((Aahhh this was longer than I thought! But I'm not sorry!))

The usual disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders. All rights belong to S.E. Hinton.

Chapter 2

Johnny woke to the sound of nothing, feeling sore and tired still. The silence was almost scary, and he nearly let out a whimper when he couldn't figure out where he was at first glance. But calm washed over him as he slowly turned on his side and recognized the familiar small kitchen across the room. He was surprised when a damp cloth fell from his face and thumped on the floor. Johnny's hand automatically flew to his face, only to flinch when he touched a bruise. He sighed, wishing he could just lay there forever since anyone wasn't home anyways. But he knew he couldn't linger there as long as he wanted to; it was well into the afternoon and this wasn't his house to call home. He figured he could just finish his sleep in the lot.

He struggled to get up, groaning and wincing repeatedly until he finally managed to shakily stand up. The bruises all over him hurt like hell, and he really didn't want to walk all the way to the park. But as he headed to the front door, he heard the small squeak of a bed coming from the back. He paused, wondering if Darry or Sodapop was taking a quick nap before going to work. It couldn't have been so late into the afternoon that Ponyboy was already home after track practice.

Not bothering to look for a clock, he quietly trudged over to the source of the noise that came from Pony and Soda's room. A small smile came to his face when he saw the familiar figure curled up on the bed. Johnny tiptoed over to him, carefully crawling onto the bed and lying against his best friend, wrapping his arms around Ponyboy. The other boy mumbled softly, snuggling against the sudden warmth behind him. His eyes sleepily opened when he felt a gentle kiss on his ear.

"Mm...mom...?" Ponyboy breathed quietly. Johnny almost felt guilty for kissing him when he heard that. Pony must've been having another dream about his parents, and it wouldn't be the first time. But Johnny said nothing as Ponyboy woke himself up more and realized he was only dreaming. He turned around his Johnny's arms and gave a half-smile.

"Hey Johnny...good to see you're awake." Johnny nodded and returned the smile, his nose touching Ponyboy's. But just as he leaned in to rest lips upon his lover's, Ponyboy's eyes widened and he pulled away quickly. Before Johnny could even ask what was wrong, he was already sliding out from under him and looking around frantically. "Shit, Johnny, what time is it?"

Johnny's confusion was obvious. "I dunno...I just woke u-"

"Shit, shit, shit..." Pony kept muttering to himself, finally resting his eyes on his desk and some scattered papers. He groaned, burying his face in his hands, but quickly went to sit in his chair and tried to remember what he was doing. Then he went searching for his pencil. "God, I promised Darry I'd have my homework finished by the time he came home; he's gonna be back soon, and I'm not even halfway finished..."

Johnny sat up, used to Ponyboy's occasional panic-attacks about Darry and his schoolwork and walked up behind Pony as he started hurriedly writing. He wrapped his arms around him, desperately wanting to cuddle. It seemed like it'd been forever since they'd even done that.

"C'mon Pony, I'm sure he'll be okay if you're not done. You had track an' everything, it's not your fault..."

Ponyboy pushed Johnny's arms away, making the other boy flinch slightly because he hit a bruise. Ponyboy didn't even notice. "No...it's not okay, I-I gotta get to work. I skipped practice 'cause I needed to finish this thing and stupid me just fell asleep; Darry doesn't know this paper's already three days late. Sorry Johnny."

Johnny's heart sank as he remembered how Ponyboy could get so wrapped up in his assignments. He didn't even sound sorry, which bothered him even more.

"Pony, c'mon...not even for a while...?" he tried again.

Silence was the only answer.

"Ponyboy, I-"

"Dammit Johnny, I don't always time to take care of you!" Ponyboy snapped impatiently.

Johnny felt like he'd been slapped in the face. Ponyboy seemed so irritated by him lately, and him yelling at Johnny like that made the neglect feel even worse. Tears welled up that he tried to hold back.

"I never asked ya' to take care of me Pony...I just wanna be with you. But obviously you don't want that anymore..." He bit his lower lip and turned around, going for the door.

Ponyboy turned around as well, his face softening. "Wait, Johnny...I didn't mean that, I just—I don't have the time for this right now..." he trailed off. He didn't even know what he was trying to say.

Johnny whirled around, the tears trailing down now. "You never have time for me anymore!" he yelled, hurt. "I can't take everyone ignorin' me all the time, I'm sick of it!" He quickly walked out of the room and left Ponyboy's house, slamming the door behind him.

Johnny wasn't too sure of where he was going, but he had half of an idea. He went to the only person he was sure of being able to find around this time. Picking up the pace so he wouldn't run into any trouble, he headed for a familiar-looking house to find two old friends sitting on the porch drinking. Dally was leaning back shirtless on his porch swing while Two-Bit was trying his hardest not to laugh as he was probably telling him some lame joke.

Two-Bit cut his story short when he realized they had company standing awkwardly at the gate. Johnny hadn't expected anyone to be at Dally's house with him; but he guessed that as long as beer was handy, Two-Bit was expected to be around.

"Heeyyy Johnnycake!" he called to the younger boy. He waved him over as Dally drunkenly lifted his head back up and tried to focus his eyes on the upcoming figure. Johnny was surprised to see that Dally had been drinking a bit more than usual.

Two-Bit's grin disappeared once he saw Johnny's reddened eyes, one still swollen. "Johnny, you alright...? Have you been cryin'?"

Johnny immediately shook his head, not wanting to seem weak in front of Dallas. "No, I was, uh...I just woke up from sleepin'. I'm still a little tired is all."

Two-Bit was skeptical, but didn't push it. He knew better than to grind on Johnny about his problems. "Yeah, well...I was just about to leave ol' Dal here on his porch. His old man ain't been home for the past two days and he seems to have taken a likin' to his beer. You wanna keep an eye on him for me?"

Johnny shrugged. He wanted to be alone with Dally anyway, that was why he came over in the first place. "Sure," he replied.

Two-Bit grinned, ruffling Johnny's hair and getting up and stretching. "What a pal!" He went down the porch stairs and out the gate, calling back, "Remember, if ya' need me, you know where I'll be!"

Huntin' action as usual... Johnny thought to himself, smiling in spit of himself. He turned back to the drunken Dally who looked like he was going to pass out any moment. He frowned a little. What was the point in going to talk to him now that he was totally out of it and not much for talking? But his spirit raised a little higher when Dally managed a low, "C'mere..." Johnny obliged, sitting next to his idol and feeling a little better than before. Dally always managed to calm him down, even when he wasn't saying anything. His presence just had this safe-effect on him.

"Hey...hey Jamie," Dally slurred, slinging an arm around his younger friend and pulling him close.

"Dally it's, Johnny..." he replied back quietly.

Dally grinned. "Yeah Johnny, sure, I knew that.." He pulled Johnny even closer, his lips practically to his ear. "Hey Johnny, guess what man?" he whispered loudly.

Johnny could feel his ears burning with Dally's mouth this close to him. And the smell of booze and cigarettes was as strong as ever, but strangely pleasing.

"What..?" he asked.

Dally suddenly laughed, burying his face in Johnny's neck. Johnny always did love that goofy laugh of his. "I dunno...I...I...oh man...I am out of it man." His arm had a firm grip on Johnny's shoulders as he rested his lips on his burning neck, not noticing the sudden stiffness Johnny had. Dally usually wasn't so touchy around him, but then again, Johnny had never seen him so drunk.

Dally's mouth moved back up to Johnny's cheek, their lips getting even closer. Johnny tried pulling away, but Dallas was a strong guy. Persistent too, when he wanted to be. "D-Dally, what're you doin'..?" Dally didn't know about Johnny and Ponyboy just like the rest of the gang, and that was on the grounds that they weren't like them. They weren't...just a little sexually different. But now Johnny wasn't so sure.

"You're so soft..." Dally mumbled.

He's just drunk is all... Johnny kept trying to tell himself. He doesn't know what he's doing. Dallas isn't like this.

But all thoughts of that poofed away once Dally forced Johnny to face him. He crashed his lips against Johnny's soft ones, not noticing the still-fresh bruises on the boy's round face and not knowing there were pain signals flying throughout the kid's body. But Johnny felt something else as he sat there frozen with shock. There were these fireworks going off in his stomach, something he only felt from the first few times that he kissed Ponyboy. It almost felt wrong that he was feeling them now.

And Dally wasn't done. He wrapped both arms around him securely, giving him rather sloppy kisses, but kisses all the same. And although hesitant at first, Johnny was soon kissing him back. The pain in his body was numbing with these new fireworks sparking all inside him as Dally continued to kiss him and slide his tongue over Johnny's full lips. The pain in his heart turned into something else, something pleasant. Something warm and familiar that he thought he could only feel with Ponyboy. Dally's kisses were firm and incredible, and the feeling washed all over his bruises.

It was like Dallas was kissing the pain away.

And it made Johnny feel so amazing.