The Outsiders Stuff!

Late Night Talk (Oneshot)

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Ponyboy's POV:
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I was walking home after going to a movie. It was the weekend, so I'm allowed to stay up and go out later than days when I have school tomorrow.

The sun was setting, and the sky was a mix of pinks, purples, blues, and some oranges and yellows. I always liked the more orange and red ones, but all sunsets were beautiful to me. You only got to see the sky in different shades besides blue twice a day, and only for like an hour. And most people sleep through the sunrise, so they only get to see the sunset. And sunsets are always pretty to me. I don't know why. I guess I just like what nature has to offer.

I was too busy thinking to myself, and not looking where I was going, to notice there was a tree right in front of me. I walked into it by accident. I didn't get too banged up, but it snapped me out of my daydream. I realized I was at the lot, which was close to home.

I was just gonna keep on walking, but I saw something move out of the corner of my eyes. I quickly turned around and looked into the lot, wondering what it is that I saw move.

I unfocused my eyes, because that helps capture movement better. You're just kinda staring into blurry space, but the second you see something move, you can kinda just lock onto it. At least, that's how it works to me.

Anyway, while I was doing it, whatever it was moved again, so I went over to where it was. When I crouched down to get a better look, I saw it was Johnny.

"Oh, hey, John. What're you doing out this late?" I noticed that he had a newspaper over him. That meant he was probably planning to stay here and sleep. It was cold out, and newspapers were horrible blankets. They didn't even keep any heat in. And Johnny was more on the slim side; he didn't really have any body fat to keep him warm. He was shorter than me, too, so he'd probably get cold faster. You know how a candle's flame can be blown out but not a wildfire? It's kinda like that but with warmth. The smaller flames get extinguished faster than the large ones, and the smaller people get colder than the larger ones. But I ain't too much bigger than Johnny. I'm only like an inch and a half taller than him, and only weigh a little more.

"Oh, uh, nothin'. Folks are fightin' again." I saw him rub a bruise he had under his left eye. The poor guy must've been caught in the crossfires again.

"...you wanna come back to my house? Darry doesn't mind it when you stay over."

"No, I'm good here."

I didn't know what he meant by that. It felt like it was freezing out here. I was wearing one of Soda's hoodies and a jacket over it, but Johnny only had a thin navy blue shirt on and that ratty jean jacket.

"C'mon, Johnny. It's too cold out here. You'll freeze."

"I can make a small fire, I guess."

"No, just c'mon." I helped Johnny up from his newspaper pile. He felt a little lighter than I remembered, but then again I don't remember some things correctly. Like that I have homework.

I led him to my house and held the door for him. He looked a little hesitant, but I just gently nudged him into the damn house.

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Johnny's POV:
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Ponyboy set me down on the couch and went to tell his brothers that I was staying. Sometimes I hated how kind that boy was. I didn't wanna burden Pony and his family again, but he just kept insisting. I think he's too kind for his own good, him and Sodapop. But, I guess it's nice that they care.

Speaking of Sodapop, I felt him nudge me and snap me out of zoning out.

"You good, man?"

"yeah."