Chapter Eleven: What's Your Problem?
Johnny sulked. "Fine," he said sullenly. Suze took a running start and reclaimed her body.
"Ah," she said in satisfaction. She stretched out her arms and looked at her hands. Thank God, they were solid.
"S-Suze?" Ponyboy stammered, staring at her. "Is that you or Johnny?"
"I'm really Suze. Johnny's over there," she said, pointing. Ponyboy looked in the general direction where Suze was pointing, under the impression that he was looking at Johnny, but was actually off by five or six feet.
Johnny waved at Ponyboy, even though he knew full well that Ponyboy couldn't see him. "I'm going to miss that kid," Johnny sighed.
"Ya'll have fun being sentimental," Dally drawled. "But I've got stuff to throw and beer to drink and dishwashers to hang out in. See ya," he added before fading.
"Hey!" Suze yelled. "Wait! What do you mean by dishwashers?"
But it was too late. Dally was gone. Suze cursed and kicked at nothing in particular.
"Is Johnny gone?" Ponyboy asked anxiously.
"No," Suze sighed. "But Dally's going to do some stuff that could me in big trouble. People aren't supposed to know about ghosts. And by the way, don't try telling anybody about this whole thing," Suze added, glaring at Ponyboy.
Ponyboy tried and failed to cock an eyebrow. "You think I'm that stupid?" he said, sounding offended.
"Well, no," Suze said. "I was just going to say that I'd kick your sorry behind. Right after you got out of the loony bin, of course."
Ponyboy's eyes bugged. "Are you calling me crazy?" he practically yelled.
His words came at her with such force that she actually took a step back. "No," she said in shock. "I was just joking."
"Well, maybe I don't like jokes!" Ponyboy shouted.
"What is your problem?" Suze shouted back, getting mad. "Why are you acting like this?"
Ponyboy started to say something, but stopped abruptly. His cheeks were blotchy red, contrasting with the rest of his face, which had gone quite pale.
"Never mind," he said quietly. Something had come over him. All of a sudden he looked younger, vulnerable, lost even.
They stood there for a while, all three of them. Ponyboy and Suze just looked at each other, and Johnny glanced nervously between the two of them. There was no telling what they might do next.
Finally, Ponyboy turned and walked away without a word. Somehow, his silence hurt more than his words ever could. It wrenched at Suze's soul and tore her to pieces.
"I've never seen him act like this before," Johnny said when Ponyboy had gone. "What's come over him?"
"I don't know," Suze said. Her own voice surprised her, how it was hard and low and yet trembling.
Without really thinking about what she was doing, she started running. She ran all the way home, taking care she didn't so much as glance at the house across the street.
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"Suze!"Johnny yelled after her. "Wait! What were you going to tell me? SUZE!"
But it was no use. Johnny considered going after her, but decided against it. It was clear that tonight, she just needed her space.
He faded and went back to his coffin, but decided against it and went to one of Dally's regular haunts.
"Hi, Dal," he said dejectedly, appearing in the swirling suds of the Curtis' dishwasher.
"Hey, Johnny," he greeted in surprise. "What brings you here?"
"Suze ran off before she could tell me," Johnny said.
The effect was electric. "WHAT?" Dally roared. "You just wait; I'll give that broad a piece of my mind…"
"No, Dally, wait!" Johnny shouted, grabbing Dally's arm before he could fade. "Leave her alone. There's always another night, right?"
Dally calmed visibly. "I suppose," he grumbled. "But that chick—!"
"Let her alone, Dal. Tonight she just needs her space."
They could hear voices outside the dishwasher. They stopped talking and leaned in to listen…
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"I just can't believe her!" Ponyboy fumed to Soda. "I mean, I didn't know what to do or say! I just…never mind. Calling me crazy. I'll show her crazy," he muttered threateningly.
"Ponyboy," Soda was saying patiently. "Maybe I could help you out if you would just tell me what the hell she said!"
Ponyboy stopped short. How could he tell Soda about what had happened that night, even if he knew he could trust Soda?
"Never mind," he sighed. "I'm going to sleep. I'm tired."
He stalked into their room and slammed the door shut. After a while, Soda dared to go in. Ponyboy heard him come in and pretended to be fast asleep. Soda didn't say anything, but instead lay down and closed his eyes. After a while Ponyboy could hear his deep, even breathing that let him know his older brother was asleep.
But Ponyboy couldn't sleep. He wondered why he was acting like he was. He had already let go of Johnny and Dally once, so why was he having such trouble doing it again, and in the process hurting someone he thought he might be falling in love with?
And then he thought, Hey, wait a minute…
His emotions battled. He loved Suze…at least he thought so. He didn't want to let go of Johnny and Dally, even though he knew he had to…didn't he? Maybe he could convince Suze to not tell Johnny what she knew. But that would be selfish, wouldn't it? He just didn't know anymore.
Suddenly exhausted, he fell back on his bed and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He didn't wake up until Soda woke him up in time for school.
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"You'd better not touch my beer this time, Curly," Tim warned. "No, Tim," Curly reassured him yet again, trying to keep the exasperation out of his voice.
"I mean it, Curly."
Curly backed away ten feet. "See? Now even if I wanted to I couldn't."
Tim turned his back to Curly and his beer for a short moment to light his cigarette, then turned back. His beer was gone.
"CURLY!"
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