A/N: This chapter is probably going to be on the shorter side, and it's gonna be a little different than previous chapters. In a good way, though. Just read and you'll find out! (:

Disclaimer: I definitely do not own The Outsiders.

Chapter Twenty

Johnny's POV

Dally was in jail.

Dally was in jail!

But, wait, that isn't a good thing. Dal is my friend, I thought to myself. This isn't anything new, either. He'd be out soon, and he and Kat would probably fight a little more, and then kiss and make up. Literally.

Kat. It killed me knowing she'd end up with Dally, but I also knew she only thought of me as a friend.

Or did she? Any normal person would take this chance, right? So shouldn't I try and make a move?

No, no, no, no, no, I thought to myself. She's Dal's girl. Isn't she?

"Hey, Johnny," someone said, snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked up at Pony. "You okay?" He had a cut under his eye, a couple of bruises on his arms, and his lip was cut from the rumble last night. He and I were the only ones up. We liked to get up early sometimes.

"Yeah, I guess," I mumbled to the floor. I was pretty sure it was obvious I wasn't okay. "Hey, Pony, wanna go for a walk?"

He shrugged. "Sure, why not."

"You got a cigarette?" I asked. He nodded, handing me one, and pulling one out himself.

We walked in silence for a little before he finally said, "You wanna talk about something?"

"Yeah, 'bout Kat," I said. "Is she, you know, going with Dal?"

"Hell if I know," Pony said. "I can tell you like her, though."

"She's a real good friend," I said. "But if she's going with Dal, I can't make a move, can I?"

"If I know Dallas Winston, he's probably done all the wrong things. With a girl like Kat, I mean. She ain't no Greaser girl. Not at heart, so Greaser moves ain't gonna work on her."

"I see how she looks at him, though," I said. "She may get pissed off at him sometimes, or maybe a lot of the times, but she still likes him."

"And you like her," Pony said. "And he's gone. So go for it, I say."

"I-I dunno, Pony," I said. "What if she doesn't even like me back?"

"Well, you ain't gonna find that out talking to me," Pony said. "Just go talk to her. I bet you she likes you the best out of all of us right now, just 'cause you didn't go to the rumble."

I laughed. "I do have that going for me." Then I smiled. "Thanks, Pony."

"No problem, man," he said, putting his arm around me. We walked back to Pony's house like that, making cracks at each other, and smoking our cigarettes.

A/N: Sorry this is so short. It was meant to be short, though. Just kind of something from someone else's point of view. I thought it would be fun. I meant to have this done last night, but I got distracted by manga… oops haha. But last night my cousin had her wedding vows blessed/renewed (both, maybe?) but it was super fun! I also got to meet her husband, I don't think I had met him before. He's really nice. It's unfortunate that they live in California. Guess I'll have to go out and visit haha. Well, again, sorry it's so short. Hope you liked it!