Chapter Four

Author's note: From now on, the story is told in two different places, New Orleans and Tulsa. It will say where the chapter is at the beginning. Thank you for the reviews, and I hope you like the chapter!

Tulsa

It didn't take Johnny long to decide he hated airports.

Even though Officer Paxton was with him, Johnny had to go through security. Then there was the huge line he had to stand in to get his suitcase checked, and the baggage check. Then he and Officer Paxton had to walk down what felt like miles of hallways; they got lost three times before they finally found the terminal. Johnny flopped down into one of the chairs; he was exhausted.

"Don't get too comfortable," Officer Paxton said. "Your flight leaves in five minutes."

"Five minutes?" Johnny asked. That wasn't very long.

Officer Paxton nodded. Johnny was about to ask her if smoking was allowed on the plane, but he decided against it. Wasn't smoking illegal for someone his age? He didn't know and he didn't care, but he wanted a cigarette. No, he didn't just want a cigarette, he needed a cigarette. Johnny realized to his horror that he had forgotten to pack cigarettes. Maybe he could get one from someone on the plane.

"Flight 586 now boarding," a voice on an intercom said. "If you are seated in rows A-E, please begin finding your seats."

Johnny looked at his ticket; he was in row H, so he didn't have to get up just yet. He looked at officer Paxton, she looked bored. She probably had better things to do than take some hood to an airport. She'd probably had enough of him.

"Rows F-H now boarding," the intercom voice said.

Johnny stood up. This was it. He was really going to New Orleans; leaving his friends behind. Johnny suddenly remembered Ponyboy's tear-stained face; he had been so upset. "No, you can't go," Pony had said.

But Johnny knew he had to go.

Officer Paxton managed a smile. It was obviously fake. Johnny thought that she'd liked him a lot more before she saw his friends.

"Good luck," Officer Paxton said as Johnny walked toward the airplane entrance.

Johnny didn't even bother to turn around. He wondered if Officer Paxton really hoped that everything would work out for him in New Orleans. She probably didn't; it wasn't her problem. New Orleans…it was so far away from Tulsa.

Too far away.

Johnny wound up not sitting next to a window. Thank God. He'd been so shaken up because of the beating from his dad, packing, and saying goodbye to his friends that he'd forgotten one little thing.

He was terrified of heights.

The plane hadn't even left the ground yet, and he was already scared. He had looked out of one of the windows, and it looked like he was two stories up already. Johnny realized he was shaking. Shaking for crying out loud. Why couldn't he be tough? Maybe he'd feel better once he got a cigarette. He started looking for someone he could get a cigarette from.

There was a woman in a business suit sitting next to him; that wasn't any good, Johnny knew she wouldn't have any cigarettes. Across the aisle from him was a mom with two little kids; she wouldn't have any cigarettes either. He didn't want to turn around and look at the people behind him; that would make him look strange. He couldn't see the people in front of him either.

A voice came on some kind of speaker.

"Welcome to Delta airlines flight 586 to New Orleans," it said. "If you are not on the correct plane, please get off now."

After a few minutes, the stewardesses appeared in the aisles and started talking about what to do in case of emergency. Johnny realized he was breathing harder, and he could hear his heart pounding in his ears.

The engines roared and the plane took off. Even though Johnny wasn't sitting next to a window, he could still see what was going on outside. The ground was getting smaller and smaller. The plane dipped and then rose back up a few times. What if they crashed?

Everything on the ground was so tiny. Johnny couldn't stand looking out the window any more. He leaned his head back against the seat. His stomach was churning. He couldn't get sick; not here, not now. Not in front of all of these strangers.

Johnny wished Two-Bit or Soda was there. Heck, he wished all his friends were there. They would have been able to make him feel better; less nervous. Johnny closed his eyes, he could at least try to sleep. It had been a long day and he was tired, but every time he closed his eyes he saw Pony's tear-stained face. "No, you can't go." Pony's words echoed in Johnny's head. Why did he feel so guilty? He deserved a better life, didn't he? Johnny still couldn't stop thinking about Pony, and about his other friends.

"Why don't you just leave me alone?" Johnny thought. Then Johnny realized that he had said it out loud. Everyone was staring at him. Johnny felt himself blushing.

"Sorry," he muttered. No one had heard him; it was really loud on the plane.

Once everyone had stopped staring at him, Johnny closed his eyes again. This time, he wasn't haunted by the images of his friends. Maybe he'd be able to sleep.

When Johnny woke up, he was in New Orleans.