˙˚∘⊹🦋⊹∘˚˙ Butterfly in the Moonlight

- CHAPTER 11 -

"I uh, have an idea." Ponyboy raises his hand. Dallas urged him to move on. "We could uh, we could go to maybe Rylee's house and call up my brothers-"

"No!- you are not using her house for this..Jesus Christ.." Dallas rubbed his head as he paced around the room.

Rylee was leaning against the bed on the floor, nearly about to fall asleep unless Dallas would nudge or kick her leg to keep her awake. "We could just go to the train that runs in the morning." Rylee yawned as she put her glasses on the ground.

"How do you even..you know what, I'm not even gunna question you Rylee." Dallas groaned as he rolled his eyes. "Whatever just- let's do that. You three can stay here, I'm going to try to calm the party down a bit."

Dallas left the room after that. Rylee's head was leaning on Johnny's knee as she started to doze off.

"Johnny, you're so tense." Ponyboy mentioned. "Listen you don't have to be so..nervous. You know? I mean if anything- we could just say it was for self defense..though I don't think that'll work the best."

"I..I know." Johnny replied as he stared down at Rylee's head. "It's so..nerve racking- I guess? I never thought I had the guts to murder anyone.."

"Johnny..we will be okay.." Ponyboy smiled at Johnny. "I swear."

"Don't swear on a promise you can't keep." Johnny said as looked back down at Rylee. "Can I be honest with you?"

"Hm?" Ponyboy hummed to let Johnny know he was listening.

"Rylee seems..familiar to me. I don't know how. Remember that thing I told you a few months back, about that one dream I kept having over and over? With a girl?" Johnny started off. "I have a strange feeling..of that she IS the girl."

Ponyboy shrugged. "I mean, if she is, at least she changed, right?" Ponyboy said with a smile. "I mean didn't you have this giant crush on her after that-"

Johnny shoved his hand over Ponyboy's mouth. "Ponyboy..shut your mouth. What if she isn't asleep?"

"Then you'll just have to deal with her, not me." Ponyboy snorted as Dallas came back into the room. "Well, it seems more quiet down there."

"Go to bed in the spare bedrooms, okay? I'll wake you guys up and then take you to the train to go to Windrixville, pretty sure that's what doll face was meaning down there." Dallas pointed at Rylee who was curled up beside Johnny's leg, using it as her own little head rest.

"Who's moving her?" Johnny asked as he moved his shirt, tugging it away from his neck.

"You are- she's laying on you dumbass." Dallas scoffed. "Now you lot get off my bed."
———
It was early in the morning. Rylee stretched as she was up before everyone. Her eyes were groggy as she rubbed the sleep away, groaning in annoyance as she rolled over in the bed.

Dallas kicked the bed frame again. "Get up Rylee. Jesus why are you so stubborn." He scoffed as she finally sat up, getting off the bed with a messy bed head. "Fix your hair. I'm going to drive y'all down the backroads to get to the train."

Rylee grumbled as she fixed her hair, pulling it behind her hair into a bow. Johnny and Ponyboy were already in the backseat of Dallas's car and Rylee hopped into the backseat with the other two, setting the bag onto her lap.

It was still early in the morning, Rylee breathed in the morning air. It smelt like it had just rained the night before. She took out her camera, taking a photo of the sunrise.

Johnny leaned over and whispered to Ponyboy. "Maybe I should try talking to her about..you know, when we go to Windrixville." Johnny whispered to him.

"I think that would be a good idea." Ponyboy replied. "Seeing as we are running away for a while. Hiding low like in the movies and shows."

Rylee was too focused on taking good photos, that she hardly noticed the boys talking about whatever. Soon the four were coming upon the train area down the backroads. Rylee jumped out after Dallas had stopped the car, soon turning to hug him and go follow the other boys.

The train ride was..quiet. Besides the screeches of the rails, or the people talking when Rylee, Johnny and Ponyboy hiding underneath boxes, all squished together.

Rylee often would be taking photos, or sketching on the bumpy train ride. Ponyboy would be trying to read and Johnny would lean his head on Ponyboy's shoulder to try to read with him.

The trio finally were able to jump off and bolt for the abandoned church at the top. Rylee's bag thumped against her thigh as she threw it over her shoulder. Ponyboy and Johnny were already up at the church when she was was still running up the hill.

Rylee was gasped as she put her hands on top of her head, walking around as she breathed heavy. "You good Rylee?" Ponyboy asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I thought you were in marching band, thought you were used to this."

"Shut-" She gasped out, "Shut your mouth, Pony. I'll bust your mouth worse than Socs ever did."

Ponyboy chuckled as soon as she finally stopped gasping for air. Her face was incredibly red, she hardly ever ran that much but holy shit, she was so tired.

Ponyboy opened the church door, sneezing immediately at the dust. "Eugh." He coughed out as he gave a disgusted look.

Rylee kept the door open and nodded for Johnny to come in. He froze and then he looked like he wanted to say something. "What's up?" She asked Johnny, her voice soft as her chest raised up and down as she breathed.

"Can we talk..maybe? Like after we get situated in this church." Johnny questioned as he rubbed the back of his head.

Rylee gave a soft smile. "Sure."