Hey guys, sorry it took so long for this next chapter. This was harder to write than I thought it was going to be, but I'm determined to get this and other stories out. Enjoy!

Toni's POV:

It was final. I, I mean, we, were going to the dance! I couldn't wait, and I even think the boys were a little excited too. They felt bad that the others couldn't go, so because of the nice friend I am. I offered to buy their tickets as long as Two-bit, Pony, and Johnny got the guest passes. Two-bit got Steve's guest pass, Pony got Soda's, and Johnny got Dally's. Darry couldn't come because he had to work. The only thing we needed was clothes. I had a dress already because there's a few in my closet I didn't wear yet. Steve, Soda, and Two-bit had found a decent pair of pants(jeans of course) and shirts, but Pony, Johnny, and Dally were not so lucky. So, the Monday before the dance I took them to the closest clothing store.

Dally wasn't too picky, so it was easy to find him something. As soon as we walked in the store he took a nice black shirt and a tie, he refused to wear anything other than jeans though. Pony and Johnny were shy and they felt awkward buying nice stuff. After a while they loosened up and we started goofing off and got kicked out of the store, but not before we got them clothes. They also did not want to wear dress pants so we just got new jeans and a blue short for Johnny and a maroon shirt for Pony.

And of course I had to keep my promise, so every day after school, starting Monday; I taught them how to dance. I tried so hard not to laugh at them, but I just couldn't resist! Two-bit doesn't have any rhythm, Pony dances like he has two left feet, and Johnny just couldn't grasp anything I was teaching him, so I helped Johnny out more than the others, only cause he asked.

I was so exhausted by the end of the week, but Friday I was pumped up and couldn't wait for the dance. Now, you can't have a homecoming dance without the spirit week, none of the greasers did anything, but I did (I mean why wouldn't you, it's so fun!). Just when I thought I was able to have a break, things took a turn for the worse.

I had said goodnight to my parents and went up stairs to go to bed. I hung my dress up on the outside of my closet, set my shoes below it, and looked at the effect of my wonderful set up.

Man, I can't wait for this, but for some reason I have an odd feeling about something?

I had this feeling all night even after I tried to go to sleep. At about 2 am I woke up with a sensation that something bad had happened. So I went downstairs and checked the whole house, but I found nothing. I went into the kitchen and poured a glass of milk. I finished that off and started to walk back to the stairs when I noticed the entrance hall light on. I went to turn it off and I noticed that there was someone on the porch.

I froze and stood there for what felt like hours. I was scared to move, I didn't know who it was because it was so dark outside.

Who's on my porch at 2 am in the morning?

I walked to the door and peered out the window next to it. There sitting by the steps was a boy with his legs up to his chest and his arms hugging his legs. His forehead was resting on his arms. The kid had black hair and darker looking skin.

Oh my god…

I realized who it was and wrenched open the door and got a cold burst of breeze. I walked slowly up and sat down next to him.

"Johnny?" he didn't move. I reached my hand out to put it on his shoulder. As soon as my fingers touched he flinched back and looked over at me, but swung his head the other way so I couldn't see his face.

"Johnny are you okay, what's wrong?" I wished he would just answer me, because it was freezing and I was in my pajamas. He had to be cold too, cause he had a t-shirt on.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and asked him one more time if he was okay. He just shook his head no and nothing else.

I started to get worried, I've never seen Johnny like this before, it was really scaring me.

"Johnny, would you please look at me, tell me what happened," I rubbed my hand on his back hoping it would comfort him and get him to answer me.

He shook his head again and said, "Why would you care if I told you, no one else does. You'll kick me off your property as soon as I look at ya," he replied in a muffled voice.

"I would never kick you off my property. You wouldn't have come if you knew that I care, but you did which means you trust me. Come on Johnny I only want to help."

He lifted his head and turned towards me. I gasped as I scanned his face. Even in the dim light from the porch I could see the dark bruise under his left eye. We just sat there for a minute; he didn't at me, but at an object behind me. What's more, I don't even think he shed a tear, even though it looked really painful. At least I don't think he did. When I finally snapped out of it, I asked him again.

"Johnny, what happened? Who did this to you? Were you jumped? Did a soc do this?" I rambled out my questions, I don't even know if he heard me.

"HE shook his head, "it wasn't a soc."

"Well, then, was it someone you didn't know?"

"No Toni, do you really want to? It was my father okay, my father, and please don't yell at me, don't yell," this last statement shocked me. He stood up and walked away.

His father did that to him? His father?! What did he mean by don't yell at him? I wasn't planning on yelling at him.

"Johnny, I'm not going to yell at you, come here," I said getting up.

He was now holding his hands against his ears.

Why is he covering his ears?

"Johnny…Johnny…stop covering your ears and listen to me!" I walked over and grabbed his wrist and pulled them away from his head. When I did this he opened his eyes and flinched back, but I held on because I wanted him to listen to me.

"Johnny I'm not going to yell or hurt you. Just listen to me. I want you to tell me what happened, when it happened, and why it happened. And what we are going to do about it, okay?" he simply shook his head yes.

"Alright let's go inside, it's cold out here," I led him to the door. He hadn't looked me in the eye in the eye yet, I was wondering if he was afraid he would see anger or something, but I wasn't mad at him. I wanted to help him.

We went inside and I grabbed one of my jackets off the coat rack and gave it to him. He put it on and that's when I noticed more bruises on his arms. He had also started holding his ribs while he was standing.

"You're going to have to be quiet because everyone else is sleeping. Come on let's go in the kitchen, I'll get you something to eat or drink," we went in and sat at the counter and I got out two mugs and put the kettle on the stove to make hot chocolate.

When the hot cocoa was done I poured it into the mugs and gave one to Johnny and set one down at my placemat. I also got a pack of ice for his eye.

I looked at Johnny; he was starring at his hands on his lap. I put the ice on the area below his eye and he flinched back, I don't know if was from the pain or if I just startled him. He took the ice and held it against his face, "thanks, Toni."

"You're welcome. So, do you want to tell me what happened?" I gave him a hopeful look.

"I just wanted to get my jacket in the house," he paused to take a sip of hot cocoa.

"I was walking into the house and I closed the door as softly as I could so I wouldn't make any noise. I went upstairs to my room and as soon as I closed the door behind me I heard footsteps coming up the stairs," his eyes became wide with fear.

"My father flung the door opened and started yelling at me for dragging mud in the house and for being too loud going up the stairs. I had brought some mud in, but I was as quiet as I could be on the stairs. He came closer to me and… well…that's when he started hitting me."

Enjoy the next chapter sorry I chopped it up like this, but it's supposed to be suspenseful!

Reviews Please!