The Outsiders II: The Outcasts
by
~Miriah~of~the~Wind~
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Chapter 11: Love? What is this Love?
"Miriah, just forget about him. Just focus your mind on something else." Claudia pleaded.
"I can't! He was special, he was different. I still love him you know. Have the police found out anything?"
"No. They won't and they probably never will. Miriah, who ever sent them was thinking practically. Your playing with fire by having a relationship with that Greaser."
"His name was Johnny."
"Doesn't matter. He's still a lazy, non-working, disabled, hood." At this Miriah went over and smacked her sister hard.
"How can you say that? Using disablement as though it's some kind of crime? It's not their fault stuff like that happens to them! Have you no shame?"
"Sorry." Claudia muttered and got up and left the room.
"Miriah!" I whispered.
"Who's there!" Miriah called to the darkness.
"Ponyboy." I answered.
"Ponyboy? Why couldn't you come through the front door?"
"'cause your sister and mother are having an all out battle."
"What did you want to see me about?" Miriah asked. It was pitch black so I couldn't see her so I followed the sound of her voice. Johnny and I moved to her bed and sat down with her.
"We wanted to know something from you." Johnny said quietly.
"What are you doing here?!?" Miriah practically shouted.
"We need some information." I tried to say trying to calm Miriah down.
"Johnny! You promised!" Miriah sobbed, "You promised that you wouldn't do anything to get yourself harmed and that means seeing me!"
"Miriah, do you love me?"
"What?"
"I said, do you love me?"
"Yes." Miriah answered.
"Then wouldn't you do anything to help us be together?"
"Of course."
"Good, because well, I'd rather die in your arms then live without you one more day. Listen, it's gonna be risky but, hey, that's a Greaser's life so I'm use to it. I'm gonna need your help and if you want this relationship to work you gotta help, ya dig?" Miriah nodded and pulled him by his jeans-jacket and kissed him. I wondered at that moment wether I should turn away but I figure that watching might improve the way I kiss a little bit. Maybe enough to impress Cherry. She pulled back and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and Johnny and I were surprised.
"You smoke?" I asked.
"Only when I'm stressed. You guys want some?"
"Sure." I said.
"Yeah, okay." Johnny answered.
"So, what did you guys want to know about?" Miriah asked.
"Well, it's the Jackson's gang. Do you know anyone they take orders from?"
"The only male leader that the Jackson gang takes orders from is Jackson but sometimes they take a lady's request."
"A girl Soc? What kind of girl Soc would wanna separate you two apart?" I asked confused but Miriah cleared it up.
"A cheerleader."
"Do you know which?" I asked hoping it didn't include Cherry.
"Almost all of them. They don't like mixing 'breeds' as they call it." Miriah explained, "although one of them tried to get them to leave me alone, she was a red-head named Sherri Valence."
"Thanks." Johnny said trying not to let his cigarette drag that way it wouldn't leave ashes on her bed. After one last kiss we left Miriah and tried to go down the balcony which is easier said than done.
After we strolled away from the house I asked Johnny, "What's it like?"
"What's what like, Ponyboy?"
"You know, love, what's that like?" I had asked Soda that question and he said it felt real good and the way I saw how Johnny reacted to their first kiss and when they broke up I could tell it must be really good but what was it like.
"Well, I don't know if I can explain it but I'll try. Sometimes I think about or even dream about her all the time. It'll be like I'll just think of something I like and she'll just pop up. You know, when the person you love kisses you it's like a mixture of a victory after a rumble and a good smoke combined. Love is like something you wanna hold forever but if someone takes it away you can't believe that you let it slip from ya fingers like that. You know, sometimes I think about being a little more physical with her." I looked at Johnny smiled and he looked at me and smiled.
"Johnny!"
"What? I was only thinkin'."
"Well, well, Johnnycake has become more of a lady's man, is he?" The gang snuck behind us with Soda or Darry who were working.
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