Chapter Text
Chapter 69
Pony’s POV
When you grow up a greaser from Tulsa, stepping onto a luxury yacht feels like stepping into another planet…one where everything smells like money and perfume, and everyone smiles like they’re posing for a magazine even when they’re just breathing. But we did it anyway…the whole gang, walking behind Marissa, Ryan, Seth, and Anna like we belonged there. Kirsten led us up the ramp with the confidence of someone whose dad owns half the boats in the harbor.
I stuck close to Soda and Johnny. Steve kept messing with his tie. Two-Bit kept messing with Steve’s tie.
And Dally kept eyeing the white-coated waiters like he expected one to accuse him of stealing something any second.
Julie was already at the entrance, shining like a lighthouse for rich people.
“Thank you so much for coming!” Julie said in that singsong Newport voice that made Dally mutter, “She’s sellin’ somethin’. She just hasn’t told us what yet.”
But when she saw Marissa, she lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Hi!” Julie said. “You’re here!”
Marissa softened.
“Hey, Mom,” Marissa said.
They hugged. It actually looked real, which surprised me more than anything else tonight so far.
Jimmy stepped forward next.
He shook Ryan’s hand.
“How are you doing?” Jimmy asked.
“Good,” Ryan said.
I could tell he meant “Not sure yet,” but around here, “good” was safer.
Then came Caitlin, marching over with the confidence only a Cooper kid has.
“Hi, Caity,” Marissa said.
“Hi, Caitlin,” Ryan added.
Caitlin narrowed her eyes at him.
“Hi, Ryan,” Caitlin said.
Dally snorted.
“Kid’s sizing him up like a stray dog,” Dally said.
Julie put a gentle hand on Caitlin’s shoulder.
“Caitlin doesn’t trust new people, but Ryan is very trustworthy,” Julie said.
“Wow,” Two-Bit muttered to Steve. “That’s the nicest thing she’s ever said to anybody… ever.”
Jimmy waved Marissa over.
“Sweetheart, Reverend Donahue wants to say hello,” Jimmy said.
“Okay, Daddy,” Marissa said.
Then I noticed Ryan and the rest of us staring upward…Caleb Nichol was standing on the upper deck, surveying everything like a king watching peasants.
Ryan glanced at Julie.
Julie pretended not to notice us noticing.
A photographer approached.
“Can I get a picture of the Cooper family?” the photographer asked.
“Totally,” Marissa said.
Jimmy beamed.
“Yeah, that would be great,” Jimmy said. “Come on, let’s do it, Jules.”
Julie smoothed her dress, already posing.
“Yes, of course,” Julie said. “Riviera Magazine. Very exciting.”
Julie looked at Ryan.
“Ryan, why don’t you join us?” Julie offered.
Ryan shook his head.
“No,” Ryan said. “It’s for your family.”
The photographer lifted the camera.
“Say cheese,” the photographer said.
As the flash popped, Ryan was already walking away, climbing the stairs to the upper deck. We followed him in a loose pack, figuring he’d need backup…or at least company.
Caleb spotted Kirsten as she stepped onto the deck.
“Hey, Kiki,” Caleb said.
Kirsten smiled slightly.
“Hey, Dad,” Kirsten said.
Caleb kissed Kirsten’s cheek, then scanned around.
“Where’s the sandman?” Caleb asked.
Seth was nearby, mid-conversation with Anna.
“Those earrings are hypnotizing me,’ Seth said.
“I know,” Anna said. “They’re kind of making me seasick.”
Caleb chuckled when Seth walked up.
“There he is,” Caleb said. “Built like a pipe cleaner, but looking sharp.”
Caleb hugged Seth. Seth stiffened like the hug might be part of a business deal.
“Hey,” Seth said. “Same-same to you. I don’t know what that means.”
Caleb’s attention snapped to Anna.
“Who’s this little firecracker?” Caleb asked.
Seth tripped over his tongue.
“Uh…that’s my date,” Seth stuttered. “My-my friend…Anna.”
Caleb shook her hand.
“Clearly, she needs no introduction,” Caleb said.
Anna smiled sweetly.
“Very nice to meet you, sir,” Anna said. “Seth said you were scary, but I see an inner sweetness.”
Caleb blinked, genuinely surprised.
“I like your moxie,” Caleb said.
Seth nodded.
“Hmm,” Seth said. “Suddenly we’re in a film noir.”
“She just told Newport’s scariest man he’s sweet,” Soda whispered.
Johnny shrugged.
“She ain’t wrong,” Johnny said.
Dally stretched an arm around the railing.
“This kid’s doomed,” Dally said. “Both of ‘em.”
Summer walked onto the upper deck with Chip trailing behind her like a confused puppy.
“The ocean is like so vast, like endless,” Chip said. “I feel so…”
“Insignificant?” Summer asked.
Chip nodded seriously.
Summer blinked.
“Go figure,” Summer deadpanned.
Then Summer plastered on a smile.
“You know, I’m thirsty,” Summer said.
“Do you wanna go to the bar?” Chip asked.
“Yeah, you can,” Summer said. “Yeah, thanks.”
Chip walked off, clueless as a goat on a trampoline.
Two-Bit laughed out loud.
“Oh man, that dude’s got the IQ of a coffee mug,” Two-Bit said.
Steve snorted.
“Don’t insult the mug,” Steve said.
I felt a chill travel down Ryan’s spine. I swear we all did. He looked at the water, the lights, then the Cooper family smiling in that staged picture.
Something about this night was wrong.
Soda leaned on the rail.
“Pony, I’m callin’ it now,” Soda said. “Somebody’s gonna blow up before dessert.”
“Yeah,” Johnny murmured. “And we’re gonna be right in the middle of it.”
Because with the Coopers, the Nichols, and the Cohens all on a yacht?
Drama wasn’t just likely.
It was guaranteed.
Inside the yacht, everything was louder, brighter, and ten times more crowded than on the deck. People in tuxes and gowns drank wine like it was water, and waiters floated around with trays full of tiny appetizers none of us could pronounce. Two-Bit kept trying to snag extra ones, and every time he succeeded, he whispered, “They’re like rich-people Scooby Snacks, man.”
The air smelled like perfume, champagne, and money—so much money it made me dizzy.
Ryan made his way to the bar, leaning against it like he needed something solid to hold onto. The bartender already had a drink in front of him before he even opened his mouth…guess word gets around fast when the only kid in Chino-cut dress pants wanders into a yacht party.
Julie drifted over like a shark wearing lipstick.
“Hi, Ryan,” Julie said.
Ryan didn’t turn his head fully.
“Good party,” Ryan said.
Julie’s smile tightened just a little…like she could hear the unsaid “for people who like lying for fun.”
“Thank you,” Julie said smoothly. Then her eyes flickered to us, standing close behind Ryan like shadows in suits.
“And thanks for not telling Marissa,” Julie said. “The gang, too.”
Dally crossed his arms like he was daring her to say something out of line. Steve just rolled his eyes. Johnny shifted closer to Ryan, like he might have to step in.
Ryan took a breath.
“She was pretty excited about you maybe getting back together with her dad,” Ryan said.
Ryan glanced at Julie, steady and sharp.
“You may be okay with lying to Marissa, but I’m not,” Ryan said.
Julie’s smirk was small but cold.
“This is my life, my daughter,” Julie said.
Ryan didn’t flinch.
“My girlfriend,” Ryan said.
“Our friend,” I added quietly.
The rest of the guys nodded, backing him without even having to speak.
Julie’s eyes narrowed, just for a split second...like she hadn’t expected a bunch of Tulsa greasers to stand up to her.
Julie tilted her chin.
“Ryan… stay out of this,” Julie said. “All of you as well. It’s none of your business.”
“Lady, you made it our business the second you started draggin’ Marissa through emotional barbed wire,” Two-Bit muttered, not quietly.
Julie heard. Julie ignored. Julie always ignored what didn’t fit her plan.
Ryan pushed off the bar.
“I’m not gonna lie to her,” Ryan said.
Then he walked away, jaw tight, and we followed…seven shadows trailing after him, ready to back him if Julie tried anything else.
As we moved deeper into the crowd, I felt people look at us…really look at us. A bunch of greasers walking through a room full of CEOs and plastic surgeons? Yeah, we stood out like a pack of wolves walking into a jewelry store.
Soda leaned in.
“If she thinks she can intimidate us, she ain’t seen what Darry looks like when we get home late,” Soda whispered.
Johnny nudged him, smiling faintly.
“She’s scared of losing control,” Johnny said. “That’s all.”
Dally scoffed.
“She oughta be scared of somethin’ real, like gettin’ tossed off this boat,” Dally said.
Steve smacked the back of Dally’s head.
“Quit sayin’ that where security can hear, genius,” Steve said.
Dally grinned toothily at a waiter, who took one look at him and hurried off.
Ryan was tense as a live wire, pushing through the crowd.
Two-Bit patted his shoulder.
“Relax, man,” Two-Bit said. “We got your back.”
Ryan exhaled, but he didn’t slow down.
He cared about Marissa. And Julie’s secrets? Those were going to blow up sooner or later. You could feel it in the air like the pressure before a storm.
And the funniest part?
We were on a boat.
Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
This night wasn’t even close to over.