Ponyboy's POV:

"Alright, guys! We have some exciting news!" Philip, our junior counselor announces. I just got back from my date with Olivia, and I can't get that kiss off of my mind. As hard as I try, I can't pay attention to what the counselors are saying.

"So, as a tradition at this camp, the Friday of the third week, which is next week, is always parents day, since it's a month since we've been here," James, the senior counselor explains. Parent's day. I've hated the idea of it since I got here. Because I'm an orphan, technically. I don't have parents. I have brothers who were raising me until they ditched me and sent me to summer camp. Nobody else has that.

"But this year," Philip continues for him. They always do this, finish each other's sentences and explanations. "This year, we're going to start a new tradition along with that! After your parents leave on Friday night, since our family activities only go until 5:00, we're having a dance afterword!" He sounds excited, like he's been waiting a decade to tell us this. Only a few guys, probably the ones that have known the girls that go here forever, cheer. Most of them are silent, while a few others groan.

Silently, I smile to myself, already excited to ask Olivia. After we'd kissed, things had been kind of awkward. Like there was suddenly so much to say and not enough time to get it all out. This would surely make things better. It would give us time, in a setting that we couldn't get in trouble for being in, to talk.

Maybe Parents Day won't be so bad.

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When we finally get to lunch, I don't even serve myself before going to find her.

"Olivia!" I exclaim.

"Ponyboy. I have to talk to you," she says. 

"So do I," I say, smiling at her. She smiles back.

"You go first," I say. She nods.

"I'm not really sure how to say this..." she starts. I raise an eyebrow.

"What's wrong?" I ask her. She frowns.

"We have to stop seeing each other," she says quietly. My eyes widen in shock.

"What? Are you breaking up with me?" I respond. She shakes her head.

"N-no, not at all. I just... I almost got caught today. It was the smoke. I don't want to get thrown out. My parents will kill me," she tells me. I nod.

"It was pretty risky anyways. My counselors don't care, though. I told them I was going to wash toothpaste out of my pillow case at the lake. I didn't even take my pillow case and I was gone for almost a half hour and nobody said anything," I laugh, "Are you sure your counselors mind?" She nods.

"Yeah. They got mad at me the first day, when I told them I twisted my ankle. I didn't tell you about that one. Then again today. They told me they wanted to confiscate my cigarettes and I wasn't to use them again. Apparently they're against the rules... I don't even have cigarettes, so they're even more suspicious. I just don't want to get in trouble again, Ponyboy. I'm sorry," she says, sounding sad. Regretful, like she'd go out with me every day if she could. I smile at her, like to tell her it's okay. That I'm not upset. But to tell the truth, I kind of am. I liked those alone moments with Olivia. Where it was the two of us and nobody else. They made me feel like I was in a while other world, and nobody could bother us.

"That's okay... It's not your fault. Now this'll just be more romantic. I dunno, like Romeo and Juliet," I tell her, trying to make her feel better. But it doesn't make me feel any better. She just laughs.

"So... What did you want to ask me?" She asks after a moment. I blush, feeling my cheeks and ears heat up.

"What's wrong?" She asks, laughing quietly.

"Nothing... I uh... I don't re-remember what I wanted to ask," I stutter.

"You don't?" She asks, putting a hand on her hip.

"N-no. Never mind," I stutter, suddenly feeling nervous. We basically just broke up, is now really a good time to ask her to a dance?

"It wasn't important," I add. She gives me a sideways glance.

"You came to find me just for that? Must not have been too important." She remarks. I shrug.

"Maybe I just wanted to see your pretty face," I try flirting. She blushes.

"C'mon, Ponyboy, you had something to say. Just say it," she laughs. Her laugh is cute, light and wispy, and so happy. It sounds like her. Like a sound I'd want to hear every minute of every day. I smile at her, her laughter putting me at ease, and decide that now is the right time to ask.

"It's just a question," I start, looking into her eyes. "Olivia Marie Sparks, will you go to the dance on Parent's Day with me?" I ask, my heart pounding. I take a deep breath, looking in her eyes. You could go swimming in them. They look like an ocean, a green ocean anyways. I usually hate people with green eyes. But this girl is different. And her eyes, even as the color they are, are absolutely beautiful.

"Ponyboy," she giggles, "I'm surprised you even had to ask! Of course I'll go with you!" She exclaims. I take a deep breath as my heart rate returns to normal.

"Oh... Oh, great," I say. She puts her arms around my neck, right in front of everyone. I hug her back. I look over at her, in her eyes, and I think we're going to kiss again. Instead, she turns her head, kissing my cheek. Then, she lets go.

"I'd better go get some lunch before it's all gone," she says. "I can't wait for next week! Bye," she calls, smiling. I give her a weak smile back, because something doesn't feel right. We kissed, for real, and she doesn't want to do it again. She told me we had to stop going out. But she still want's to go to the dance with me? Slowly, I walk back to my table. Everyone's already gotten their main dishes from the kitchen, but I'm not hungry.

I grab a piece of bread from a basket on the table, but don't eat it.

A/N: YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S HARD TO WRITE A CHAPTER FROM PONYBOY'S POV WHEN IT'S ABOUT YOUR BEST FRIEND! When it's an OC, I can make up the romantic feelings and become those characters, but Olivia isn't an OC, really. She's just Olivia, so it makes this fic kind of hard. Anyways, I hope this chapter lives up to standards. Let me know?