Warning the outsiders and winning Johnny cade

Chapter thirty one

I had cleaned myself up and me and soda went out to eat.
"Sodapop sorry I'm a emotional loose canon, you must think I'm crazy."
"I get it Anne, I really do. The boys get it too. You've been going through a tough time lately and that's a normal way to respond. We really care about you. We're just glad you're back to you."
"Thanks Soda. When's two bit coming?"
He responded, "looks like he's coming right now."
His eyes looked to the door. I turned around and there was two bit walking in and looking around for us. We waved him over and he sat down next to me in the booth.
"Anne is that you? The real you not robot you?"
Two bit asked while laughing.
"Yeah yeah it's me two"
"It's about time." He laughed and squeezed my shoulders.
"Two, I got a question for ya."
"Yeah what is it Anne?"
"How's Johnny been doing?
Two bit cocked an eyebrow and gave Sodapop a weird look.
"Yeah that's what I thought." Soda said and took a drink of his Coke.
I rolled my eyes at him so he added,
"Aw fine, it's because she thinks she realized a lot of stuff and thinks they need to talk to eachother and forgive each other, so they can be "friends""
He said with quotation marks around friends.
"With benefits." Two bit added with a smirk
I playfully punched both their shoulders.
"Shut up." I said and added, "I just don't want awkwardness or tension between us. I want us all to be friends."
"Totally." Sodapop said.
But I ignored him and said
"But two have you seen him? How's he been doing?"
"Actually I haven't seen him in a while which is weird actually. Usually I see him everyday for a long time. He just hasn't been hanging around. He has been seeming pretty down lately though"
"Oh okay, do you know when he'd be around?"
"I know!" Soda jumped in seeming excited he could add something to the conversation.
"He said he wanted to tell the whole gang something later today at our house, you can talk to him then."
So it was settled. Later today I'd try to be friends with Johnny again. Just friends I told myself, nothing else. But deep down I wanted to be more than friends and I knew it. But I told myself, just friends.
We went through that day fast, before I knew it we were all at the Curtis house waiting fir Johnny to come with his news. I wasn't really thinking about what his news was gonna be about. I just thought it would be something that wasn't a big deal like he got a new job or he's moving out of his house or something like that. I was more thinking about what I was going to say. I rehearsed it in my head 100 times. I was really anxious but excited.
We were all talking when I heard the door open. I looked over seeing Johnny and I got  ready to talk to him, but that wasn't the only person. He was leading a girl in, holding hands with her with him in front and her behind. She looked shy. My heart and stomach both dropped. No no no no. I thought to myself. I'm too late. But I tried to give myself hope and thought, maybe it's just a long lost sister or cousin or old friend or something, anything.
"Hey guys this is my girlfriend, Lisa."
My stomach dropped again but 100 times worse. It was just a bad feeling. Like a feeling where you got your hopes up really really high and then you got let down like 'oh that's okay' but really you're breaking inside.
I was smiling when he came in. I bet you the boys could see it fade a way real quick.
I quickly said "hi" in a welcoming yet let down voice and went outside. I needed air.
I wasn't gonna break down again, God knows I did that too much. They must think I'm a lunatic.
I went outside and leaned on the car trying to breath. A few seconds later Steve walked out.
"Hey Anne you okay? I saw your personality change in there. You need anything?"
"No I'm okay but thanks."
Like I said I wasn't gonna show them I'm sad.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yes I'm sure Mr. Randle now go be polite and meet Lisa" I said fake smiling.
"Okay okay mom" he responded with a sarcastic voice on the word mom, smiled, and went back inside.
I just needed a place to think besides in front of the house. Because there people like Steve would come and asked and interrupt me and I just needed to slow down.