Thank you all SO much for the response! I'm sorry that I took about forever to update, but I was on a way-long vacation, then I had to catch up on homework. Again, I'm really sorry. And I'm looking for a Beta, so if you're interested, PM me. R+R, s'il vous plais! Thanks! –Olivia

Johnny was waiting for me by the front door of the school. He smiled a little when I walked up to him. "Ready to go, Gloria?"

"Yep. Off to the DX we go!" I tried to lighten the mood. Johnny looked at me with those big dark eyes and I about melted inside. Johnny Cade was the handsomest boy I'd ever seen.

"Want me to carry your books?"

"Oh, thanks, Johnny!" I handed him my textbooks and my copy of the worst book ever, The Sin That Was His.

"You like the book?"

"No. I'm gonna end up asking Ponyboy for notes on it, I'm guessing."

"You mean what I've been doing for years? Not that I'm much good at school..."

"Johnny, you know you're plenty smart. School just ain't for you. You're one of the smartest people I know."

"You don't know many people, do you?" I laughed really hard, which made Johnny smile. Jesus, he was good-looking. No boy at our school could match him; swear on a stack of bibles. "Here we are."

Johnny held open the door of the DX for me.

"Thank you, Johnny." Oh Lord Almighty, Sodapop Curtis was working today.

"Well, well, well, Miss Gloria Matthews arriving on the arm of Mr. Johnny Cade. Now there's a sight I've been waitin' years to see. Johnny finally asked the girl of his dreams out! Oh, wait till I tell Two-Bit and Dally!"

"Shut the hell up, Soda," Johnny said. I looked at him, shocked. I'd never heard Johnny curse. "Just give me two cokes."

"Here you go! Free of charge, for a couple lovely as yourselves! Now skedaddle, plenty of things for young lovers to do on a Tulsa Friday!"

"SHUT UP, SODA!" Johnny yelled as we walked out. He offered me his hand as he led me to the lot. At least, that's where I guessed we were going.

Johnny sat me down on a bench in the lot and handed me a coke. I had a few sips to work up the courage to say what I'd been thinking.

"Johnny, what did Soda mean by he'd waited years? Is this a date, or not?" I finally spat out. Johnny's eyes were the size of saucers. He swallowed hard.

"Do you want it to be a date?"

"Um, Yes!" I said gleefully. I was screaming He likes me, he likes me, he really really likes me! In my head.

"Well then, yes, it's a date. And what Soda meant is that I, uhhh, have liked you for a very, very long time and I never had the guts to do anything about it till Dally made me."

"Dally? As in Dallas Winston? Number 1 on the Tulsa PD watch list Dally?"

"The one and only. Said I had a week to tell you or he'd do it."

"How long is long?"

"Oh, about the day you first moved into the neighbourhood. We were six. You had long red hair and were the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. You still are." He blushed bright red. Impulsively, I leaned in and kissed him on the mouth, for what seemed like a very long time. Seeing as this isn't a Harlequin Romance, I'll keep the details for myself. Let me just say Johnny was a VERY good kisser.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because Two-Bit always said you weren't gonna date till college, and you're so pretty, and I'm me, and I thought that you'd never ever in a million years go for someone like me, and that'd you'd never want to be my girlfriend-"

"Wait, did you just say girlfriend?" A gigantic smile spread across my face.

"I guess so. So, do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Want to be my girlfriend?" I kissed him again, for much longer, until I ran out of air. Christ, he was a great kisser. I was panting for breath after that one, practically.

"Does that answer your question, Johnny? I've wanted to be your girlfriend for so, so long, Johnny Cade, since I first laid eyes on you, practically. I'd love to be your girlfriend, more than anything." A grin just about split his face in two. He took a ring off his finger.

"Well then, you better wear my ring." He slid it onto my ring finger. Then he kissed me.

All my dreams were coming true. I just prayed that Two-Bit wouldn't know for a while longer.