Disclaimer: If I owned The Outsiders, I totally would be off chillin' with them, not writing a fic, okay?
The Outsider
Chapter 2
Two-Bit walked slowly towards Ali. He could see her chest move up and down as she breathed. He stuck his finger out and moved it towards her. He was a millimeter away when he heard Darry say behind him, "Two-Bit!" He turned around with a guilty grin plastered on his face.
"What were you doing?"
"Uh, nothing…"
"Two-Bit…"
"I was gonna touch her!"
"You were gonna what?"
"I was gonna poke her, man. I wanted to see if she was really there!"
"Do us all a favor, Two-Bit, and lay off the beer in the mornings, okay? She's real. Now back off!"
Two-Bit put his head down and mumbled, "No one lets me have any fun." Darry laughed. "Yeh, I couldn't believe she was here either. I wake up and come down her to see this blonde lying on my couch!" He shook his head and then headed towards Ponyboy's room to wake him up.
Jessi came down the stairs wearing baby blue Mickey Mouse boxers and a black cami, and smiled at Two-Bit saying, "Two-Bit…you didn't bug Ali, did you?"
"Darry caught me."
She smiled wider then went over to the sleeping blonde and shook her awake.
"Come on, you, its time to get up." She said nudging her slightly.
Ali groaned and murmured something into her pillow.
"What?" Jessi said.
Ali mumbled again a little louder, but Jessi still couldn't her.
"Come again?" Jessi said still utterly confessed.
"Bloody pulp!" Ali yelled cutting off the first part of the sentence.
Jessi nodded with a struggling smile. "Ok." She said. "But you'll be late for school if you don't get up." She said, and then left the room.
Ali groaned and snuggled closer into the warm blankets. Two-bit, who was watching the whole matter smiled evilly as Jessi exited the room. Two-bit crept towards the ball of sheets and blankets, avoiding all squeaky floorboards. He smiled and leaned in then suddenly yelling, "WAKE UP YA BUM!"
Ali was so startled that she fell from the couch hitting the ground hard. Ali groaned again, still entwined in her sheets.
"Well that worked out nicely!" Two-bit said bowing. Suddenly Darry, Jessi, Soda, and Pony appeared in the doorway thinking someone had been killed.
"Hey guys!" Two-bit said grinning. Jessi scowled and hit Two-bit over the head hard. "Idiot!" she yelled. Ali got up off the floor and wobbled slightly, the room was spinning around like a Ferris wheel. She held up her hand, about to say something, then threw her hand down lazily and walked toward the bathroom dragging her sheets along with her. Soda laughed then went into the kitchen to eat breakfast, everyone following his example.
"She sure can sleep!" Pony said with a mouthful of pancakes. They all nodded and he continued, joking, "Like Sleeping Beauty even." Everyone looked at him and smiled. "Yeh, Sleeping Beauty." Jessi said smiling.
"That sounds like a perfect pet name!" Darry laughed and said, "She may look like a princess, but a princess she is not."
Two-bit shook his head and said, "Maybe she is! Like maybe she ran away from her palace or something!"
"She's from Arizona, Two-bit!" Jessi explained.
Two-bit looked at her for a minute. "Don't they have kings and queens there?" Everyone starred at him for a moment, and then saw Ali walk in. Her hair was straight today reaching far down her back as it shone in the morning sunlight. She was wearing a black, tight shirt with a pair of ripped jeans and black converses. "Ah!" Two-bit said as she entered the room. He said, getting up to pull a chair out for her, "Sleeping Beauty is here!" Ali looked at him for a second then smiled, saying, "Sleeping Beauty, eh? I could get used to that." Two-bit grinned as Ali walked over to the kitchen counter and poured herself some coffee. Soda watched her as she sat down at the end of the table in the chair Two-Bit pulled out.
"So, your gonna stay in Tulsa?" Soda asked.
She shrugged. "Dunno, I'd like to head farther North but we'll just have to see how things go here." She smiled slightly and took a sip of her coffee.
An hour later they were heading to school in Two-Bit's car. Darry was taking Sodapop to work in his car before heading off to his own job. Ali couldn't help but being disappointed that she wouldn't see Soda for the rest of the day. "Alright, see y'all!" Two-bit said jumping out as once her parked the car. They waved lazily, then Jessi and Ali left to go and get Ali registered.
They entered the school, people yelling and screaming, talking about their weekend. Ali kept her cool and showed no emotion as they headed towards the office. The secretary looked up with a sweet expression on her face, but when she saw that it was greasers who had come in, it turned into a frown. Nevertheless, she said to them, "What can I help you with?" Jessi answered her, "Um, this is Allison. She's new, and she's not sure on how to get…what's the word? Enrolled!" The lady turned to Ali and handed her a few papers from under her desk and told her to go and fill them out. Jessi made to follow her, but the secretary said, "You. Get to first period. I'll see that your friend here gets to class. I trust you can show her around properly later?" Jessi nodded and the secretary looked back down at the document on her desk. Jessi took this moment to whisper quickly in Ali's ear, "Don't worry about the parent signatures. Bring this home with you. We'll see that they get signed. Ok?" Ali nodded and Jessi left to go to first period.
Once Jessi left, Ali looked down at the papers and began to read. "Name: Allison Curry, Age: 17, Birthday: July 21" This isn't so bad, she thought as she answered a few more questions. "Home town: Kingman, Arizona, Social Security Number…" Once she finished she handed it to the secretary, who handed her another form for her parents to sign. Then Ali let the secretary make her a school schedule.
The morning dragged on. In the middle of first period, geometry, Ali came into the class and handed the teacher a note. He introduced her and she sat in the empty seat next to Jessi. Jessi took her schedule and compared it to her own. They had most of the same classes. "I thought you were a year older than me?" Jessi whispered to her when the teacher's back was turned as she looked at the info on her schedule. "Well, sort of. I just turned 17 this past summer, and Arizona has a different school system than Oklahoma, so…" Jessi understood and they went back to attempting to pay attention.
Jessi took Ali back out to Two-Bit's car after school let out. Jessi leaned against the passenger side door with her thumbs in her pockets and staring straight ahead at a car full of Soc's driving around the parking lot. She felt her blade in her back pocket, just in case they needed. She hated having it, but Greasers don't go around without one anymore. Ali stood beside her but facing the other way, away from the sun. Jessi asked her, "So did you enjoy your first day of school?"
"It was different…"
"How?"
"Well, I mean because it was new people and new classes and new teachers…and I hated school back in Arizona, here it actually kind of cool…I've got good friends this time…" Her voice trailed off, and Jessi decided not to push that subject further.
"Did they have greasers and Socs in Arizona?"
"Nah…there were the rich kids, the poor ones, the smart ones, the dumb ones, and then there was me. Part of the outcasts group. Everyone treated me and my "friends" like trash. So I suppose it sort of the same deal you got going here."
Jessi nodded. The car with the Socs drove by again, and they were all staring at them. Jess felt for her blade in her back pocket again. Ali didn't seem to notice. Jessi turned around, searching the front of the school for Two-Bit, Pony or Johnny. She was worried that they were alone. Two-Bit can take care of himself, but Pony couldn't fight by himself against a few Socs, and Johnny would just sit there. He wasn't a coward; he was just scared all the time. She didn't see them anywhere so she turned around again.
"So you had friends over there?"
"Sort of. The outcasts were loners. We don't need friends, apparently. All I had really was Scott."
"Scott, you're ex-boyfriend?"
Ali nodded and Jessi said, "Have you seen the black ford around?"
"Well I've only been here a day, but no. He wouldn't have given up already…I guess he didn't see me yesterday running. If he had he would've come after me."
Two-Bit. Johnny, and Pony still weren't back. Where are they? Jessi wondered. The car with the Socs was back. It drove past them and they all stared at them again. Then with a squeal on the tires they did a quick U-turn and were suddenly the hood of their car was a few inches from the two girls. Ali had turned around at the tire sound and was surprised to see four Socs getting out of the car and walking towards them.
"Well what do we have here? A grease, showing a pretty new girl around." He put his arm around Ali and continued, "You've got to be the prettiest girl I've seen around this parking lot. What're you doing hanging around this greasy whore?" Jessi felt her hands turning into fists. She stayed quiet. Ali, trying to show no fear, grabbed his hand and threw it back at him saying, "Don't touch me, you scum!"
"Oh, a feisty one, huh? Well that should be fun!"
Jessi yelled, "Leave her alone, you Soc!"
Ali gave him a disgusted look. A different Soc grabbed Jessi and held her arms behind her back and said, "You ain't so tough now, are you greaser?" Jessi twisted her arms and broke free, her hand flying to her back pocket and pulling out the blade.
"Don't make me use this, 'cause I will."
The Soc replied with a laugh, "You wouldn't!"
She went up to him and held the blade at his throat and said, "Still think I won't?" He back away and said, "Come on, let's get out of here, man. She ain't worth it." They got in the car, backed up and sped off. Jessi turned to Ali and said, "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Jessi leaned back up against the car, and Ali did the same. No sooner had they gotten comfortable then there was a loud BANG! They turned around and Two-bit was standing there with Johnny and Ponyboy, laughing. He'd banged on the top of the car. They got in and Two-bit said through laughs while backing out of the parking spot, "You should've seen your faces! White as sheets, man!" Jessi replied, "Well you'd be a bit shaky after pulling a blade on some Socs trying to pick you up, too."
"You know, if a Soc ever tried to pick me up, I'd be more scared that a guy was hitting on me than it being a Soc. And when did this happen, Jess? You pulled out your blade?"
"Right before you got there. They kept driving past us and looking at us and then they came and were touching us and crap. This one guy didn't think I'd actually pull out my blade and hurt him so I did and held it next to his neck. Scared him, didn't it, Ali?" She laughed and said, "That's why they left." Ponyboy responded, "Wow…I can't believe you pulled a blade on some Soc for touching you."
"He wouldn't leave us alone…"
"Jessi…"
"What?"
"What'd he say to you?"
"Nothing!" Jessi yelled, getting angry with the boys. She said in a calmer voice, "Nothing, okay?" They drove a long in silence.
When they got back to the Curtis' house Pony, Johnny, Ali, and Jessi jumped out. Two-Bit was going to meet some blonde he'd met, but he said he'd be back later on that night. Pony and Ali went inside but Johnny pulled Jessi aside and said, "Jess…what'd he say to you?" Jessi started walking towards the lot and said, "He called me a greasy whore." Johnny stopped and pulled her into a hug saying, "Oh come on, Jessi, it's okay. He's just some stupid Soc, he don't matter. Don' worry about it." Jessi thought to herself, Pony's right…southern gentlemen don't got nothing on Johnny Cade. Jessi smiled and continued walking saying, "Am I a whore, Johnny?" Johnny stopped again and said, "Jessica! How dare you say something like that! You're not a whore. You're still a virgin!" Jessi nodded and said, "I know…but why do the Socs think that all Greasers are whores?" Johnny shrugged and said, "'Cause they're so busy being assholes they can't open their eyes and see what great girls some of you are. They just don't think." Jessi hugged him again and said, "Thanks Johnnycakes. I couldn't get along without ya." They headed back to the Curtis' house.
When Two-Bit arrived later that night, the whole gang was in the Curtis' living room, watching a Mickey Mouse special. Two-Bit walked in and said, "Oh man! I missed the beginning!" He sat down in a chair and stared at the screen like it was the best thing in the world. Dally came from the kitchen with some beers in his hand. He handed the beers off to the people and kept one to himself. He stared at Two-Bit like he was an alien. He pulled Two-Bit up and said, "That's my seat, Two-Bit." Two-Bit apologized, and eyes still transfixed on the screen, he sat down on the floor.
Dally settled in his chair and said, "Anyone up for a movie at the Nightly Double tomorrow night?" Darry said he wouldn't go because he had work that morning. Sodapop and Steve had dates. Two-Bit said if he wasn't out getting crocked he'd come. Ponyboy answered, "Johnny and I will go, won't we Johnny?" Johnny nodded. Jessi said, "I don't have any plans for tomorrow night, and Ali's only been here for a few days so neither does she. We'll come."
The next afternoon, Johnny and Ponyboy found Dally waiting at a street corner. Ali and Jessi were meeting them at the Nightly Double. It was too early to head over to the Nightly Double so the boys went over to The Dingo and talked with fellow greasers. It started to get dark so they went over to the Nightly Double, sneaking in just for the fun of it. They found Jessi and Ali sitting, saving a few seats behind two girls they knew to be Socs, and they looked anything but happy. Johnny sat next to Jessi and grinned. Pony sat on Jessi's other side and next to Ali, and Dallas sat on Ali's other side, right behind the redhead Soc.
As usual, Dally started talking. Things went from bad to worse. Dallas sure could talk dirty. Johnny left quickly to get a Coke, Pony just sat there, unsure of whether he should join in or not, after all, these girls were Socs, and Jessi and Ali watched apprehensively. If they were greasers, Pony probably would join in, but not these girls. Pony recognized the redhead. Her name was Cherry Valance, she was a cheerleader. Pony didn't recognize the other girl. She had short black hair. The girls were starting to look a little frightened, or maybe it was annoyed. The redhead said, "You better leave us alone, or we'll call the cops." Dallas answered, bored, "Oh, my, my, you've got me scared to death. You should take a look at my record sometime, baby. Guess what I've been in for?" He smiled mischievously and she said, "Please leave us alone. Why don't you be nice and leave us alone?"
"I'm never nice. Want a Coke?"
"I wouldn't drink it if I was starving in the desert! Get lost, hood!"
Dally shrugged and walked off. Ali and Jessi went to find Johnny. Cherry turned around and stared at Ponyboy and then said, "Are you going to start in on us now?"
Pony shook his head and replied quickly, "No."
She smiled and said, "You don't look the type. What's you name?"
Pony sighed and said, "Ponyboy Curtis."
"That certainly is original."
"My dad was an original person. I've got a brother named Sodapop. It even says so on his birth certificate."
"My name's Sherri, but I'm called Cherry 'cause of my red hair. Cherry Valance."
"I know. You're a cheerleader. We go to the same school."
The dark-haired girl spoke up, "You don't look old enough to be going to high school!"
"I'm not. I got put up a year in grade school."
Cherry replied, "Now what's a nice, smart kid like you running around with trash like that for?"
Ali and Jessi had come back with Johnny, and after hearing that last remark, Jessi groaned. Cherry turned to her and said, "What?" Jessi answered, "There are so many things that I could say to you, Soc, but you know what? I know not to judge people before truly meeting them. Don't you dare judge Dallas Winston before you even know him."
Pony stared at Cherry and said, "We're all greasers, same as him."
"Gee, I'm sorry, Ponyboy."
Jessi, Ali, and Johnny sat down. Cherry continued to talk, eager to change the tense subject, "Your brother, Sodapop, does he work at a gasoline station? A DX, I think?"
Pony nodded and she continued, "He sure is one doll. I should have guessed you were brothers, you look alike."
Pony grinned. The dark haired girl, Marcia, said, "How come we don't see your brother around school? He's not older than 16 or 17, is he?"
Jessi knew that this was a sensitive subject for Pony so she answered for him, "He dropped out to help support Pony." Pony turned away from them and Jessi laid a hand on his shoulder. Dally came back to them with an armful of Cokes. He handed one to each of the girls and said, "This might cool you off." Cherri stared at the drink and threw it in his face yelling, "That might cool you off, greaser. After you wash your mouth and learn to talk and act decent, I might cool off, too!" Dally smiled dangerously. The greasers knew that smile.
"Fiery, huh? Well, that's the way I like 'em." He started to put his arm around her and then Johnny reached over and said, "Leave her alone, Dally."
Dally, taken off guard, said, "What'd you say to me?"
Johnny, who'd never so much as said, "Boo!" to a goose turned pale and said, "You heard me. Leave her alone." Dally would've hit him if it hadn't been Johnny. Johnny was the gang's pet. You just didn't hit Johnny. Dally got up and stalked off, his fists jammed in his pockets and a frown on his face. Cherry watched him go and turned to Johnny, "Thanks, for that. He had me scared to death."
Johnny managed to smile and said, "You sure didn't show it. Nobody talks to Dally like that."
"From what I saw, you do."
You could faintly see a tint of red on Johnny's dark skin. Marcia smiled at Pony and Johnny and said, "Why don't you two sit up here with us. You can protect us."
They exchanged glances and went up to sit with Cherry ad Marcia. Ali and Jessi moved together and watched them go. Jealousy crept into Jessi's mind.
Two-Bit arrived later, scaring the crap out of everyone, especially Johnny. They talked about Dally slashing Tim's tires, and the difference in skin fights and fights with weapons. He and Marcia got to talking, giving Johnny a chance to escape. He grabbed Jessi and they walked around, leaving Ali with Two-Bit, Marcia, Ponyboy, and Cherry.
Pony and Cherry got in line. Cherry asked, "Your friend, the one with the sideburns…he okay?"
"He ain't dangerous like Dallas if that's what you mean. Yeah, he's okay."
"Johnny…he's been hurt bad sometime, hasn't he? Hurt and scared."
"It was the Socs." Pony told Cherry the story of how Johnny was jumped by a few Socs. When Pony was finished, Cherry said, "All Socs aren't like that. You have to believe me, Ponyboy. Not all of us are like that."
"Sure." Pony said, sarcastically.
"That's like saying all you greasers are like Dallas Winston. He's probably jumped a few people." She paused for a while and then said, "You want to know something? Things are rough all over."
"I believe you. We better get back. Two-Bit'll think I ran off with his money."
Jessi and Johnny walked around the drive-in, talking to fellow greasers and briefly watching the movie. Jessi said to Johnny, "You know, I feel bad leaving Ali there all by herself."
"Yeah, do you want to go back for her?"
Jessi thought for a moment and then said "Nah. She'll be fine." She smiled. Wow…I never thought I'd have feelings for Johnnycakes! I guess I do, though. I haven't been this happy since Mom died. It's not easy admitting that…but I like Johnny. I really don't know what love is…is this love? I'm most comfortable with him…I feel I could talk to him about anything. He's a great listener. Of course, Pony's a great listener, too, and I can talk to him about anything. But I get that special "whoop!" feeling with Johnny…and no one else. Is that called love? Besides, Pony's 14. I'm 16. Would that work? I don't think so...
They met up with Two-Bit, Marcia, Pony, Cherry, and Ali again after the second showing of the movie. They explained that they were walking back to get Two-Bit's car so that he could drive Cherry and Marcia home. Cherry and Pony started talking, and Two-Bit and Marcia started a wacky conversation. Johnny followed behind uncertainly, and Ali and Jessi were talking in the back.
"You left me."
"Yeah, so?"
"You left me!"
Ali glared at Jessi and continued, "You left me with Two-Bit, Pony, and two Socs who wouldn't even look at me. How could you?"
"I'm sorry, I was talking to Johnny, and I—I don't know."
Ali stared at her, a knowing smile on her face. Jessi said, "What?"
"You know what."
"No I don't know what. What?"
"You like Johnny, don't you!"
"Well, duh! We all like Johnny!"
"No, I mean you really like him!"
Jessi stared at her feet. She was about to answer when a blue Mustang pulled up in front of them, full of Socs. Two jumped out. One of them said, "Cherry, Marcia, listen…just because we got a little drunk last time—"
Cherry interrupted, "A little? You call reeling and passing out in the streets 'a little'? Bob, I already told you. I'm never going out while you're drinking, I mean it! Things can happen when you're drunk. It's me or the booze, Bob."
The other Soc jumped in and said to Marcia, "Baby, you know we don't get drunk very often…and even if you're mad at us, that's no reason to go walking the streets with these bums and their whores!"
Two-Bit took a long drag on his cigarette, Johnny slouched and hooked his thumbs in his pockets, Pony stiffened, Jessi put a hand on her hip and a scowl on her face, and Ali put her hands in the pockets of her jacket and gave the same mean scowl. They could look meaner than anything, and looking tough was a good quality to have. Two-Bit put his elbow in Johnny's shoulder and said, "Who you callin' bums?"
Jessi put in, "And who you calling whores?"
Bob ignored Jessi and said, "Listen here, you greasers, we got four more of us in the back seat."
Two-Bit said, "Then pity the back seat!"
"If you're looking for a fight…"
Two-Bit cocked his famous eyebrow, which only added to his cool. He responded, "You mean if I'm looking for a good jumping, you outnumber us, so you'll give it to us? Well…" He picked up a bottle and broke the end off, throwing it to Ponyboy, and he whipped out his switchblade. Jessi and Johnny both reached for their back pockets, ready to pull their blades out if it was necessary. Two-Bit continued, "Try it, pal."
Cherry broke in, crying, "No! Stop it! We'll ride home with you, Bob, alright?"
Two-Bit asked, "Why? We ain't scared of these socially elite checkered-shirt set Socs!"
"I hate fights, alright? I hate 'em!" Pony pulled Cherry aside and said, "I couldn't use this." He dropped the busted bottle, "I couldn't ever cut anyone."
"I know…but we'd better go with them. Ponyboy…if I see you at school or someplace, and I don't say hi, well, it's not personal, but…"
"I know. Don't worry about it. Just don't forget that some of us watch the sunsets too."
"I could fall in love with Dallas Winston. I hope I never see him again, or I will."
Marcia and Cherry got in the Mustang and it sped off. The five greasers walked on. Two-Bit said, "Well those had to be two of the best looking girls I've ever seen." Johnny opened his mouth to say something, then thought better of it and closed it. Jessi said to Two-Bit, "Hey, we know you're guys and all, but could you not talk about girls like that around us? It makes me sick!" Two-Bit laughed a little and said, "Oh, come on, Jess, you know all I want is you!" Jessi laughed. It was how her and Two-Bit's relationship was. They play-flirted with each other all the time. Two-Bit pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and tore it up. Jessi asked, "What was that, Two-Bit?"
"Marcia's number. It's probably phony. I must've been out of my mind to ask for it. Guess I'm a little soused." He paused for a while and then said, "I'm going to find a poker game, maybe even get more drunk. Y'all going home?"
Pony shook his head and said, "Not right away." Johnny looked over towards his house and said, "We'll head on over to the lot." Two-Bit said goodbye to them and ran off. Jessi said, "Well I've got to go see Dallas at Buck's place. I want to see if he's all right or if Tim Sheppard got to him. Ali, you heading back to the Curtis'?" Ali looked over at Pony and Johnny. Pony said, "Why don't you come with us? We don't mind." Ali replied, "All right. I'll go with you guys. I'll see you back at the Curtis' later on, Jess." Jessi nodded and took off towards Buck Merrill's place.
Jessi arrived at Buck's place right as a party was starting. Buck had a thing for her, and she didn't like being here, but if she was going to find Dally, here was where she was going to find him. Dallas Winston was like Jessi's big brother. She loved everyone in the group, and a few she had special connections with. Like Two-Bit and her play-flirting with each other all the time, how she and Pony could talk about anything and he'd listen, and of course how she liked Johnny. But Dally was the member of the gang she worried about the most. They were like siblings. He looked out for her, as he did Johnny. She knocked on the door, and Buck opened it.
"Well, who do we have here? You come to join the party, Jessi? You know the real party's upstairs with just you and me."
He put his arm around her and she shook it off saying, "Back off, Buck, I'm here to talk to Dallas."
Buck's grin left his face and he said, "What'd you want with Dally? You're not interested in him over me, are you?"
"I love Dally more than you, Buck, yes. But interested in him? Of course not! He's like my brother, that's sick! Where is he?"
"He doesn't want to be bothered…"
"I really don't give a shit if he doesn't want to be bothered! Where's Dally, Buck?"
"Will you give me a kiss if I tell you?"
"You're impossible."
"And you've got to be the prettiest greaser girl around…come on, just one little peck on the cheek?"
"I don't have time for this." She pushed Buck aside and entered the room yelling, "Dallas?" She glanced around the room and didn't see him. She went to the stairs and yelled up, "Dallas Winston!" Dally appeared at the top of the stairs shirtless and he yelled, "Glory, what!" He then noticed that it was Jessi at the bottom of the stairs, looking highly amused at his annoyance. He said, "Jessi?" He came down the stairs and said, "I'm sorry for yelling like that, Jess, I didn't know it was you. What're you doing here?" He looked behind her and saw Buck, staring at him with a mixture of jealousy, hatred, and amusement mixed on his face. Dally thought to himself, That sure is an odd one, Buck Merrill…He grabbed Jessi's arm and pulled her upstairs in into the bedroom he'd been in earlier. She sat on the bed and Dally said, "So what's going on? Is someone hurt?"
"No, no, nothing like that. I was just wondering how you were…Tim Shepard came over to us at the Nightly Double and asked where you were. I was worried he'd hurt you…"
"Well, ol' Tim sure can pack a punch. I cracked a few ribs. Tim won't be able to see out of one eye for a week!" He sounded rather pleased with himself. He went into an in-depth description of whole fight. It took him close to an hour
"So that's all you came over here for, Jess? That couldn't wait until morning?"
"Well…" She was debating whether or not to tell Dallas of her newfound feelings for Johnny. Normally she would talk to Pony, or even Johnny, about stuff that was on her mind, but not this. She couldn't go talking to Ponyboy about her feelings for his best buddy. And she wasn't about to tell Johnny! But with Dally, she felt at ease. Dallas never judged her or anything like that. She took a deep breath and said, "Well, you see, I sort of have this—" She was interrupted by a knock on the door. Dallas opened it and Buck stood there. He winked at Jessi and said, "We've got a problem, Dally. Some Socs are driving around out there. They're looking for a fight, I just know it. A bunch of us are going out to make sure nothing's happening. We can't go without you, in case they decide to jump us. You in?" Dally turned to Jessi and sighed. He said, "Buck, I'm in the middle of something…can it wait?" Jessi interrupted, "No, Dally, you go. It's more important than my little problems anyway. Go. We don't need a fight." Dally said, "If it's bugging you so much you came to see me, it's not that little. I'll be back, you just wait here, okay? It won't take long." He grabbed a shirt and a jacket off a hook on the wall, gave Jessi a hug and left with a smile. Jessi rolled her eyes and sank down to the bed, thinking about Johnny.
Pony/Johnny/Ali in the lot:
Ali rubbed her arms as Pony started a fire. Once its flames were blazing, Ali edged closer to the burning embers, trying her best to stay warm. Suddenly, Johnny caught her eye. He was leaning against the big oak tree behind them, starring at his home, you could see his parents fighting and arguing through the window. Ali crept closer to Johnny and sighed looking up at the night sky.
"My parents fought a lot too."
Johnny turned away from his house and looked at Ali.
"…It's hard…when the two people who are supposed to love you more then anything…fight and hurt each other…making you feel like your nothing."
Ali nodded looking at Johnny. "Yeh, it does."
Johnny looked at Ali again. How could she be so strong? Why wasn't she falling apart inside like he was? He suddenly felt a burst of anger as he looked at Ali…or was it jealousy.
"H-how can you be so strong? H-how do you deal with all of it?" Johnny asked shaking slightly.
Ali looked over at Johnny, reading his thoughts immediately.
"It hurts me too Johnny." She answered. "But I deal with it. I believe that…. that God makes things like this happen…to make us stronger. We decide our happiness, others can't make it happen for us. And if you just give up the fight…then the pain is going to eat you from the inside out. You just have to keep going Johnny."
Johnny starred at Ali in utter amazement. There was something about Ali… she seemed…so wise. He nodded and turned his eyes up towards the sky.
"Oh."
Next thing they knew, Johnny and Ali were listening to Pony talk about the country, and they all fell asleep.
Johnny woke up first from a gust of cold wind. He looked around him sleepily and noticed Ali lying beside him and Pony on his other side. He shook Pony awake and Pony ran off, mumbling something about how Darryl was going to kill him for being late.
Johnny then turned his attention to the sleeping Ali, deciding he ought to wake her up, too. He shook her, whispering, "Ali. Ali? Ali! Ali, wake up." Ali's eyes fluttered open and she sat up crying softly, "What? What's happening?"
"We all fell asleep. Ponyboy just ran home. You better get back, too."
"And what are you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna stay all night out here. Who's gonna care?"
"Johnny…"
"Go, Al. Just go."
"Alright, but you come to the Curtis' if you get cold or lonely or something."
She started walking towards the Curtis house, wiping sleep from her eyes. When she got to the door, she heard yelling inside. She wanted to turn around, remembering how her parents fought all the time, but decided to open the door and face what was happening. These were her friends, after all, not her parents. She reached for the door as it slammed open and Pony came running out. He dashed down the steps and through the gate, running for the lot. Ali called after him, "Ponyboy! What's going on?" She started to go after him, but as she started to go down the steps, an arm pulled her back. She turned to see Sodapop, his eyes now full of worry, instead of their usual dancing and laughter.
"Let him go, Ali. He needs to cool off."
She nodded and said, "What happened?"
"He came in and Darry got upset. He yelled at me for sticking up for Pony, and then Pony yelled at Darry for yelling at me. Then Darry hit Pony." Ali put her hand over her mouth and turned her head to look in the direction of the lot. Soda finished, "So Pony left. He'll come back, don't worry about it. He just needs to cool off a bit." Ali nodded again and they headed inside.
Pony skidded to a halt, but lost his balance and fell on the newspaper covered Johnny. Johnny pushed Pony off of him. Before he could ask what was happening, Pony had pulled Johnny up and was yelling, "We're running away, Johnny." They ran for a little while, and then stopped to catch their breath. Johnny gave Pony a cigarette so he'd calm down. Pony said, "Let's walk to the park and back. Maybe I'll cool off enough to head home." They got to the park and sat on a jungle gym. Before they'd had a chance to get comfortable, a blue Mustang pulled up, and 5 Socs jumped out.
A/N-- OMG YES! WE FINALLY GOT THE CHAPTER DONE! And hey, I think the long update is made up by the fact that this is FREAKING 15 PAGES! WOOP! We'd like to thank our kind reviewers for sticking with us through this little period of writer's block. Thank you all s much! I hope everyone reviews for this chapter, because that would just MAKE MY DAY! Inspiration is filling me up, so I hope an update isn't far off. No matter what, we WILL NOT abandon this story. I don't care if Sarah ditches it, I certainly won't! Anyway, please keep reading and reviewing, but more importantly, KEEP ENJOYING!
Love,
DC and D91