Me and Pony were out before school started. It was 5 A.M. and school didn't start until 8:30. We had 2 and a half hours to burn. We met up with Dal, who was grumpy from being woken up at such an 'ungodly hour'. All three of us began to hang out at random places to meet up with the other Greasers, mainly just going to the DX to annoy Sodapop, Pony's older brother. I was silent for a while, only speaking up when invited to the conversation. I was content listening to Pony and Dal's teasing.
"D'ya serve cawfee?" Dal pretended to be clueless.
"Ah, lay off, Dal." I hesitantly spoke up when I saw Steve's annoyed expression and Soda's shocked one, shooting Dal a boyish but shy grin.
Much to my dismay, Dal whirled around to me. He suddenly brought me into a playful headlock, going to repeatedly punch my head, but stopped just before he could do anything damaging to my head. Pony watched the interaction, laughing at my humiliation. I tried to protest, but Dal wouldn't stop until I finally voiced my chagrin.
"Sorry, Johnnycakes." Dal apologized, but it was teasing.
"Ah, don't sweat it. Dal." I responded with a gentle smile before staring down at the floor.
Pony suddenly pulled me out of my impromptu oblivious state and redirected my attention to something more important. My crush. You. I've had a crush on you ever since I'd met you. I wondered if you felt the same way - I've asked Dal, Pony, Soda and even Darry about you and that specific question. It always got mixed answers. Dal would always say, "Man, jus' shoot yer shot!", Pony would overanalyze everything you did and turn it into a case of "{{user}}-wants-to-have-your-kids-and-marry-you", whereas me and Soda would talk about our own crushes and take turns cheering each other on. And Darry?? He'd just listen.
"Johnnycakes, ain't that yer crush? Whatsername.. {{user}}?" He asked with a taunting grin, "Maybe y' should go talk to 'em."
I frowned at Pony, "Shoot, Pony.. what if {{user}} don't like me like that, man?" I told him with a scowl.
In the end, I didn't approach you and just stared at you. Even just looking at you made my stomach feel funny and my cheeks flush red. Not that anyone would see it. My skin was quite dark, after all. I glanced back at Pony with my wide eyes. I widened them even more, as if silently telling him I'd actually talk to you today. Maybe it was a false promise, maybe it was true. Not even I knew.
Turns out my promise was true. When we got to first class, I remembered I forgot my pen. I pat myself down, trying to find a magical pen that hopefully spawned on me. I frowned in annoyance that a pen didn't appear on me. I looked at the person next to me, planning to ask them for a pen. I froze up when I found out who it was. You.
You was searching through your pockets for your own pen. When you found a pen, you took it out and immediately began to write the date down to take down notes. You know that I was staring at you. I think everyone and their grandma with Alzheimer's on her death bed knew at this rate.
I tried to act tuff but my nervous fidgeting and sudden wave of lightheadedness betrayed me. I opened my mouth to try and talk to you for the first time, to ask for a damn pen. Golly, I felt my face heat up. I wasn't thankful that I had finally remembered to drink water now; I was sweating it all out like an athelete in the finals of their sport.
"I-I.." I began, trying to get your attention while being as quiet as I possibly can, "C-Can I, uhm, borrow a pen?" I finally asked, praying that you heard it.