Curly felt the breath leave from his lungs as he watched Ponyboy flick open his switchblade and hold it loosely in his hand like Tim had done hundreds of times during confrontations; his breath had left his lungs, it felt like he couldn't breathe as a smile slowly built on to his face listening to the low curses and threats coming from Ponyboy's lips.
"Come on Curls," Ponyboy laughed afterwards, "get your head outta the clouds, that's my job," a grin on his face afterwards and the switchblade back in his pocket, mischief in his eyes when he looked back at Curly with a loose grin.
"I can't help it baby, not when you're threatening people in my honor," Curly responded, not even caring where the Socs that had been threatening him had gone, just caring that Ponyboy's attention was on him of all people, that Ponyboy had stuck up for him with his blade of all things; Ponyboy didn't pull his blade out to protect just anybody.