Chapter 12: Leaving

I just couldn't get any sleep after I packed. I cried the whole time I packed and while I waited on my bed. Why did I leave him at the lot? I hated myself for leaving him there. I promised myself that I would always be there for him. He was in trouble. It was my fault. I woke up my aunt and told her that I was leaving through my tears. I told her I couldn't tell her where I was going but that I would be safe. I also told her to read the morning paper and she would get all her answers there. She said that if I needed anything to call her. I was glad that she understood and cared about me. I thought about Johnny parents and how they probably didn't care at all. It was 5:00 and all I was going to bring was my purse. I didn't want to carry too much with me. I didn't have any idea where I was going so if there was a lot of walking I wouldn't have a bag of things to carry. All I put in my purse was $200 that my parents gave to me in case I needed it.

I needed to get to Pony and Johnny. I watched the clock hit 6:00. I went over to the window and sure enough Dallas and his car were out front.

"Hey Dally" I said as I jumped in the passenger seat.

"You wanna do this?" Dally asked looking over at me.

Why was he asking me this? My boyfriend and one of my best friends are in danger. I had to stay with them.

"Yes I'm sure. Are you going to tell the rest of the gang about this?" I asked.

"No. I'm going to keep these lips closed." Dally said.

"That'll last right up to when you're gonna open your lips up real wide and sticking your tongue in some poor girl's mouth." I said smiling.

"Hey!" Dally said reaching over and tapping me in the arm. He couldn't help but smile back at me.

"Are you going to stay with us in the country?" I asked as we drove off.

"No. I'm going to come and visit once in awhile."

"Oh, well when you come back to town tell the rest of the gang that I love them and that I hope to be seeing them real soon."

"Yeah" Dally knew that I cared about them but I didn't know if he knew I cared about him too. "Dally?"

"Yes Jenny?"

"I love you too." I gave him a nudge on the shoulder and leaned in and rested my head on it. He looked down at me and smiled.

"You're a cool kid, Jenny."

"Yeah I know."

The gang meant lots to me. I was so glad I had the chance to meet them. I feel asleep after twenty minutes of driving. I hadn't slept and I was getting dizzy with all the feelings going through my head.

I woke up and I knew we were in the country. We were still driving and the sun was up and shining. Dally looked at me and smiled and I smiled back. I had no idea where they were in the country but I just went with the flow and didn't ask anymore questions. I looked out the window and saw the entire fields that went on forever. Then Dally pulled up to an old looking church. It defiantly was abandoned. Before I got a good look at it. I noticed just awhile down the road a kid who had to be around four was walking across the street. There was a car coming in his direction. I ran as fast as I could towards him and picked him up and ran him to the other side of the street.

A man came running out of a nice church across from the abandoned one and ran over to me.

"Oh, you saved Timothy!" The man said. He had to be the Pastor.

"He was going to get hit." I said out of breath.

"What is your name, child?" The man asked.

"Jenny Vinder."

"Oh, well I'm Pastor Mark. And this is Timothy. He is part of our nursery here at the church." He pointed to the little boy I had saved who was hiding behind Pastor Mark. "If there is anything I can do for you, Jenny, anything, let me know." He held out his hand and I put out mine.

"Thank you." I said smiling.

"No, thank you. I live across the street from the church. Just come whenever you need something or want to talk. Okay?" He said smiling.

"Okay." I was here for only two minutes and I was already welcome.

"Goodbye child. God bless." Pastor Mark said waving goodbye.

"Goodbye."

I ran across the street to Dally. "You're Crazy." Dally said putting his arm around me. I smiled and he walked to the door. "Tell Johnny and Ponyboy I'll come by in a few days." Dally reached over and gave me a kiss on the check. "I love you too Jenny" He smiled at me and got into his car and drove off. He really wasn't himself today I thought to myself. I smiled and turned around.

I walked slowly to the church. There were two hallways to go down. I went down the smaller one. There they were sleeping on the ground. I sat down and just stared at them. I can't believe Johnny could kill someone but he had to. He had to save himself and Pony. His eye had swelled down a lot. The song "I'll Be Seeing You" began to play in my head. I swear every time I see that boy that song comes to me. He said he loved me. I just wanted to wake him up but I wanted to let him sleep since he went through so much last night.

The church was filthy. I couldn't believe all the dust and spider webs that were everywhere. I decided to look around to see what else was in this place. There wasn't much. I liked it in some odd way. It reminded me how much I missed going to church. I knew I would start going to the one across the street.

I heard someone moving in the other room. I poked my head in. It was Johnny. He was putting his jacket around Pony. I walked slowly into the room. He didn't notice.

"Johnny?" I said quietly. He jumped almost ten feet in the air and turned around. He smiled but looked puzzled.

"Hey Jenny. How? Um, Where…" He walked up to me as I cut him off.

"Dally called last night and took me here just a few hours ago. I didn't want to wake you." I smiled at him and he leaned over and kissed me.

"What did Dally tell you, besides the Soc thing?" He looked at the ground acting like he was looking for something but I knew he was just trying to hide his red face.

"I love you too, Johnnycake." I said nervously. He looked at me and smiled then pulled me in his arms and kissed me again. I pushed his hair back and gave him a hug. His jacket was over Pony and Pony didn't seem like he was going to wake up anytime soon.

"Wanna come shopping with me?" Johnny asked holding out some 50 bucks.

"No. Not with that money." I went into my purse and took out the $200. Johnny smiled.

"You don't have to use that." He said

"I know but I want to. Keep that for yourself."

Johnny left a message for Pony in the dusty floor and we headed out to get supplies.