Ponyboy and Dallas were waiting for Johnny outside of the drugstore. Without Johnny there, Ponyboy found he had very little to say to Dallas. Although Johnny never said much, he created a warmth between the boys that Pony didn't realize he missed until it wasn't there.

"I don't know Dally." Ponyboy said. "This isn't like Johnny. Usually he's the one waiting on us."

Dallas eyed Pony with a little aggravation. "What are you saying? You think something happened to him?"

"I don't know I just think maybe we should go look for him."

Dally sighed trying not to let his fear show. If those socs had gotten a hold of Johnny again, he was going to kill them.

"Alright let's go." Dallas said.

Dallas and Ponydoy looked for Johnny in the vacant lot. They stopped by the gas station to ask Steve and Sodapop if they had seen him, but Johnny was nowhere to be found.

"Well let's go check his house." Dally said tossing a cigarette butt onto the ground and crushing the small flame with the heel of his boot.

Ponyboy sighed. "I hate dealing with his mother. She probably won't tell us anything anyway."

"Yeah well we'll make the bitch talk."

The sky had taken on that familiar red orange which indicated that night was fast approaching.

Dally walked up the steps of Johnny's front porch and banged on the door with his fist. Ponyboy hung back nervously. There was no response so again Dallas pounded on the door.

"Johnny you in there?" He called.

Finally Johnny's mother opened the door, but left the screen door closed tight between them. "What do you boys want?" She asked. She eyed the boys with contempt and disgust.

"We're looking for Johnny is he here?" Dallas asked.

"Yeah" She said, glaring at Dallas.

"Well tell him to get out here we need to talk to him."

"It won't do no good. He's been locked in his room all day just been ignoring me. He hasn't made a sound the ungrateful little bastard."

"How long has he been in there?" Pony asked finally walking up the stairs to the door.

"I told ya! All damn day! I ain't even seen him once."

Ponyboy pushed past the woman, forgetting all of his nervousness and shot towards Johnny's room.

"Johnny!" He shouted at the door. Dallas was standing beside him his ear pressed against the door.

"Johnny open the damn door!" Dallas yelled.

"You punks get out of my house before I call the cops." Johnny's mom shouted from behind him.

"I think I heard something in there." Dallas told Ponyboy, completely ignoring the woman behind him. "Move out of the way." He pushed Pony back and slammed his boot into the door repeatedly until the wood cracked and broke off at the hinges.

For a moment Ponyboy thought that Johnny was asleep. His body was curled up on the mattress. Then he noticed the splatters of blood on the blankets and then he saw Johnny's bleeding wrists. He saw the switch blade thrown on the floor beside Johnny's limp hand. His heart lurched into his throat when he finally realized what he was seeing.

He heard Johnny's mother screaming behind him, and saw Dallas dash towards Johnny.

"He's still breathing man." Dallas cried as he scooped Johnny up into his arms. "We've got to get him to a doctor." He carried Johnny out of the house. Dallas didn't know what he was doing, but he knew he had to get Johnny help fast. He was panicking as Johnny lay limp in his arms, his head dangling like a rag doll. How long had Johnny been like this and that stupid bitch hadn't even bothered to check on him. He spotted Johnny's fathers truck sitting in the driveway.

"Pony! Keys!" He shouted.

"Where are the keys?" Pony yelled at Johnny's mom.

She simply pointed at the kitchen table unable to speak through her hysteria. Pony snatched up the keys and ran off after Dallas.