Begin [Ponyboy Curtis]

The Grey Area

POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: Toxic family Dynamic 

Playlist: Crush Culture - Conan Gray

"Something between t-shirt and dress," I found myself repeating in my head, over and over again. Once I got home last night I unpacked the rest of my clothes. I showered in the morning then sat in front of my closet wrapped in a towel overthinking what to wear. Sure, I was putting too much pressure on some clothes. However, Randy is not only older than me, he's higher class than me. What do guys like that consider the grey area?

And even if he would ignore the outfit, I didn't want to embarrass him if we went somewhere nice.

I looked away from my closet, huffing at the casual clothes I once swore by. In a corner next to the door sat a box of my mother's clothes. My dad gave them to me while we were packing up the old house, he was afraid Stacey would question them. To say that she didn't trust my dad would be an understatement. "Your mother was a very stylish lady," He said before passing the box unto me.

I pulled it open, grabbing the first thing on top and deciding I would make my outfit from it. Finally, I kicked my own ass into gear and got ready for my lunch date.

The grey area between pearls and jeans ended up being a plaid skirt and a t-shirt tucked in. I dug deeper into the huge box of clothes and found a couple of purses and handbags. Most of them were squished but there was a structured small bag that held its shape. I put my wallet, gum, lip-gloss, and keys in it. Everything fit perfectly.

I smiled at myself in the mirror. It felt nice dressing somewhat sophisticated. Glancing at the clock on my wall I realized Randy would be getting to my house any minute. I didn't care if he met dad and Stacey, but I didn't really want them knowing it was any sort of date. I've never been on one so I have no idea how they'll react.

I ran into Stacey on the way down the steps.

"I've never seen that skirt before."

"It was in storage," I shrugged.

"Mh," she nodded, "where're you going?"

"Out to lunch."

She seemed overall suspicious, but she knew she didn't have the authority to do anything. I might have to reexplain myself to dad when I get home.

I got out of there before she could find my dad for a parenting consultation.

When Randy pulled up he got out and opened the door for me. I smiled, only a little overwhelmed.

"Right on time?" I asked as he got in on his side.

"I try to be," he rubbed his hand across the dash, like last night.

"So where are we going?"

He turned the radio on, this time it was on a rock station - but he didn't look like he was into it. "I was thinking I'd take you to Sullivan's. It's a family-owned place, they have amazing fries."

"I love fries. You know, I heard a rumor potato chips were invented by a chef who was angry at a customer that kept sending the fries back for being 'too thick'?"

He chuckled, sitting up in his seat, "there's no such thing as too thick fries."

"That's what I'm saying."

We clicked the same way we did last night throughout the car ride, and we were at Sullivan's before I knew it. I believe you can tell how good a restaurant is going to be just from the smell, and it smelled amazing.

Randy and I sat in a booth near one of the windows. The walls were covered in patriotic art and pictures, at the back of the restaurant there was a bar with a couple of neon signs. Yellow lights with industrial covers hung from the ceiling creating a false farmhouse nostalgia.

"They have really good flavored Pepsi here. I like the Cherry ones the best."

"You think they have vanilla?"

"Oh," he grinned, leaning on the table, "I know for a fact they have vanilla. And mango." He winked.

Our waitress was a pretty girl with kinky hair, smoothed back into a ponytail. She smiled greeting us, "can I get some drinks started for you guys?"

Everything was going great. The food was good, Randy and I were getting along well. Until...

"Marcia?"

I turned around, two girls were passing us on their way to their table. One was the redhead I saw with Randy at Dairy Queen yesterday, the other was a pretty brunette in a light blue dress.

The redhead grabbed the other girl's shoulders, "I'm sorry. I didn't know he'd be here."

I looked back to Randy. He tilted his head down and started to pinch at his bottom lip.

"Let's just go sit on the other side," the brunette, Marcia, turned away. She was shaking her head as they left.

"Randy," my eyebrows furrowed together, "who's Marcia?"

"Marcia is my ex. We broke up before spring break."

I chewed on my bottom lip, "So it's been, what, a week? Why did you guys break up?"

"We were fighting too much," he shrugged. Everything about him looked conflicted. He kept a straight face but he leaned on the table to see Marcia. Then he'd look away, concern taking over his emotions. "Yeah, it's only been a week. I'm- I'm sorry, Dot."

I was angry, at first, but after a breath or two I calmed down. He obviously wasn't over it, he wasn't just jumping from girl to girl. He was respectful and kind. He wasn't just using me. It was a human mistake.

"It's alright. I get it." He finally made eye contact with me again. "I like you. You're cool," I stood up putting enough money on the table to pay for my half, with a tip, "you two might be done, you might just be going through a rough patch, whatever. Take your time to figure that out."

"Dorthy," he stood up, "you don't have to-"

"Randy," I stopped him, "you have my number. You'll see me at school. Right now you don't need dates, you need friends."

He hands me my money back, "I asked you out. Let me pay for it."

Begrudgingly I take the cash back and leave.

I just moved here, there's no point in making any enemies and holding grudges until I at least finish unpacking my room.

I stopped at the DX on the way back to my place. I thought it would look weird for me to come home so soon when I was "all dressed up".

"Hey, Dot," Sodapop was leaning on the counter talking with one of the other cashiers.

"Hey," I smiled at them, joining everyone by the register, "I'm Dorthy, the new cashier."

"Nice to meet you," he shook my hand, "I'm Dan. Promise you'll actually show up for your shifts?" He asked in a joking tone, but from how everyone else talked about the last guy, I knew he meant it.

"Yeah," I grinned, "I guess I'll actually work my shifts."

They both laughed and I grabbed myself a sprite from the fridge, using the money I was going to give Randy to pay for it.

"You look nice, what're you up to?" Soda pushed himself up onto the counter, clinking his half-full Coke to mine.

"Oh, I had a date with this guy Randy. Turns out he and his ex just broke up. I dunno it was weird."

"Oh, so you're single?" He leaned forward, "you know my brother's on the market too."

I laughed awkwardly, "is he now? I think I'm going to take a short break before I jump into another one of those. I mean, I just moved here."

"Yeah, you're right. But when you start back up in school keep an eye out for Ponyboy. He's just a couple of months younger than you."

"Alright, I'll watch for him," I agree with an eye-roll, "I'll see you guys around."

"Bye!"

"See ya."

I took a long way home, made it to my room without running into Stacey or my Dad, and finally finished unpacking.