February Rumble

[Tensleep]

Ok, this one is a suggestion. Hopefully we all have some fun with it. That being said, I'm not much of a one for Valentines Day, so we'll see if I manage to get the creative juices flowing...

Rumble February 08:

Sweet Stories

Yes, it is February. That means Valentines Day is yet again upon us and with it the mush and love that comes with it.

Write a sweet story. Can be cute, romantic or just fun. Use those wonderful imaginations that got you here in the first place! Max 7 pages, any POV.

Ends March 1^st

Please copy, paste and post your entries under this tread so we can all enjoy them! I know there are some awesome imaginations on this forum. So get writing!

Tens

[sharpshooter]

Love; Food For The Soul, But Not The Stomach

Finally, he had the nerve to ask her. He was going to say those simple words, and he wasn’t going to stutter over them either, he’d be cool and collected. Yeah, this was going to be a piece of cake. All he had to do first was take that first step towards her. Why’d she have to sit so far away, at the other end of the cafeteria?

Oh, c’mon wuss, just move. What’s the worst she could do? Laugh at him with all of her friends; send him away with his tail between his legs in humiliation? No, not this time, he wasn’t going to let those fears get in his way.

Ponyboy took a deep breath, he could do this. He slouched his way over to her table, Joe Cool, but at the last minute, froze up. She’d heard him coming up, and had turned to look at him.

“H-hey Cathy.”

Her big, gorgeous eyes blinked once, before a smile spread across her lips. It was an honest smile, not a fake one that she was putting on just to be polite.

“Hey Ponyboy.”

He put his hands into the pocket of Two-Bit’s jacket, the one he’d taken when he’d forgotten his own. It was odd putting his hands into the unfamiliar jacket, and it made him feel even more awkward as he stared at Cathy, at the girls sitting next to her, and tried to think of words to say.

Do. You. Want. To. Eat. Lunch. With. Me?

His mouth opened, he knew that, but if any words were coming out he couldn’t tell. His face was growing hot, his cheeks probably a bright red by now. What a time to blush, how embarrassing! Cathy didn’t like him, so why was he bothering with her? He was setting himself up for failure. He needed to get away, but what excuse could he use?

Cathy saved him the trouble, standing up with her bagged lunch in hand, hooking an arm through his. She smiled down at the group of girls, waving good bye to them before leading Ponyboy towards the cafeteria doors.

“You saved me,” Cathy sounded relieved, leading Ponyboy outside the school to sit on the steps,” Perfect timing.”

“I was gonna ask if you wanted to eat lunch with me- You didn’t have to leave your friends like that.” Ponyboy was confused, not sure how to react.

Cathy shook her head, her long black hair falling over her shoulders,” Don’t worry, they’re not my friends.” She unhooked her arm from Ponyboy’s, turning to look at him,” I just didn’t want to eat alone.”

Ponyboy nodded his head, the fresh air starting to cool him off. His head was starting to clear, but being so close to Cathy was messing with his brain. He couldn’t think of anything to say, and just stared at her stupidly. Only things he’d heard Dally say before were coming to mind, and if he said something like that to Cathy-

“So, what are we going to eat?”

“Hunh?”

Cathy let out a little laugh, a laugh that rang through Ponyboy’s head like church bells,” You said you wanted to have lunch together, right?”

Ponyboy grinned,” Right. We could-“

“Hey, Ponyboy!”

Oh no, no, Jesus Christ, please say it wasn’t them- They’d skipped school today! This was supposed to be a safe day, a day without Keith Matthews or Steve Randle to bother him. Ponyboy tried to ignore him, but his buddy was aggravatingly persistent and started honking his horn along with yelling at him.

Cathy was staring out the corner of her eyes at the beat up Buick, watching Ponyboy for a reaction. When he continued to ignore it, she gave him a slight nudge,” I think those guys are talking to you.”

“Oh?” Ponyboy sent death glares at the two occupants of the car,” I guess I’ll go see what they want.”

He left Cathy’s side grudgingly, coming to the driver’s side window of Two-Bit’s car. He leaned in, so Cathy couldn’t see his face anymore.

“What the hell are you two doing?!” Ponyboy felt like some teenybopper, his brother’s coming to check up on him when he was with some cute girl.

Steve let out a snicker and Two-Bit gave him a lopsided grin,” We wanted to meet your girl.”

“She’s not my ‘girl’,” He hissed, glancing back at her nervously,” And keep your voice down.”

“Aw, look at him, he’s about as red as a tomato.” Steve taunted, irritating Ponyboy further,” Why can’t you just introduce us? Me and ol’ Two-Bit here will be gentlemen.”

“Yeah, we’ll be gentlemen. Anyways, I can take ya’ll over to the drugstore to get some food.”

They did need a ride… Ponyboy sighed, squinting his eyes at the two of them before going back to Cathy.

“You mind riding with them to the drugstore?” He asked, hoping she’d turn him down and decide it was better to just eat with her fake friends.

Cathy shrugged,” I don’t see any harm in it. They your friends?”

“Unfortunately…”

“Hm?”

Ponyboy nodded his head,” Yeah, they are.” Cathy couldn’t understand the way he felt. Well, he’d just have to suck it up, and hope his two buddies didn’t say anything too inappropriate.

Cathy slid into the backseat of Two-Bit’s car with grace, despite the burning leather seats. Two-Bit had already started driving when Ponyboy slammed the door shut, and Steve was already BS’ing with Cathy.

“You can go up to Ohio for all I care; the Browns can’t play worth shit- Your Dad? He can go live in Ohio than.”

Ponyboy listened only partly to his buddy’s and Cathy’s conversation, instead he watched the road fearfully. The car was making strange noises, but Two-Bit was still accelerating on the gas. There was a light coming up, and it was just about to turn red, why wasn’t Two-Bit slowing down?

“Two-Bit, you gonna slow up?” Ponyboy didn’t want his lunch with Cathy screwed up-

“Everyone, buckle up and kiss your asses goodbye!” Two-Bit was almost laughing as he spoke, and the deathly calm tone to his voice scared Pony.

Steve looked quickly to the red light, before back at Two-Bit,” What the hell? Put on the freakin’ brakes!”

Two-Bit chuckled, his foot already off the gas, pressing down on his brakes. Nothing happened. Ponyboy frantically searched for his rarely worn seat belt, Cathy following suit with a look of confusion.

“What?” Her beautifully round eyes were squinted, looking from Ponyboy to the road.

“Two-Bit’s brakes- His car’s a piece of shit, and the brakes have gone out.” Ponyboy was going to die! He knew it was coming, his heart was pounding and his breathing was coming out in short, drawn breaths. Oh, he knew this was a bad idea from the get go, why didn’t he trust his gut instincts? Hopefully nothing happened to Cathy-

“Woohoo!” Two-Bit let out a whoop, turning the wheel sharply at the intersection to avoid hitting a car, fishing tailing into the other lane. Steve was yelling right along with him at their close call, but his hands were visibly white at the knuckles were he was gripping the door and dash.

“Jesus Christ…” Ponyboy’s mouth was open in awe, his arm shaking some from the near death experience,” That car just missed us…”

Cathy let out a groan, sinking in her seat,” You know who was driving that car?”

Ponyboy shook his head, eyes still wide,” No, who?”

“My father!” She put her head into her hands,” I’m dead.”

Steve was unbuckled quickly, and after hanging out the window to swear at some people, he shifted in his seat so he was facing Cathy,” Y’know, I thought that guy looked pretty pi- ticked off. Man, did you see the steam coming out of his ears?”

Two-Bit finally got his car old junker stopped, and by then Cathy and Ponyboy only had enough time to run back to school before their next classes started. Steve was cussing out Two-Bit as they left, something about him being a dumb ass and not taking care of his car. Ponyboy’s knees were still shaking a little bit, so he lit up a cigarette to help calm his nerves.

“So, does this kind of thing happen often with you?” Cathy had a small smile playing at her lips, her eyes cast towards Ponyboy.

He couldn’t talk, she had him all choked up just with one look. Ponyboy kicked at the ground, trying to think of something to say. Since no words were coming to his mouth, he just shrugged. He thought he was acting real lame, and figured Cathy probably had a lousy time with him, but she was still smiling as they went to part in the school hallway.

Cathy put a hand on Pony’s arm,” Hey, maybe we can do this again?”

“I don’t know, it’s kind of dangerous,” Ponyboy had to grin, she was just so great.

She shrugged,” I guess I’m attracted to danger, then.” She turned to walk away, and Ponyboy couldn’t help but lower his eyes- “By the way,” Cathy looked over her shoulder,” Tell your friend to get a job, he needs a new car.”

Ponyboy was sure he’d been caught staring, but even with his heart beating faster then ever, he managed to wave good bye and go to his own classroom. The story he’d have to tell Sodapop when he got home!

His joy was short lived though, as Ponyboy’s stomach let out a loud, echoing growl. Damn Two-Bit…

[Tensleep]

Sharpshooter: Sorry it's taken me so long to get to this - I get lazy as all get out on vacations.

I liked it. Cute, mushy and completely in character for how we know Ponyboy to be. I love how Two-Bit and Steve just have to show up on "the safe day". And of course they have to tease him. Nice. It incorporates so many levels of the characters when you bring in little annoyances like that. Keep on with the great work.

[sharpshooter]

Aw, thanks a lot! I personally thought it sucked, but y'know, low self esteem can do that. I'm glad you thought Ponyboy was in character, that is such a great compliment for me!