#yawns

~~

Moving to Tulsa in the middle of summer had its ups and downs.

You didn’t have to go to school, so you could explore the city more.

But you had minimal chances to make friends and meet new people.

You’d just sleep until noon, go for a walk down the same track as yesterday, and watch TV. Repetitive nonsense.

Today, on a rather cool day, you surprisingly met someone on your walk!

His name was Ponyboy Curtis, which you didn’t believe for a hot minute. But he had a strange charm to him, that made for easy conversation until you parted ways.

And a few days after that, you were at a gas station, browsing for a cold drink or snack. A shoulder collided with your own, and you turned to scowl at the grinning boy.

He introduced himself as Curly (another odd name), before he started on an elaborate scheme to play a trick on ‘Steve’, one of the boys working there.

You shook your head, albeit smiling as you left the shop before he could.

Man, was Tulsa interesting.

~~

Ponyboy was crushing. Hard. On this person he’d talked to for about 10 minutes. But he thought you were real sweet, funny and pretty. Triple threat that’s utterly impossible not to fall for.

A few blocks over, Pony’s friend was having the same ‘problem’.

Curly almost giggled to himself as he thought of you. How you’d scowled, smiled and laughed at his antics. Curly was replaying those little moments in his head on repeat.

Unable to take it anymore, Curly pulled his shoes on and set out to the Curtis house.

With a sharp knock as he shoved opened the door, Curly waltzed in like he owned the joint. Pony didn’t even look up from his spot on the couch, eyes on the TV and abandoned book on his chest.

“Curtis.” Curly huffed, flopping onto the floor beside him.

“Hey Curly.” Ponyboy murmured in response as his eyes flicked to his friend. “What’s up?”

“I’m in love.” Curly was always one to be blunt.

Ponyboy raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Curly nodded furiously, as he started rambling about you. Pony listened as he always did.

And when Curly was finished ranting, he flipped it around on Pony.

“Anyone caught ya eye?”

Pony’s lips pulled into a small smile. “Yeah, maybe.” He dropped his awful nonchalant act, quietly and quickly gushing over you.

Both boys giggled, not knowing they’d fallen for the same person.

Their ignorant bliss was disrupted the very next day.

The boys walked the streets, causing trouble and smoking throughout Tulsa. As Curly attempted to steal some cigarettes, someone caught Ponyboy’s eye.

He made a move towards the store door, grabbing the back of Curly’s shirt to pull him along. Curly was not happy, thrashing about in Pony’s surprisingly firm hold. 

~~

Across the street, you stood against a wall as you waited for your parents to finish the grocery shopping. Your name being called made you look up.

Ponyboy was crossing the street, grinning and waving with his free hand. His other hand was dragging someone else along, which was very intriguing.

“Hi.” Pony exclaimed, slightly out of breath and still holding onto his friend.

“Hey Ponyboy. Who’s corpse are ya dragging along?” You laughed, watching his friend suddenly scramble up and turn to face you.

Your brows raised. “Curly?”

“Hey.” He grinned, leaning on Pony who quickly shoved him off. 

“You guys are friends then? Small world. Or is it a small town…”

Your words made each of the boys turn to the other, brows furrowed as the gears in their brains slowly turned.

“How do you meet?” They snapped at the same time.

“At the DX.” Curly replied.

“On a walk.” Ponyboy huffed. They had both finally realized who you were to the other boy.

They both were crushing on you! And hard.

You giggled awkwardly at the interaction between the friends. Thankfully, your family emerged from the store and you bid them both farewell.

“Dibs.” They simultaneously stated once you were out of ear shot.

“Hey!”

~~

The next few weeks were torturous for the boys.

You were excited to be hanging out with two new friends, while said friends were practically competing for you.

Ponyboy would chat about a book you’d both read, making steam come from Curly’s ears. And every time Curly made you laugh, Ponyboy would pout out of your sight.

If you were at the Curtis house, they’d both scramble to offer you a drink or snack. Then they’d race to the kitchen to grab you something. That did result in a glass being smashed, and a lecture from Darry and Soda, resulting in their fight to become slightly more civil in the kitchen.

Curly would try and impress you with smoke rings, or they’d race but Pony would always win.

By this point you’d caught on.

You’d be daft not to have.

Neither of them were subtly when they stared at you, or excessively complemented you. When they’d bump into you on a walk and shoot the other a smug look. Or when you gave them the slightest compliment and they lit up with pride.

Boy, were you getting sick of it.

But you didn’t know what to do. Reject one and date the other? Let them both down and possibly loose your only friends? Let them continue to be childishly fighting over you?

You chose the latter.