You'll Never Guess
Chapter Three
Ponyboy's P.O.V.
Johnny's been acting really strange lately. And I mean stranger than before.
He isn't avoiding me anymore, but he isn't talking to me either! He stares a lot. Which is a little creepy actually.
He ain't the only one either. Soda watches me a lot now too. And whatever he's watching me for he must've told Darry 'cause he's watching too.
Dally's gazes are so intense that sometimes I can't tell if it's a look or a glare. And I get the feeling that no one told Dally. He just knows. Dallas Winston has his ways...
I wish I knew what everyone else did. The only clue I got was that Steve wasn't watching me like everyone else was. And it had to be something big and important if Soda was keeping this from Steve. But why was he keeping it from me?
Soda told me just about everything... What had changed?
Lately Johnny would sit out on the porch with me, but like I said we never talked.
One day I got so frustrated that I got up and marched into the house. But I didn't get very far before Dally left.
I watched through the blinds of one of the living room windows. Johnny didn't notice. He was watching the door with somewhat disappointed eyes. If he didn't want me to leave why didn't he say something?
Dally stopped his stride briefly. He squeezed Johnny's shoulder lightly and said softly, "Try taking control, Johnnycake."
Take control of what? Dally left a much redder Johnny on our porch. Nothing made sense anymore.
I sighed and headed off to bed. Laying beside Soda, I listened for a while until I heard Johnny come in and set himself down on our couch.
Then I turned over to find Soda still awake, watching me with intent eyes.
"Can I help you?" I asked a bit snippily.
He got a concerned look. "You okay, Pony? You've been acting sorta strange lately."
I've been acting strange? I thought. But I kept my sarcasm silent.
I settled for, "I don't think I've ever felt so in the dark."
Soda gave me a strange look. "Pony... it's always like this at night."
I sighed and turned over. Had I expected him to understand the expression? Well, I'd been hoping he would...
Soda wasn't stupid, or even dumb, but he sure could be dense sometimes...
...
The next day I abandoned examining Johnny. He just stared at me anyway.
I tried to figure out who he had his crush on. I couldn't think of any girls that Johnny talked to in particular. After his talk with Steve Johnny tried to avoid talking to girls altogether. So who was the outstanding exception? No one came to mind.
Today when we sat out on the porch together I was observing Johnny as he usually watched me. I observed him to the point where he had to look away. I knew I was making him uncomfortable, but at this point I didn't really care.
Johnny never looked at any girls.
Not the way he looked at me...
As the thought sank in my eyes widened a bit. But Johnny wasn't gay... was he?
As Johnny saw my eyes widen his face grew a bit paler and I knew I'd gotten it right.
I could practically feel his heart beating faster, probably because mine was too.
I couldn't manage to make my voice much more than a whisper. "It's me... isn't it?"
Johnny bit his lip and slowly shook his head yes.
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