I'm in Love with a Ghost: The Outsiders [COMPLETED]

7. War

Riley's POV

I woke up and observed the room, looking for Johnny. He wasn't there. Was it even real? Did I just have a very intense dream?

I slumped out of bed and dragged myself to the kitchen.

"Morning sleepy." Ponyboy smirked. "Darry made some pancakes."

"Where is Superman?" I asked, getting myself a plate of the pancakes.

"Work."

"I had the strangest dream." I chuckled while I brought my food to the table to chow down. "I was in my room and-" suddenly, Johnny appeared, in my eyesight, waving at me as he sat on Darry's recliner. My jaw dropped and I lost my train of thought.

It was real?!

"Riley? Hello? Earth to Riley." Ponyboy snapped his fingers in front of my face.

"Oh," I shook my head. "Sorry."

"What was your dream?"

"That, I, uh, met Elvis." I lied as I shoved the pancakes down my throat.

"Wow." Ponyboy laughed. "Real weird."

"Yeah." I said, chugging down Ponyboys glass of milk.

"Hey!" He shouted and punched my arm.

"Thirsty." I said, never stop staring at Johnny.

"What are you looking at?" He asked, trying to follow my gaze.

"I don't really know." I said. "What do you see?"

"Did you get into Two Bits brownies?" Ponyboy asked.

"N-no, I didn't." I stammered.

"Well, I see an empty living room and my best friend freaking me out."

"Woah, I thought I was his best friend?!" Johnny shouted. He was a bit more vocal than I thought. But maybe he gained a few boosts of confidence since the gang saw him last.

"Hush!" I said out of instinct.

"Did you just shush me?" Ponyboy asked.

"No, not you." I said. I rubbed my temples and lost my appetite.

"Who were you talking to?" He asked.

"Nothing, no one." I blurted. I stood up and ran to my bedroom and shut the door.

I threw myself on the bed and went through everything. Ghosts aren't real, I must just be imagining it, since Ponyboy can't see him. I must be going crazy, maybe Darry can check me into the loony bin before I rip my hair out.

"Wow, that was rough." I heard Johnny say. I looked up and saw him siting in the chair.

"Do you want something from me?" I asked.
"Because I don't have much."

"No, no." He said sweetly. "I'm real sorry if I scared you. I just got real excited."

I felt sorry for him, if he was real.

"I'm still convinced that you are just a figment of my imagination." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "But, I can help you figure out whatever you want to figure out."

"I just want to figure out what my unfinished business is, and maybe find Dally, if he's still here."

"I still think I'm imagining you."

"How can I prove it?"

"I'm not sure."

"Hold on, I hear someone coming."