Wow the 9th chapter! Yep, I'll explain maybe in later chapters…or even the next one, where Johnny was staying before he came to Ponyboy's. In future chapters I do plan on Michael getting with a girl. It will just take a damn long time.
Anyways, hope you all like this chapter!

P.S Nobody gave any suggestions on what Ponyboy's job is…so that will forever remain as a mystery

PP.S I haven't been able to review stories lately? How wierds that? Or even add authors to fav list or stories, which totally sucks!! Anyway…on with the story since nobody cares bout my pointless a/n

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Ponyboy's Pov

I was sitting at my desk in the study doing some paper work for work. It's due in on Monday and my boss will kill me if I don't get it in. but then again I have a good excuse…my wife just died!

I looked at the neatly framed family portrait of our family that was taken probably about 2 years ago.

Jill was so beautiful. I wasn't the only guy who knew. A lot of guys down at the office noticed too. She flirted with a lot of my friends too. I saw her a lot touching some guy's arm suggestively.

I didn't really mind actually. But when I even spoke to another girl she went completely psycho! She did when I was with Johnny too. Can't blame her though. He was one good-lookin' guy.

-Flashback-

Me and Johnny were sitting under a tree at the lot. My brothers and the gang were all playing some football and me and Johnny were too for a while, but Johnny sprained his ankle and had to sit down. I sat out too with him so he wouldn't feel so lonely.

"How's your ankle feeling?" I asked to try and bring up a conversation.

"Eh, it's nothing. I'll be fine," he said shrugging it off.

The sprained ankle must be nothing compared to the beatings he gets at home. Shoot, it'd probably be like getting a hangnail compared to constantly breaking your wrist, or even your arm.

I then noticed he was lighting a smoke that was between his lips. I watched with fascination.

I can't remember how old I was, I was young though.

I had noticed Johnny had been smoking for ages now, and everytime he did it, it really fascinated me.

Just the look of that smoke being held so carelessly between his fingers then brought up to his soft looking pinkish-red lips, then he would place the smoke between his lips and breathe in.

It looked so good. It didn't seem as good when someone like Dally did it, but when I watched Johnny do it, it was like…amazing?

He passed it to me, "wanna drag?"

I stared at the smoke confused. Then him.

He smiled, "you're always staring at it. You wanna try it don't you?"

I nodded slowly, staring at that smoke again.

I took it from his hand and copied what he always did. But instead I began coughing when I felt the smooth air travel down my throat.

Johnny chuckled a little and my brothers looked over. But continued on with their game.

Johnny smiled and took the smoke back, "guess you need practice."

I nodded and watched him do it again. "Did you?"

"Did I what?" He asked blowing the smoke back out.

"Need practice?"

He nodded, "yeah. Not much though. I had watched Dally do it a lot though."

I felt something strange boil inside of me. But it was sort of like pain, but I couldn't actually feel any physical pain.

I think I soon realized that I was feeling jealous, but I had quickly denied it.

Darry soon came over and asked Johnny how he was.

Johnny looked up at Darry and shrugged. "Fine," he said just barely above a whisper.

Johnny spoke quietly like that to Darry a lot, and he didn't speak very much to him. But it wasn't just Darry, it was becoming the whole gang.

But not me for some reason.

He would when the rest of the gang were around, but when we were alone he talked more. Not excessively but you could strike up a conversation.

We understood each other…but I had no idea how. We just had some kind of connection, you know? It was strange sometimes to think about. I didn't connect as much with the other guys cause I think it was because I was younger than them, but Johnny must have found it easier for that reason? Maybe it was because he looked my age, or we were often quiet together, or because we just simply enjoyed each other's company. But I knew what ever we had was special.

Darry gave me a stern look. "Maybe you should get home and get a start on your homework?"

I groaned and rolled my eyes, "it's Saturday! Do I have to?"

"Better to do it now than staying up all night Sunday rushing to get it done, and not doing it to your full potential."

I sighed and looked over at Johnny.

He was putting out the smoke.

"Seeya, Johnny," I said and stood up.

"Seeya, Pony," he said and looked up at me.

I couldn't break eye contact with him. His eyes were so mesmerizing for some reason at that time. I began to feel dizzy and my heart was beating faster.

"I'll walk you home," Darry offered me.

I nodded and broke the eye contact; my head felt like it was spinning. I had thought it was because of the smoke but a few days later I had realized it was because of Johnny.

Darry and me walked away and I looked back at Johnny a few times, with him still on my mind. Just the image of him smoking.

"Did you have a smoke with Johnny?" Darry said as we walked down the sidewalk.

I put my hands in my pocket, "just a little drag. That was it. Just to try it."

"Dad would kill you, you know, if he caught you smoking?"

I looked at him worried, "I was just trying it! Your not gonna tell him are you!"

He smiled and shook his head, "naw, it can be our little secret."

I smiled too, "thanks, Darry."

He put his arm 'round me and chuckled a little, "I worry 'bout you too much."

I shrugged, knowing dead well he did.

"I'm just looking out for what's best for you, kid."

-End of Flashback-

I really missed Darry sometimes. He had died shortly after my wedding so he never got to meet Michael. He knew about Michael though, if you know what I mean?

I remember a few days after Jill had told me she was pregnant I went home to see Darry.

-Flashback-

I knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer.

Sodapop lived not far by here with Sandy. Sodapop and Sandy. Sandy and Sodapop. There names went together. Ponyboy and Jill. Jill and Ponyboy. How come our names didn't suit as well?…Ponyboy and Johnny. Shutup! Stop thinking about him!

"Hello? Oh, hi, Ponyboy." It was Darry's wife Miss Chambers…err…I mean Cindy.

"Darry home?" I asked.

She nodded, still smiling politely, and then invited me inside.

The home that used to be our families had been transformed into just plainly Darry's and Cindy's home.

I sat down on the fairly new blue couch.

If you're wondering about Cindy…she was my young pretty English teacher in year 10.

It was parent/teacher night and since Darry was my legal guardian he came up.

Well sparks flew between the two and Darry worked up the courage to ask Miss Chambers…Cindy, out for a date.

Obviously, that was a hit too, because they continued dating. She moved in a year later when Darry proposed to her and the two soon got married.

Cindy walked over to the bathroom and knocked on the door, "Darry, Ponyboy's here."

I could hear the shower running.

She came back and sat in the armchair, "he'll be out in a sec."

I always felt kind of awkward with her. Sometimes by accident I would still call her Miss Chambers, though technically she's Mrs Curtis.

"How are you?" She asked. I think she could sense the tension.

"Alright," I nodded. After a while I realised I had been rude by not asking her so I did, "and you?"

She smiled, "fine."

She looked at the tv though and rubbed her arm. She sighed a little.

I had felt really sorry for her. I knew her and Darry had been trying for a baby for a while now. It's so sad when a couple want a baby desperately but can't, but another couple can have one so easily just by accident.

It was weird thinking about it now, when I looked back on it. Cindy did eventually have a baby. But sadly Darry had died before he was born too.

They had had a son. Cindy named him Darrel Jr. He looked just like Darry it was like looking back into Darry's past childhood form.

Darry (as we had also nicknamed Darrel Jr) was only about 2 months younger then Michael, and the two had grown up very close since they both lived in the same neighbourhood.

But when the boys were about 11, Cindy re-married another man who totally loved his work and he got offered another high paying job in I think Washington? So he packed up his family and moved them there. Michael was crushed to see his cousin go.

But anyway, Darry came back in with a towel around his waist.

"Hey, Ponyboy, how's Jill?" He said, while walking into his bedroom.

"Yeah…'bout that," I said getting up and following him.

I followed him into his bedroom and sat on his bed.

He was mingling through his wardrobe looking for some clothes.

"A couple of days ago," I started.

"Cindy!" Darry yelled out, interrupting me, "where's my white shirt?"

"Which one?" She yelled back.

"The one with the white, shiny looking buttons. You know, I think I wore it last weekend when we visited your parents?"

"Oh, check the bottom left draw."

Darry walked over to his draws so I continued.

"Jill told me that…"

"This ain't the one with the shiny buttons! It's the one with the non-shiny buttons!" Darry interrupted me again, yelling out to his wife.

"Does it really matter? Your just going for a check-up at the doctor's!" She yelled back.

He grumbled something to himself and got it out.

"I hate going to the doctor's," he told me, "I didn't want to go but Cindy insisted I should just in case since its good to go in for regular check-ups. I just know they're going to find something wrong with me. You jinx these things by seeing a doctor."

"Anyway," I said sighing with frustration, "Jill told me that…"

"But I really want the one with the shiny buttons!" Darry yelled to Cindy again.

"Do you want me to check the clothesline?" she yelled back.

"If you don't mind?" He said yelling back.

I rolled my eyes and leaned back getting more frustrated by the second.

"What were you saying Ponyboy?" Darry asked.

"The other day Jill told me that…"

"Nope it's not there," Cindy yelled back.

I groaned and layed back on the bed.

"Are you totally absolutely sure?!" Darry yelled.

"You can check for yourself if you want."

"Fine!"

I stood up quickly stopping him before he could leave, "Jill's pregnant!"

His eyes widened and he froze.

"Oh, wait, I think I found it," Cindy yelled.

Darry said nothing though and just stared at me.

She later came in, "you still want it?" She asked.

Darry looked at Cindy, then at me. "Is it yours?"

I shrugged, then nodded, "I guess…so she tells me."

"Then you have to marry her." I felt my heart sink into my stomach and a tennis ball grow in my throat.

"What's going on?" Cindy asked.

"Ponyboy got his girlfriend Jill pregnant."

-End of Flashback-

That reminded me I had to call Cindy sometime just to tell her about Jill's death. Also to generally find out what she's been up to lately, how she is, how Darry Jr is, how Michael's doing, and how Sodapop and his family are doing.

I looked at our family portrait once again. Why wasn't I mourning over Jill like I thought I would be? Maybe since I've been really distracted lately…

I opened my draw and took out a very old picture.

It was me and Johnny when we were much much younger. I had my arm 'round his shoulders and we were grinning. Those were the days. When everything was simpler and didn't have to worry too much. The picture was taken before my parents death so you understand how long ago it was taken. Though it seems like just yesterday. Things were so much easier. I didn't have to worry too much about grades, or girls, or other things…

I layed my head on my desk and yawned. My eyes were getting heavy. Another second or two I knew I was gonna be out like a light. Damn I didn't finish those papers.

Johnny's Pov

I stumbled home. I had caught a taxi, which was good; luckily I had a few extra dollars in my pocket.

I wonder if Ponyboy would get mad seeing I've come back to his place drunk? I'm not too drunk, maybe just tipsy.

"Ow!" I walked straight into the mailbox. Smart, Johnny, smart.

Michael's Pov

"Did you hear that?" I asked looking around.

"It was nothing." Ryan continued kissing my neck.

"Are you sure? Coulda sworn..."

"Relax!" Ryan said getting frustrated with me.

I nodded and just sat still while he kissed my neck. I couldn't enjoy this while I thought someone was hanging around.

Ryan then began to put his weight on me so I was forced to lay down with him on top.

His hand began to unzip my jeans.

I watched him with caution as he began to take off my jeans. I wasn't sure what he was planning on doing since we've never gotten this far. I had to admit I was scared.

He began to rub my forming erection between my legs, but the only thing that kept him from actually touching was my boxers.

I layed back and moaned quietly every now and then. I looked across the room and saw my t-shirt carelessly lying on the ground near Ryan's.

Then he stopped and I looked at him confused.

He was taking off his jeans too now?

"Why are you taking your jeans off too?" I asked.

He smiled, "you're so cute, Michael," and he kissed my lips.

I pushed him back, "no, seriously."

He shrugged as if it weren't a big deal and said, "we've been dating for ages now, so It's 'bout time we have sex."

My eyes widened and I sat up, but he held me back down.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I'm not ready for that! I'm only 15!"

"So?"

"So!" I said and pushed him away. I sat up and began pulling my jeans back up.

"You know I thought being in a relationship with a guy would mean that you wouldn't have to worry about a girl getting all scared about sex."

Was he calling me a girl? Now I felt bad. I didn't want to be the girl in this relationship. Maybe I should just do it? But a sick feeling in my stomach told me it just wasn't right…but I wasn't sure if it was because I just wasn't ready to have sex, or if I wanted my first time to be with him.

"Well…I would…but I'm just not in the mood." I lied.

"How could you not be in the mood? I can clearly see you are in the mood?"

I grabbed my pillow and put it in my lap, sulking. Why was he being so mean? Oh god I am the girl!

"Well…my mum just died!"

"What has she got to do with it?" He said, getting more angry.

"She just died, dude! I'm still upset over it!" I could feel my eyes begin to water just talking about her, "I can't do something like this while im mourning over my mum. I wanted my first time to be special."

I heard someone coming upstairs.

"Don't be a baby," Ryan said cupping my cheeks, and kissing me.

I tried to push him away, so he grabbed my wrists, then layed on my again.

I began to whimper against his kiss and struggled to get out of his grip but he was stronger then me.

"Hey, Michael, you okay, buddy?" The door opened…OHMIGOD!

It was Johnny!

Ryan let go of me and sat up quickly.

But it was too late. Johnny's jaw was hanging on the ground and I thought sooner or later his eyes were definitely going to pop out of his head.

I was expecting him to yell at me that I was a fag or something, or worse go run to my father and tell him what he saw.

I sat up, breathing heavily since my heart was beating so much with fear.

"Eer…" Johnny then said, looking around extreamely awkwardly, "see you in the morning."

He closed the door and I could hear him running down the hall…thank god not towards dads room. Then I heard a crash, Johnny swearing, and then a door shut.

Ryan looked at me fearfully. I glared at him and crossed my arms.

"Get out," I said.

He looked me up and down, his lip trembling, "Ohmigod…I dunno what came over me…I'm so sor-"

"Just get out!" I yelled at him.

He stood up and did his pants back up.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Fuck off."

"Don't be like that."

"Johnny caught us, Ryan. It'd be a cold day in hell before I ever speak to you again."

"Hey! You can't blame me for that!"

"You almost…" I cringed thinking about it, and felt my eyes get hot again, "just please get out." He looked at me sadly then left, closing the door behind him.

I got under my covers quickly and cried.

How could he? He said he loved me! You don't do that to people you love! And what about Johnny? Oh god…will he tell my dad?

Johnny's Pov

I wasn't sure if I should tell his dad.

It's something Ponyboy would want to know right? That his son is gay. But would he really want to hear something like that after his wife had just recently passed away?

But maybe Michael ain't gay. He could have just been experimenting I guess? But why did he look upset when I came in, and how come I could hear him whimpering?

Maybe I shouldn't tell Pony? Maybe I should talk to Michael about it? Or just pretend I saw nothing.

Maybe I did say nothing. I am drunk…not that drunk. But maybe I'm drunker than I think I am and I'm really passed out on the kitchen floor right now dreaming all this…Ow my head hurts.

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Sorry took my so long to update. I've been working on this everyday for like 2 weeks or something, but the dang chapter just wouldn't finish! But it least for the people who like this will hopefully think it was worth the long wait for this chapter. I hate it when you wait ages for a chapter and then it's really fuckin' tiny!

The thought of Michael being a girl was a reference to zevie's story Happy Birthday Dallas. I read it a while ago (wanted to review but couldn't cause my comp is stuffin' up for some strange reason) I liked it a lot and thought it was funny, so instead of reviewin', I did this.