The Ticket of Goodbye- The Outsiders - Ponyboy

Express

The next morning, I woke up pretty early. I opened my eyes and looked out the window from the bed. It seemed the sun has just risen.

I closed my eyes to rest a while longer when I felt Pony reach his arm over me and pull me closer to him. He nuzzled the side of his face against my neck. We stayed like that a while.

He began playing with my hair softly with his other hand, and eyes still closed.

I felt my body was still aching. I did feel a whole lot better than I did last night though. I needed a good nights rest.

I then heard shuffling around in the kitchen. I assumed the others were up by now.

A moment later, I moved a little and started to get up, but Pony pulled me back.

"Stay with me." He mumbled tiredly, eyes still closed.

"Only a while longer." I whispered back.

Finally, after cuddling a while, we both forced ourselves out of bed. We walked into the kitchen and saw Darry making breakfast and Soda flipping through channels on the TV.

"Mornin kiddos." Darry gushed with a cheesy grin.

"Morning Darry. Where's Johnny?" I wondered.

"Oh, I woke up in the middle of the night, he was gone and I assumed he'd come in the room with you two. Did he not?" Darry informed.

"Nope." Pony said.

"You seen him, Soda?" I asked hopefully.

He shook his head.

"I'm sure he'll turn up eventually. Maybe went out for a smoke or somethin. If not, we'll go lookin for him." Darry assured.

I nodded my head with a smile.

"Thank you Darry." I said softly with a smile.

Darry pulled me into a side hug and rubbed the top of my head back and forth with his fist.

"Ah, don't mention it, kiddo." He laughed. "I got breakfast here."

He began placing the pancakes he made onto different plates for us. Pony and I grabbed a plate with one and Soda came in from the living room, doing the same.

After we all got our plates, we sat down at the dining table. Just then, Johnny walked through the front door with a hesitant look on his face.

"There you are, Johnny." I sighed with relief, but calmly.

I got up from my chair and went to greet him with a hug.

"Where ya been?" Soda asked.

"Just went around town for somethin is all." He answered casually.

"Well I got pancakes here, Johnny." Darry smiled.

Johnny grabbed a plate from the kitchen counter and sat down with us to eat. He looked nervous as can be, but I don't think anyone else noticed.

After we finished eating, Two-Bit, Dally and Steve came through the front door.

Once they saw Johnny and I's wounds and scars, they knew what went down just like everyone else did.

"You guys ok?" Two-Bit asked calmly, but nervously.

Johnny and I nodded. Steve came over to me, noticing the big bandage on my forehead. He moved my hair out of my face which revealed it entirely.

"Got your head real good Livi?" He asked.

"Corner of a wall will do that to ya." I answered.

Dally was standing by Johnny and asking if he was alright.