I awoke in my house on my bed and leapt to my feet in a second. Gabby was sitting in my room, half asleep. "Where's Pony?" I shrieked hysterically. Gabby jumped up and rushed to me. "It's ok!" she exclaimed. "He's alright. He's in his room. He..." But I was out and into Pony's room before she could finish. I sat beside Pony's bed and he opened his eyes to smile weakly. "Are you alright?" I asked near tears. "Yeah Ally. I'm fine." he replied. "Please don't cry." His eyes begged me not to, so I nodded and Darry walked in. I stood up silently. "You're mom and dad went to get Pony some medicine from town five minutes ago." he said. I nodded and turned back to Ponyboy and Darry walked out. "What happened Ponyboy?" I asked, "What on Earth happened to you, Honey?" He shook his head. "I can't tell you. Not right now. Not yet. You'll get hurt." he said. I hung my head, knowing I could get nothing out of him that didn't want to come out. "You called me Honey." he said quietly, smiling even though I could tell it hurt him. I blushed. "I...I..."I trailed off. He put a finger to my lips and sat up. "It's ok." he whispered and smiled. I smiled too and kissed him softly. "Just don't tell Darry I'm sitting up. He'll have my head." he added. "Oh Pony!" I said and started to cry. "I thought they had hurt you real bad. I thought they had killed you!" He pulled me close to him and I was amazed that he wasn't so shy anymore. "Sh, it's ok Ally. I've had worse. It's alright. Don't cry." he soothed. I dried my tears and looked up at him. He had such a sparkle in his eyes. They showed caring, kindess, happiness, a flinch of pain every once in a while, and love? I've always believed in love at first sight, but I never thought it would happen to me. But as I looked into Ponyboy Curtis's eyes I could tell I was falling deeper and deeper in love. I hadn't even known I was in love! But here I am, I couldn't stop myself so I just kissed him again and stared into his eyes from his lap.
Later that day Darry said Ponyboy could get up and move around but not to get rowdy. Pony agreed and he, Johnny, and I walked to the barn and climbed into the hayloft. Pony and I sat on one hay bale together and Johnny on another. Johnny grinned as I sat on the same bale with Pony but didn't say anything. I smiled at him and then Pony took my hand. Johnny grinned wider and plucked a piece of hay to chew on. We sat in silence and I held Ponyboy's hand as tight as I could. Soon Johnny fell asleep, dead tired from running so much. I looked at Johnny, sleeping peacefully and smiled. "He looks so innocent." I said to Pony. Pony nodded and looked at me. I looked up at Pony and into his eyes and then heard something slam downstairs. Pony and I jumped and Johnny jerked awake. I stood to tip-toe to the rail to see what it was that was slammed ready to go off on one of the stable hands for scaring the horses like that! The nerve! But Ponyboy pulled me back to him with fear in his eyes. Silently begging me not to go near that rail. I looked at him and saw that he was still afraid from being beaten up. "Oh Baby." I whispered with pain in my eyes at him still being afraid.
He guided me to sit beside him again and I kissed his cheeks and lips. Just as I kissed his lips Steve appeared on the steps and saw us. "Oh no." I thought. "What do you think you're doing?" he yelled at the top of his lungs, striding over to us. "Ally haven't I told you that you're too young to date?" he roared, jerking me to my feet. Ponyboy was up in a second to protect me. "Steve stop!" he yelled. My anger was starting to rise over my fear and I jerked away from Steve and slapped his face. Steve stood there, stunned and looked at me. "You have no right," I said, my voice shaking with anger, "to try to run my life. I am the ONLY person who can run my life. I am in control of it Steve Randall. Not you. If I do something it's MY desicion so if I want to kiss Ponyboy Curtis I can! So leave us alone!" I glared at Steve, grabbed Pony's hand, and walked out of the hayloft and out of the barn, Johnny following us. "You shouldn't have done that." said Ponyboy. "I'm getting between you and your cousin and that isn't right. I shouldn't be doing this." I stared at Ponyboy. "Ponyboy Curtis you are not coming between me and Steve. He's trying to run my life and that isn't his job!" I said.
"He's just trying to watch out for his little cousin." Pony added gently. I realized this was true and I loved Steve for it. "Pony, I know. And I love Steve all the more for it. But he has to stop trying to run my life." I said.
Ponyboy nodded and led me into the house. My mother was sitting in the kitchen when we entered. "Hi, guys." she said. She glanced at me. "What's wrong?" she asked. Pony and Johnny left to go to their room and I sat by my Mom. "Mom, Steve is trying to run my life!" I said. "He doesn't want me dating Ponyboy, he says I'm too young! He saw me kissing Pony and he went crazy! What am I supposed to do? I like Ponyboy so much Mama!" To my surprise my mother smiled. "I know you do." my mom said and hugged me. "Just sit Steve down tonight and tell him that. I'm sure that Soda will give you some time alone with Steve." I nodded. "Ok, Mom. Thanks." I hugged my mother and went up to sit in Steve's room.
Soda and Steve came in at the same time. When Soda saw me he left the room quickly. "Steve, I need to talk to you." I said. "Don't be mad at me for slapping you. I really like Ponyboy..alot. And if my parents think it's ok to date then it's ok for me to date. I love you for trying to keep me innocent forever, but I can't stay that way. Do you understand?" I looked up at Steve and he hugged me. "Yeah, ok. I understand. Just don't try growing up too fast!" he said to me. I hugged him back and left.
I went to the living room and sat down between Pony and Johnny on the couch to watch Mickey Mouse. "Hi, Ally." Pony whispered. "Hi Pony." I whispered back. "Hi Johnny."
"Hey." he said.
"Hey Superman!" I yelped when Darry walked in and ran to hug him. He swung me into his big arms. "Hey Sweetcheeks!" he said happily. I ran over to Dally and hugged him too. "Hi Dal!" I yelled. "Hey Baby." Dally replied. Last I jumped on Two-Bit and yelled, "Hey Two-Bit!"
"Hey Allygirl." he said, laughing. I made my way back to the couch and sat between Pony and Johnny again. I leaned against Pony's arm and he grabbed my hand. I smiled at him. "Look boys! We got us a set of lovebirds!" Two-Bit and his wise-cracking mouth said. Just then Soda and Gabby walked in, holding hands. "And another set!" yelled Two-Bit. Gabby and Sodapop looked puzzled but the rest of us laughed.