BACK AND FORTH (𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘺)

one

There's one person that never failed to throw Steve Randle off his guard. One person that he hated so damn much, and wished with all his heart that he never had to see him again, just to save himself from getting hurt. Steve had a huge heart, and only let a few people close enough to see that. Not even a few. He had only ever showed his best friend his soft side, and that was only for a few minutes.

He couldn't risk showing it to other people. He couldn't risk showing that one person that annoys him to no end how much he cared. Because the truth is, he doesn't hate him. He isn't annoyed by him, not really. He loves him, and wants him, but can't have him. So Steve Randle protects his heart, through anger and bitterness. He yells, and pokes fun, and avoids at all cost the one person he wants to be with more than anybody else in the world.

-

"Ponyboy.." Steve said, almost sounding surprised. He stared at the fifteen year old for a moment before snapping out of it. "Your brother's home?"

  Ponyboy, who didn't even look up from his book, simply shook his head no.

  "What about Two-bit?" Again, Pony shook his head no. Steve sighed and sat down on the couch next to him. "You know when they'll be back."

  This time, Pony looked up from his book, but all he said was, "No."

  Steve scoffed. "Good talk we had there kid."

  The younger boy looked up again, surprised. "Since when have you ever been mad about me not talking to you? You probably would have been mad if I did talk."

Steve bit the inside of his cheek, feeling his face get hot, and he cursed himself for it. Already, he was losing his cool around that boy. "I wouldn't have been mad." He said slowly. "You're almost 16 now Pony. I think it'd be nice if you started hanging out with Soda and I."

  Pony stood and chuckled. "Who are you and what have you done with the real Steve?"

  "I'm serious." He insisted. "In fact.." Steve paused for a second. Why was he doing this? He can't be nice to Pony. He couldn't let himself screw up and say something he didn't mean to. Yet, nevertheless, he found himself finishing that dreaded sentence. "Since your brothers aren't home, maybe we could do something. Get out of the house."

  "You plotting to kill me or something?" Pony laughed and walked into the kitchen, with Steve trailing behind him.

  "Maybe if you don't lose that attitude." He snapped. Pony shrugged and got out the chocolate cake, cutting both of them a piece. "Thanks kid," Steve took the plate. "I mean, thanks Pony."

  "You really wanna hang out?" Ponyboy asked as he ate.

  "I wouldn't have invited you to do anything if not." He offered a small smile, in spite of himself. "Just leave a note on the coffee pot or something for your brother's and we can get out of here."

  Pony thought about it before eventually sighing. "Well, alright."

Steve's heart began beating quickly as he watched Pony write a quick note. He tried to get a hold of himself, and say that nothing was going to happen. It would just be two friends hanging out, and that's it. Except, they weren't friends. They never talked, unless they were insulting each other. That was something Steve wanted to change. Clearly, he liked Ponyboy a lot more than he wanted to, and he just needed to accept that.

"Okay." Pony threw away his half eaten cake and took Steve's plate, before slipping on his shoes. "I'm ready I guess. Where are we going?"

Steve shrugged and pulled his keys out from his pocket. "Dingo? Nightly Double? Anything in particular you wanna do?"

  "We can do that. I don't care." Pony mumbled as they walked out to the car. "I don't got any money for food though."

  "I'll pay for you. Just don't go ordering no steaks or anything." He joked, trying to lighten the mood. Ponyboy seemed so tense, but it's not as if he could blame the kid. Steve had never been nice to Pony. Since Johnny and Dally's death he had made a point to just avoid the younger greaser all together.

  "I won't." He was still quiet, and was even quieter on the drive there. So far the entire thing had just been pretty awkward. Steve wanted to strike up a conversation, but he didn't really know how. He didn't know if Ponyboy would even want to talk to him. It seemed like he had just gone along since he had nothing better to do. He sighed and endured the rest of the uncomfortable drive.

-

  The waitress at The Dingo seemed to like Steve a whole lot. She obviously checked him out as soon as the two walked in, and made sure poke out her chest a bit. "Y'all can follow me." She smiled sweetly and sat them at a booth. "What can I get for you, hun?"

"Coke and a burger, please." Steve said, trying to make it known that he was not interested in the politest way possible. She turned to Pony, who said the same thing, before walking off, making sure to sway her hips.

Ponyboy laughed lightly. "She's a pretty thing. I'm surprised you're acting like you ain't interested."

"I ain't acting." Steve said plainly. "I just like someone else right now." Steve thought that he was going crazy. He turned down one of the most gorgeous women that a greaser like him could get. What on Earth was wrong with him? He knew that the person he wanted was unattainable, so why was he so hung up on...Ponyboy Curtis?

"Oh." Pony nodded. "I suppose that makes sense."

Steve's cheeks flushed slightly. He looked away in an attempt to hide it. "Say Ponyboy, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"What is your.." he paused and took a rather deep breath. "What's your opinion on guys who like..you know, like other guys?"

He barely noticed the way that Pony's entire demeanor changed. He seemed to shrink down and he lost some of the color in his face. "I say that if they really love each other then it's okay."

"Really?" He couldn't help he smile that made its way to his face, and the shock in his voice. Ponyboy wasn't absolutely disgusted by the idea, which made Steve feel as if he were floating on air. "See, we're not that different. There's one thing we agree on right there."

Pony exhaled a bit. "You're cool with people who are queer?"

"Sure. You think I'd want them all dead or something?" Pony stayed quiet, which didn't really reassure Steve, but he let it go.

"What made you ask, Steve?"

Worry became clear on his face for a few seconds, but he shook it off. "Don't ask complicated questions Ponyboy. You'll be happier living blissfully unaware."

Pony scoffed playfully. "That may work for you and Soda, but I'm an over thinker. You should know, you tell me all the time."

They were both silent after that. Pony, feeling bad for bringing it up while they were having a good time, and Steve feeling bad for being mean to him in the first place.

First chapter is done! How was this?