Oh, you are wonderful people for reviewing. Whenever I get one, I tell one of my friends excitedly and they act like they know what I'm talking about. Keep it up, please!

JJohnson- I am sad I didn't update last night, either. I had to write 8 pages for my English class, and didn't have time to finish typing this chapter. I am pleased that you cared enough to notice, though :) Thanks!

leximander- Slowly, you are becoming my favorite...Sh, don't tell anyone. Thank you for your in-depth reviews. Hehe, I can manipulate your actions through the computer...enjoy the book :3

SGFJ- I love it when books do that to me, so I'm happy I could do that with this story! Thanks for the reviews.

Anyways, this chapter isn't as good as the previous ones. I had to take up some space, get some character development in, you know? I hope you still enjoy it, though. I'll shut up now.

Disclaimer: (Yeah, I'm still doing these) The Outsiders novel and characters belong to S.E. Hinton.

Chapter 11: Bad Owies For Johnny

The next morning, I was eating my slice of cake at the table and listening to the boys chatter loudly. I yawned and wanted to give in to the urge to fall asleep on the table. The thought of going to school was making me sick. Then I had work at LJ's. Ack.

I was finishing off the crumbs and Soda came into the living room, where everyone was glued to the TV.

"Good morning." He came into the kitchen and poured a glass of milk.

"Morning. Have a good day at work!" I replied, as enthusiastically and least awkwardly as I could.

I guess he didn't have an awkward problem, because he slunk an arm around my waist and lightly kissed me. "Have a good day at school."

I dropped the fork I was rinsing abruptly and quickly put the rest of my dishes away. "Th-thanks," I stuttered, watching him walk back into the living room and head out the door with Steve. I glanced around at the boys who were left and thanked God that no one appeared to have seen that. Sighing, I picked up my school bag and walked to the couch, rose still painting my cheeks. There were a few minutes until we had to leave, so I sat down next to Pony on the floor and watched the news program that was playing.

"Change the channel, Two-Bit, this stuff is boring me to death," Ponyboy complained, rubbing his eyes and fingering a cigarette, which he would probably light as soon as we left.

"Hella action in the kitchen, if that's what you want. Ain't that right, Alice?" Two-Bit laughed wildly at his own joke and gave me an evil grin.

"I don't see anything special happening," I said sarcastically, glaring at him. Johnny and Ponyboy looked at Keith with bewildered faces, and he opened his mouth to explain. I quickly put a finger to my lips, then, made a slicing motion over my neck. I wasn't even sure what was with Soda and I, so he definitely wasn't going to tell Pony and Johnny.

"O-KAY! Let's go to school!" I announced loudly, clapping my hands and pushing Pony and Johnny out the door while I gave Two-Bit another look.


I collapsed on the couch. A combination of school and work had almost annihilated my will to stay awake.

The first day of work had gone pretty well. At LJ's, the girl who was working the counter yesterday showed me the ropes. Her name was Margaret. Soon, I was acting like I had worked there for years.

Only Johnny was there when I got back, which I found strange. "Um…hello, Johnny. Where is everyone?" I questioned, looking up from the couch to where I noticed him at the kitchen table.

"Oh, they're playin' football in the lot."

My eyebrows knit together in confusion. "And…why aren't you there?"

"I, uh, my legs are tired."

I rolled my eyes and got off the couch to go sit next to him, pouring a bowl of cereal. "No, really, why aren't you playing?" He didn't answer. "Well, fine then. I saw the guy who attacked me at LJ's yesterday."

He sighed. "I hope he didn't give you any trouble."

"No, I don't think he remembered me."

Johnny looked conflicted. He finally opened his mouth. "I'm not playing because I got bruised up pretty bad last night. It hurts to move, even."

To be honest, Johnny was really my closest friend right now. I had talked to him a lot after I figured out how great he was with advice. And, you know, he had helped me a few days ago and all. So naturally, I was concerned. "Johnny, are you alright? Was it your dad?"

He nodded. "Yeah, he, he came home really drunk last night and my mom made him mad. Then she left. So, I was the only one there."

I frowned. "Here, let me get you some ice." I went to the freezer (or icebox, as they called it) and pulled out one of those blue things, the big squishy bags you fill with water. "Okay, show me where it hurts."

He shifted uncomfortably, then, lifted his shirt to reveal a large blackish bruise that covered most of his abdomen. I let out a gasp. "Johnny, why can't you stay with us? I don't like the idea of you going back to someone who would hurt you like that."

He shrugged and took the ice pack, wincing when the cold surface touched his skin. I bit my lip and put a hand on his shoulder, noticing how he shied away. "Please, do yourself a favor. Just stay here, at least for tonight."

The door whooshed open and loud voices started filling the house. The boys were back from their game. I heard an argument between Steve and Dally over who had done something or other the right way. I couldn't tell you what, I don't understand football.

"Hoo-ee, what's going on in here?" Two-Bit exclaimed, coming in and slapping Johnny on the back good-naturedly.

I snarled at him. "Don't do that."

"No funny business, right?" Soda laughed and came beside Two-Bit. Johnny turned red and I stood up. "You guys leave him alone, or I'll bust your teeth out and make a necklace with 'em."

"Hey Soda, you got a stubborn one here." Two-Bit started laughing and went to get a beer.

Sodapop glared at him. "You better make sure you don't run your mouth off again, or I'll-" They started wrestling on the floor, Two-Bit gaining the upper hand until Soda flipped him over and put him into a half nelson (Darry told me what that was. They had tried to teach me how to wrestle, once). I noticed Dallas smirking at Two-Bit's comment and I shot him a look before turning back to Johnny. "Come on, let's go somewhere else so you can-"

"Hey Johnny, you wanna go to the Tasty Freeze with me?" Pony called, coming over to us. Johnny gave me an apologetic look. "Sure, Ponyboy, let's go. See you later, Al."

I smiled at them and sighed, wishing they would stay in. I was worried something would happen, since it was almost 8:00 and pretty dark out. Nah, Pony was tough and I knew Johnny was actually a pretty good fighter if it came down to it.

"Be careful!" I called after them, putting the blue squishy thingy back into the icebox.

"I'm going to go to bed. My head hurts. See you all in the morning." I walked into the bedroom and took the mattress, even though it wasn't really my night. I was too brain dead to care. Although things up in my noodle were pretty whack, I did curl up and manage to fall asleep.