BACK AND FORTH (𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘺)

five

"So tell me kid, what's your favorite book?" Steve asked once they walked in the store. He fought back a grin once he saw Ponyboy's face light up. As soon as he saw Pony's smile he knew he had picked a good place.

"I can look for it." He said and began walking. Steve followed behind, enjoying how happy Pony looked. He mostly enjoyed the fact that he was the one who made him happy. Had that ever happened before? He thought about it, and he couldn't remember any times when he had made Pony, really happy. "Here it is," his thoughts we interrupted when Pony showed him a book.

"Gone with the wind, huh?"

"It's my favorite. I've already got a copy at home..but I can't bring myself to finish it. It's the last thing Johnny left me, and I can't let myself finish that book without him. At least not that copy. That was ours.."

Steve bit his lip, understanding what he meant. "I'll buy you a new copy Ponyboy. I don't mind it at all." He threw his arm around Pony's shoulder. "You think you can read it to me?"

"You really want me to?" He asked, sounding surprised. "I thought you were kidding about that."

"I really want you to read it to me. You seem like someone who has great taste in books." Steve chuckled and grabbed the book out of Pony's hand. "I'll buy it for us." He smiled and released the younger boy out of his grip. "But first, how about we buy some food at the cafe?"

"That's sounds nice." Pony smiled as they walked into the sweet smelling cafe area. The two boys walked up to the counter and each ordered a coffee. "You want a few cookies or something?"

  "You don't have to do that for me."

  "So just the coffees then?" The cashier asked, smiling lightly.

  "Yes." Ponyboy said, before Steve could protest. The lady at the register nodded and went to make the drinks. When she came back Steve paid and the two boys began walking away.

"Pony, why don't you go pick out another book?" Steve suggested.

"You sure?"

"Course." He said. Ponyboy smiled and went to go look for another book. Steve turned around and went back to the cafe counter. "Can I get two cookies?"

"Sure," the girl said and reached under the counter, grabbing two and putting them in the bag. "It looks like you really care about him." She said as he got his wallet out.

  Steve stopped abruptly, in slight shock. "I mean, sure. He's my friend."

  "Of course, you two seem really close." She smiled and handed him the bag. "It's on the house."

  Steve took the bag slowly. Something about the glint in her eyes made him wonder if she knew that he liked Ponyboy. He walked away, pondering over the thought. He decided that there was no way she could have known, but even still, he was worried. If a complete stranger could know about Steve's feelings, then surely Sodapop, somebody who he's been best friends with for years, could know as well.

  "Hey," he felt a tap on the back. He turned around and saw Ponyboy. "I uh..I thought you ditched me." He laughed nervously, but Steve could tell that he wasn't joking.

  "I wouldn't just leave you like that." He frowned. "I'm sorry I worried you though. I was just getting this," he held out the bag of cookies. "I know you wanted one. You can't fool me."

  "I don't want you spending all this money on me." Pony said, but took the bag anyway. "Thank you." He almost reached in and grabbed one, when he saw something on the bag. "Hey Steve, the lady wrote something on it. It says 'just go for it.' What do ya suppose that means?"

  Steve's heart started beating fast. To him, it was clear. Just go for it. The girl had somehow known about his feelings, and was telling him to act on them! "I outta go give her a piece of my mind," he growled and turned around.

  Pony grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Why? What does it mean?" He stood stiff, waiting for an explanation.

  The older boy bit his lip. He obviously couldn't tell him the full truth, so he settled on a small, white lie. "She uh..I sort of know her from school, and she knows who I like, so she constantly teases me to ask that person out."

  "Oh. You like someone, huh?" Pony's voice sounded somewhat bitter, and even a little disappointed.

  "Why do you care who I like?" Steve asked, not in a rude way, rather just a genuinely curious way. He had caught the slight disappointment in Pony's voice.

  "I don't." Pony said quickly. "I was just surprised, that's all."

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it." He joked and messed up Pony's hair. "It's not like I'll ever date them."

"What's she like?"

Steve paused for a second before answering. "Well..they're really smart, and in some rare cases pretty funny.." he didn't know how to describe Pony without giving away that was who he was describing. "I don't know man. I really like this person is all I can say." He sighed. "Why don't we go buy your books and head home?"

"Yeah, okay." Pony handed Steve the books and they went to pay for him. He stayed quiet, which worried Steve. Had he somehow upset him?

"You okay, Ponyboy?" He asked once they had paid and gotten into the car.

Pony glanced over at him. "Yeah, I just have a question. Please don't get mad when I ask it." Steve raised his eyebrows, but nodded nevertheless. "I noticed when you were describing that person you liked, you never said the word 'girl', it was always just 'person' or 'they'. Is that because it's not a girl?"

Steve's eyes widened, and his heart began racing. "I don't..how did you.."

"You brought up guys being with guys last time we hung out." Pony said. "I don't know. I was just wondering."

Steve cursed. He had forgotten just how smart Pony really was. Of course he would pick up on those small details. "I..I guess I can't fool you, can I?" He laughed awkwardly. "Yeah uh, it's a guy I like. You said you were cool with queer people, right?"

"I am." Pony nodded, and smiled at Steve. "That's cool that you like a guy. Although I'm surprised you actually admitted it to me."

"Well," Steve sighed lightly. "You're a smart kid Pony. No use trying to hide what you already knew." He bumped his shoulder. "Come on, lets get out of here."