Curly skips their next tutoring session as well as that week of school. The redhead wasn't sure what had brought it on. He thought that they were making such good progress. But after the other male told him he wanted to kiss him, he disappeared.

Ponyboy wouldn't lie and say that he wasn't disappointed and confused. He truly was. The redhead had meant it, his promise to Curly. He would have kissed him without regret.

He was disheartened to know that Curly was running away from him. There was no other reason that he'd skip school again, skip out on hanging out. He doesn't know what he did wrong. Or maybe Curly was just drunk and wanted to kiss him, but didn't want to do it sober. He was glad that he had made the decision that he did. 

He was walking home from school all over again, this time alone. Just as he had been all week. The week without Curly passed by agonizingly slow, just as the weekend did. Now it was back to Monday and he wished that he could do anything to bring the other male back. He didn't understand. But he didn't want to go seeking Curly out. He got angry when people did that. Had problems with him and sought him out. He interpreted it like they were asking to fight. And that was usually never the case. 

But Curly was nothing if not mean when he wanted to be.

The redhead stuffs his hands into his pockets. He had stayed after school today for the sole purpose of maybe getting a glimpse of Curly on the way home. Which ended up being a poor decision on his part. 

A group of rich kids seemed to spot him right off of school grounds. And they seemed to have a purpose in talking to him. So he was now nursing a black eye and some scrapes, bruised knuckles, and a bloodied nose, but nothing that he couldn't handle. Sure it sucked, but they didn't look so pretty either. He wasn't the best fighter in the world, but he could hold his own for a minute when he needed to.

Although right as he got to the front gate, he was surprised to see none other than Curly sitting on the steps of his front porch. His knee was bouncing and he was looking straight down, almost like he wasn't paying attention.

Ponyboy couldn't help but feel a flare of agitation rush through him. Curly decides to show up now of all times. He unlocks the gate carefully and he pushes it open, listening to the loud creak that gave him away. Maybe he should have walked to the park instead just to waste time before coming home.

Curly's head shoots up at the sound, eyes widening at the sight of the redhead in front of him. He stands up quickly, making his way over in an instant.

"Who did this to you?" He asks quickly, eyebrows furrowed in anger, jaw set tight.

Ponyboy pulls away from their closeness, a frown overcoming his features quickly. The redhead was upset.

"What're you doing here?" The redhead asks instead. "You think you can just ditch me entirely for over a week and then just... Show up on my doorstep? Curly, what's even going on?"

Curly takes a step back and he frowns, anger forgotten about for a moment. The ravenette takes a small breath, reigning in any of his negative emotions. This wasn't a time to let his anger get the best of him.

"I needed to think," the ravenette responds after a few moments of silence. "I didn't... I didn't want to ruin everything. I was drunk in your bed and told you I wanted to kiss you. Who just does something like that?"

The older male's cheeks were beginning to heat up, a brilliant shade of pink blossoming across his darker skin. He stuffs his hands deep into his pockets, a habit he picked up for when he was embarrassed. He gets it from Tim.

"I said that I'd kiss you when you were sober, didn't I?" Ponyboy retorts. "You think I just tell anyone that kind of thing?"

"I thought that you were sparing my feelings,' Curly admits. "Shit, I've never done this kind of thing before. And it scares the living hell out of me because you were my friend first and foremost. What if I fuck it up? I don't... I don't wanna be without you because I fucked something up all over again."

Ponyboy's features soften at the admission. The redhead takes a small breath. Curly was scared? Really scared?

He takes a step forward and he cups Curly's cheek just as he'd done the night in his room. The redhead offers a small smile. He didn't want to scare him away.

"I'm sorry that I got angry at you," the redhead says quietly, sighing. "That wasn't fair..."

"It's okay," Curly murmurs, leaning into the touch nonetheless. He was used to people being angry with him for one reason or another. "Are you still angry at me...?"

"No, no I don't think so," Ponyboy responds quietly.

It was silent for a few moments, the two of them soaking up their freshly mended relationship. The two were glad that this was an easy fix.

"Does this mean I can kiss you now?" Curly asks, grinning gently at the other male. "I mean, I am quite sober at the moment... Not even a cigarette in my system."

Admittedly though, he felt that he really needed a cigarette. It would help calm down his shaky nerves.

"You gonna mind the taste of my bloody nose?" Ponyboy teases, giggling gently.

"Curly Shepard isn't one to fear blood," the ravenette responds, snickering.

"Then kiss me."

Curly doesn't need to be told twice, closing the gap between the two of them. Ponyboy kisses back gently, the hand not cupping Curly's cheek going to rest on his shoulder. He didn't ever imagine that his first kiss would be in the middle of his front yard.

The older male's arms loop around Ponyboy's waist, tugging him a little closer. It was clumsy and new, but both boys didn't seem to mind anything like that. It was each other, how could they mind?

The ravenette eventually breaks the kiss, grinning so wide that his dimples actually made an appearance, his eyes crinkling. And Ponyboy doesn't think he's ever seen anything more beautiful than him... The redhead couldn't help but laugh breathlessly. His lips were tingling still.

"Let's get you inside," Curly says gently. "I can get you cleaned up... You never did tell me who did this to you. Your pretty face..."

Ponyboy's cheeks go bright red.

"Just some rich kids..." The younger male murmurs. "Was waiting after school, hoping to catch you... They got me first."

Curly frowns.

"M'sorry, darling."

"It's okay, I got an even better surprise," Ponyboy teases. "You were sitting pretty on my doorstep. I got to come home to you..."

Curly rolls his eyes playfully, pulling away from the other male a little. He gives his hip a small squeeze.

And with that, he guides the two of them inside.