Late that night I woke up and decided to go outside for a little fresh air. I put on my socks and walked downstairs and outside. I sat on the rocking chair for a minute and heard someone walking towards the house. I froze and listened as hard as I could. For a few minutes I listened with bated breath and finally a figure came into view. I knew that figure anywhere. It was Ponyboy! He looked shocked to see me on the porch and walked over to me. "Did I wake you? I'm sorry.." he said. I smiled at him. "No, you didn't wake me. I couldn't sleep. Why are you out here?"
"Needed a smoke and to think...look at the stars." he added blushing.
"That's a good idea. Will you walk with me?" I asked fearing he would say no. His eyes brightened and we walked off of the porch towards the barn. Halfway to the barn Ponyboy took my hand. I felt a tingle go down my spine. "Ponyboy likes me!" I screamed in my head. "He actually likes me." Pony flopped down on the ground and i laid a body length from him. After staring at the stars for a little while, I rolled over onto my stomach closer to Pony. He looked at me with surprise and something else in his eyes that I couldn't figure out. "Ponyboy, I'm sorry that your parents died. And I'm sorry life isn't treating you right." I said my elbows pressing into the ground, close enough to hear him breathing. "Why do you think life isn't treating me right?" he asked softly.
"Because you don't seem as happy as you used to be." I said lightly.
"Kiss his cheek Ally! You Chicken do it!"I yelled at myself.
I decided I was too chicken so I settled for snuggling up to his chest and staring at the stars, occasionally gazing at his face. "Ally." he whispered. "Can I tell you something?" I gulped and nodded. "I..I...I really like you. Alot." he added. We sat silently for a minute and I whispered, "Pony?"
"Hm?"
"I really like you too." Pony looked at me as I lifted my face to look into his eyes. They showed caring and happiness. He wrapped his arms around me and I lifted my face to his, kissing him on the cheek softly. Ponyboy looked into my eyes for a minute then leaned down and kissed my lips. The kiss lasted no more than four seconds, but it was special. It was my first kiss. I sighed happily as my heart soared on newly found wings. We stood up and I looked into his eyes again. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his lips softly again. We walked back up to the house not knowing we were being watched by a dangerous man, Lance Ferman.
The next morning I was all smiles. So was Ponyboy. At breakfast when we looked at each other, we blushed or stared into each others eyes. Once, I looked down the table at Steve who was fuming. "What's wrong with him?" I thought to myself. "Oh well." My mom walked into the dining room once when Pony and I were locked in each others gaze and she smiled. She knew. My mother always knew. After breakfast I walked into the barn to give Whisper his carrots and was jerked back by a strong arm. "You kissed him didn't you?" whispered Steve fiercly. "You kissed Ponyboy."
"How the heck do you know that?" I asked. "And what does it matter?" He looked so mad! "Everyone could tell at breakfast the way you two were acting." he said, "And it matters because you are too young to be dating! You're only fourteen!" I gave him a fierce gaze right back. "Steve Randle," I said, "I like Ponyboy and I know what to do and what not to do. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself!" I walked out of the barn slowly with Steve glaring darts after me. I didn't care. Steve wasn't keeping me away from Ponyboy!
I started looking for Ponyboy and Johnny and found Johnny running from a field, white as a sheet. "What is it?" I asked, alarmed.
"It's Pony." Johnny gasped. "Someone's beat him bad!" I felt myself go pale as Johnny. "What!" I screamed to the top of my lungs. Not a minute later Darry, Dally, Two-Bit, and Soda ran from the house at top speed. Steve from the barn. Johnny took off towards where he came from, me on his heels, the gang on mine. We reached the creek and I saw Ponyboy laying on the creek bank no more than fifty yards away. I ran after Johnny at top speed. When Johnny got to Pony he stopped dead. He was cut up from what looked like a lot of hits to the face and bruises all over his body. His head was bleeding. The gang rushed around me to Ponyboy. Everyone's face grew pale and Sodapop hit a tree, causing his knuckles to bust open. I looked at Ponyboy again and felt the world spin. The world went black.