Chapter Text
Ponyboy and Curly walked to their next class together, talking happily- well, more like Curly talking while Ponyboy (forcefully) listened.
"Man, I'm so screwed.." Curly mumbled dully.
"Yeah? Not surprised Curls."
"Ponybabe! That's so rude, you wounded me." Curly says dramatically.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, man, but what's goin' on? Why are you screwed?" Curly stares down at the shorter male as they walk, forgetting about the real-life world.
"Curly- I swear to God you're dumber than Two-Bit nowadays." Ponyboy huffs out while shaking his head.
"Haha, speaking of being dumb. I need tutoring man awfully bad." Curly says with a smile forming on his face.
"You say I need to tutor you? Man, why would I go through that mess."
"Because I'm so cool," Curly says cockly
Ponyboy rolls his eyes and shoves Curly away from him.
"Whatever makes you sleep better at night sweetheart." He said with a smirk.
Blush slowly rose to Curlys face,
Even though Curly was used to being called stupid pet names like that usually by greaser girls, lord, it was way different when Ponyboy Micheal Curtis said it.
"Sweetheart? You falling for me Babycurtis?" Curly smirked at the younger boy and wrapped his arm around his shoulder.
"You wish, man, but yeah, I guess I'll tutor you," Ponyboy says fighting off a smile.
"Thanks, Curtis, I knew I could count on ya."
"Curly I swear- are you doing this shit on purpose?" Ponyboy groaned.
The two were sitting on the couch; Curly was hunched over the paper he was working on, and Ponyboy was watching him with the Math work.
"No.. as I said, I'm just stupid," Curly mumbled softly; it was weird to see a Shephard so focused on doing something that's not going to send you to jail.
You ain't stupid, man; you just need some help." Ponyboy placed his hand on the older man's back and rubbed it gently; Pony, being him, forgot that this is a Shephard, and they don't like stuff like this- it's too soft. He usually does something like this with Johnny to calm him down.
Curly's face turned red; he felt heat rise to his face.
He leaned back a bit to face Ponyboy. They stared at each other in silence, and for some reason (even though it should have), it wasn't aware. Curly leans into Ponyboy, their lips almost touching- they jumped back when they heard the screen door slam open. Darry, Two-Bit, Steve and Sodapop walked in.
"Why in the hell is a Shephard in my house Ponyboy?" Darrys harsh voice knocked some sense into Ponyboy- holy shit, he almost kissed a Shephard. He must be mentally insane.
"I'm tutoring him," Ponyboy replied softly.
"Bullshit, you think I'm believing that? Ponyboy what in God's name were you guys doing?"
"Doing math work, seriously." Ponyboy huffed out; he was starting to get annoyed. Why wasn't Darry believing him? Curly was different- he wouldn't force him to do something illegal, and he's nice- well, at least to him.
"Sure.. have you at least done your homework, kid?" Darry asked.
"No, as I said, I've been tutoring Curly," Ponyboy said harshly; he was fed up with Darry.
"Ponyboy, your work comes first, we don't need your grades to slip."
Ponyboy rolled his eyes and leaned back; he was so tired of Darry only caring about his grades it was exhausting.
"And this is the last time I want you around, Curly; he can find someone else to tutor him."
"What? He's my friend, Darry. Why can't I hang with him?" Ponyboy asked, confused; he was mostly bad; he didn't understand why he couldn't hang out with the Shephard kid. He hung around Dallas, and he was pretty sure he was done worse than what Curly had done.
"Cuz he's a hood, ain't no reason to be around people like that Pone, doesn't need you to get involved with somethin' illegal, and you get thrown in boys home."
Curly sat there; he was mad- well, that's not new, but he's mad for someone else now that's new, he knew that his- wait, his?? God, he's thinking weird today, but he knew that Ponyboy is different, and he wouldn't do something stupid like him.
"That's bullshit!" Pony complained.
"Excuse me? You don't get to talk to me like that kid." Darry fumed.
Pony got up and made his way to the door to leave; Two-Bit gently grabbed his arm, trying to stop him from leaving; he pushed away from him and slammed the door behind him, and Curly quickly followed behind him.
"You ok Pony?" Curly asked, he gently wrapped his arm around his shoulder.
"I'm fine- just needed out... it's bullshit. I know you ain't like that; you're more than just a hood; you're a real nice guy, curls." Ponyboy breathed out.
It's honestly really embarrassing when someone you barely talk to says the nicest thing you've ever heard.
Curly blushed and playfully punched Ponyboy in the arm.
"Yeah, I know I'm so awesome", Curly bragged.
"So where we goin' Ponykid?"
"I don't know, man, just needed to leave that house," Ponyboy answered truthfully; he kept his gaze on the floor, kicking a rock as he walked down the broken sidewalk.
"Wanna stay the night at my place? It's a Friday so I don't think it will matter with Tim." Curly offered, he stared at the shorter boy with a fond smirk on his face without even realizing it.
"Yeah man, that would be nice," Ponyboy says with a smile.
The boys made it to Curly's house; he slammed open the door, dragging Pony behind him into the house.
Tim looks up from the newspaper he was reading intently.
"Why is Curtis here?" Tim asked confused.
"He's staying the night." He drags Ponyboy up to his room.
They lay on Curlys bed in the dark, joking about stupid stuff.
"Wanna get high?" Curly asked suddenly
"Uh yeah?"
They sat up so they were now facing each other; Ponyboy felt a little nervous- it wasn't his first time smoking pot, but he's a chatting person when he's high; he just hopes he doesn't say something stupid.
They passed the blunt back and forth, chatting in between.
Curly stares at Ponyboy, who is now in his boxers and one of Curlys band shirts; his hair is ungreased and messy.
He dully thought that no one could be as pretty as Ponyboy, not even those girls you see in the dumb movies at the drive-ins.
"Your hair looks nice ungreased, Ponybabe," Curly snorted.
"Haha, I know I look lousy."
"Nah... it's cute, man; I like your hair messy like that.." Curly leaned forward and brushed Ponyboy's hair back.
Blush rose to Ponys cheeks.
"Jeez Curls who knew you're so sappy?" Ponyboy taunted.
Curly laid next to Ponyboy and pulled him down.
"You're annoying Ponykid, you know that?"
"Yeah, but you are you freakazoid." Ponyboy teased him before rolling over on his back. Curly smiled, wrapped his arm around Ponyboy's waist laid his head next to his and fell asleep.