Promise, Forever (A The Outsiders Fanfic)

Chapter 3: Talking

(Johnny's P.O.V.)

I looked around at everyone and I swear their jaws hit the floor. I know I've been keeping this secret from them for eight years, but I thought they would have figured it out by now. Every time I asked for extra food and sometimes came back an hour later with nothing. I thought that would give them the slightest hint if anything. I usually ate as much as possible here as I could since my parents won't cook and so I didn't have to starve the rest of the night.

I took my eyes off the gang and looked at Bella. I've never seen her cry so much. It killed me on the inside and out. She shouldn't have to go through whatever she did. She's so young. And really smart too. I would send her to school, but I don't want other people making her feel worse about herself because she's a greaser. Our parents do that well enough. That's the only thing our parents are good at. That's why she's so shy and sensitive.

"Shh Bella its okay, I'm here now nothing's gonna happen anymore." I whispered only enough for her to hear. "M-m-mom and D-dad-" she started, but got cut off by someone lifting her out of my grip. "Well now, Johnny got a kid sister here huh?" Soda asked, swinging her around in the air. I could see her eyes grow the size of golf balls and her lip quivered. I could tell she wanted to scream but she was to frightened and full of shock to do so. So instead she cried.

I pulled myself off the floor and walked over to where Soda was, still swinging her around in the air. Because she didn't know anyone besides me, and our so called "parents" she had a reason to be terrified. I guess it was my fault for always keeping her in her room, but I was only protecting her from our parents and the outside world. "Um Soda, I don't think you should do that." I said. Bella was now shaking like mad and crying even harder than before, if that was even possible.

He cocked an eyebrow and looked at me. "Why not? She's not doing anything." "She's bawling her eyes out and shaking like crazy." I pointed out. I wouldn't usually be this upset about something, but this was my sister here. He looked at her and set her down. "Oh, sorry." He apologized. Bella came running back to me, holding my leg and tugging at my jeans, indicating that she wanted me to pick her up. As I did I asked Ponyboy "can me and Bella talk in your room for a minute?" "Yeah go ahead." He said, his voice still full of shock.

I carried Bella down the hall and into the room. I shut the door and locked it, that way no one could get in. I sat her down on the bed and I sat across from her. She sure could cry. "Aww Bellz, don't cry." I pleaded. I couldn't help but feel guilty, I could have been there to help her out with whatever had happened. I pulled her back into my embrace. "I need you to tell me what happened." I told her. It only seemed to make her cry out even more. She shook her head, refusing to tell me. "I can't help you if you don't tell me."

About five minutes later she calmed down. I held her in my arms while I let her talk. "D-dad h-he tried to s-sh-" she cut herself off my letting a whimper escape her lips. I rubbed her back and layed her head on my shoulder. "It's okay, its okay, I got you now." Suddenly I heard something hit the door. "Ow what's wrong with you?" Two-Bit screeched. "Well if Dally here wasn't pushing me then I wouldn't have fell on you!" Steve exclaimed. "Don't drag me into this, it was your idea to snoop on them." I heard Dally muffle. I let out a sigh. Did they really have to be snooping in on a private conversation?

I turned my attention back to Bella. She looked up at me, tears glimpsing in her eyes. "Your friends are weird." She stated. "Yeah I know." I replied. "Now I need to know what happened at home." I asked. I wiped her eyes and looked down at her once more. She refused to look up at me. "Dad, he uh." "Common Bella just spit it out, its gonna be okay." I said in the most gentel voice possible. "Dad tried to shoot me." I couldn't believe my ears. This set me off. I'm never mad, but now I had a good reason to be. I picked her up and opened the door. I found six bodies sitting on the ground in front of me.

"Hey Johnny, didn't expect to see you here." Two-Bit said, adding a small chuckle at the end. I handed Bella to Dally while I walked past everyone. "Watch her, I'll be back soon." I said, my voice full of rage. I knew the gang looked surprised because of my sudden outburst, but that wasn't my biggest concern right now. Bella was all I cared about. And no one, was ever gonna touch her ever again. Not over my dead body.