A/N: Hey y'all! I'm back! I'm so sorry 'bout not updatin' for so long. I'm not gonna bore u guys with excuses.
Thanks to CarolynneRuth for beta reading this chapter!
Now, without further ado…
Johnny stares blankly at the ceiling above him, thinking about the cops. Why were they looking for Dally? He didn't kill anyone. But then again, he Dallas Winston. He gets hauled in for anything that happens in their turf. And the witness from the news report Darry told him about? She's wrong. She must of seen someone who found the body and just said it was Dal.
Yesterday, not much happened after Darry, Steve and Two-Bit saw the news report. They argued for a bit about the possibility of Dally being seen killing someone. Johnny had walked into the living room as Darry mentioned that Dally might have run out of luck. Everyone got real quiet once they realized Johnny was there. Darry gently told him about the report and Johnny told Pony when he woke up. The rest of the day was spent playing poker and trying not to think about the murder. No one suggested watching tv.
Now, Johnny's stretched out on the couch, his eyes locked on the ceiling and his mind crowded with thoughts. Darry left for work about half an hour ago and Soda's currently in the kitchen, making purple scrambled eggs to go with the blue chocolate cake he's baking.
Pony wonders into the living room, "Mornin' Johnny."
"Mornin'," He sits up. Soda pokes his head out of the kitchen, "Hey Pone, could you grab the newspaper?"
"Sure." Ponyboy yawns then heads outside. He checks the mail then grabs the newspaper from the driveway. He's about to go back inside when a headline catches his eye.
Pony rushes inside, "Johnny, look at this!" He plops downs on the couch next to Johnny shows him the article.
Wealthy Teen Killed by Juvenile Delinquent
October 17, 1965
Early Saturday morning, a teenage girl was walking home from a friend's house when she stumbled across a horrific scene at the east park. An unidentifiable figure was crouched over the body of 17 year old Robert Sheldon, who had be brutally stabbed to death. The figure realized he was being watched and chased the girl when she tried to escape. According to the girl, who wishes to remain anonymous, he "pinned me against a wall and told me not to tell anyone. I, being scared out of my mind, lied and said that I wouldn't. Of course, I went straight home to call the cops."
While the suspect was talking to her, she got a good look at him. She gave the description to the police and they arrested 17 year old Dallas Winston. Dallas's criminal record, which includes assault, public brawling, gang related activities and much more, lead the police to believe that he may be the murderer. Dallas had a sliver 6 inch switchblade in his possession at the time of his arrest. The police have yet to figure out a motive.
If you have any information about this murder, you are encouraged to call the police or silent witness immediately.
Johnny stares at the article for a bit before speaking, "We need to call the fuzz." Pony looks at his friend fearfully, "What? Why?"
"He didn't do it." Johnny states simply.
"I know but he'll be okay."
Johnny looks at Pony accusingly, "We don't know that."
"Your right, we don't but I know you don't want to go to prison and Dally clearly doesn't want you to either." Pony says pointedly.
Johnny voice increases in volume as he speaks, "What about Dal, huh? You think he should spend his life in prison or worse? What if he gets sentenced to the chair?"
"And if you turn yourself in, you get sent to prison, or worse, me and Soda get taken away from Darry and what do you think Dally will do?" Ponyboy raises his voice to match Johnny's.
Soda walks into the living room , "What're y'all arguin' about?"
Johnny and Pony both turn to face him and Pony yells "Nothin'!". Soda looks back and forth between the two. Ponyboy sighs and apologizes.
Johnny stands up and heads towards the front door.
"Where are ya goin' Johnnycake?"
"To see Dally." He lets the door slam behind him.
Johnny walks silently up to the front desk of the station, ignoring the suspicious glance from the officer behind it.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Dallas Winston."
The cops laughs. Johnny glares at him, "I ain't kidding!"
"Calm down kid, you can see him."
The cop leads Johnny to a room, "Wait here." The cop leaves. Johnny sits down at the only table, facing the door.
The cop comes back about 15 minutes later with an irritated Dallas in tow. The cop forces him into the chair across from Johnny, cuffs his wrist to the arm of the chair then moves to stand by the door. The first thing Johnny notices are the bruises that cover his friend's face and the way he subconsciously favors his right side. Johnny remembers him mentioning that Tim Shepard cracked his ribs. The state issued uniform he's wearing hangs loosely off his thin frame, revealing some bruises creeping from his shoulders and slightly up his neck. The only personal item the cops let him keep is his St. Christopher. The chain peeks out from under the uniform shirt, where the pendent is hidden.
"Hey kid."
Johnny stares at him silently.
"How's it goin'?"
He remains silent. Dally leans back in his chair, "You gonna say somethin' or should I tell the guard to take me back to my cell?"
Johnny sighs, "Why'd ya do it?"
Dallas quickly leans forward and lowers his voice, "Don't say anythin' about the murder alright, I got it all under control." His words are so quick and so quiet that Johnny almost doesn't understand him. As he finishes speaking, the cop grabs his shoulders and drags him back a few inches. The cop leans over and whispers a warning in his ear. Johnny notices that Dally grits his teeth slightly when the cop grabs his shoulders.
The cop lets him go and heads back to his place beside the door.
"You alright Dal?"
"Yea, I'm fine. The bastards have a sick way of interrogating people."
Johnny's eyes widen, "The fuzz did that to you?"
Dally laughs softly, "They sure did."
"Why didn't you fight back?"
Dallas pulls lightly against the cuffs around his wrist, "They had me cuffed, I was outnumbered and one was holdin' me back."
"That's what the bruises on your shoulders are from?"
Dally quickly hides his surprise, "Yea, that's what they're from."
The cop clears his throat, "Time's up!"
"What?! That wasn't even 5 minutes!"
"Shut it murderer. You're lucky that you were allowed to have a visitor." He uncuffs Dallas and leads him out of the room, Johnny follows them out into the hallway. Dallas tries to hide the fact that being called a murderer bugs him but Johnny can see it in his eyes.
"See ya later Johnnycakes." The cop drags him down the hall, back to his cell.
Johnny begins his walk back to the Curtis house, feeling frustrated and upset. Dally's taking the fall for him. But why? Big bad Dallas Winston doesn't give a shit about anyone… at least that what he says. It's not the first time he's done something like this though. He let the cops believe that he broke the windows at the high school and it was Two-Bit who did that. But that wasn't that big a deal, all he got was a week in the cooler and a fine that he still hasn't paid.
This is different though. Way different. This is a life or death situation. Not that either option is good. Life means life in prison. Death means… well, death. By the electric chair. And there's nothing Johnny can do.
A special thanks goes to;
woottonshelby13
CarolynneRuth
Unknown identity 90
Lovetoread75
Pi
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