the wrong place, the wrong time, but the right hearts || The Outsiders

Gossip Pals

Millie's P.O.V

I sat with Johnny in the vacant lot, both of us giggling to amongst ourselves. It was a bright, sunny July evening, only a few days before Ponyboy turned fourteen.

"Really?! She did?!" Johnny gasped, laughing harder than anyone had ever seen him laugh. Well, except for me, that is. I was the only person Johnny ever really let loose around, no one else could get him to laugh like that.

Me and Johnny had been best friends since the moment we met. I was seventeen going on eighteen and he just turned sixteen a few months ago, but the gap didn't matter too much. He was like another little brother to me, like Sodapop and Ponyboy.

"Yeah, man, she did! And then she told her that she was a...well, a not so nice word, and to go straight to Hell!" We both doubled over in laughter, having the time of our lives.

"Man, that's funny. Girls get too defensive over just about everything." He stated, catching his breath a bit. I nodded, because it was true. We had been talking about how one girl looked at this other girls boyfriend for a few seconds, and the girl got so mad that she started yelling at her.

"Yeah, no wonder they fight so much."

We sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the weather. The sun had began setting, but it was still bright enough out.

I couldn't get this girl off my mind- I had seen her at school before it ended in May. I think her name was Marsha, but spelled like Marcia. I wanted to tell Johnny about her, but that's the thing...he still didn't know that I was a lesbian. Nobody did, but I figured that if I were to tell anyone, it would be my gossip buddy.

"Hey, Johnnycake? Can I tell you something?"

"Go ahead, Millz, I'm listening." He said, staring at the colors of the sky as they slowly faded.

"So, you know how I never talk about boys? Well that's cause I like girls. I've had a girlfriend once before, but it didn't work out. Well, anyways, I saw this girl at school before it let out and she was real pretty. Her name is Marcia I think, and I really wanted to talk to her." I explained, looking over at Johnny.

"Oh...do your brothers know?" He asked, which was his own way of telling me that he himself was okay with it. I sighed, partially of relief and partially of worry.

"Naw. I dunno how I'd bring it up. I just hope I see her again, because I graduated early and I ain't goin' back in August." I had skipped a year in school, just like Ponyboy had, and I graduated a year early.

"Well, maybe you guys'll meet at the movies or somethin'. I mean, if you see her, you'll just talk to her, right? You seem like the type of person to do that."

Johnny was right, I was never the type to be shy. But for all I know, this girl is just normal and straight.

"I mean, sure, but there's no way she would be into me. She's probably straight- most girls tend to be, you know." I laughed in spite of myself. Me and Johnny talked until it got dark, and I figured we should leave before I got my head kicked in by Darry.

I stood up and brushed off my skirt, helping Johnny up with me.

"You stayin' with us tonight?" I asked as we walked under the night sky.

"I don't wanna bother y'all any." I shook my head and sighed.

"Johnny, how many times do I gotta tell you, kid? You're not botherin' us, and we don't want you stayin' in that house with your folks anyways."

He nodded, knowing for a fact that I wouldn't give up. I refused to give up on anyone- Sodapop says that's why I'm special. But I'm not special- I'm just a plain ol' girl who wants the best for her friends, and I'd be damned if I were to ever leave someone hanging when they needed me.

I looked up at the stars as we kept walking. The stars were my favorite part about the night sky, the way they never stopped shining. It gave me hope, in a way, because if the stars can keep going bright, so could I.

Finally, me and Johnny walked through the door of my house.

"Hey, Millie. Hey there, Johnnycake." Soda greeted us, but I just waved, flopping down onto the couch.

"Dang, Millie, you're out of energy? Never woulda expected that from you." Ponyboy commented, walking in from the kitchen. Me being me, I took that as a challenge. My energy is what I prided myself in, as silly as it sounds.

I rolled off the couch, my back hitting the floor with a thump, but it didn't hurt. I crawled right over to Pony, who was looking at me not knowing what I was about to do. I wrapped my arms around his ankles and jumped up. He yelped and I felt his face hit the back of my knee (which almost made me fall down).

"Wanna say that again, you little punk?" I questioned, giggling. I wasn't actually serious, and I could tell he knew, because he was laughing too. "Tell me I'm out of energy again and I'll start jumping up and down, which'll be real unpleasant for you."

"Ooh, better watch how you talk, Ponyboy." Soda teased, joining in on the fun.

"Millie, you idiot."

"Huh-?"

Before I knew what was happened, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my knees, and Pony used his weight to push back on me. We both tumbled to the ground, laughing like maniacs.

I really, really love my family.

The first chapter is complete! Now it's time to write more lmao