Friday
The next day at school was a mad rush to get as much work done as possible. I walked home with Katie feeling extremely relieved school was over and I had managed to finish nearly all of the previous night's homework.
"I never want to go back to school again," I groaned.
"Why do you put yourself through that stress?" Katie asked me, referring to my homework time management issues. "I mean, wouldn't it've been easier if you'd just finished it last night?"
"Darry told me to go to bed," I shrugged. "I couldn't let him know that I hadn't done my homework at your house like I'd said I would, 'specially since I showed up home so late. He was already pretty angry, which I blame partly on you."
"Me?" Katie said incredulously. "What did I do?"
"The makeover sorta freaked him out a bit," I explained, with a hint of triumph in my voice. I told her it was too much.
"It's not like I forced you to."
"But you pressured me into it! I gave in to make you stop buggin' me 'bout it!"
"I refuse to take any blame for angering Darry, 'sides I was just bein' a good friend by helping you attract a certain greaser that happens to have you love struck."
I blushed. Johnny Cade was simply wonderful. He was just so good lookin' that I couldn't help but stare at him when he wasn't paying attention and he was so sweet too, and sensitive. I loved the way his thick dark hair was always fallin in his eyes no matter how much hair oil he put in it, and he had these big black eyes that were always filled with emotion and compassion, but he was tough too and brave and loyal and deep. I can't seem to wrap my head around it. I sometimes felt like I could relate to him and understand his view of the world, yet I knew we were very different. Johnny had it rough at home. His old man belted him somthin' awful and I wasn't too crazy about his mother either. She was cheap and cold. Johnny had never known love from his family-unless you count the gang. We all loved him. Johnny couldn't seem to get good grades in school no matter how hard he tried and the poor kid had been through so much that he would jump at his own shadow; therefore, I can't say that I relate to him at all…
"Hey Allie, Wait up!"
Grateful for the excuse to drop that subject, I turned around to see my savior was Ponyboy running to catch up with me and Katie. Boy could that kid run too. He was at our sides in a matter of seconds.
"Hey Pony, where's Johnny?" I asked. Katie smirked at me and I stomped on her foot. Johnny always walked home with Ponyboy. It wasn't an unreasonable thing to ask (unless you count the fact that he'd been skipping school more and more lately and we have a couple of the same classes together , so I already knew he hadn't been at school. Whatever)
"He left with Steve and Two-Bit after lunch, said he didn't really feel like goin to English class. So, you guys want to stop by the DX? I need a few more packs of cigarettes and I'll bet Soda'll get me some for free."
"Sure," I agreed. Perhaps Soda'd get me a Pepsi as well. Havin your older brother work at a gas station has its perks.
"Hey y'all! Did you stop by just to see me?" Soda greeted us with mock flattery as we entered to DX. Katie blushed and nervously ran her fingers through her wavy red hair. It was no secret to me that Katie dug Sodapop. He was pretty good lookin I suppose.
"Of course we did Soda! Who else would give his kid siblings free merchandise?" I replied.
"Two-Bit?" Soda suggested. Ponyboy made to hit him across the head but Soda ducked and said, "Alright alright. Whatdaya need?"
Ten minutes later me, Katie, and Ponyboy were headed back to my house with a few bottles Pepsi and Pony's cigarettes, despite Steve griping that the DX would never make any money if we kept stopping by with no money. I knew that wasn't true. The DX was the busiest gas station in Tulsa what with girls bein so attracted to Sodapop and Steve's gift with fixin up cars. In fact, we probably would have stayed longer if the place hadn't started to become overrun with people.
When we got back to the house I tossed my Pepsi bottle aside and made to go lay down on the couch, only there was already somebody sleepin there: Johnny. My heart stopped for a second. It's been doin that a lot lately every time I see him.
"Hey kids, what are ya doin here?" came Two-Bits voice from behind me. I attempted to raise an eyebrow at him. "I live here genius, remember? What are you doing here?"
"There's free chocolate cake in the freezer," he shrugged. "And there was a Mickey Mouse special on."
"Soda'll have your head for eatin the last cake," I warned him.
"I'll make another one," Ponyboy volunteered. I was grateful too. If Ponyboy didn't, there was a good chance that Soda would and that would mean risking the cake turning out purple or something.
"Hey y'all," Johnny said groggily from the sofa.
"Hiya Johnny!" I grinned. "How's it going?"
"Alright, I suppose," was Johnny's response. How wonderful! He's doin alright.
"Hey! How come you don't greet me that cheerily?" Two-Bit complained. I went red. "Oh, I…don't know?" I said lamely.
"Take it easy kid. I was just messin with ya," Two-Bit said, looking at me curiously, or perhaps it was suspiciously. Shoot! Why did I have to act so guilty?
"Sure," I said weakly. Katie was smirking at me. Stupid Katie.
"So, do you want to go do our homework?" I asked her, desperately looking for an excuse to leave this awkward conversation.
"Are you kidding? Allie it's Friday! I don't want to do homework." Thanks Katie, you're really helpful, I thought. I glared at her and made a mental note to remember this moment the next time Soda was around.
"We're out of eggs!" Ponyboy hollered from the kitchen. I leapt up with excitement for this gift wrapped excuse to leave. "I'll run to the store," I volunteered happily and I was at the door in a second. "Wait just a minute there Allison." Oh Two-Bit, why must you make my life hell? "I can't just let you go walkin around on your own. Darry might kill me. Johnny'll go with you, won't you Johnny?" Then again, maybe Two-bit wasn't so bad after all.
"Sure," Johnny agreed, jumping up.
"Alright then," I grinned. "Let's go."
Johnny shoved his hands in the pockets of his jean jacket and followed me out the door.
"Thanks for commin along to protect me," I said playfully, just for something to say.
"You're welcome," Johnny grinned. We walked in silence then. I tried to think of something to say but I really wasn't good at thinkin things up to say around Johnny lately. He just made me so nervous and Johnny hardly ever said anything. This wasn't so bad though. I was happy to be walking with Johnny even if we were completely silent. I absently kicked a rock on the sidewalk which happened to land in front of Johnny so he kicked it back and before I knew it we were chasin a rock down the sidewalk so intently that we accidently passed the grocery store without even noticing. Whoops. Eventually we had made it inside the grocery store and out and were headed back to my house with the eggs, which Johnny bought because, whoops again, I forgot I still didn't have any money on me. I do stupid stuff like that all the time and it sure does bother Darry something awful and it doesn't help that Ponyboy's no better than I am.
I kept stealing glances at Johnny 'cause glory, Johnny's cute! If life was perfect, he would stop walking right now and kiss me. I silently urged him to do so for a full minute, but no such luck. Apparently that boy can't read my mind. Shoot. Well, here we are. At my house. And nothing has happened. At all. Oh well, maybe next time he'll realize that he loves me. I shoved my wistful thinking aside and opened the door. "We're back!" I announced.
That night I recounted the day events in my head as I tried to fall asleep when I came to a realization that made my blood go could: Two-Bit knows about my crush on Johnny.
Crap.
How could I not have realized this sooner? Maybe then I could've shaken the idea out of his head before he got carried away. Two-Bit doesn't keep secrets. I'm not sure he's capable. My life might just end tomorrow. Needless to say, I didn't sleep well that night.
