Chapter Seven- The Letter in the Book

"What happened?" Darry asked as soon as he saw Johnny.

"We got jumped by Bob's friends." I said, looking at Johnny, who was as jumpy as he'd ever been.

"They didn't hurt you too bad?" Darry asked.

"Well, take a gander at Johnny's face! If that ain't bad, I dunno what is!" Soda said, pointing at Johnny's left cheek.

"Gosh, that is bad." Darry said and he made Johnny sit down. The bruise had swollen and it looked like it hurt really bad. I felt a little guilty. They hadn't done a thing to me, but they had just scarred Johnny again in a way that only some people could see. He still had the scar from Bob's rings on his face and his burns had left bad scarring in a few places. The back of his hands and parts of his neck were the only visible scars when he had his jacket on, but he didn't tonight. Darry disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a bag of ice.

"Here." He said, handing it to Johnny.

"Thanks, Dar." Johnny said, reaching out a shaky hand to take the ice bag.

"Hey, Johnny, they ain't gonna hurt you here. Dal went out to find 'em, you know he did. And they ain't never gonna hurt you again." I said, but Soda and Darry shook their heads.

"No, all that's gonna do is make them want revenge on Dallas's friends, aka US." Soda said and I knew he was right. God, please don't let Dally do something rational! I thought and I looked at Johnny. He was leaning back against the couch with his eyes closed and he breathed in raspy gasps.

"Hey, they're gone now." Soda said in a reassuring voice, the same voice he used when I had nightmares. Tonight would surely give not only me nightmares, but Johnny, too.

"Well, ya'll get in the bed 'fore too long, got it?" Darry said and we nodded, even Johnny, who had settled down a little.

"Alright. See ya in the mornin', Darry." I said. I was pretty tired myself. I decided to go to bed.

"You gonna be OK, Johnnycake?" I asked. Johnny nodded.

"Yeah." He managed to say. I looked at Soda, who just shrugged.

"Alright then. Night, ya'll." I said and went into my bedroom. I went to the window and stared out at the chilly night. What had we ever done to those Socs? Sure, Johnny had killed Bob, but it was in self-defense! I sat down at my desk. I spied mine and Johnny's copy of Gone with the Wind on the corner and I picked it up. I flipped through its pages, trying to find our spot. A slip of paper fell out and I picked it up curiously.

Ponyboy,

I asked the nurse to give you this book so you can finish it.

I about gasped. It was Johnny's handwriting.

She gave me this paper so I can tell you a few things. I know I'm dyin', Pony. Nobody can hide that from me no more. I know. I just keep getting tireder and tireder. I can't help it. But you wanna know somethin', Ponyboy? I don't care no more. Savin' those little kids are worth all this heck we're going through. It was all worth it. If I could relive everythin', I wouldn't change a thing, really, 'sides the fact that I killed Bob. That I would do over. Anyway, don't fight no more, Pony. Fightin' ain't no good. Tell Dallas that. I know he's gonna say you're crazy and to shut up, but tell him that for me. Tell Soda to keep grinnin', Two-Bit to keep puttin' his two-bits in, Steve to keep workin' on cars, Darry to work a little less and find time for fun, and tell Dallas to look at a sunset. As for you, Pony, stay gold. Don't change. Don't stop lookin' at sunsets, readin' books, or readin' poetry by that guy that wrote that poem. Don't stop bein' you. Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold.

Your buddy, Johnny

I put the letter down. Why had Johnny written all those things? What did he mean by "stay gold?"

"Pony?" It was Soda.

"Yeah?" I asked, turning around.

"Whatcha doin'? Why are you cryin'?" He asked. It suddenly occurred to me that hot tears were falling down my face.

"Read this, Soda." I said, handing him the letter. Soda read it.

"What did he mean, "stay gold?"" I asked. Soda shrugged.

"I dunno, Pony. Ask him, but I'd wait till this shock of bein' jumped has passed, kay?" He said. I nodded and folded the paper back up and put it in page 126.

"He sleepin'?" I asked and Soda nodded.

"Out like a light. Get some rest, kiddo. I'm gonna sleep in Darry's chair 'case Johnny has a nightmare. You need me, you call me." He said and I grinned at him.

"Kay, Soda, night." I said. He ruffled my hair before he left. I climbed into bed. I still couldn't make high or low of what Johnny had meant. Yeah, I'd ask him about it. But only when the jumping was a memory in not only hid mind, but mine, too.

A/N- Well, happy belated Halloween! That letter Johnny wrote to Johnny is the part that I always BAWL over! I CRY MY EYES OUT! Anyway, please review!