Chapter 7

It was a sunny day. Johnny was pretty sure of that since he could feel the warmth hit his face as soon as Pony had helped him out the door and onto the porch. Johnny had begged him to let him go outside. Pony had not been too happy about it, though. Maybe it was because the incident at the hospital still bugged him or maybe it was because of the gossip going around about Johnny being a cold-hearted killer, and he didn't want people to start yelling stuff at them. Of course people that knew them knew it wasn't true but it still didn't change the fact that the word spread.

"It feels really nice to be outside," Johnny said as he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Mmm…" Pony mumbled beside him.

Clearly he wasn't relaxed at all. Johnny wasn't either but he had gotten pretty good at acting. In fact he was scared to death about what was going to happen. The trial and the possible life after that. Even if he got off with self-defense life still wouldn't be the same. The Soc that had been at the hospital and surely many of his friends would want to settle the score with him for killing Bob. They didn't care about the self-defense part. Why should they? It was their friend and any greaser would probably do the same thing had it been the other way around. His friends would have to look after him until he got his eyesight back. If he got it back.

"You want somethin' to drink?" Pony asked and from the sounds of the wooded planks giving in, he was getting up.

"No thanks, Pone," Johnny said in a low voice, his eyes still closed but with a small smile on his face.

"Okay. I'll just get something for myself and be right back."

OooOooOooO

Pony took out a glass and filled it with water. He was worried. Johnny seemed too calm. He was never calm and now he was going to trial, accused for murder and all he did was just sit on the porch, smiling like he didn't have a care in the world. Pony sighed. If Johnny didn't react soon, Pony was afraid that he would have a breakdown. The kind of breakdown where every little thing you have kept inside just hits you like a train, and who would be able to recover after that? But no matter what happened, Pony would be there for him. That was for sure. And maybe - just maybe - the trial would turn out okay. Cherry would tell the judge that it was all self-defense and Pony would say the same. Of course it would also count for something that he and Johnny had saved those kids. So maybe they would let him go free.

Pony took his glass and went back outside to Johnny and sat down beside him again. Setting his eyes on the tanned boy he couldn't help but smile. Even though Johnny was blind he still seemed to manage to enjoy the simple things in life. The wind through his hair. The sun on his face. But Pony still couldn't shake the feeling of Johnny keeping up a facade about how he was feeling. This behavior was very unlike him in every way.

"Johnny?"
"Mhm?" Johnny replied slowly and turned his head in Pony's direction.
Pony wasn't sure what he really wanted to say. He couldn't just start ripping into feelings about the whole thing just in the middle of a great relaxed moment so he changed his mind about what he was going to say.

"You wanna... you wanna practice some more? You know, finding your way around and stuff?" Johnny nodded and Pony helped him up, handing him the stick that Dally so generous had given him after killing their poor broom. Darry had taken some sandpaper and sanded down the sharp end of the stick. Just to be safe.

"Okay, so," Pony said and held Johnny's hand firmly and his arm around the back of his waist. "These are the steps. You know them but you gotta remember. Four steps." Pony counted them with Johnny as they walked up and down the steps leading to the porch. They stopped at the bottom of them and then Pony started walking him towards the gate, counting steps again.

"Okay so that was 20 steps. Agreed?"
Johnny nodded and smiled at him. Pony had let go of his waist but still held his hand. He really enjoyed when Johnny smiled. He never really thought that much about it but since they had spent the time in the church, being scared, being on the run, Pony had really started to notice Johnny more. They had been friends for as long as Pony could remember but Johnny had never laughed or smiled much and it had been even worse when they were at the church. So a smile from Johnny now was like the sun breaking through the clouds on a rainy day. It was that kind of sight that would just make your day better.
Pony found himself moving his hand to Johnny's face, carefully letting his fingers run over his cheek. Johnny's smile vanished and his expression changed to one of puzzlement.

"What?"
"Nothing," Pony said and moved his hand away. "You just… had something on your cheek, that's all"

"Oh..," Johnny said and placed his own hand where Pony had just let his fingers touch.

Pony noticed a small blush on Johnny's face.

"I'm… I'm really happy you're my friend, Pony," Johnny said in a low voice. "I know I haven't really said it and all but," he paused and there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "You kinda make my life worth living. I know the others are there as well but you I can talk to and you actually listen." He made a small chuckle as he looked like he was thinking. "Yup. You're the only one that would actually take the time to listen and not just storm off and beat everyone up."

Pony laughed. He could also remember the many times Johnny had tried to talk to some of the others and they would just go on a rampage on whatever was bothering him, so hearing Johnny telling him now that he was glad Pony was in his life and he was of great importance to him gave Pony a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn't think he had ever heard anyone tell him he was important to them. Sure Soda told him he loved him and all that but he was his brother. Johnny could just decide not to care about him and push him away.

"I'll always listen to you, Johnny. You're my best friend and I'll always be here for you. Just like you will be there for me, right?"

Johnny nodded and smiled.

No matter what happened at the trial Pony would be there. And if Johnny never got his sight back, Pony would take care of him. It was his fault, after all, that Johnny had lost his sight to begin with. Soda had said it wasn't, but it was. He had pushed Johnny back and the beam had hit him

"Johnny," Pony paused. He had said sorry so many times and Johnny was probably tired of hearing it. But should he tell him that no matter what, he would take care of him? He had offered Johnny to stay with them, even before he had asked Darry but that was because he knew that Darry wouldn't protest. Did Johnny understand that that meant Pony would help him and look out for him?

As he opened his mouth to speak, he noticed a car driving slowly towards their house. It was a blue car and surely didn't look like any car a greaser would own.

Pony titled his head a little, trying to study the car as his thoughts were interrupted by Johnny's voice. "Pony? What's wrong?" He must have gotten worried after Pony had said his name and then gone quiet.

"Just a second," he said, narrowing his eyes to get a better look at the car. The driver must have noticed that Pony had seen them because suddenly the car sped up and came right at them.
Pony had only seconds to act. He grabbed Johnny by the shoulders and threw himself and Johnny to the side as the car ran though the fence and past them with a high-pitched sound of breaks. Then there was the sound of wheels spinning and the car was gone.

Pony was on his side, his arms around Johnny's shoulder and waist and a hand on Johnny's head, shielding him from hitting the ground too hard as they landed. Johnny was breathing rather fast as he managed to stutter out, "W-what ha-happened?"
Pony tried to gain control of his own breathing as he sat up a bit, dragging Johnny with him to keep him close. "A car," he said as he gazed after the car that was now at the end of the street and turning a corner. "A car tried to run us over!"

I am sorry it has been so long since the last update but I have been very busy since I am getting ready to move into a new apartment. Therefore it will probably also be a while with the next chapter! But the story will not stop! Just keep in mind I'm a bit busy the next month :)

Enjoy!