Johnnyboy

Prologue

It was midnight. My dad was hitting me again because I accidentally left my plate on the sink. He hit me over the stupidest things, but I don't blame him. Stupid people do stupid things. He finally got tired and went to his room to do God knows what. I obviously didn't want to stay at the house so I walked down to the vacant lot I basically live at. I stay there a lot so my parents stop hitting me. I was getting close to the lot when I felt an overwhelming feeling to go to the Curtis' house, so I accepted the feelings and headed for there. The Curtis' house is where three members of my gang live. They're all brothers. Darrel, Sodapop, and Ponyboy Curtis.

Darrel, or Darry, is only twenty, but has to take care of Sodapop, seventeen, and Ponyboy, fourteen, because their mom and dad died in a bad car wreck eleven months ago. Ponyboy always told me Darry grew up too fast because of it. Sodapop is seventeen and works down at A DX station with his best buddy, Steve Randle, who's also in the gang. Ponyboy is my best friend. I don't know if he knows I call him that, though. We always hang together in the vacant lot, look at the stars, and talk.

Anyway, I finally arrived there and opened the door. They never leave their door locked, in case one of the gang needs a place to stay over. Ponyboy was stretched out on the couch, staring at the ceiling. That was pretty odd, though, because Ponyboy normally has to sleep with Sodapop after he started getting these scary dreams after his folks died.

"Ponyboy?" I quietly called as I opened the door.

He got up. "Johnnycakes?" That was the whole gangs' nickname for me.

"Hey," I said, "Just was in a fight with my parents. Could I stay over the night? It's pretty chilly out there..."

Ponyboy nodded, "Of course, uh, I can move..."

"No, no, it's alright. I can sit in the chair over there. I'll be fine," I said, slowly walking over to an arm rest chair, "Why are you sleeping on the couch and not with Soda?"

"He's started snoring, so I can't really sleep with him anymore," Ponyboy said, yawning.

I nodded. It suddenly became really quiet, and I leaned back in the chair. Ponyboy was starting off into space, like normal. He sometimes just all of a suddenly stares off into nothingness, like he's imagining a conversation in his head, but not actually saying anything. I started at him. Gosh, he's awful cute, I thought. I quickly shook my head. No thoughts like that, I can't say that.

I had come to my senses days before that I had a crush on Ponyboy. I had been playing football with Pony and Dally, another gang member, when I stopped for a second and just stared at Ponyboy. Then the ball hit me. Ever since then, I had sometimes just looked at him and imagined dating him, or something. It was an odd feeling, 'cause neither him or I had ever dated anyone.

"Johnny?" Ponyboy said. I looked up at him.

I guess I had been the one staring, not him. I shook my head. "Yeah, sorry... Just, uh, tired..." I said.

Ponyboy nodded, "Yeah, me too."

I heard a door creek down the hall and Darry walked in, yawning and scratching his back. He seemed pretty tried.

"Ponyboy? Is that you talkin'?" Darry asked, eyes shut.

"Yeah, sorry, Darry," Ponyboy said, "Johnny has to stay over cause his folks and him started fightin'."

Darry finally opened his eyes and looked at me. "Oh, okay. Ponyboy, scoot over, let Johnny sleep there. You live here."

"I know, I suggested that, I..." Ponyboy started rambling on about how I was the one who wanted to sit on the chair, but Darry had already left.