The greaser gang thinking reader cheated after seeing a hickey on her neck, and it results in the big argument
(it's a burn mark from a curling iron)
The gang thinks you’re pulling their fucking leg but you know damn well that it was just a curling iron. Somehow some of them just don’t believe it until you show ‘em what happened.
- it was a normal day. Everything was going well… until he saw it…
- now Ponyboy’s mind goes runnin’ wild. He notices it and his chest tightens immediately.
- I’d like to think he kinda spirals.
- he would start asking weird and indirect questions like:
“Have you been… seeing anyone…?”
- now this is when the argument starts and lemme tell you emotional and messy.
- he then says something he regrets almost instantly:
“I just don’t wanna be stupid.”
- when you finally get to explain, he looks devastated—not relieved…
“I didn’t want to believe it… but I thought maybe…”
- he then apologizes in the most comfortable way he can be; writing letters.
- saying out loud feels too heavy for him.
- Johnnycake notices the mark and immediately starts thinking the worst about himself, nah, not you. But him.
- Johnny thinks that you went ahead and cheated because he wasn’t good enough for you. He had always thought he wasn’t good enough for you because that’s how Johnny processed it but he still loves you with all his heart.
- he doesn’t exactly confront you about it right away—he withdraws.
- oh but when the argument happens, it’s quiet but heartbreaking…
“If you wanted someone else, you could’ve told me…”
- but when you snap back at him saying it’s a burn from a curling iron, his whole fucking face drains of color.
- he’s mortified to say the least.
- he apologizes over and over and over again.
“I didn’t mean—I just got scared…”
- after that, he never doubts you like that ever again.
- oh when Winston sees the mark, it’s fucking instant reaction.
- anger first. Sharp. Ugly.
- he accuses you outright and it’s harsh…
- then the argument explodes and I mean EXPLODES.
- he’ll say something cruel that he can’t easily take back.
“So you’re whoring around now? Two-timin’ lil broad. All of y’all are the same.”
- when you throw the curling iron on the table and yell, “I burned myself asshole!”
- he goes absolutely fucking still after that.
- the guilt hits him like a punch to the ribs.
- he apologizes in the only way he knows how—quiet, rough, holding your face like he’s grounding himself.
“I don’t like the idea of losing you, doll. Makes me stupid…”
- needless to say, his past trauma with his ex, Sylvia, all came back to the surface for a split second as he saw that mark on your neck. But you two were good in the end.
- Soda sees it and goes absolutely fucking quiet.
- Too quiet. Deathly quiet. (Oh damn…)
- He tries to joke at first, but it doesn’t land too well.
- When you don’t answer fast enough, his smile fades.
- He doesn’t yell—he looks hurt.
“Just tell me the truth.”
- The argument breaks him more than it breaks you.
- He hates that he even thought it.
- When you show him the curling iron and explain, he looks sick to his fucking stomach.
- He spends the rest of the night apologizing and holding you like he’s scared you’ll leave. Try not to do that to sweet Sodapop again, I keep tellin’ ya…
- Steve’s reaction is sharp and defensive.
“You expect me not to notice this bullshit right in front of me?”
- He’s sarcastic at first, masking insecurity. He’ll hide that shit pretty good but pretty bad at the same time.
- The argument gets heated fast.
- He accuses. You snap back harder.
- When you explain and show him proof, he freezes.
- Realizes he just accused you of the worst thing possible. Which hurt Randle.
- He spends the next few days trying to make it up to you in small, awkward ways. He takes you to the DX more, buys you more of your favorite sodas, small cute stuff like that.
- Two-Bit jokes at first—but it’s forced.
“Damn, didn’t know you were gettin’ popular.”
- The argument turns serious fast.
- He accuses you, then hates himself for it.
- When you explain, his face falls.
“I didn’t mean it like that…”
- He apologizes with humor turned inward instead of at you.
“Guess I’m the idiot this time.”
“I guess so. But I still love you anyways.”
- Darry notices the mark immediately. His jaw tightens, eyes narrowing—not angry yet, just… guarded. Really fucking guarded.
- He doesn’t accuse you outright at first. He asks questions that feel like tests. He just wants to make sure…
“Where’d that come from?”
- When you get defensive instead of explaining, it flips something in him.
- The argument turns sharp. Controlled, but cutting.
- He says something like, “I give everything for this relationship—so don’t insult me.”
- When you finally snap and yell that it’s a burn, he freezes.
- He apologizes immediately—but it’s heavy, serious.
“I should’ve trusted you before I trusted my damn fear.”