene. Soda moved back in after Pony recovered from his sickness, and they turned their "storage room" into my room. Meaning I have a mattress and blankets, since I haven't got anything of my own. But I really only sleep in there, I spend most of the time everywhere else...everywhere Pony is.

"I'm sorry," Pony quipped, pushing his greasy hair back into place.

"Don't be," I smile as reassuringly as I can, pulling down one curl onto his forehead and giggling a little.

"I don't mean about them," he confirmed, looking cross-eyed at his hair. I giggled louder, making him smile as he attempted to blow his hair clump up with his mouth. "I can't do anything about them, no matter how hard I've tried. I meant about not having taken you on a real date. I'm not a very good boyfriend."

"Aw Pony, it's not about what we do when we spend our time together! It's about how we spend our time together," I give a little turn of my mouth, a small smile.

"Well I don't care, I wanna take you out. Tonight. Maybe a movie?"

"I'd like that."

"I'm a little short on cash...but I'll do my best..."

"I don't care! I just wanna be with you," I smile, trying to reassure him again.

"Gosh, you're too good for me."

"I know you are but what am I?"

"Adorable."

"I know you are but what am I?"

"The most attractive thing on this planet."

"Beautiful."

"I know you are but what am I?"

"Perfect."

"I know you are but what am I?"

"The best thing that has ever happened to me."

"I know you are but what am I?"

"Amazing."

"I know you are but what am I?"

"Come on! I'm running out of adjectives here! Oh I got one."

"What?"

"Ask me your question again."

"What am I?"

"Mine." He grins at me widely as he leans in for a kiss.