whoo, another chapter, another update. and this one's actually long, so i really want some reviews for it. maybe when i get back from band i'll write more? who knows!

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I have a thing for waking up. But this morning it was to the smell of eggs & chocolate. Strange combination, but it made me hungry; I hadn't eaten since yesterday at lunch. And that seemed like years ago. I sat up and stretched my arms, opening my eyes, only then noticing who was in the kitchen; and it wasn't Soda, Ponyboy, or Mr. Muscles. But instead it was -

"Johnny?" I asked, seeing his small figure turn around to face me. He looked tired; like he hadn't slept all night, but at the sight of me, he smiled a little.

"Hey…" he said standing up and walking over towards me. "You feeling alright?"

"Yeah, I guess." I said looking down. I felt so uncomfortable looking at Johnny, and I had no idea why. "Listen, what…exactly happened?" I asked, and I felt myself shaking a little bit. The house was freezing cold. Or maybe it was just me.

"Those guys, I saw them walking away with you." He said, slowly, trying to hide any anger or emotion in his voice. "And, I didn't want them to do anything to you, I couldn't let them hurt you, so I got the gang, and…" he stopped for a second, before continuing on, "we got you back from them." He saw my face, and quickly said "They didn't do anything to you, Al. I promise."

That was the second time he called me Al, and along with the news that I hadn't been…well, you know, it all felt so lovely. No more worry in the back of my head, no more fear of what could've happened. I couldn't help but let a small smile grow across my face, and before I knew it, I had wrapped my arms around Johnny's back, pulling him into a tight hug. A minute or so later when I pulled off him, he was smiling at me. Johnny had a real nice smile; but I rarely got to see it.

"You wanna do something today?" He asked, breaking this silence that had formed between us. I nodded, as he stood up.

"C'mon, I'll take you back to your parents house so you can get ready." As his hand outstretched towards where I was laying, and I took it, as he helped pull me up. My legs were tired from not moving since that fateful walk back to my house yesterday. They hurt slightly, but I put that in the back of my mind, as Johnny, still holding onto my hand, walked with me back to my house. We were silent, but I looked over at him once and a while, causing his cheeks to turn slightly red. The kid must've been embarrassed for all I knew.

I felt so at peace with Johnny. Like nothing could go wrong. The way he held my hand ever so tightly, and even tighter when somebody would drive by or pass our way, and then the way he smiled at me earlier, how he called me Al…I had never really been in love before, but if this was what it felt like, then it was amazing, and even more then I expected.

When we finally reached there, he let go of my hand, causing disappointment on my part. He stood there, at the bottom of the stairs to my porch, almost as if…

"Aren't you coming in?" I asked, as he shook his head. I was confused; was he embarrassed? Or did he think my parents wouldn't like him? I pushed those thoughts out of my head as I opened the door to my house and walked inside.

"Where HAVE you been?!" I heard a shrill voice yell out, and it was only then I realized I hadn't come home last night. My mother's figure appeared from the kitchen; bloodshot eyes and all.

"Mom, I'm so sorry, I completely-"

"Sorry doesn't cut it, missy. Now I want to know WHY you didn't come home last night? For all I know, you were staying at some man's house, and…" her cool collected persona collapsed, and before I knew it, she was crying. "I was scared. Your father was worried…Why didn't you even call us?" she asked, as I walked closer towards her.

"Mom, really…I was…I fainted in the street, and I woke up at a friends house, and they told me I had to stay the night, that I had hurt my…my head," I said, trying to think up excuses off the top of my head. My mom would never let me out of her sight again if she knew I had stayed at the Curtis' house, let alone Johnny…maybe it was a good thing he didn't come in the house. "And I would've called you, but I was so tired, that I just fell asleep, and…"

"Oh, just go." She said, waving her hand towards my room. "Just get out of my sight for now." But before I went to get ready for Johnny, she moved past me, placing a kiss on my cheek, before continuing on to our living room. I sighed, and then walked towards my room, trying to figure out what to wear.

Finally I decided on a small little dress – I was hoping to god it wasn't going to rain, or Johnny would take me anywhere dirty and grimy. It was white, with light blue and white stripes near the skirt part. I put on a pair of flats that matched and fixed my hair in a presentable way, before walking out of my room and out the front door.

Johnny had sat down while I was gone, and looked up when he heard the door open. His mouth dropped open for a second, before he grinned.

"God, since when could you look so-" he started, but I cut him off by asking "So where are we going exactly?"

"Geez, I never really thought of that…" he said, running his hand through his greased hair.

"The movies?" I asked, hopefully. It had been ages since I last saw a movie – none of my friends liked to go, they all thought the movies were boring. But I loved them – the glitz and glamour of it all just attracted me like a fly to a lightbulb.

Johnny thought about it a moment, before standing up, grabbing my hand yet again. "Yeah, movies…I like that idea. Lets go." And he dragged me off my porch, as we headed towards the direction of the movie theater.

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uh oh, spaghetti o. did i ever mention Ali had blonde hair? i dont think so.

anyways, r&r, its greatly enjoyed. thanks, and stay gold!