Bad Reputation||Brooklyn Winston

Chapter 8

Angela didn't walk to school with me the next day, and I didn't see her in the halls. When I saw Curly at lunch, he told me that she was sick. Even though I had my customers, Angela was really my only friend. So I sat down to eat lunch by myself.

"Brooklyn?"

I looked up. "Hey, Ponyboy."

"What are you doing by yourself?"

"Angela's at home. Curly said she's sick."

"You don't have anyone else to sit with?"

I shrugged. "I guess not."

"Why don't you come sit with the guys and me?"

"Alright."

I followed Ponyboy to his lunch table, where Steve, Johnny, and Two-Bit were sitting.

"Hey, Brooklyn." Johnny said as he moved over and made room for me.

"Hi, Johnny." I said.

"You got tired of hanging around Angela?" Steve asked.

I shook my head. "She's just sick."

Everyone went back to their conversation, and I was surprised to find that it was one I could easily be a part of.

"So how come you never hang out with us?" Two-Bit asked.

I shrugged. "I usually hang out with Angela. Besides, you guys don't want me hanging around."

"We don't mind." Johnny said.

Steve smirked. "Not at all. Isn't that right, Pony?"

Ponyboy's head snapped up as he turned to glare at Steve. Then he turned to me. "No, we don't. You should come over after school today."

I nodded. "Ok. I will."

Later on that day, while we were all walking home from school, I decided to ask Ponyboy if he liked Angela. It was the least I could do for her while she was sick. Besides, it would make me feel like less of a bad friend.

I grabbed Ponyboy's arm. He stopped walking. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Can I ask you something?"

He looked at everyone else. They had stopped walking. "Go on, guys. We'll catch up in a minute."

After everyone kept walking, I asked, "You don't have a girlfriend, right? I mean, you haven't mentioned one, so I'm assuming you don't."

"No, I don't have a girlfriend. Why?"

"Angela wanted me to ask. I don't know if you can tell, but she likes you. So she wanted me to ask if you like her?"

Ponyboy laughed. "Brooklyn, I'm not dumb. I know Angela likes me. She makes it pretty obvious. But I don't like her. It's easier to pretend that I'm oblivious than to tell her that I don't like her. I don't want to hurt her feelings or anything."

I nodded. "Oh." It wasn't my fault that he didn't like her, so I didn't think it would hurt to ask, "Do you like anyone?"

"Yeah, I actually do."

"Is it anyone I'd know?"

He hesitated for a second before saying, "I like you, Brooklyn."

I didn't say anything. The boy that I liked actually liked me back!

"I know you probably don't like me. Angela's your best friend. Besides, nothing could ever happen between us with Dally around, and-"

I kissed Ponyboy. When I pulled away, I said, "Screw them. We'll find a way to make it work."