Neon Lights

Chapter 40 - Centuries

•Johnny's POV•
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November 5, 1968
7:49 p.m.
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I inspected a cut on my finger, given to me by dad a couple days ago. It's old, so it doesn't hurt, but it's still a red mark that reminds me how totally fucked my family is.

I traced along the line with the thumb on my other hand, feeling along the crease and remembering how I got it - dad threw me into the bookcase, and I cut my finger on a piece of broken wood that jutted out.

"Hey Johnny." I looked up to see Ponyboy approaching. I smiled a little, but I don't think he noticed.

"Knew I'd find you here," he sat down next to me, unusually close like he always is, "Dad at you again?"

I nodded silently. Pony's stare lingered on me, I could feel his eyes boring into the side of my face, but I didn't look at him. I observed the stars instead.

"So, I never asked..." Pony nudged me, "How was that BJ from a guy you mentioned this summer?"

This I couldn't help but laugh at. Pony nudged me again, waiting for an answer. I thought for a moment, that was a while ago.

"Not bad," I shrugged, "But I guess it all feels the same as long as you don't look down."

Pony nodded, though he wouldn't know, "So are you bi, in that case?"

"I guess so," I murmured idly, wondering to myself why he's suddenly asking me this. I know he's bisexual, maybe he's just wondering if I'm part of the team? Yeah, that's probably it.

"Got your eye on anyone?" Pony asked nervously, picking dirt out from under his nail, "A girl or...a boy?"

I looked at his green-grey eyes, before he decided a pebble on the asphalt was super fascinating. "I-I dunno," I answered honestly, "Maybe. You?"

When I say maybe, I mean yeah. I try to push it away, but I feel like I may be falling for Pony...pretty damn hard. I feel more comfortable around him, he shows me things I forget to notice, like sunsets and morning birdsong. My life would be dull without him, and I think my heart knows it.

"Kinda, yeah," he admitted, looking around the empty lot.

"Spill."

He shook his head with a sad expression and downcast gaze, "I'd rather not."

"C'mon! You can trust me!" I assured him, "Do I know him or her?"

"Yeah, pretty damn well," he snorted, "That's why I can't tell you." Okay, now I have to know!

"Is it embarrassing, like someone twice your age or already taken?"

"Well, he's older than me, but he's single--" Pony cut himself off, "Damnit I've said too much..."

"Okay, so it's a single guy. That narrows it down. Dally or Two-Bit?" I'm playing the guessing game now.

Maybe it's me, my anxious mind thought. I doubt it. Even though I wish it was, it isn't me. It couldn't be.

"No, I wouldn't consider Dally or TB single at this point." Pony's right.

"Steve?"

"No."

"Darry or Soda...?"

"No!"

"Tim Shepherd?"

"...No."

"Those are all the single guys I know," I threw my arms up in defeat, "So either you're lying or I'm missing someone."

"You're missing someone," Pony pulled grass out of the cracks in the pavement. There's only one more person I haven't mentioned, but I ruled him out ages ago.