I'm getting a lot of ideas for future stories. And you guys are putting up some good reviews. Keep em' coming.

Chapter 17: Come Back

Not much has been happening since I got out of the hospital. During school, I noticed Rick and Tyler. They noticed me. I just stared at them as I walked past. I didn't care about them anymore.

My ribs got better quickly. I barely had pain in them. Cherry and I kept our secret relationship. We just made a slight nod to each other in the hallways.

I remember on Friday, I saw Chris starting to make a play for Cherry. At one point, I wanted to go up and say "she's taken". But I remembered the soc and greaser thing.

"Hey Cherry."

"Hi."

"You want to be the lucky lady who meets me at Rusty's for a coke?"

"No thank you."

She just walked past Chris and made a quick smile at me. I smiled too. Served him right. I looked at Chris. He looked like a joke.

That afternoon, I was talking with Ponyboy. We were sitting on the porch talking. Then I remembered what Cherry said about Ponyboy.

"Hey Ponyboy. How come you don't go to church anymore?"

"Well. Um. One day I took the boys and they embarrassed me."

"Oh. Why don't you come with my aunt and me?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'll ask her later on. She'll be glad to take you."

"Okay….um, I have to study something. I'll talk to you later."

"Uhh..Okay. Talk to you later."

That was weird. Anyway. Ponyboy said he'd go to church with me. This should help him out a lot.

I walked past the school to see Tim Shepard and a couple of his friends. He noticed and called out my name. I ran over to him.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"There's a party going on tonight. Why don't you come."

"A party? Where?"

"At Merril's. Meet me over at the Dingo, and I'll drive you there."

"Um…"

It was Friday. I could be out late just as long as I told Les'.

"Alright. I'll be there."

"Okay. Don't be late."

Like it was planned. I met Tim at the Dingo and he drove me over to Merril's place. It was kind of big. It looked like there were a lot of people there.
When we walked inside, it looked crazy.

There were girls making out with people, half of everyone was drunk. I walked through to find something to do. But there was nothing here I could do. This wasn't my scene. I walked past someone and they blew smoke into my face. I would have decked him, but he was a pretty big guy.

There was a stench too. Man. I guess this is what those real hoods do. I thought hoods were people like Pony, Soda, Two-Bit, Darry, and Steve. But these were real hoods. I don't think they would be this wild. I mean, maybe Two-Bit. But I think he knew his limits.

I made a decision. I walked outside. Into the fresh air. I looked back at the house. This definitely wasn't my type of place. I just went ahead home and went to sleep. I don't think I'll ever attend those types of parties.

On Saturday, I didn't see Tim and his buddies at all. I was glad. I didn't want to tell them, why I wasn't at the party long. Hopefully they didn't notice. I just hung out with the gang all day. And I talked to Cherry at the DX. We were in the back so no one could see us.

Les' told Ponyboy that he would have to be up early to go to church with us. When we drove up to his house, it looked like he had tried to dress his best. He still had on blue jeans, but Les' understood that they didn't have the most money. She was sure that the people at church would understand too.

When we pulled up to the church, I asked Ponyboy,

"Is this the church you went to?"

He shook his head.

We all went inside. After church, Ponyboy and I were talking while sitting next to the car.

"How did you like it?"

"It was good. I haven't been in a while."

"Well, you seemed a little depressed at one point. What was wrong?"

"I used to go to church with Johnny."

I instantly felt bad. Man. I didn't know that at all. This kid's been through too much already.

"Oh man. I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"No, no. It's okay."

He still seemed depressed. I just put my arm around him and pulled him next to me. Ponyboy and I were such good friends. I felt like he was my little brother.