Back to You

Not Going Anywhere

Johnny and Erin have grown closer together over the past few days. The girls are all really liking it in Tulsa so far. Especially Blanca. She might love it as much as Erin.

Cassidy has dragged Erin to the library that day. She wanted to read Gone With the Wind because she knew Ponyboy liked it. "Thanks for taking me to the library!" She squealed. "You think Ponyboy has read this yet?"

Erin grinned. "You've already asked that." She sat down on the couch with her. "And I'm sure he'd like to read it with you if you'd just ask."

"I can't wait! I want to spend time with all the gang!"

Erin smiled at her excitement. Blanca and Cassidy are absolutely eating it up in Tulsa. They want to talk to all the gang and go everywhere. Erin's surprised that Cassidy didn't want to go to the library with Ponyboy.

"Hey, Angel," Ponyboy said as he walked through the living room and into the kitchen. "Hey, Cas."

"You get a cool nickname," Cassidy whispered to Erin. Erin couldn't help but laugh. She loved Cassidy. She was like a little sister to her.

"I'm sure you'll get one too."

Johnny came in at that time and sat down next to her. "Johnny," Cassidy leaned over and looked at him. "Why do you and Pony call Erin Angel?"

"'Cause she can sing like an Angel." Johnny paused, his face heating up a little. "And she...she l-looks like one too."

Erin looked at him teasingly. "Oh, I do not."

"Wait, wait...she can sing? I've never heard her sing," Cassidy explained.

"You've never heard her sing?" Cassidy shook her head. Johnny just stared at Erin. "You have to hear her sing," Johnny beamed.

"No...I don't wanna. I don't like singing in front of people. I get nervous. You and Pony are the only people I've ever really sung to, but that's only because you heard me by accident and kept begging me to sing."

"Oh, please Erin!" Now Cassidy was beginning. Oh great, Erin thought. Sure Cassidy was only eleven, but Erin still didn't feel comfortable with singing in front of her. Cassidy got in her face and gave her puppy dog eyes. "Pleeeaassseee!" She dragged out.

"Sorry, Cassie. I don't want to."

"You just want to sing for Johnny because you like him," She shot at her.

Erin elbowed her, gave her a glare, and gritted her teeth. "Do not. Shut up."

Cassidy laughed lightly. Johnny was blushing but he had a frown on his face. Do not. Those words rang through his head. Is she lying? Does she really not like me? Johnny though back to the time she kissed his cheek. To the smile she gave him when he wanted to hold her hand. To the time in the hospital when she wanted to stay in the bed with her. Maybe she really is lying.

"Cas, why don't you go ask Ponyboy to read with you." It was more of a demand than a question. She pushed her off the couch, forcing her to stand. She grabbed her book and shoved it in her arms. Before Cassidy had a chance to say anything, Erin yelled, "Ponyboy!"

Cassidy glared at her. Erin just grinned at her devilishly. Revenge, she thought as Ponyboy came into the living room. "What is it?" He asked. Even though Cassidy wanted to read with Pony, she knew she wouldn't want it to be brought up this way. Like when a friend tells your crush you like them and you didn't want them to. It's embarrassing.

"Nothing!" Cassidy said quickly.

"Cassidy wants you to read Gone With the Wind with her later."

Ponyboy's gaze went to Cassidy. He then shrugged. "All right." He walked back into the kitchen after that, leaving Cassidy with a goofy grin on her face.

"Thank you, Erin! You're awesome!" She squealed and hugged her. Erin couldn't help but smile a little at how happy she was. Cassidy then ran off into the Curtis parents room—the room her and Blanca have been staying in.

"You really are awesome," Johnny said when everyone was out of earshot.

She blushed. "Uh-huh. Yeah."

...

Night had fallen in Tulsa. All the girls were over and so were the boys. All together they were louder than before. But as it got later everyone quite down. "Well," Dally announced, getting up from the couch. "I'm going to Buck's. Johnnycake, you wanna come?"

Johnny glanced at Erin who was talking to Paige. He wanted to tell Erin how he felt but he had no clue how. He was too nervous to come out and say it now. Especially after he tried to kiss her and she turned away, but he still wanted to stay. "Nah, I wanna stay here a longer. I'll probably stay at the lot."

"No," Erin spoke up. She had heard what Johnny had said and she did not like it. "No," She said a little louder this time. "It's too cold to stay at the lot. Stay here."

Johnny locked eyes with her before looking away. "I don't know." He scratched the back of his neck. "I don't want to be a bother. There are already so many people in this house."

"You've spent the past few nights at the lot. You could get sick sleeping outside in the lot so much."

"I'll be fine, Angel," He assured. "If I get too cold I'll come back."

"You promise?" She looked back at home, not dropping her gaze.

"Yeah. Yeah, Angel, I promise." He smiled at her. "But I'm not going yet. I'll stay here for a while." He moved from where he was sitting and sat beside her. "I'm not going anywhere."

Erin smiled at him and snuggled closer to him, laying her head on his shoulder. "Good."

A/N So I had more for this chapter planned, like I have it all written but I decided to stop here. I will post the next chapter soon since I have it all done. I just wanted to stop because the good part is in the next part. So I'm making you wait hehehe (and I also didn't want the chapter to be too long).