#spazz attack

Toni Basil, 1982.

"Avery"

Your eyes looked up, the door had creaked and screeched, a telltale sign that someone had crossed into the Curtis house. You'd been waiting here for Darry much of the day. Your supposed best friend had a habit of overworking himself (okay, fine, more like an addiction to it). And for once, you wanted him to stop and sit.  

It was your specialist of days after all.  

"Dar, hey" you spun around on your heels, rocking a bit when you momentarily lost a grip on your balance. When you regained it, you rose your head to smile up at him. "I missed you."

He shrugs, a small grin playing up the corner of his mouth, "Sorry, Aves, work's kind of-well, work." He gives a breathy laugh, something that you can tell would a sigh if he didn't feel so bad about sighing all the time. "I didn't mean to be late."  

"Try you didn't mean to be hours late." You were playful now, a jerk came to your hip and you gave him your most daring look you could muster.  

It's hard when you're desperately trying to convey to him words that refuse to roll from your mouth.  

I love you.  

But Darry-well, he was Darry. Tight and focused and over concerned. With Ponyboy and Soda running about, almost like headless chickens from time to time, you and Darry both knew that it was what he had to be.

You just wish-

Your fists clenched at the thought, you and Darry couldn't happen. Not in the scenarios you had strung out in your head before you went to sleep at night. You hopelessly mooned over him. There were fantasies that did go all 'happy-ever-after', and thankfully to your pride, they were more 'long-stemmed-roses-by-your-bed' than 'despair-and-unrequited-love'.  

Darry, catching you in your reverie, cleared his throat roughly, "You still knocking about in there or has Mount Avery gone empty?"

"What-? Oh, right, sorry." Your cheeks felt like they were roasting, and you had little doubt that he could easily see you blushing. "Just, spaced out."

Darry, the dastardly man, actually snickerked, "Wow, Aves, hope you don't do that too often."  

It took a few bounds to smack him right in the arm.  

"Happy Birthday" his smile went broader in that moment, and you could see the ice give way into pale blue-green water, "You feel different?"

Your nostrils flared when you scoffed, "Should I?"

"Nah, you never really do, do you?" Darry reached out, setting his tool belt on the hook he pa had mounted by the door long ago. His jaw tightened for a second, as if analyzing some thought through in a negative manner. It was a little tick he had that you'd deciphered so long ago, back into the earlier dawning of your friendship. "I haven't made anything yet, you know, work." His face turned away.

You felt your muscles loop undone, relaxing back into the playful air that had been around you only moments earlier. Your heart dipped a little in the quiet.  

"Darry, don't worry about it, you're here now." You tilted your head, effectively making the quiet zip from the room "Don't beat yourself up about it."

He raised his hand, and opened his mouth as if he were going to say something, but, as if forgoing it, sighed roughly and dropped his hand to smack into his thigh, "It's just-I can be a jerk sometimes, Avery, I know I can. And I wanted the gang to be here too-on time, but Soda and Steve will be late and Pony's running around with that damn Curly Shepard-and hell only knows what Two Bit's been getting up to at the moment."

"Well, considering the fact that you’re my favorite today, I think it'll be just fine."

"Today?" He spun to face you, front and direct, he was nearly laughing in that snap of a wonderful moment. You loved this side of him, free and happy and relaxed enough to joke around, this was the beautiful Darrel Curtis Jr. that made your dreams so happy and full of sugar plum fairies. "I'm not your favorite all year round?"  

You feigned a snort, "Are you telling me that your pride is that big, Dar-Bear?"

He stepped closer, invading into a square of space that change from platonic to intimate, "I just thought you cared, you know..." His breath intermingled into his tone, softening his voice, "I mean, pretty girls...you want them to care."

The first thought that came into your head was, in short, a mess of babbling and confused puppy love language.  

"Um-um..."  

"You know, your eyes are real pretty, Avery?" Darry let his fingertips press feather light contact into the skin of your cheek, "Maybe being alone-maybe it's a good thing."  

You bit your lip, because he was flirting with you, actually, he's hitting on you.

Holy. Mary. And. Joseph. He was hitting on you.

You giggled, "Well, you know, Sodapop is awfully pretty, after all."  

"Soda's a kid, Avery, me?" His fingers dragged to push your hair back, "I'm a man."

You could swear your heart skipped around five to ten beats in that moment. You swallowed hard, not having something else to volley back at him yet.

Something clicked in your head, "Well Darry, a man? He is never ever late to his best friend's birthday, you know?"  

"You clearly haven't met half the guys I work with."  

"You're a real King of Tthe Men, huh Darry?"  

"Wound me, Avery? Really?"  

"You're awful goofy today."

"What can I say? You bring out a certain..quality in me." His hand settled on your cheek, "I'm so tired of sacrificing things, Avery. I deserve to be close to someone, Aves. I deserve to relax." His thumb swept over your cheek, "With someone as wonderful and as beautiful as you."  

You're honestly about to pass out right now.  

The next thing that comes out your mouth made you do a mental facepalm.

"We can color!"  

Darry paused, "What?"

"What?"

He shook his head, laughing a little bit, "You're a little odd, Darling, you know that?"  

"That's what you like about me."  

"It's what I love about you." He corrected, eyes drooping, "Among many things."  

Don't talk about coloring again! DON'T.

"Coloring" you whispered, then ducked your head to mutter to yourself.  "Avery, no."  

Darry pressed his lips to your cheek, "Avery, yes."

"What?" You blinked at him  

He cleared his throat and blushed a little, "What?"

"Do you know what I want for my birthday, Darry?"  

"A coloring book?"

"Darry" you grumbled, a little bit peeved.  

He smirked, and laughed a little, "Yeah, I can guess."  

And then, in all holy miracles in your mind, he kissed you. Actually real-life kissed you.  

When he pulled back, he leant his forehead on yours, eyes melting into yours in a way that made your knees go week with the swirling vat of emotions in your belly.  

"So, Birthday Girl, can I make my tardiness up to you by taking you out to The Ribbon?"

"Sure, if we color later."

He laughed, "It's a deal."  

And off you went, and maybe, one day you’ll ride off into the sunset together. 

A/N: This is for Avery, whose birthday is today! SO HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER! She's a lovely writer, so check her out @thegreaserwritingplace. I'll be taking requests now that Freshman year of college is over for me in a week (I know, I'm kind of spazzing out at the thought), so please, send in requests if you want them!