Bad Reputation||Brooklyn Winston

Chapter 12

A few minutes later, we were driving down the street in Buck's T-Bird.

"Why are we leaving so early?" I asked.

"It's going to take awhile to get to where we're going. Besides, I want to get there early. Before anyone sees us."

"Are we bringing them back?"

Dallas shook his head. "Hell no. We're just going to check up on them."

"When are we going to bring them back?"

"I don't know, I haven't thought about that part yet."

"You haven't thought about that part?" I cried. "What, do you expect them to spend the rest of their lives hiding out?"

He shrugged. "I mean..."

I shook my head. "We have to figure something else out."

Dallas smiled. "We?"

I nodded. "We're in this together."

Dallas grinned. "I guess we are."

We had been driving for awhile when Dallas stopped the car on the side of the road.

"What are we doing?" I asked.

"Lean back and look at the sky."

I did as I was told. "Wow." I breathed. "It's beautiful."

The sky was a dark blue, and there were thousands of stars.

"I thought you'd like it. Country stars are so much better than city stars. Don't tell anyone, but sometimes, when I need a break from everything, I drive out here and just look at the stars."

"I've never seen anything like this. How'd you know I'd like it?"

"Well, you and Ponyboy are a lot alike. He really likes sunsets. So I figured you must too. And if you like sunsets, why wouldn't you like the stars?"

We sat in silence for awhile, just looking at the stars. It was comforting. The stars would always be there. It was like you could always count on the stars. No matter how bad things got, you'd always be able to visit with the stars. It was the same with sunsets.

When we were on the road again, I asked, "Do you think Ponyboy and Johnny are ok?"

"I'm sure they're fine. They're smart kids."

"Yeah, but killing someone... I don't think I'd ever be ok after killing someone."

Dallas didn't say anything. I don't think he knew what to say. As much as I loved my brother, he was different from the rest of us. He was meaner. As much as I hated to admit it, he was a criminal. There was a thin line between being a greaser and being a hood, and Dallas blurred that line.

Less than an hour after sunrise, we arrived at the church.

As we walked up to the church, I looked around. We were at the top of a mountain. The church was run down and had probably been forgotten about for years. And Ponyboy and Johnny had been hiding out here.

We stopped outside the doors. I took a deep breath.

"Are you ok?" Dallas asked.

I nodded. "I'm fine." I said quietly.

"You can wait out in the car, if you want."

I shook my head. "No. I want to do this."

We walked into the church. Johnny was sitting in the corner, reading.

"Hey Johnny." Dallas said.

Johnny looked up. "Hey guys! I'm glad to see you. It's been awfully lonely up here."