I Grew Up Around Boys

I Grew Up Around Boys

XI Johnny's Choice

"We know you didn't mean to, John, it's ok, it was self defense!" Pony to reason with himself, not Johnny.

"No, it's not ok! I killed someone! They'll be after me!" Johnny sobbed into his hands. 'Crap, what can I say to calm him down?' I thought.

I locked him a hug. "What do you want to do?" I asked him, knowing the answer.

"I want you go home and be safe, I'm running away." He announced.

"NO!" I couldn't believe my ears; "I'm staying with you, whatever your choice is!"

"Danie," Pony said, "You didn't do anything! Please, listen to Johnny, please, go home!" Pony pleaded with me.

"No! I'm staying with you two! You can't leave me alone!" I couldn't believe I had just said that!

"You won't be alone! Darry, Dally, Soda, Steve, and Two-bit will be with you! And Pony," Johnny stated firmly.

"I'm going with you, and you know you can't get rid of me, Johnny," said Pony. Johnny nodded, not arguing.

"Yes, I know that, but, Johnny, if you leave, I don't know when I'll see you again! And Pony, I've always been dependent on you to be the first one in my room when I screamed because I saw something that wasn't there!" I said, "Johnny, Pony, you two aren't going anywhere without me!" I told them. Johnny and Pony exchanged looks.

"Alright, there's no use fightin' with ya. Come on," Pony finally said.

"So… where are we going?" I asked as we got up.

"Dally should be able to help, I think he's at Buck Merlin's…" I didn't let Johnny finish.

"No! We are NOT going to that place! Darry told us to never go near there, Pony. And you know dang well that I'm not about to get into more trouble!"

"Do you just wanna go home and keep your mouth shut tight, or do you wanna come with us?" Pony should go into law…

I fumed for a moment and finally stated, "Alright! I'll go with you…"

"Good." Pony really SHOULD go into law!

We walked to Buck's house, it was early, and no parties were going on, but Dally was there anyways. We walked up to the door and knocked.

Buck opened the door and looked at all of us. "What do you want? The party ain't for hours!" was what he said.

"We need to see Dally!" Johnny informed him.

"Why?" Buck's so easily confused! (A/N – HAHA!)

"Just tell him that Little Red Riding Hood's here to talk to him!" I said exasperated at him. Like I said, he's really confused! But he left anyways.

A minute later, I heard Dally scream, then the door flew open, and Dally locked me into a bear hug. (A/N – the phrase "Little Red Riding Hood's here to talk to you" is something that I came up with. It's a phrase that in my mind, Dally gave to Danie in case she was ever in trouble.)

After Dally let me go, he said, "The hell? What's wrong? When Buck came in and told me what you said, I thought he was jokin' me! I nearly strangled him! What happened?" he asked again.

"Johnny killed the Soc that punched me!"

"Johnny, you killed someone? Good for you!" was Dally's response.