Golden Rule (JOHNNYxPONYBOY)

chapter one

It was dusk, and the sun was just sinking below the horizon. I closed my eyes and absorbed the brief moment of serenity. It was a pleasant break from the town, the house, and the prolonged battle of us greasers and the Socs.

I inhaled and exhaled slowly, not paying much attention to anything except for my breathing.

That sunset sure was pretty."

I was startled by a familiar voice. I opened my eyes and looked to the source of the voice. Johnny Cade.

He had his hands rammed in the pockets of his jean jacket, and his big, black eyes were almost amber in the glow of the setting sun.

"Were you here the whole time?" I asked. Johnny nodded and sat next to me.

"Yeah, I didn't wanna say anything to disturb you." He said. "But ever since we've come back from the church I've been really appreciating sunsets."

Johnny and I came back from the church about 2 weeks ago. We past it and it was up in flames, but Dally scolded is and smacked me across the face for trying to go back in to see what the deal was. Apparently there were some kids trapped inside and the police thought for a while that the remains were ours, but finally figured out that we wouldn't have the bodies of 9 year olds. I couldn't help but laugh at that.

Johnny was excused from his sentence to a year in jail with community service, which I thought was very unfair due to the fact Johnny killed a man. I didn't object, though, since I didn't want Johnny to get locked up, I don't know what I'd do without him.

Truth is, thought Johnny Cade was the most perfect boy in our town. I admired his strength, and perseverance, and kindness.

I always scolded myself for thinking that was about Johnny though. For Christ's sake, he was my best friend! And also, boys thinking that way about other boys wasn't normal, and honestly, gross. I hated myself for thinking Johnny was cute.

Johnny leaned his head on my shoulder. "Ponyboy, are you doing alright?" He asked with genuine concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" I was a little taken aback.

"You've been.." Johnny hesitated and furrowed his eyebrows. "Distant."

"I think I'm just still a little tired from the church. I haven't gained back my strength." I lied. I was dazed because I was too busy drooling over Johnny. Disgusting.

"You can talk to me, Ponyboy." Johnny said, his hand on my shoulder firmly. "I'm your best friend, I ain't gonna judge you."

"No,no." I shook my head. "I'm telling you the truth."

"I don't want you being like me, man." He murmured. "Always wanting to die and all."

"Don't say that, Johnny!" I was taken aback. "You can't die! So many people care about you!"

"Oh, Pone. Don't make this about me." He moaned. "Tell me what's getting you down. I can tell you're not okay, you haven't been like this since your parents..."

I wagged my head slowly and leaned it on top of Johnny's. I took a deep breath and watched the deep blue sky fade to a navy.

"Wanna go catch a movie?" Johnny asked to change the topic.

I nodded and got up, helping Johnny. "Who else do you wanna bring?"

"Maybe Dally.." he looked back inside, "and Sodapop." He knew that I didn't like Dally all that much, and he was always very careful to allow us some distance.

"Sounds good." I said as I went inside to ask Soda to come. He agreed, and so did Dally. (He was over for a little while to play poker with Sodapop).

The four of us walked to the Dingo together, making brief and awkward conversation. I was too busy watching Johnny and the facial expressions he made. He got nervous at the sound of car engines revving, and usually flinched very slightly, and his eyes got very big when he heard shoes clicking at a certain pace against the ground. I felt an overwhelming desire to hold Johnny and tell him everything would be okay, just like Soda did to me when I got all worked up, but it might freak him out a little.

We slid through hole in the fence and scrambled to find somewhere to sit. Eventually we found a place that would comfortably seat all of us and I meticulously chose to sit between Johnny and Soda.

I didn't pay very much attention to the movie, and was once again captivated by Johnny, and the way his eyebrows furrowed at parts that confused him, and when he smiled lazily at the part where the boy and girl kissed, which was the end of the movie. I turned away towards the darkening screen before Johnny could notice my staring.

"What'd you think?" I said nonchalantly.

Johnny shrugged. "It was okay."

"Yeah." I agreed. "I think it was cheesy."

Johnny nodded and stood up. He grabbed my hand to help me up, and as he pulled me I stumbled over my own leg and fell on top of him. I was a little larger than him, despite our age difference (probably because Johnny ate less than I did) so my weight combined with the force I was falling with knocked him down with a heavy 'umph'.

"Shit! I'm sorry!" I scrambled off of him. Johnny sat up slowly and rubbed the back of his head and popped his collar up again.

"Don't sweat it, Ponyboy." He mumbled.

I pulled him up and we jogged after Dally and Soda. I playfully shoved him over and he shoved me back, sending me skidding to the side. I reached over and smacked his chest and he whacked his hand lightly across my face. I leant down and bolted away. Johnny ran after me, still lagging behind.

I slowed down my pace so Johnny could keep up, which turned out to be a mistake because the moment I slowed down he football tackled me and brought all his weight (which wasn't much) down with him. I grunted as we fell, and before I could collect myself Johnny was on top of me, his hands swinging at my face.

I shoved him off and dominated him, reaching my fist up to jokingly punch him in the jaw. He flinched heavily under me, closing his eyes tightly and sinking like a turtle into his jacket. I dropped my fist and climbed off of him. He opened his eyes again and gazed at me with utter fear. I felt bad for threatening to punch him, I entirely forgot about his  dad.

He laid on the ground for a while, just staring at me with wide eyes. My heart sank and on instinct I pulled him into my arms. I panicked for split second. Was i crossing boundaries?

My insecurity was diminished when Johnny leaned against me and rested his head on my chest. I leaned backwards and still held Johnny. I watched him as he began to cry, tears streaking his cheeks silently.

"Can I stay at your place, Ponyboy?" He asked quietly.

"You don't have to ask." I reminded him. "We leave our door open."