Hi there! I'm back with another chapter. I hope you all enjoy!

School took way too long. Health and English were the only classes I actually enjoyed, and my friends seemed to ignore me. Great, just what I needed. Food tech was the most exhausting because I was on dish duty, and I had no idea what I was doing, and the teacher gave bad directions.

Luckily I got to meet up with Lily after school. It was her first time going to the Dingo, and I was nervous. It was a rough hangout after all, and they didn't like newcomers who didn't look poor, and Lily dressed rather wealthy, though she was middle class. I hope she didn't end up like Mary Campbell, that poor girl who got shot while trying to break up a fight. I don't know what kind of man would ever hurt a woman, let alone shoot her. My dad said those types of men aren't even men! But what about those men over in Vietnam, who I've heard hurt civilians? They're in the military, which they say makes you a man. Yet they hurt women. Which one is it?!

I waited for Lily to join me over by the fence near the parent pickup line, where Darry would drive us to the diner; I read a book while I waited.

I was so lost in it that I didn't even notice Lily and Darry hollering at me… I guess that's how I've always been.

Lily came up to me and shook me violently. "C'mon. We gotta go. I'm excited!"

"Oh… oh yeah. I'm coming."

I followed her to the car and got in. Darry asked us questions immediately.

"How was your day? Did you learn anything new or do anything fun?"

I did not want to talk about my day. "Um… nothing really. I had to wash dishes in food tech though."

"I had a good day. We finished model houses in architecture, and they had some pretty good lunch today."

"Sounds pretty fun, much better than going up on a roof."

"I wanna go up on a roof!" Lily exclaims. "I bet it's really cool up there."

Darry laughed. "Well, you need to be extra careful not to fall, and work with hammers and nails. That sound good to you?"

"Well, maybe. My dad let me build a little birdhouse once."

"That's so cool!" Darry says in an overenthusiastic voice.

It weirds me out to see Darry be enthusiastic about anything, because that's not his personality. He's usually calmer. Does it weird Lily out too?

I don't talk during the ride to save up my energy, besides, I have nothing to say.

When we get there, there's barely anyone there. It looks abandoned, like this carnival at night I saw on a road trip once. Luckily that probably means it's safe. Lily and I get out and Darry drives off. We walk in, and only an old man and a family of one sit. It seems short staffed.

We sit down, and a waitress comes rushing over, probably thrilled to see someone else here.

"Do you want anything else to eat, I-I mean drink! I mean welcome to the Dingo, my name's Amanda, could I offer you in anything to drink?"

I smiled at the poor soul, probably new. "I would like a Pepsi." Lily said she wanted a black coffee. Of course she did. We waited for five minutes in silence until our drinks arrived. During the silence, I wondered if Lily was having a good time, if she liked the atmosphere. Johnny certainly didn't mind it. He fit right in, with his looks.

I liked going out to eat with Johnny back when he was with us, he would always get the same thing, a burger and fries and a soda. Simple, but that was Jonathan Cade. When we would go out to eat, he would chat to me about things like books, girls, movies… the things I liked to talk about, minus the girls of course. Johnny was quite shy around girls but he liked to look at them and think about them. It shocked me so much. Johnny was no pervert, he only had romantic thoughts (at least that's what he told me), but it still shocked me so much, because of how shy he was.

I miss Johnny…

I miss his stories about Dally, and how they would look at girls together. I miss watching the sky and outer space with him. I miss the simple times when we would have dinner together when he got kicked out. Screw it, I'm not making a list of all the reasons why I miss Johnny, or I'd cry right in front of this diner, in front of my girlfriend. Sure, she does seem like the kind that wouldn't judge, but still….

Anyway, I try to think about all the good memories about Johnny as Lily draws her favorite singers. Like the time we went to see Gone With The Wind, and how Johnny's eyes lit up watching it, looking at all those gallant Southern men, and how jealous of them I was and how we talked about our favorite parts as Darry drove us back home, and how Johnny looked scared as he got out of the car to his house. Well, that certainly wasn't a good memory….

Johnny really deserved better. Being mixed race in the South and poor, and having alcoholic parents really kicks you in the ass. If he could come back to life… I would tell him how much I love him, and cherish him, and how the world doesn't deserve him. A single tear slides down my face.

No, no. No. No. No!

I spring up and run to the bathroom, hoping Lily doesn't see. I can't have this be a habit, running away from her, or she'll break up with me.

In the bathroom, I pick a stall, and sob. I'm not sure whether to be proud of myself for letting all the tears out, or for being a crybaby. Why have I been like this lately? What the hell's gotten into me?

What's wrong with me?

I wipe away my tears and splash some water on my face to make the redness go away. I head back to the seating area, and sit down. Lily looks terrified.

"Pony!" She whispers. "There's a scary guy in here!"

I look behind her, to the only other person in there besides the family. I know the guy, it's Tim Shepherd. He crashes at our place sometimes, and was a friend of Dally's. However, he's also a threatening looking gang leader, and I can understand why Lily would be terrified of him. I'm a bit frightened of him as well.

"I know him. He was a friend of Dally's. He won't hurt you since he knows me. Just relax and wait to see if he greets me." I whisper back.

A few minutes later, Tim notices me, and says "Hey Ponyboy. How've ya been?"

"Been okay. You?"

"I've been fine. Who's this broad?"

"This is my girlfriend, Lily Kai."

"Hey."

Lily waves to him, and Tim nods, then goes back to eating his food. This was a very awkward conversation for sure!

After that awkwardness, we pay for our food, and Darry pulls around the front of the restaurant. We get in, and sit in silence as Lily continues to draw.

The drive feels like forever, until we finally drop Lily off at her house. I kiss her cheek goodbye, but she just says goodbye, no kiss for me. Did I do something wrong?

I'm already sad as it is, so I just decide to let it all out in front of Darry. "Darry, I cried today over Johnny, for the first time in a while."

"I'm sorry about that."

"It's not just that. Lately I've been so sad, and stressed, over all sorts of little things."

"Ponyboy, that's normal at this age. But if you want, we can talk to this lady who's house I roofed once. She's a wonderful listener, and can help with all your problems. Sound good?"

That did sound good, but could she bring Johnny and Mom and Dad back to life? But I still wanted to see her.

"Yeah, I guess that sounds good…"

I really hoped that lady would bring that magical cure.