A/N: Unfortunately, no one has reviewed on the last two chapters, so I don't know if anyone is really reading my story anymore. Either way, I'm going to post it up until the last chapter, and hopefully someone will read it. After this chapter, there are only two more left. Hopefully I'll get reviews. Enjoy!

X

I woke up a little while later, and sat down at the kitchen table to have dinner. Ponyboy was late (as always), so when he came in, he had to eat quickly.

When he sat down and started piling food on his plate, I asked, "So what did Cherry want?"

He shrugged. "Nothing."

I dropped it after that, realizing it was none of my business. But still, I wondered.

After dinner, I relaxed on the couch as the gang got ready for the rumble. Sodapop kept asking me if I was sure I didn't want to go, and I kept giving him the same answer. Steve called me a chicken, but I just ignored him.

"How come you like fights?" Ponyboy asked Soda.

"I dunno," he replied. "It's action. Like a contest, or a drag race or something."

I tuned them out after that, not wanting to hear anymore about it. As they were about to leave, my hatred towards fighting and anger at Ponyboy was pushed aside. I was worried that something would happen to him too, because what he said earlier kept coming back into my mind.

I grabbed his arm before he left. "Be careful," I said as my eyes started glistening with tears.

His face softened and he kneeled down next to me, making sure everyone else was outside. Next thing I knew, I was pulled into the tightest embrace I've ever had in my life. After a few moments, we pulled apart and he whispered, "I promise."

I saw the pain and fear in his eyes, which didn't settle my stomach at all. In fact, as he walked out of the house, my stomach was jumping all over the place.

I realized I wouldn't be able to do anything being so worried, so I decided to close my eyes, and try to sleep. Sleeping was my favorite thing to do, because it helps me escape everything for a while. My dreams were the only places I could go whenever I was upset or alone.

I was asleep in minutes.

X

A gentle hand was shaking me. I opened my eyes, and drowsily looked up. Sodapop was standing over me. After rubbing my face, I took a closer look at him; He had a few bruises and cuts on his face, but not too much damage. Steve had a huge cut on his cheek and a few bruises, and the only damage Darry seemed to have was a few bloody knuckles.

"Where's Ponyboy?" I asked, sitting up quickly.

"Him and Dally beat is after the rumble," Sodapop replied. "I think they went to see Johnny."

"Are they okay?"

He nodded. "Yeah, though Pony took a lot of hits."

I stood up and walked towards the front door. "Where ya goin'?" Darry asked me.

"I just need some fresh air," I replied, opening the door, and heading out.

It was a chilly night. I shivered as I sat on the porch steps, looking for any signs of Ponyboy or Dally. Something was wrong. I just knew it. Ponyboy had taken a lot of hits at the rumble, did that mean something was going to happen to him? I feared that he was even more sick than before. Above all, I feared that this overwhelmingly bad feeling was worse because Johnny was dangerously close to passing with each second that went by. I couldn't even think of what6 was going through his mind at that moment.

As the breeze blew by, I was lost in thought, until I saw Ponyboy walking towards me.

When Sodapop said that Pony had taken a few hits, he wasn't kidding; Pony's clothes were muddy, his sweatshirt was ripped, and there was a slight limp in his walk. His hair was a mess, he had a black eye, and his lip was busted open and bleeding. He looked horrible.

"Ponyboy?" I stood up as he came towards me. "Are you okay? What's wrong? Is Johnny okay? Where's Dally?"

Ponyboy's eyes casted to the floor, and he walked past me, never looking up. He walked inside, and I followed, fearing the worst.

"Ponyboy, what's wrong?" Darry asked, standing up.

"Johnny…" he started.

I shook my head. "No…" I whispered, my eyes getting wider.

"Johnny's dead." He nearly couldn't say it.

I didn't hear what else he said, because at that moment, the world around me started to spin. My breathing became shallow as a sharp pain developed in my chest. My eyes, watered, and I blinked to keep from crying. This couldn't be happening…

Next thing I knew, Two-Bit was near me, saying, "Charlie, are you okay?" He held out his arms, trying to calm me down.

I struggled in his arms. "No…"

He tried to grab my shoulders, but I backed away from him.

"Charlie, it'll be okay…"

"No…no it's not…"

His arm found its way to my shoulder, and I pushed it away. "NO!" I screamed before running out of the door and down the street.

My heart began pounding in my chest as I ran faster and faster. My vision soon blurred, making it near impossible for me to see what was going on. My breath grew heavy and fast as my lungs stung, and I fell to my knees, trying to breathe. I gasped and coughed, but I still felt light headed, and I couldn't catch my breath.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of strong arms around me, and I looked up to find Darry. He knelt next to me, hodling me in his arms.

"Shhh," he said, "it's okay. Don't cry…"

I hadn't realized that I even started crying, but I didn't protest as he picked me up and started carrying me back in the direction of our house. I still struggled to breathe as the reality of everything hit home: Johnny really was dead.

At this thought, my stomach lurched, and I turned my head away from Darry to puke on the ground. I coughed and choked as darkness started to cloud over me.

"Darry…" I whispered. He looked at me.

"Yeah?"

"I can't breathe…"

He placed his hand on my forehead as everything became dark.

X

When I next opened my eyes, I was in my room, with the light streaming through the window. I blinked and rubbed my throbbing head, as I saw Darry sitting in the chair opposite my bed. I stared at him for a moment as I tried to remember what happened. Darry sat up further in his chair when he noticed I was awake.

"Oh, good. You're awake."

"What happened?" I asked in a raspy voice. I looked at the table and took a few gulps of the glass of water that was sitting there.

"You're alright," he replied. "After you found out about Johnny, you took off down the street, and you collapsed in the middle of the road. When we got to you, you were gasping and choking like you were drowning. After we got you home, you passed out, and we called an ambulance. Steve went with you to the hospital."

I blinked, and took another gulp of water. Johnny was dead… Darry's words started ringing in my ears, bringing tears to my eyes, but I didn't want to cry in front of him.

"We couldn't go with you," he continued, "because we got a call from Dally. He robbed a store and he needed out help to get away from the cops. When we got to the lot, Dal was getting surrounded, and he pulled out that heater he had. They thought it was loaded…they started firing…"

"Is he alright?"

Darry hesitated before shaking his head. "And they didn't even care."

I groaned and immediately regretted it because my throat began hurting even more. Now Dally was dead too?

"So we were ready to go to the hospital to join you and Steve, when Pony passed out cold. We took him to the hospital too, and they evaluated you both. Pony passed out from exhaustion, shock, and a minor concussion. The doc said he'll be sleeping a lot the next few days, but he'll be fine."

"What about me?" I asked cautiously.

"The doctor said that you passed out because of shock and you had a panic attack-that's why you couldn't breathe. He also said you may have anxiety, and that is most likely another reason why you had the panic attack. The doc thinks you need to see a counselor."

I shook my head. "No way. I don't need a counselor." I buried my head beneath the blankets.

"But-"

"NO!" I shouted.

Darry sighed. "We'll talk about this when you're better. Pony's not awake yet, but I'll let you know when he is. In the mean time, you stay in bed. I'll bring ya some breakfast."

When Darry left the room, I lifted the covers off of my head. Johnny is dead. He was the only person I could talk to about anything. He was the first person who knew my secret. He was my first friend, my first kiss, and maybe even my first love.

Now he's gone.

I closed my eyes to keep from crying, and layed my head back against my pillow. The worst thing about Johnny's death was that even though I half expected it, it still hurt like hell.

I sighed, and rolled on my side. I was asleep before Darry came back with breakfast.