Disclaimer: Do not own anything.

Sorry this took so long to get up. I went brain-dead.

:Johnny's POV:

I watch his eyes darken then lighten again, it's almost as if he's begining to accept the fact that I have lied to him. I shyly glance at Dally and notice that he doesn't care. Soda seems imune to Pony's silent anger a he lays back gazing up at the dark sky with stars blinking coldly down upon us. I wastch as Soda lights a small fire. The reddish glow tattos his skin appearing like blood stains. Inside I'm screaming with fear. Pony nods, his eyes reflecting this easy calmness, and says "Are you going to tell the others?" I glance at my beloved who shrugs his slender shoulders carlessly and rolls onto his stomach saying "Don't care what we do. How long are we staying here?" His browns hold this certain light that is beyond beautiful. I smile slowly and say "As long as we want, or until Darry comes searching for us." The truth is that I don't want to go home yet. I don't want to see everyone's reaction to the truth. I'm scared to see how Darry reacts when he discovers that Soda and I are together.

"Steve's gonna kill me," Soda admits seriously and I cautiously ask "Why?" His browns regard me nervously then replies "You don't know him like I do. He blew up because of you and Pony, but he pretended to be fine infront of you two because I asked him to. He's going to be furious with me and Darry will pound my head in. You're our pet." I tilt my head and crawl over to him wispering "Are you ashamed of me?" "NO! I'm worried, that's all." I nod with a slight laugh and curl up aginst his chest. "Comfortable?" I smile and nuzzle my lips against his neck. "Yes," I say when he captures the flesh on my own neck in his teeth. Pony looks away with embarressement or lust and I feel my own face color.

:Pony's POV:

I can't help but watch as Johnny falls so easily against my brother. His blackish eyes close in delight when Soda begins to suck on his neck. His neck is already tatooed by similar marks, almost as if Soda was branding him, and the small youth releases a quiet moan. Soda lays Johnny down on his back and leans over him. I remember easily how good it felt to have that lithe form pressed against my own. I sigh as I wacth Soda kiss Johnny slowly, tasting him as if he's a divine, exotic treat, and I close my eyes when Johnny's arms wrap around my brother's neck. Dally takes a sip from the bottle and continues to stare at the flames. Warm flickers of gold and red wash over him.

He deserves to be with someone he loves, his happiness is all that matters. But I miss those sweet embraces, the warm kisses, the greedy touches. Why me? Why do I love him still? I could have sworn that he felt the same for me. I saw the flicker of passion in his eyes, the brief second of hope that flashed in them.

Johnny pulls Soda down for anouther kiss, and finanly I crawl over to them inquiring "Why'd you pretend to love me for so long?" Soda rolls onto his side while Johnny sits up and the timid boy says "I told you, I thought I did love you. It wasn't until now that I realized that I love Soda more than you. I didn't lie to you, and I'll understand if you hate me." I shake my head and say "I don't hate you, Johnny."

"Here," Dally says shoving the bottle into my hands as he scoops icecream into four cups. "Pour some into each cup," he orders and obidiantly I do as he told me to. He adds strawberry syrup to the mix of vodka and icecream then shoves a cup at me to stir up. It was shortly after he handed me the second cup that I realize that he's staring at Johnny. "He's really happy. He's never been that happy." I shrug eventhough I was disapointed with myself. "He's in love," I whisper. But not with me. I can't make him smile like that or make his laughter peal out the way Soda does. "You have to be tough, then no one can hurt you," Dally states and carries a cup to Johnny. He stares up at his idol with his dark eyes. "It's fine," I say sitting down with my own cup and handing the other to Soda.

:Soda's POV:

I watch Johnny drain his cup then Pony drink his own then mine. I watch as a strange smile slips onto the boy's face. He leans over Johnny with a impish smile and coaxes "Come on, Johnny, just this one time, please." Johnny shakes his head, sits up, and says "No,Ponyboy." Pony sits back on his heels and begs "Come on, you'll enjoy it. I'll be careful." I glare at my brother wanting nothing more to get him off of my beloved and say "Pony, you're drunk. Do you really want to hurt Johnny?" He looks at me with eyes wild with lust and says "No, but I want him." Johnny runs into the woods quickly then we follow after him. "Damn it," I snap tugging Pony over to the side. "Leave him alone, Pony, please." He nods sadly then hugs me before scampering off.

"Johnny, where are you," I yell fearfully and slowly I enter the shed. "Soda?" I climb the ladder and find Johnny huddled in the corner. "Hey honey," I whisper crawling across the floor to join him. His warm arms wrap around my neck, his gentle lips press against my neck, and finanly he says breathlessly "I hate seeing Pony like that. He's too good to end up just anouther drunk." I nuzzle his velvet throat while he lays down with his eyes closed. His hands dip beneath my shirt yet I can sense the uncertainty in the way his eyes avoid mine. "I'll go slowly and you can tell me to stop at any time," I say watching his cheecks tint with a soft, rosy blush.

:Johnny's POV:

I gasp when Soda's hands skim beneath my shirt and he slowly pulls the article off. His beautiful browns peer at me intently. Lips curve into a hungry smile while my own fingers explore his muscular chest then his shoulders. His soft moans encourace me to continue my sweet carresses. He sits back and studies my nude from before lowering his face to my chest. His tounge dashes across my flesh and he wills my thighs apart. I gasp when he finanly enters me. A rush of pleasure washes over me and giddily I cling to his body that grows heated with each trust. I shiver with delight even as I hear Pony's voice growing louder. Soda stiffles a moan against my shoulder and I bite my lower lip just to stop myself form screaming. "Johnny?" I prepare myself for a confrontation but Soda's lips calim mine roughly, and my attention is brought back to him.

I lay against his chest afterwards listening to his breathing. Somehow my carresses had lulled him to sleep. I smile despite the sounds of creaking upon the ladder. A sleeping bag covers our nudity since our clothes still lay discarded in a heap. Ponyboy crawls onto the loft and raises his hands then drops them back to his thighs saying "Why wouldn't you let me do that to you?" I lower my gaze and curiously glance up to find Soda gazing at me possisevly. "I don't know. Pony, please, I'm sorry." He sighs with a carefree shrug and states "It's nothing." Suddenly the impulse to have both brothers laying with me clouds my mind and I say "Stay, Dally will be fine." I smile when he snuggles up against me being careful not to touch Soda too much."I love you, Johnny," he murmers and I'm nearly overcome with guilt.