He Was Mine, I Was His

Vacation

    After I left the cemetery that day, Soda found Ponyboy in the lot. They both went home and everything was okay. Between them. Between Soda and I. It was all okay. 

    The next Monday, we went back to school. A lot of people looked at me. I expected it. Things like what happened at the party don't just go away as quick as regular high school drama. I was thankful to have Two-Bit by my side most the day. 

    "I see you and lover boy are back together," he said, pointing to the ring on my finger. Soda had given it back to me at the cemetery. He said his mom would have liked to see him give it to me. "I knew you guys would."

    "Can we refrain from talking about that? Like ever?" I asked. 

    "Yeah yeah okay."

    I was taking stuff out of my locker when the couple from the party walked over. My body instinctively tensed up. Two-Bit put his hand on my shoulder; I figured Ponyboy told him too. 

    "Hey," the girl greeted. "We just wanted to see how you were doing."

    "I'm okay. Thank you both again for your impeccable timing," I joked. Trying to keep the mood light so I wouldn't dig myself into a hole again. 

    They both laughed with me, "We are glad to see you're feeling better. We'll see you around." They left and I sighed. 

    "Are you really okay?" Two-Bit asked. 

    "Yeah, I'm okay."

    The rest of the day was okay. After school, I stopped by to see Charlie. The doctor said he would be able to come home within the next one or two days. He was extremely happy to get that news. He said that if he had to spend any longer in the hospital, they might have to charge him rent. I reminded him that his rent would be due through his hospital bills.

    When I got home, Evie was sitting outside my house. I walked up to her car. She looked pissed. 

    "What's up?"

    "Steve and I got into a fight," she explained. "I need to go shopping. You want to come with?"

    "Retail therapy, my favorite," I smiled. 

    I ran inside to get some cash and tell Elizabeth where I was going. Then I got into Evie's car. I tried to get her to talk about what happened between her and Steve but she wouldn't. She just wanted to blow her money and forget about it. 

    We went to the mall and when Evie said she wanted to blow her money, she meant it. She even bought me a few things. 

    "You need to get a pair of shorts," she said, walking into a store. 

    "I have shorts," I replied. 

    "Yeah. Old lady shorts that go halfway down your thigh. It's 1966. We aren't just a bunch of housewives anymore. It's time you get some riskay items in your closet."

    "It's the middle of winter!"

    "So. Winter will end. Then you'll be ready to show off all you've been hiding," she winked at me. I rolled my eyes and let her pick out a pair of shorts for me. 

    I wouldn't let her pick ones that were as short as she liked them. She found a really cute, high-waisted, red pair with black buttons on the side. She convinced me to buy them and told me it was just the start of my closet rejuvenation. I didn't think my closet needed rejuvenating but Evie sure did. 

    She took me home after that. I retried on a few items I had bought. Especially those shorts. I had to take a moment to admire them a little longer. 

    "Lookin good," Sodapop said, standing in my doorway. His sudden entrance made me jump. He laughed.
 
    "What are you doing in here?" I asked, walking over to him. 

    "Elizabeth let me in. I'm sure glad she did," he smiled, setting his hands on my waist and looking me up and down. 

    "Oh stop," I blushed, hitting him lightly on the shoulder. I sat on the bed and he sat with me. 

    "I actually had an idea I wanted to run by you."

    "What's that?"

    "I have some family over in California. My mom's family. My cousins called yesterday and said Aunt Caroline is letting them have the beach house for spring break. They invited us to come down and spend it with them."

    "You're kidding!" I exclaimed. "I didn't know you had family in California. Especially family with a beach house."

    "Oh yeah. We don't see each other much but we try to get together every couple of years. They're pretty well off down there. What do you say you come with us?"

    "How are we going to afford it?"

    "Ya see, that's our only issue," he frowned. "We only have to pay for transportation but with all of us, it's going to be a lot. Everyone will have to chip in. My cousins said they would take care of everything else."

    "Well how many people are going?" 

    "Right now, Pony, Steve, Johnny, and maybe Two-Bit. Donna might tag along with Johnny too."

    "What about Darry?"

    "He doesn't think he'll be able to get off of work but he is going to try." 

    "I don't think Elizabeth would let me go if Darry doesn't come," I sighed.

    "Already covered. I asked her this morning," he smiled. 

    "Well you just thought of everything didn't you?" I smiled too. 

    "Sometimes I can use my brain. Only when it involves vacation and the possibility of my toes in the sand."

    I laughed and hugged him. This sounded so exciting. Now all we had to do was get the money. That was going to be the hard part.