Author's Note: Trying to update asap…. Don't forget to comment if you like it! :) I'm a human and I respond best with positive encouragement *hint hint* :P Thanks y'all, stay gold and do it for Johnny…. OH, and I don't own the Outsiders (I WISH) or Candy Mountain.

CHAPTER III: Pain, Hot Dogs and a Weird Dream

"What the hell are you doin' man?" It was Dally.

"Oh, uh, hey Dal." I choked out. He clucked his tongue and pulled me to my feet. I winced, and tried to shift my weight to my left foot instead.

"It's three in the mornin' kiddo." Dally informed me, tossing the clothes under the tree and throwing my arm around his shoulder for support. Just from the light of the moon, I could see that his light, blonde hair was matted to his forehead and his blue eyes were fierce.

"R-really? How do y-y-you know?" I shivered. Dal tapped his watch. "Oh." I said. He helped me into the tent after shaking his hair out like a dog. Almost everyone was snoring loudly, except for Johnny (who was curled up into a ball) and Two-bit (whose fist was in his mouth). Dally led me over to my sleeping bag and helped me get in it. I sucked in a breath as I adjusted my position. God, my ankle hurt. Soon, I felt my eyes close as I listened to the rain.

"Ponyboy, c'mon! Let's go to Candy Mountain! Candy Mountain, Pony!" A unicorn was talking to me.

"What the heck is Candy Mountain?" I asked curiously.

"It's a mountain of sweets and joy, Pony, JOY!" Suddenly, the unicorn ignitedly like a match to kindling.

"Oh, Ponyboy, I'm burning, burning!" The unicorn screamed. I ran over to it.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! What do I do?"

"Help Ponyboy, help!" I could smell burning unicorn meat, I could smell the….

"Hot dogs! Pony, you wanna hot dog?" I opened my eyes only to see a huge pair of brown eyes staring right back at me. I shrieked and scooted back a foot or two, causing my ankle to explode with pain. I cried out.

"Pony? Um, do you wanna eat breakfast?" It was Johnny. Breakfast, breakfast... I swallowed. I didn't know if I could eat breakfast and keep it down after watching a unicorn burn to death.

"What's for breakfast?" I mumbled sleepily, shaking the hair out of my eyes. Johnny grinned.

"Hot dogs! It's not rainin' anymore!" he explained happily.

"Great, sure I'll have one!" I said, trying to crawl out of my sleeping bag without causing my ankle pain.

"Pony, are you okay? It just seems like— glory! Look at your ankle!" Johnny yelped. My right ankle was swollen, and it was a dark, ugly shade of blue.

"Shit." I grumbled, trying to stand up. Johnny threw my arm across his shoulder and helped me out of the tent. Everyone was sitting around a fire, roasting hot dogs. It was odd seeing as it was about ten in the morning. Two-bit batted his eyes at me.

"Why, Sleeping Beauty, how very nice it is for you to join us. I dare say, you are looking quite mah-velous today." Two-bit crooned in an English accent. His corny smile disappeared completely. "Jesus, what did you do to your ankle?"

Now everyone was staring at me. Wonderful.

"I slipped in the rain last night." I stated, feeling incredibly stupid. Darry stood up and came over to me. He examined my ankle.

"It's not broken." He announced. "Just badly sprained." As if I were a toddler, he scooped me up and sat me down next to , he ripped off his white shirt and tied it around my ankle. I bit my lip to keep from crying out. It was a makeshift cast. An awkward silence followed.

"99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer! Take one down, pass it around, 98 bottles of beer on the wall!" Steve started singing. Two-bit covered his ears.

"Oh, god no, not that song!" Soon, everyone but Two-bit was singing along. As I bit into my hot dog, I was grateful that it wasn't roasted unicorn meat.