Running Away is Easy

Apologies

I woke up with an icepack up to my eye and a pounding headache. I tried to sit up and look around but someone lightly pushed me back down. It was Johnny.
"Come on Pony, you don't wanna be moving right now. Darry got you pretty good, we almost thought you broke your nose. You stay here and get some rest, I'll tell everyone you're ok." He said.
"Wait, Johnnycake," He went to stand up, but i grabbed his arm so he couldn't, "where are we? Last thing I remember was Darry hittin' me, than me blacking out. What happened after that." I asked him.
"Two-bit got mad at Darry for punching you, so he pushed him, and than Dally joined in. Steve and Soda were trying to stop them, and I was sat there beside you making sure you didn't get anymore hurt than you already were." I got a fuzzy feeling in my stomach knowing Johnny was trying to protect me. "There was some fighting for a few minutes, than Two offered to take you to his place to get some rest. Two-bit, Steve, and Dally are out in the living room and Soda stayed with Darry to try and cool him down a bit." Johnny explained.
"Did any of them say anything about... us?" I asked.
"Well Two-bit told me he was alright with it, and if we needed a place to stay, we could stay here with him, and Steve told me that everything was going to be ok. He also said Soda told him he was gonna try talking Darry into letting you back in the house, telling him why kicking you out was wrong and all that." Even if Darry did let me back in, I'm not sure if I would want to go back. With everything that happened, it just wouldn't be the same.
We looked at each other for a moment, I could see tears forming in Johnny's eyes. He placed one of his hands in my mine, the other on my cheek, "Oh Pony, I'm so sorry. This whole thing is my fault. This would have never happened if I hadn't said we should be more than friends." Tears were falling from his cheek, which caused me to start crying too.
"No, this isn't your fault, I'm the one who kissed you. And besides, It isn't our fault Darry isn't supportive." I tried to reassure him. He took the hand he had on my cheek and began gently wiping my tears.
"We already knew Darry didn't react well and I still thought we should talk to him. Now you're the one that ended up with a bloody nose and a black eye because of my stupid idea!" I tried sitting up again, and this time it was successful.
"It was Darry's idea to start getting physical. We only came in to talk, not to fight, you had no idea he was gonna punch me. You had the right intentions and thats all the matters." I leaned over and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.
The door opened, and I looked over to see the gang there. "Hey Ponyboy, you feeling alright? Darry hit you pretty good and we just want to make sure you aren't hurt too bad." Two-bit asked.
"Yeah I'm alright, thanks for letting me stay here." too be honest, I didn't feel great, my head was killing me and my nose felt like someone throw a rock at my face, but Two had done enough for me, I didn't want to bother him anymore.
Steve walked from the door over to the bed and sat down next to me, "We talked to Soda, he said Darry's sorry for hitting you, but he's still coming around for the whole you and Johnny thing." Steve was never nice to me, so it was a little strange he was being all kind to me now, but it was nice.
We heard the phone start to ring from the living room. "You guys stay here, I'll go get it." Two-bit said.
Dally came over and sat on the other said of me, "Nice black eye, it makes you look tough." I guess it was kinda cool, but I didn't really care for looking tough anymore. "Can you guys go outside for a minute, I want to talk to the kid. Johnny, you stay." Dally asked. The gang nodded and left the room.
"Pony, I'm sorry for starting things with Darry. I've never had a dad in my life, and I knew Darry was the closest thing you had to one, and I didn't want you to lose him. I figured if I was a little more rough with him he would understand and apologize, but I guess that didn't work out too well." Dallas must have been able to tell I was really upset because it takes a lot for him to say sorry.
He leaned in and gave both of us hugs. "Remember, the gang and I are always here for you two." I pulled away, not because I was upset, I was just overwhelmed. "You two are like brothers to me, and I can't stand seeing people hurt you. But man, if anyone else finds out about this conversation, you guys are dead." Johnny and I both just laughed, but I'm not really sure if he was joking, he did have a tough reputation to keep up with.
We all looked up as Two-bit bursted through the door, "Come on guys we gotta go." he urged.
"Wha- why, what's going on?" I asked.
Two-bit grabbed my arm and hurried us out the door while explaining, "I just got off the phone with Soda. Someone must have heard our little rumble back at your house this morning and called the fuzz. They arrested Darry."