Ok here is the next chapter. Thanks for all of your reviews. They make me want to write more.

I breathed out in relief. I know Two-Bit is not gonna be mad. He never is. Steve may get a bit aggressive at times, but Soda can always get a hold of Steve, when he gets out of control.

"Ok, I told them," Soda said coming back. "Two-Bit is gonna get Steve so they should be here real soon. I... didn't tell them, Johnny, just told them that its' really important, 'cause... I know you said you should tell them yourself. And I didn't know how to say something like that over the phone anyway," he smiled awkwardly.

Johnny nodded, agreeing that Soda did the right thing.

It started raining, and we went inside. In about 15 minutes we finally heard the car approaching, and then we saw through the window Steve and Two-Bit getting out of the car and running to the door, not wanting to get wet. Two-Bit must've been drinking again. He was running in zigzags, and he was still clutching his beer bottle in his hand.

I took a quick glance at Johnny. He was pale, and his body was visibly tensed up. I think he was even shaking slightly. You could just see he was gathering his thoughts, preparing for what he was going to say.

"Go to Soda's room. I'll tell them first," I quickly nudged Johnny in the ribs.

Johnny gave me a look, as if saying 'is that really necessary?' But the guys were about to enter the house, and he quickly got into Soda's room.

"Hi," Steve and Two-Bit said, and then looked at me, question in their eyes. I guess they wanted to know where I've been last night, but didn't want to ask. Steve looked tired. "So, what's the word about Darry?" He asked Soda, pulling up a chair, turning it backwards and sitting down, across from Soda.

"It's not about Darry," I said, feeling again that my voice is sounding funny to me.

"Huh?" Steve said confused.

Oh Gosh, I didn't know how to start. Soda was glancing at me and at the guys nervously.

"Um, hey guys," I finally said. "Please don't freak out, but I got something to tell you. Something that at first is gonna sound really crazy... "I paused.

Two-Bit and Steve exchanged looks.

"What's he talking about ?"Steve asked Soda, and that pissed me off a little. I am right there so he could've asked me. But instead he's asking Soda.

"C'mon just tell them, Pony," Soda said softly, ignoring Steve's question.

"Ok," I said, trying to get a hold of myself. "Promise you won't freak out or get mad at Johnny." At the mention of Johnny they looked very nervous, and exchanged looks again.

"The thing is," I continued, "Johnny Cade is alive! He did not die 3 months ago like we all thought he did. He had to hide out until now. Last night Darry found out about Johnny, and now Johnny wants to tell you guys what happened. And he really doesn't' want you to be mad at him. Oh yeah, and I... I knew about it all along, and didn't tell you. So if you are gonna be mad at him, you should be mad at me too."

They were speechless, and staring at me. Then they turned to Soda, hoping that he would say something, tell them that I'm crazy or something. But he only nodded his head so slightly. "Ok, I'm gonna tell him to come in now," I exhaled, and warned them again, "Don't be mad at him. He doesn't' deserve that. Come out Johnnycakes," I yelled then, getting up, and opening the door to Soda's room.

This was like a scene from a movie or something. I opened the door, and Johnny slowly emerged from the doorway, looking down, not daring to meet anyone's eyes. Two-Bit and Steve froze, like they were in a trance. Two-Bit took a few steps back, leaning on the wall and was looking completely lost. Like he wasn't sure if he had too much to drink and was seeing things. His eyes were shifting back and forth to Johnny then back to me, then Johnny again

Steve froze. The expression on his face was beyond any description. The word shock is a huge, and I mean huge understatement. His whole body tensed up, and he kind of leaned forward, and squeezed his fists as if he was being attacked or something. His face turned dark red, with white spots forming here and there. "What a hell?" He whispered. There was utter disbelief and even fear in his voice. His eyes briefly met mine, and then stopped on Soda as if looking to get the answers from his best friend.

Two-Bit tried to sit down on the couch, but lost his balance, and almost fell down. He was able to lean on the wall, and that saved him from falling. Then all of the sudden he started laughing. It wasn't loud at first, but then it got really loud and hysterical. His whole body was shaking as he was laughing. He was sweating, but continued to laugh. He was trying to say something as he laughed, but it was impossible to understand what it was he was saying. Steve was staring at him with huge eyes.

As he was laughing, Two-Bit was pointing his finger at Johnny then at me, then Johnny again. He would point at me and mumble, "he… he did…did…n't… didn't… he didn't di—eeee. He…didn't…dieeee." Then he'd point at Johnny and mumble, "you...you-u-u did…didn't…dieee." That went on for a while. Finally, he stopped pointing his finger, but was still laughing uncontrollably, and saying something. And I was able to make out him saying something like, "So-so-soorry guuuuys. I laug-laugh whe-en I gggeet re-a-lly nerr-rrvous." and he continued laughing.

"Stop it for God's sakes," Steve said reluctantly, through clenched teeth.

"I'm so-rr-yy, I... I can't. I re-ally can't." He continued laughing.

Johnny looked at him, scared that Two-Bit lost his mind or something.

Finally he was able to stop laughing. "Sorry about that," he said embarrassed, taking a seat next to Soda on the couch."

"Shit, what a hell, Johnny?" Steve said. He didn't say it mad. Just shocked. He looked at Soda somewhat helplessly, and blinking a lot, finding strength in looking at his best friend. Then he got up, and carefully came up to Johnny, and stopped right across from him. You could tell he wanted to give Johnny a hug, but was not sure how to go about it.

Finally, very carefully, as if he was scared that Johnny is NOT real, Steve grabbed Johnny by his arm, and pulling Johnny towards him, gave him a hug, "Shit, man this is really... really..." he couldn't find the right words, "it's really ... something," and he kept looking Johnny over like he still couldn't believe it. For the first time in the whole time Johnny cracked a small smile. "Shit, man," Steve said again, smiling and wiping sweat off of his forehead.

"So, C'mon Johnny tell us what the deal is," he then said playfully, sitting down again. I think I've never heard such friendly tone of voice from Steve. And seeing that Johnny was still uncomfortable, he reassured him, "C'mon Johnny, we ain't gonna get mad at you."

"Ok," Johnny said in a low voice. "Do you have some water?" He then asked, turning to Soda. "My...my lips are really dry."

Soda went to the kitchen, and got everyone a bottle of water. "Here you go," he said handing one to Johnny. "You too, that'd be good for a change," he added, giving one to Two-Bit, and taking the beer bottle from him.

Johnny took a few sips from his bottle, then took a deep breath, and started his story. He started from the very beginning. From the time I left him at the hospital, thinking he was dead. The guys were really quiet as Johnny was telling his story, and even though I already knew what he was about to say, I still found myself caught up in the story.

The guys got really sad looks on their faces when Johnny started telling them how he found out about Dal's death and how he went to live at the cemetery.

"You should've came to us right then," Steve snapped. And caught himself right away. "I ain't mad at you Johnny. I ain't mad at you. I just wish you came over to us. We would've helped you."

"I know," Johnny said quietly, and continued his story.

He was getting to the part about Carol, and how she let him stay at her place, and I could tell he wasn't sure if he should mention her name at all.

"So, how did Darry find out, and what does it have to do with him running off yesterday?" Soda asked softly, but curiously. Johnny took another deep breath, and I knew he decided to tell them about Carol after all. He didn't go into details about how Darry got mad and yelled at him. He just said Darry got upset that Johnny and I didn't tell the gang earlier, and left it at that.

Johnny finished telling his story, but no one moved, and everyone was still sitting around him in a circle. "I am really sorry guys," Johnny said, "I'm really, really sorry."

"C'mon, stop it, Johnnycake," Two-bit said. "We ain't mad at you, can't you tell? I gotta tell you though, I thought I was going to lose it kid, when I saw you standing there, I swear," he added chuckling.

"Why, we thought so too," Steve said half-kidding and half-serious, and making a face that said 'yeah, it was close to you losing your mind, Two-Bit.'

"You really ain't mad at me?" Johnny asked, turning to Steve and Soda, wiping off a tear.

"C'mon now," Steve said, trying to sound a little angry, but failing at it. "We ain't mad at you for this, but we will be mad if you ask one more time if we are mad at you."

In the meantime, I was looking at Soda. He sure looked tired. He hadn't slept the whole night staying with Darry at the hospital. It got quiet in the room. Then Two-Bit cleared up his throat, "I know it's not the time, but I'm kind of …hungry." Steve glared at him.

"What? I haven't had anything to eat since last night." Steve gave him another glare, and Soda chuckled.

"Sure, Two-Bit," he said. "I'm sure everyone else is hungry too. There is plenty of food left over from yesterday." Then he looked at Johnny and said, "No offence, Johnny, but you need to take a shower, and get out of these clothes, man. Pony go get some of your clothes for Johnny." I went to my room, and got a pair of jeans and a T-shirt for Johnny. I couldn't believe this was over. It felt like the weight was lifted off my shoulders.

I was waiting for Johnny in my room. He came in pretty soon, wearing my clothes, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"You want to go get something to eat?" I asked. I was really hungry even though I wouldn't dare to say so earlier. I mean, we just had coffee this morning and that was it.

"Sure," Johnny said, but didn't move.

"So, let's go," I said.

"D'you ...mind if I maybe get some sleep first? I'm really sleepy," Johnny said tiredly. And he did look like he needed it. He looked exhausted. Like all his energy was drawn out of him, by the events of last night and today.

"Sure, Johnny," I said. I'll tell the guys you wanted to take a nap.

"Uh-ha, thanks,.." he answered, lying down on top of the bed, and closing his eyes. "I can't believe it's over, man," he exhaled tiredly.

"Yeah, I know Johnnycakes. Me too."

I went back to the kitchen, and the guys got really quiet when I walked in. "Oh, c'mon," I rolled my eyes. "I know you were talking about me. Or Johnny. Or me and Johnny." Each of them just kept staring into his plate. There was something really funny about it, I don't' know. Or maybe I was just really tired. But I couldn't help it, and started laughing. They started laughing too.

After we ate, I got the phone and called Carol.

"So, how did it go?" She asked anxiously.

"It went fine, but... Darry is in the hospital."

"What?!"