hidden secrets

chapter twenty-four

Alice's POV

I ended up going out for lunch by myself before heading to the Curtis'. 

I walked in the door and everyone was already there. "Hey, Ali." Sodapop said.

"Hi." I uttered.

"Hey, Alice. I feel like you haven't been here in ages." Steve said walking out from the bathroom.

"I was just here. But I get it. Not as much."

"I've gotta get to work. Come on you two." Darry said to Steve and Soda.

Sodapop rolled his eyes and followed. "Alice, stop by the DX today. We can catch up." He said just before walking out the door.

Steve and Darry got in the car first and then Soda next.

"I actually gotta get going. Got a date with this hot blonde." Two-Bit said taking a sip of beer before walking out the door.

"Johnny and I were thinking of heading to the diner for a shake. You two wanna come?" Ponyboy asked.

I was about to say I would like to go, but Dallas answered before me. "Actually, I left something at your house." He said looking at me from the couch. "Maybe we'll meet you two there."

"Umm... yeah. We'll meet you two there." I muttered. "We'll be quick."

They both looked at each other and shrugged. They walked out the door and I watched through the window as they headed down the street.

"I'm gonna assume you didn't leave anything at my house." I mumbled.

"What was your first clue?" He said turning off the TV.

I sighed and sat next to him.

"Well, probably the fact I know you wanna talk about last night."

"Yeah. And I know you probably don't-"

I cut him off. "Why now?"

"Huh?"

"Why now? I mean, for four years you've done nothing but make me miserable and wish I was dead. So why now?"

"You know, I really don't have an answer to that. It just happened. I wasn't about to just make a move on you for no reason out of nowhere."

"Y'know, it would have made my life easier."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. But I don't regret anything that happened. And I wasn't using you for a casual hookup or anything."

"Well, I would hope so. How many girls have you used as a casual hookup?" I asked out of curiosity.

He hesitated. "One."

"And how many girls have you slept with?"

"One."

"Now was it Maddie or Ramona?"

I saw his face get red. "It was Ramona's sister."

"What?" I asked with a laugh.

"I didn't even know she had a sister. I was in New York about a year ago and we met at a bar. She said she was new to town and we ended up in the back of my car. Then Ramona comes in the next day and says her sisters in gown and was stayin' with us. We never mentioned it and Ramona still doesn't know. So don't ever tell her. She'll kill me."

I couldn't help, but laugh. "Interesting."

"Have you don't anything with Marcus?"

I rolled my eyes. I only now realized how close we were. "No we're just friends. And I already told you I haven't done anything like that before yesterday."

"Just wondering."

I rolled my eyes playfully as he pulled me in closer. We started out at a kiss and it probably would have gone a little farther if it wasn't for the door opening.

I heard two gasps and the door slam shut. I immediately looked the other way and Dallas looked past me.

"I KNEW IT!" Ponyboy yelled.

I felt my face get red as Ponyboy and Johnny just stared in shock.

"I thought you two were leaving?" Dallas asked.

"We forgot money." Johnny uttered.

Dallas dug in his pocket and threw a few coins at them. "Get out."

Ponyboy managed to catch maybe a quarter and then Johnny picked the coins up off the floor. "Have fun, you two." Johnny continued as he walked out the door.

"Not too much fun. Especially not in my house. Johnny dragged Ponyboy out of the house and the door closed behind them.

I looked back at Dallas and we picked up where we left off. The door opened again.

"GET OUT!" Dallas and I both yelled.

"But-"

"Ponyboy, get out or we're gonna go in your bedroom." I said quickly.

He looked at me blankly for a second and he shoved Johnny back out the door. "We won't be back!"

I laughed slightly as the door closed behind us.

We stopped after a few minutes and decided to meet the two at the diner. We walked slowly and we saw them sitting at the counter. I took a seat next to Ponyboy and Dally sat on the other side of Johnny.

Once Ponyboy realized it was us, he spoke up. "Is my bedroom clean?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Untouched." I said with a grin.

"I swear to God-"

"Ponyboy, we didn't go in your bedroom." Dallas said quickly.

I looked up at the menu and started deciding on what shake I wanted.

"So, correct me if I'm wrong, I thought you two couldn't stand each other." Johnny said taking a sip of his shake.

"Y'know, it's kinda a long story." I said quickly.

"Because a few weeks ago you said you wanted to get back at Dal and make him mad." Johnny said.

I felt my face get red and Dallas laughed. "Ok, it didn't work out very well..."

"Clearly. But how did it happen? Did this have something to do with you disappearing for a few weeks?"

"No. I really was sick." I managed to look at Dallas and he rolled his eyes. But Ponyboy and Johnny both had their eyes on me and they didn't notice.

"Hey, welcome in. Can I get ya something to drink?" The waitress asked.

"Umm... yeah. I'll have whatever he got." I said motioning to Ponyboy.

"And for you?" She asked Dally.

"I'll pass."

It didn't take a genius to realize he was annoyed with me.

But why?

I don't reveal any of my secrets and he keeps his look the same.