Chapter 2

Two-Bit and Johnny walked to the Curtis house in almost complete silence. Two-Bit tried to start a conversation about the weather and other stuff a few times but since Johnny only answered with a short amount of words, he gave up after a few minutes.

Two-Bit grabbed the door handle and pushed the door open. The door was never locked at the Curtis's house, even when they weren't home. Darry always said that he would rather have them dropping by than staying on the street for the night and it wasn't like they had much anyone could steal anyways, so they weren't afraid of any burglars. And of course Darry was a big and strong looking guy that no one would dare mess with, so robbing his house was pretty much out of the question.

Johnny was so caught up in thought that he didn't notice someone standing right in his face. Horrified, he jumped a few steps back and bumped into the door. He looked back at the icy eyes staring at him. It was a surprised looking Dallas Winston.

"Heeeeey Dal. Don't scare the kid out of the house already. We just got here," Two-Bit laughed, walking to the kitchen.

Johnny had not even realized he had walked through the door. How long had he been standing there without saying anything to Dally? He let his hand slide down his left arm with a nervous gesture. Dally still just looked at him, and it made Johnny uncomfortable. He seemed to notice so he went to sit down in a brown armchair that was placed in the corner. Johnny dropped down onto the couch and they sat there for what seemed like hours without saying anything.

"Did you get beaten up again Johnny?" Dally suddenly said. Johnny looked at him surprised and Dally just leaned back. "I thought as much... damn son of a bitch..." Dally kept going for a few seconds.

Johnny was surprised just how many swearwords could be said in one sentence. "Someday kid… Someday that bastard is gonna get what he deserves, man. I'm telling ya." He got up and walked to the bathroom, returning only a few minutes later with a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a piece of cloth.

Two-Bit came back from the kitchen and sat down on the floor with a big piece of chocolate cake and a beer, turning on the TV. Johnny wondered why it had taken him so long just to get that, but his thoughts where interrupted by Dally sitting down on the couch beside him and dabbing a piece of cloth on the side of his head.

"Ouch, Dal! Is that really necessary? It's only a bruise."

"The skin has broken, so you can get an infection if you don't clean it up, kid," Dally said as he cleaned the side of Johnny's face.

Johnny just let him. For some reason Dally was always kind to him. He was never kind to anyone else, but Johnny he looked out for.

"Why did you go home, man?" Dallas said. You could hear that he was still pissed off, so Johnny wondered if he should tell him the reason.

"I... just didn't wanna bother people by coming by. It was kinda late so I figured Pony was already off to bed and so was Soda. I didn't wanna keep Darry up either and I know you were probably at Bucks at some party so I..."

"You should just go to one of us and never home Johnny!" Dallas cut him off. "You know that piece of shit will hurt you, and you go home anyways."

Johnny just looked down with a very hurt expression on his face.

Dally sighed. "Look Johnny... we just don't want you to get hurt..." He looked down as he put some new peroxide on the piece of cloth, talking so softly, only Johnny could hear it. "I don't want you to get hurt..."

Johnny looked at bit surprised at the much more mean looking greaser, that for a split second looked very worried.

Dally must have noticed Johnny's expression because he suddenly changed his and got up, leaving the peroxide and cloth next to Johnny. "I think it's good for now." He walked over to the armchair again and sat down.

There was silence for a few minutes before Two-Bit broke it by turning around, looking at Dally. "So... when are the gang coming back from work and school?"

Dally looked like he didn't really care but answered, "A few hours I think. Speaking of school - weren't you supposed to be at school also Two-Bit?"

Two-Bit laughed a little. "Nah, I took the day off. I need to let my teachers have some peace once in a while if I don't want them to go crazy and kick me out." He turned to the TV once more. "Besides I ran into kiddo there, and I couldn't just leave him wandering the streets. Someone might think he was up to no good." He laughed again.

Johnny just shook his head. He never got into trouble with the law. He was actually the most law-abiding of them all. Well, him and Ponyboy. Dally just lit a smoke. He didn't seem to care much for Two-Bit's jokes at that moment. Johnny felt kind of uncomfortable all of the sudden and got up.

Dally looked over at him. "Going somewhere, kid?"

"I'm... just gonna grab some fresh air… I don't feel too good, so..."

Dally replied with a nod as a form of acceptance, so Johnny went outside and sat down on the porch. He lit a smoke, hoping it might settle his nerves, but little did it help. He felt nauseous. Dally suddenly dropped down beside him and Johnny almost jumped off the porch. Dally probably didn't mean to scare him but for the moment he had other stuff on his mind.

"So… wanna tell me what's going on?" Dally looked at him, noticing that Johnny didn't even touch his cigarette, which was going to waste in his shaking hand, so he took it with two fingers and started smoking it himself.

Johnny sighed a little, trying to get a hold of himself. "My folks had people over last night..."

"So?" Dally just looked straight forward.

"Well…" Johnny scratched the back of his neck. "They haven't had people over for years, and suddenly from one day to the other they do. Also, I saw my mom earlier with some guy I didn't know. I dunno, Dal... it kinda seems unreal to me."

Dally blew a smoke ring. "But did your dad hurt you or did he turn all goody two shoes when they had people over?" he asked without hesitation. He had probably gotten used to Johnny's gruesome tales about the beatings that where going on at home by now, so nothing could really shock him anymore.

"He got... mad at me for slamming the door, so he punched me."

"And I bet the guests didn't do shit about it, am I right...?"

Johnny nodded.

"Well then they are assholes as well, so stay away from them. Got it? Also, I dunno about your mom, kid. Maybe she is fooling around or it might be one of the people from yesterday. Drinking buddies, what do I know." He looked at Johnny, who had lowered his head. He sighed. "Look kid. I dunno what your mom's up to but she is not gonna hurt you or yell at you when you're not home. So for now stay the hell away from the house. It's enough your folks are beating you up. Don't want their friends to get the idea that they can do the same."

Johnny just nodded. He didn't really want to talk about it anymore. Also, he left out the details of his dad's words about him needing to pay him back. He was still not sure what he had meant by that. Also, he didn't recall his mom's voice at all the other night. She was usually the first to start yelling. Actually she was almost the only one ever yelling at him. His dad mostly just beat him. Was she even at the house the other night? And if she wasn't, then the guy she was with today couldn't be any of the guests. Could it?

"Did you hear me kid?"

Johnny turned his head. "What?"

"I said - stay away from the house for now. I don't want those drunks to think they can beat on you as well."

Johnny nodded. "Ye-yes, Dal... of course. I'll just stay at the lot for a few days."

"Serious Johnny... go here or come find me. Don't go home!"

Johnny lit a new smoke, since Dallas had taken his, still feeling nauseous but trying to act like nothing was wrong. "I won't...I promise..."