unexpected → ponyboyxdaniel

chapter two

     The next day at school, Daniel was walking with Ali. They were heading to class.
     "So, Daniel," Ali started, a huge smile on her face, holding hands with him. "I'm thinking we go out tonight. On a date." Ali nodded, seeming excited.
     Daniel smiled in return, "a date? Yeah, absolutely. Where do you wanna go?"
     Ali nodded, "well, I've got this idea-"

     The two were interrupted by someone calling Daniel's name. They turned around, seeing Ponyboy running up. Daniel grinned and waved, "hey, Pony!" He went over to Pony.

     Ali rolled her eyes, walking off, clearly annoyed.

     Daniel approached Ponyboy. "What's up, man? Need any help?"
     Pony shook his head, "not exactly. Um, you see, I was invited to this beach party tonight. I was told I could bring friends, but like, you're the only friend I have, and- would you go with me?"
     Daniel smiled, "really? Yeah, totally, I'll go." He said happily, nodding.

     Daniel completely forgot he was supposed to be going out with Ali that night.

     Ponyboy sighed in relief, "great. Daniel, thanks. I'm looking forward to it." He turned, walking off. Daniel waved goodbye to Pony, turning around to return to Ali, but seeing she wasn't there. A confused expression came across Daniel's face when he saw he was now left alone.

     At soccer practice, Daniel and his team were versing one another, to practice for games. Daniel was running and dodging people, the ball under his feet. He swerved around anyone coming at him, and then kicked the soccer ball right in to the goal, hearing his side of the team cheer.
     Daniel glanced over, seeing Ponyboy watching from a bench. He smiled and waved over to Pony, the boy returning the wave.
     "Daniel, eyes on the game!" The coach called. Daniel grinned, "sorry, coach." He jogged back to his spot. They continued with the game, and Ponyboy stayed to watch. Daniel didn't mind. At the moment, he knew he was all Pony had.

     That night, Daniel got ready for the beach. He pulled on some sweatpants and a hoodie, checking his hair in the mirror.

     Downstairs, Pony got ready as well. Pants, t-shirt, shoes. He also checked his hair in the mirror.

     Daniel kissed his mother goodbye, running off downstairs to get Ponyboy. He walked to the door and knocked, "guess whoooo." Daniel smiled.

      The door opened to a man who was /not/ Ponyboy. "Who are you?" He asked, looking down at Daniel, confused. Daniel stood up straight, looking shocked. "Uh, hi. Is Pony there?"
     The man nodded a bit, "Pony, a friend is here for you,"
     "Coming, Darry," Pony said, running over to the door. He smiled at Daniel, "oh, hey, Daniel. Ready to go?"
     Darry looked at the two of them, "right, the beach party. Don't stay out too late." He smiled, closing the door behind them.
     Daniel and Ponyboy stood there awkwardly, but a nice awkwardness was in the air. "Um, you look nice." Pony said shyly, looking at Daniel.
     Daniel smiled shyly, "thank you. Um, so do you. Yeah."
     They stood there, just staring at the floor for a few minutes, until one of them worked up the courage to move the night along.
     Daniel nodded, "we should go. You're gonna have a lot of fun tonight." He walked off, Ponyboy following him out of the apartment. They got on their bikes, riding off to the beach.

     Pony and Daniel walked on to the beach together. "Welcome." Daniel told Pony, laughing quietly. Some guys would walk by the two, saying hello to Daniel. Daniel would high five them and ask what's up. He wasn't exactly popular, no, just gained a little more attention since becoming karate champion.
     "Well aren't you the social butterfly." Ponyboy said with a smile. Daniel laughed, shaking his head, "no, no. Trust me." He guided Ponyboy over to the campfire.
     The two boys took a seat there, looking around. "So now what? What goes on at these things?" Pony asked.
     Daniel shrugged a little, "anything you want, really. I usually play soccer. Follow me." He smiled and got up, running back to his bike. Daniel returned to Ponyboy with a soccer ball. "Let's play some of this. It's my favorite."
     Pony grinned, shaking his head, "oh, I don't know how-"
     "You don't have to know how. Just kick it." Daniel dropped the ball in front of Pony, backing up a few feet. "Go ahead."

     Pony concentrated, and then kicked the ball. It was a pretty good kick. Daniel ran to it and dribbled it with his feet, sending a kick to Pony. The ball went past him, meaning  he got a goal. "Not bad, Pony. Not bad." Daniel laughed, nodding at him. "Thank you, thank you," Pony bowed, sarcastically.
    Pony and Daniel kept kicking the ball around. Pony eventually got quite a few goals, even.

     Daniel went over to the campfire to relax, because someone wanted to talk to Ponyboy. Daniel told Pony to meet him back at the campfire when he was ready.

     Pony walked over with a blonde guy. One from the Cobra Kai, clearly. One that chased him down. He didn't feel too comfortable talking to him anyway. "So, tell me, uh, you and Daniel. What's up with that?" The guy asked, grinning.
     Pony shrugged a little, "we're friends. What do you mean?"
    The boy smiled, "nothing, nothing. Just that you two seem extra close. If you know what I mean."
     Pony shook his head, "no. We're not- we're just friends."
     He laughed, "whatever you say. Good, though. We don't need no dick suckers around." The boy smirked, walking off.
     Pony was left standing there, looking extremely confused and hurt.
     Daniel glanced over at Pony from the campfire, seeing him standing alone, and clearly something was wrong. He got up and walked over to him, grabbing Pony's arm gently.
     "Ponyboy, man. What's wrong?" He asked, looking confused. Pony snapped out of it, glancing at Daniel. "Daniel- uh, yeah. I'm okay. Don't worry. Just a little tired."
     "Do you want to go back? Like, to home?" Daniel asked. Pony nodded a little, not saying anything.
     Daniel nodded, "okay. so we go."

     Daniel didn't have a problem with leaving the party. If Ponyboy wasn't comfortable, he didn't want to keep him there. Daniel just wanted to know what was wrong.

     Daniel walked Pony to his apartment. He smiled a little, holding his hand out for Pony to shake. Pony missed his hand and just leaned in, hugging Daniel tightly. "Thanks for tonight. My only friend."
     Daniel looked shocked for a moment, feeling something weird and loopy in his stomach. He eventually wrapped his arms around Pony in return. "Yeah. Anytime. Really."
     Pony smiled a little and pulled away, walking in to the apartment. Daniel stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door. What was going on? What was he feeling? What was Ponyboy feeling?

     Daniel walked up to his apartment, and in. His mother was on the couch, "hey, Daniel," she smiled.
     Daniel walked to the fridge, "hey, ma," he grabbed a drink, sipping it.
     "Ali called. Told her you would call when you get home."
     Daniel spit his drink out in the sink. "Dammit- Ali-"

     He forgot all about her, and the date.