The day at school was uneventful and boring. Johnny didn't show. Pony and I walked alone, but not far from the greasers in front of us, in case there was a problem.
"Pony?" I asked quietly.
"Ya?"
"Thank you, for sticking up for me this morning. It was…tuff!"
"Hey, it was nuttin'. I ain't scared of them anyhow!"
I just smiled and laughed. And then Johnny came up and my lips zipped. That's when I really noticed Johnny. He kinda looked a lot like a lost puppy with his large dark eyes. He was kinda small for his age and had a slight build. And his hair, the darkest shade of black I had ever seen. He was very tan, and the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen, next to Sodapop. Soda was movie star gorgeous, Johnny kinda looked like the boy next door.
After daydreaming about his hair, I faintly heard him say, "I don't think I can go home tonight. My dad…my dad's just getting worse. I…I don't know what to do."
"Johnny, you know your always welcome at my house!" Pony said.
"Ya, yall are nice and all, but I'm probably just gonna sleep in the lot."
I knew this was completely normal, but I nudged Pony, and hopefully sent him a look that said "GO AWAY!" Pony smiled his cute smile (now that I noticed), and said, "I'm a have to go do somethin' real quick, are yall gonna be O.K?"
"Ya." I said flatly.
"Sure." Johnny said shyly.
Ponyboy ran up the sidewalk to his house.
"Umm, Johnny?" I asked shyly.
"Ya?" He said flatly.
"Never mind." I said chickening out.
"No seriously, what?!" he said with more enthusiasm.
"About the whole sleepin' in the lot thing, I know it's normal and you just wanna act tough for your friends, but my couch is always free."
"No, I mean thanks and all, but that wouldn't be right."
"No really, anytime. Me and my mom need a strong man around anyway!" I said.
"Rebecca, your funny. I might just have to take you up on that offer!"
"Ya, just knock anytime! I would say that you can just come in, but my mom is kinda a freak, and keeps the doors locked. But don't worry, my mom could sleep through a rock concert."
"Ya, I'll be sure to come over sometime!"
Pony came back and said, "Yall wanna come over and hang at my house?"
"Ya." Johnny said.
"Sure. Let me go put all this crap in my house."
I ran up to my already open door and walked in.
"Hey." my mom said.
"Hey, can I go over to Pony's?" I said putting down my stuff.
"Sure!"
"Oh, mom. I basically gave Johnny an open stay on our couch. I don't think his parents are…the best."
"O.K, honey. Wait how old is he?"
"16, but he's as nice as can be…and he look 14."
"O.K, Rebecca. I guess that's fine!"
And I walked outside to see Johnny waiting patiently for me!
