Me: I am soooo sorry it took so long for this update! TT-TT I have been so busy with Semester Exams and Holidays I haven't had any free time to work on my story...

And for anyone who reads these types of letters from the writer, I will give you a Hintbout this chapter: Someone from Ponyboy's past shows up and makes him debate somethings.

Tim: ...
Me: Not you!
Pony: Then who?
Me: It's a surprise! ~^^~ Now on with the story!

Warning: A few curse words! And maybe a few spelling erorrs!

Chapter 2: Can't Run Away From The Past...

~Pony's POV~

The sun shined brightly through the see-through baby blue shades, painting the once tanned walls of the dinning room a light creamy blue lined with soft streams of fluttering sun shine. The sounds of loud grumbling snapped me out of my morning daze as Alanna waddled into the dinning room in her usual sleep attire that consists of a black silk tank-top and red boxer shorts. She wore a different pair of socks that lingered barely glazing her lower thighs that bore cute little symbols and pictures, today they were a bright white that looked as if they were fleshly bleached with small dark black strips with the saying 'TTYL' printed on the sides in black writing that were outlined with a bright hot pink. Her slick russet hair pulled back in a bow that locked away the wave of perfect curls that would put Curly Shepard's hair to shame.

"Heh, Good morning Sleeping Beauty. How was your beauty slumber? Pleasant I hope." I cooed trying to hold the bubble of laughter in my chest.

"Oh, HA, HA! Hush up 'Pone! I'm not in the dam mood to deal with ya punk arse attitude. It's far to dam early for that!" Alanna growled warningly as she marched towards the table where the breakfast I cooked was laid out.

A few moments past as she reached down and gathered up a few pieces of bacon and slowly munched down on the thick greasy cuts of meat before I heard her sigh out, "Hmmmm~! Bacon~", before I busted out in a fit of laughter at her 'Morning Mood swings'.

After that our morning carried on like any other day that I have grown accustomed to over the year, an argument over who's turn it was to wash the dishes and feed the animals the left overs (I won), a race to the shower (Alanna won), a silly slap fight over who got the Funny Paper's first from the daily news paper (I won, when Alanna gave up with an ache in her wrist), and that was only the first Two hours of our morning! By noon we settled in the living room along with the two dogs: Sheba Alanna's Pit-Bull and Snow-Cone my multees who was curled up together on the love seat taking their after-noon nap. I was stretched out lazily on the couch reading the latest book Alanna bought me, 'Rugby, The Story of Us". It's one of her latest attempts to get me interested in her sports, so far, I have learned that in Rugby, it is better to sit back and watch then play.

"Oh, Hourse-Boy?" Alanna called out from her perch in her recliner A.K.A her "Thrown" across from me passed the coffee table.

"Hmmm?" I hummed out loud enough so that she would know that I heard so that she didn't have to repeat her question till I did.

"Joe called last night while you were out back in the pool with the pup's. He said he wanted to ask ya if ya wanted to take the extra shift with me 'cuz Daisy was fired yesterday. Said that he'd talk to ya when we get to work tonight if he wasn't to busy."

I sent her a low growl that promised pain for her casual teasing tone that sent her into a laughing fit knowing that I wouldn't carry on with the threat that I promised. I could just see the grin on her face! It just pissed me off when Alanna would lightly tease me 'bout Joe's sickly strange obsession with me. it's bad enough that he's the boss' son, but that he won't stop trying to black-mail me with fearful threats of promises of getting both me and Alanna fired was the worst outcome of his obsessions. When I asked Alanna for advice, she gave me a thoughtful look a knowing mother would give to her child, and told me to not worry 'bout him and told me some helpful advice that has gotten me through it, "This isn't the first time he has done this. Just say "No" nicely every time he ask's ya out and carry on with work like nothing ever happened. He doesn't have the power to have us fired, his Pa loves ya and appreciates all your work. If he creeps ya out too much ya should just go tell his Pa, and it won't happen again. Trust me!"

A quick glance up towards the old grand-father clock that was tucked against the wall in between the two tall book shelves to see we had an hour to get ready to leave for work. Alanna was already standing up and walking to tuck her large Rugby play books and note pads away in the neatly organized book shelves. For a wild, fun-loving, tuff chick, she was a bit of a neat freak, when she was bored and had nothing to do, you would be able to point it out a mile down the road. The house would give off a faint glow that would have you think that the house was freshly built and the garden out lining the sides was just planted. The insides would shine as if everything was just polished and the air would smell of clean fresh flowers and assorted baked goods seeping out of the halls and rooms. Every time someone looked around with eyes filled with aw', Alanna would always beam with pride at her work. Even on days when we didn't have visitors she would have a grin or a pleased smirk, but today, she didn't.

"Alanna? Are you ok?" I asked stepping up next to her sliding my book into its proper place.

"Hmmm? Oh! Yea, I'm alright. Just have one of those weird feelings that something is going to happen today... But I don't know if it's a good or bad feeling... It's a BitterSweet feeling" She shrugged it off as if it was an unwanted embrace or a weird desire to run off and hug something.

After that we just passed it off as a feeling that there might be another fight in the parking lot again. Theres always a fight every other day or so, over stupid small things like: someone looked at someone else a weird way, someone was flirting with someone's GirlFriend or BoyFriend, which FootBall team deserved to win, and sometimes the fights would be about who would get the rights to ask me or Alanna out! I love this small town and all, but sometimes I truly hate the thought's that flow through the minds of the locals.

When I finished getting dressed in my work clothes that consisted of a pair of worn out skinny blue jeans that sported a few rips and faded color spots, a tight latex black infused cotton T-shirt with the name of the restraunt painted white on the top left just above my breast that matched the white outline stitching on the sleeves, neck line, and him. The shoes were soft easy work walking sneakers that were nothing fancy, but they looked respectful to the business. I walked over to the kitchen and pulled out a fresh can of wet dog food and spooned an even amount into each bowl that was laid out from this morning after being washed from the pups breakfast. I popped them into the microwave for a few seconds while I poured fresh water into the water bucket and scooped some dry feed into the plate next to the water. When the microwave started to beep, I heard the loud clicking of nails scraping against the floors rushing towards where I was. With the sign of a bad future getting closer, I rushed and pulled out the bowls and laid them down just in time to save myself a mess as Sheba and Snow-Cone busted through the door in a wave of white fur and black noses.

"PONE! It's time to hit the road! Hurry and finish powderin' your nose!" Alanna called from the front door.

"Grrrr! COMIN" I yelled back before turning back towards the pups and whispering to them, "Y'all be good now, ya hear? See y'all later."

I kissed both of their heads before turning and rushing out the door pausing long enough to turn on the light to the hall. Alanna was tossing her car keys up into the air before catching them. She sent me a coy smirk when she spotted me before she turned and walked out the door and skipped down the patch towards the car. I locked the door and slowly dashed towards the car to escape the chill of the mid-summer night air that bite at my exposed skin like small soft needles. It took only five minutes for the car to warm enough so that it wouldn't be to cool or to warm before we were able to start driving.

The drive to work lasted around 30-36 minutes depending on if there was any traffic. Alanna had the radio on, like always, but today she had it on one of those rare channels that played cartoon music on late nights. Tonight they were playing Micky Mouse music, Two-Bit would have loved it and might have sang along. I shock off that thought and any though that might be forming in my mind. Even though it's been a year, it still depresses me to even think of their names... I've already crossed that bridge and may one day burn it. Alanna tells me that it's good to remember the bad, it helps you remember who you really are. ... Even though I still have no clue on her past...

Before I could carry on with the though of Alanna's past, we pulled up in the back where the workers were allowed to park. She gave me a large peppy grin before killing the car and jumping out to face to annoying crowd that awaited us though the old screen doors. I couldn't help but give a small laugh at Alanna's rush to get everything over before we could go home and repeat the same thing over again with small changes that would go unseen to the untrained eye of outsiders who didn't understand mine and Alanna's way of live. People would say that our live is boring, dull, a song that plays over and over that restarts ever morning. But to me, its perfect, and I wouldn't have it any other way... I think...

I slowly walked in through the back saying Hi to the cooks that were working today. I held a small smile towards the waitresses who were clocking out from the morning shifts as they gave me their sly flirtatious smirks though their caked up faces of skin toner that didn't match their skin tones. everyone knew them through their secret nick-name, "Black Widows", cuz of their failed marriages and hasty new husband hunts. I nodded and said quite 'Hellos' as they greeted me when I passed by them on my way to garbed my slash and clock in. As soon as I passed through the kitchen door to the dinning room where there was barely any free seats, the normal Saturday night. Alanna shoot me a grin that told me that she was glad I was here and not in the clutches of the 'Black Widows'. I shoot her a playful smirk and I stood in the back watching and waiting for someone in my station to need assistants or if someone new walked in and sat down.

Tonight pasted by smoothly, no fights, no mishaps, no Joe insight for miles. So far I would have to say that tonight was going by perfectly. I smirked at myself as I walked back to the waiting area in the back where Alanna was propped up against the kitchen window smiling to herself as if she was also feeling the same as I did. She gave me a soft smile that showed off that she felt at peace as she hummed out a soft beat and mouthed a few works to a song she either remembered or made up. I leant back closing my eyes enjoying the calm atmosphere and listened to Alanna's song and the low murmur of chatter scattered across the room as it softly echoed off of the walls to give the air a low buzz of hidden secrets and desires that have yet to be brought up to the surface.

"Ahhhh~! Tonight it great... I guess the feelin' I had earlier was just a sign that I need to start going to bed sooner and get more sleep." Alanna stated happily with a nod of her head that sent a few strands of hair to break free from the loose pony tail.

I nodded in agreement as I noticed one of my tables needed refills and slowly walked over to ask if they wanted refills and quickly retreated back to the kitchen to the drink fountains and give the cooks the desert orders they gave me. I went back and gave the couple their drinks back and informed them that their deserts will be ready in a moment. I went back to the kitchen to wait for the desert orders after checking and gathering last-minute orders from the other tables in my station and giving promises that their orders will be out soon. As soon as the double doors closed behind me a weird feeling of dread washed over me, almost as if I was about to face something I think I was unready to face. I tried to shrug it off as nothing but it kept on eating at me that it was almost impossible to keep my smile in place as I gracefully delivered the orders to each table with a warm friendly, 'your very welcome, hun'.

"Hey 'Boy! Ya gotz a customer waitin' in the side room!" The hostess called out to me before she disappeared through the waiting room.

I looked up and searched to room for Alanna's eyes, when I caught them I could see that she held the same concerned feelings I felt. Almost as if the feelings we both have felt today were leading up to this moment. And Alanna was right, the feeling was neither good nor bad, just BitterSweet. I held her gaze as I slowly stalked to the small opening that lean-to the side rooms we only used for parties, get-together, or if the main room were stuffed and we had no more room for extra customers. I held my breath fearing that I just might lose it along with the few good bits of my memories of the side room I held.

I held Alanna's eyes as she have me a look that said, 'might as well get it over with...'. But when she noticed my hesitation, she gave me a soft smile and a look that promise that she would be my hero if things went south. With that I slowly faded into the dim lighting of the rooms as I searched out the customer who didn't take an empty seat in the main room... And I couldn't believe what I saw. unruly stubborn black hair that refused to stay greased back even with the large amount of hair Greece was applied as lightly gazed the tight jean jacket that covered dark tanned skin. His back was turned towards me so that I couldn't see if I knew him or not and from what I can see, I knew he wasn't from around here. As I slowly walked quietly closer to the stranger, I hardly noticed that I was still holding the same breath I was holding long before I walked in here. Before I could ask him anything, he turned around, and what I saw I swear my heart stopped.

"Oh..."

"My..."

"Fucking..."

"God..."

I couldn't even remember to breath, nor hear anything. I saw his mouth moving rapidly but I couldn't understand anything he said. After a second I realized I couldn't hear him over my loud sobs that were wailing out of my open gaping mouth. I was looking into the dark brown eyes that warned you that he could be scared, his young face worn down in faded scars of past fights and abuse. I was looking into the eyes of non other than...

"J...! J... Jo... JOHNNY!" I wailed out with a voice I knew held all the pain and sorrow I held towards him.

"Yeah... Hey, Ponyboy..." Johnny whispered out in sadness as he greeted his missing best friend...

Me: OHHHH! JohnnyCakes! :D
Pony: WHY?!
Me: Don't worry bout it, the next chapter will explain why he showed up and what he wants ^^ Hopefully I'll have it written and typed by next week before I have to go back to school =D

Me: READERS! I have a question for y'all! Do you want me to start reviling Alanna's mysterious past? And do you want me to hurry up and get PonyBoy reunited with his old life, or should I wait another chapter or two?

PLEASE REVIEW! =D Reviews are nice!