The Outsiders: Dally's little sister

Outta there

DALLY'S P.O.V.

I held Sophie in my arms tightly, not wanting her to go anywhere. I glanced at the clock hung up on the wall. It was three in the morning. I no longer heard footsteps of nurses and doctors rushing outside the door. The hospital was now asleep. I looked down at Sophie sleeping. She looked so beautiful sleeping. I smiled in spite of myself, then slowly lifted the blanket we were under. I got up out of the bed and my bare feet hit the cold floor. I folded the blanket back onto Sophie, then took a step towards the door before turning back to her. "I'll be back in a minute." I knew she couldn't hear me, but it was just kind of a natural courtesy. 

She shifted a little, but I stayed just long enough to watch her snuggle back up in a deep sleep. Still barefoot, I opened the door and walked out. I looked to each side of me down the halls, there was no one there. I then, very cautiously, not wanting to wake anyone up, or draw attention, walked down four doors to Johnny's room. To my surprise, the light was still on in his room with the door open a crack. I scrunched my eyebrows and pushed on the door. I looked at his bed from the doorway to see he was still awake, sitting up reading in his bed. I knocked quietly to catch his attention. He quickly jerked his head in my direction and laid down the book he was reading. "Couldn't sleep huh?" I stepped in a few feet and watched him recognize me.

"Not really tired." He replied easing back into bed.

"Watcha readin'?" I asked quietly walking over to his bed.

"Nothin' you would like." Johnny smiled cooly and nustled the book in his lap

I playfully hit Johnny on the leg and sat down on the foot of the bed. He shifted to make room and he sat up."How ya doing man?" I asked him.

"People keep asking me that." He said just above a whisper. "I tell them that I'm fine." His voice faded.

"Is that what you're gonna tell me?"

He looked up at me and smiled. "Shoot," He chuckled a little. "Maybe it is." He smiled slightly and looked down at his folded hands. "How's Sophie?" He asked quickly.

"Ya know people keep asking me that." I mocked. "I tell them that she's fine." We both laughed, but tried to keep our voices down.

"Really," Johnny tried to make his voice sound more serious. "Did she seem..." His voice faded. "A little off?" He asked.

"Not really." I cracked my knuckles. "She and Pony were having a good talk before I came in." I told him emphasising the "good".

"Whatya mean by that?"

"Man, I'm pretty sure they were just about to kiss." I chuckled. "Good thing I got in there before." Johnny looked a little red, like how he looks when he gets mad but doesn't want anyone to notice. But maybe it was just all the drugs that these doctors were shootin' him up with. "I always thought you and Sophie had something between you."  Johnny stopped talking, and looked down at his hands in his lap. He pursed his lips and flinched at the sound of Sophie's name. "Did something happen Johnnycakes? 'Tween you and Soph?"

"Nah." Johnny said bluntly, avoiding eye contact with me.

"C'mon man!" I coaxed. "Tell me what happened." I smiled, but he didn't. In fact he looked kinda sad. "Johnny?" My voice was more serious now, and the same for my facial expression. "What happened?" He flinched his mouth and kept his glare down. Then he proceeded to tell me about the note and his feelings for her. "Well that's great Johnny, why ya so down?" 

"I told her I didn't like her." He said bluntly.

"Well why in the hell would you do that?" I asked surprised.