Reviewer: well, thanks for your review :)

Sarah126: yeah, I was shocked, too, but I guess, that's life, sad but true
well, if I were him, I think I would do it, too; sooner or later
you have to do it, 'cause otherwise you'll end up and maybe die...
really? thanks so much :)

chibi-kaitou: hey, it's ok :)
I don't mind :)
I guess, that's why we are here; to do it and to improve it
and nobody's perfect, right:)
thanks, I'm glad you like the story :)

so, I hope I won't disappoint you with that what follows, but find it out...

14. One mistake follows another

"My god, it's really ya! We were so worried 'bout ya!" Pony said and his eyes filled with tears.

He even would hug his buddy happily, when this one yielded back a bit and asked unfriendly, after he relaxed from his first shock, "What are ya doin' here? I said ya shouldn't search for me!"

"We could ask ya the same! Ya really think we let our buddy run away that easy without gettin' to know where he is and how he's doin'?" Dally replied.

"It concerns a damned shit to ya what I'm doin' here! I... I must go again! And don't think 'bout to follow me! Just beat it and leave me alone! Ya better forget me!" Johnny said.

Dally looked at him surprised.
Normally Johnny never argued with him.
And he also never ever dared to tell him anything unfriendly or ignore his words.
Because Dally's word was like a law for Johnny!
That's why it surprised Dally so much that he even couldn't answer anything to it.

Johnny already turned around and would go again when he was held tight by Pony on his arm. "Wait, Johnny!"

"What's goin' on, Pony? Let me go!" Johnny hissed at him.

The unusual harsh and unfriendly voice and the behaviour of his best buddy quite worried and hurt Pony.

But he tried not to let them show it and that's why he replied forced calm, "At first ya give me the money ya pinched from the woman. Then I let ya go again!"

"Are ya kiddin'? I ain't gonna do that! That's my money now! This didn't hurt the woman, 'cause she has enough money!" Johnny answered gruff, gruffer than he wanted at all.

It annoyed him a bit that his friends didn't leave him alone and that they ignored his request simply that way. They could do what they wanted to and they wouldn't be reprimanded, but when he did something - what happened extremely rarely to him - he would be blamed for it right away.

"That's not the point! This ain't ya money... Ya pinched it. Ya give it voluntarily to me or must I get it?" Pony said.

"Gee, don't show off like this! I don't wanna give ya the money! There ya can turn upside down! It belongs to me now!"

Now Pony couldn't suppress his worry and his disappointment any longer and that's why he replied furious, "What's up with ya, Johnny? I'm worried 'bout ya...
Damn it, I don't recognize ya any more again...
Well then, if ya don't wanna give it voluntary, we've to get it by ourselves!"

"Ya ain't gonna do that! Ya couldn't do it! Two-Bit also pinches like mad and ya don't care 'bout that so much! Well, then I can do that, too!"

"Damn it, Johnny! We don't wanna ya that ya become the same way! I don't wanna it!" Dally said and looked at Johnny.

"Pony, let me go!" Johnny repeated and ignored Dally's comment.

"Nope. Not 'til ya gave me the money! You're only gonna get yourself into trouble. Please, I just wanna help ya, Johnny. Get it!"

"Pony, let me go! Oh, I hate ya!"

"You're not dead serious, are ya?" Pony stopped in the middle of his movement and stared at Johnny stunned.

"Yeah, I am. I hate ya! I wish ya to hell! Ya and the others! Realize finally that ya have to forget me! It's my life..."

This was far too much for Pony. He raised his other hand and slapped Johnny's face. Johnny looked at him astonished.

"Oh my god! Johnny! I didn't mean it! I'm... I'm sorry! Really! I was so worried 'bout ya and then ya say such a thin'! I really was too shocked 'bout it! Please, believe me! I'm really sorry!" Pony stammered, deep frightened of himself.

"No, not ya too, Pony! Don't do that never ever again, understand? Nobody's got the right to beat me again, got it!
Nobody!
Even less ya, my friend, my best buddy!
I never thought this 'bout ya! Never ever 'bout ya!
I hate ya! I hate y'all!" Johnny said, began to cry, and tore off from Pony and ran away.

"Hey Johnny... I really didn't mean to! Please, come back, don't run away again!" Pony sobbed.

Dally picked up the purse, that Johnny lost, and put it into his pocket.

Then he turned around to Pony, grasped him at the shoulders and shook him and yelled at him, "Damn it, Pony! What have ya done? What have ya just done there?"

Pony stared behind Johnny stunned. He hardly noticed that he was shaken by Dally heavily.

His eyes filled with tears and he stammered, "Johnny..."

"Yeah. Damn it and ya beat him! Ya simply can't beat Johnny! Are ya nuts?
Most of all I'd like to..."

There Pony woke up, stared at Dally with tears in the eyes and yelled back, "Yeah, damn it, I'm terrible sorry!
I know what I've done.
I slapped Johnny, I slapped my best buddy!
Ain't it enough for ya that I suffer from it by myself?
Wanna ya beat me up now so that I suffer even more?
Then come on, do it and let me feel my mistake even clearer!
I don't wanna defend myself!"

And Pony stared at Dally.
This one stared back furiously.

"I should do it if only for that reason ya dared it, Curtis!" he grumbled.

He was so angry that he would like to do it. But then he thought about Johnny.
He definitely wouldn't that he beat Pony, 'cause this one beat him.
So Dally only pushed Pony angry away, turned around and left.

"Pony, come on..."

Pony swallowed and followed Dally.
Then they returned to Tulsa again.
Both were silent all the way, what Ponyboy even more saddened.

When they arrived at the Curtis house and Pony already would enter he was held tight by Dally.

"Hey, I know ya like to tell the others that we found Johnny but that's impossible!"

"Why not?" Pony wanted to know.

"It's still much too early for that! We just have to go on searchin' for Johnny and observe him. Only then, when we found out what he does and where he stays, we're gonna tell the others, got it?"

Pony slowly nodded.

"Ok, no word to anyone. This has to remain between ya and me and keep ya mouth shut or else..."

"It's all right, I don't say nothin'!" Pony replied quickly.

He wouldn't rather pick a quarrel with Dally any more.
He annoyed him already enough for today and he just could thank his lucky stars that he didn't get to feel Dally's rage.

"I would advise ya to..." Dally grumbled and then he let Pony go again, so that this one could go into the house.

Dally went to Buck's again.

And really, Pony kept up to tell nothing about the meeting with Johnny to his friends and brothers, although he had quite difficulties with it.
And with this secret he went to sleep in the evening.