Just friends, best friends -Johnnyboy

Part twelve: Ponyboy and Johnny

-Ponyboy-

Johnny and I had stopped at our tree after school, just to finally get some time alone. It's not that we don't like January, we just needed time together. After a long day pretending to not speak to one another, this felt like a huge relief, a deep breath.

Johnny sat in my lap as I lay my back against the rough bark of the wide tree, this was our favourite spot. No one in sight for blocks, and an ethereal view of the sunset. When I first met Johnny, he was 8, I was 6, he didn't like sunsets, he claimed them to be boring and uneventful. Over time I can tell that he has started to love them, maybe as much as I do.

"I love this, Pon." Johnny said looking back at me.

I stared into his dark brown eyes for a moment, then gracefully reached for his chin to lift it to my lips, he followed.

"I love you," I whispered.

I could feel his smile grow larger the longer we were here, in this moment, just us. Johnny abruptly turned his body to face mine, he held my face as I slipped my hands to his waist. I perked up when I all of a sudden heard a crowd of laughter somewhat close. I stood up, leaving Johnny on the grass,

"Cmon J, we gotta go." I said in a tone.

He looked confused, but followed nonetheless.

"Pon, w-what's going on?" He said running to catch up.

"I heard people, a group, we should just," I managed to say,

"Wait." He interrupted me,

I stopped in my tracks and turned to him patiently.

"I-I can't keep doing this Ponyboy." Johnny stuttered.

I haven't heard him say my full name since we started dating, my overthinking and paranoia kicked in. 

"What? Johnny, what the hell are you talking about?" I said with a slight tone of anger.

"Not like that Pon, I just, I don't want to keep hiding." "I can't keep hiding who I am and who I love." Johnny explained.

I stood there for a second, confused.

"Johnny, it's not safe, we have to." I replied calmly.

"I know what I want, and if you cant agree then-" He said firmly.

He just took a breath and leaned his head back in disapproval. Was this my fault? What if I'm not good enough? Wait, what if he's talking about someone else, does Johnny want to be with someone else? God the questions wouldn't stop coming to me. Make it stop.

-Johnny-

I saw the panic on Pony's face, maybe I shouldn't have said that, I know how he thinks, I've probably worried him now. 

"I-I'm sorry that's not-" I tried to let out as he ran in the other direction.

"Pony no! Come back here!" I screamed, he kept running.

I began in the same direction, starting to run but then soon realizing, I couldn't keep up and he probably needs space now. I stopped.

I started in the direction of Veronica's house, where Jan was staying.

By now it was around 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚.

I had my hands in my jean jacket pockets, kicking a rock on the ground, I was so caught up in my own head when suddenly,

"Oh god, Johnny!" January said bumping into me.

"Hey, uh, what are you doing out?" I replied looking up.

"Um, I was just-"

"Running away?" I assumed.

"H-how'd you know."

"I've lived with abusive parents my whole life, I know a fellow runaway when I see one." I said.

She looked down then back up at me again, "Uh, what are you doing out?"

"Pony got mad, he ran off, I was actually coming to find you." I explained looking ashamed.

She took a long breath, then held my shoulders,

"Listen J, my bus comes in 10, you're welcome to come with me, I've got friends in Cali."

I paused.

California? How could I ever do that to Ponyboy, he would never forgive me for leaving him, especially since he- fuck it.

"Yeah sure, okay." I agreed.