Johnnyboy

Chapter 3

Ponyboy and I were sleeping on the couch together and cuddling. The couch was too small to fit both of us, so we were basically squished. Neither of us wanted each other to have to suffer the pain of sleeping in the arm rest chair. We still didn't know if Dally was going to come back with that bed. Maybe he didn't accept us and lied to keep us here and later kill us. I could feel Pony's breathing as my head laid on his chest. It was very quiet in the abandoned house.

My eyes were still closed and I was half awake. I could still hear things, but couldn't make out what it was. I heard the door creak open, but I didn't open my eyes. I could hear the creaking of footsteps coming towards us. I didn't know if Ponyboy was awake. A hand shook my shoulder.

"Heh heh. Get up, Johnnyboy" A familiar voice said. It was Dally.

I opened up one eye and looked at him. "Huh? Johnnyboy?"

"It's like, Johnny and Pony combined to form Johnnyboy... Nevermind," Dally said, laughing.

I opened both my eyes and looked at Ponyboy. He was still sleeping. I nudged him and he moved his arm over.

He took a deep breath and said, "Five more minutes, Sodapop, please."

Dally rolled his eyes. "Hey, kid. It's Dally. Soda's not here, stupid."

Ponyboy said, "Is Johnny here?"

"Duh. Are you high? Do you remember last night?" Dally replied.

Ponyboy opened his eyes. "Oh, yeah." He sat up.

"I put your bed upstairs. I also put a table in the 'kitchen' area. I'll fine some more stuff later," Dally said. "If you're wondering how Darry's doin', he ain't takin' it so well."

Pony hung his head. "Does he actually care, though? He's the one who told me to get out in the first place."

"Doesn't mean he doesn't love you," Darry said, looking away. "What do I know, though? I wouldn't know the first thing about love." He laughed.

Ponyboy looked down, and then at me. "How's Sodapop?"

Dally took a deep breath. "Shouldn't say this, but I heard from Darry he's takin' this even worse. Doesn't make it better that you've done this before, run off. At least then you had a reason."

"We do have a reason!" Pony snapped.

"Calm down, kid," Dally said, backing away.

I felt Dally was different right now. He wasn't acting as tuff or tough as he normally was, he was acting weird. And I didn't like it. He would have beat Pony right then and there for snapping at him, but he didn't. He just backed away, which wasn't Dallas Winston behavior.

"No, you shut your trap! What do you mean we had a reason back then? We have a reason now! And it's all Darry's fault!" Pony shouted, and then leaned back.

Dally just stood there. He didn't say anything, he just stood there. Pony's ears were real red. I didn't know what to say. To be honest, I wanted to cry. My friend and boyfriend fighting, it wasn't a pretty sight for me.

Pony finally spoke, "I'm sorry, Dally. I don't know. It's just weird wakin' up in some abandoned house when yesterday, everythin' was fine. Right?"

Dally was silent for a moment, and then said, "Yeah. I guess. I'm gonna go, kid. Have fun."

Dally left the house, oddly quickly. Ponyboy hung his head. He looked like he was going to cry, and I don't blame him.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. Not really. I don't know what to do, Johnnycakes. I don't even know what to think."

"Me either." I replied, "Everything is happening so fast, I honestly... I don't know anymore."