The next few weeks passed by rather quickly. Johnny had been coming over every night, and stole Russ's bed every night. Russ didn't mind though, he knew what was going on, after I told him. He told him he could have his bed, only if he stayed in school. I couldn't help but think that he was getting a little brotherly to Johnny. I knew Johnny knew it too, and he seemed to actually enjoy it. Russ has been hanging around Dally a lot lately, and I saw him on a regular basis now. I hung out with Pony a lot more then anyone besides Johnny. We went and saw movies together, did our homework together, and recommended books to one another. Pony and I were almost alike, we both loved to watch the sunset, and hated going to the movies with others, they'd never sit still enough for us.

I just got out of school, and I came home to find my mom completely trashed. I had seen her like this a lot since we left, and it had become a reminder of my dad.

"Where have you been, Lynn?" she asked her eyes flashing with what I thought to be anger.

"I was at school, ya know that," I sat down at the table.

I felt a hand across my face, and it didn't register for a couple of seconds before I realized she had slapped me. I stormed through the house, and ran out the door. I fell into Johnny, who seemed about to walk up the steps.

"Are you ok," he asked hanging onto me.

"No, Johnny, I'm not okay."

He searched my face, and I thought for a split second I was gonna break down. I didn't want to in front of him, but I almost thought I couldn't handle it, and a tear slid down my face. He wrapped an arm around me and guided me to the park. We sat in silence for awhile, neither of us had to talk, he already knew what was going on. A few hours had passed, and I felt myself dozing off in his arms still, and he let me, and I could hear his breathing slowing down.

I woke up some hours later, and Johnny was lying next to me, still asleep. After all the stuff he went through, he still resembled an angel. I didn't want to wake him up, but I knew I had to.

"Johnny," I nudged him slightly, "Johnny wake up, we gotta go now."

He sat up and rubbed his eyes, "what time is it?"

"I dunno, seems to be early in the morning."

He stood up and reached for my hand, "let's go to Pony's. I'm sure they'll let you sleep there."

We made our way to their door, and walked inside to find it basically dead. Dallas was sprawled out on the couch, and Two-Bit was asleep in the chair. Johnny lay down on the floor, then told me I could lay next to him, so I did. I fell asleep not long after that.

I woke up and I had Johnny's arm around me, and I could see Two-Bit smiling like a mad man.

"Here I thought you weren't Johnny's girl. I think you guys had me mistaken."

"Shove it, Two-Bit."

I slowly pulled his arm away from me, and I noticed someone had put a cover over us, I didn't want to wake him. I sat on the couch, that Dally had deserted and started watching Mickey Mouse with Two-Bit.

"Dallas woke up not too happy, and threw his cover over you guys," he said.

I just looked at him puzzled, "why?"

"He said Johnny looked cold, 'sides I don't think he really meant to be nice, ya know Dal."

I nodded and I heard the screen door open, and Dally walked inside.

"Have a nice sleep, kid?" he asked sitting down next to me.

"I think it was the best I've had in ages. He's a really warm kid."

"Yeah," was all he said, then headed for the kitchen.

I sat thinking to myself for a bit. Did I like Johnny? Did Johnny like me? I was starting to think I did, I mean he was always there, and somewhat like Pony he listened to me. He made me comfortable around almost anybody. I do like him, and I could never let him know. Emotions make things messy, and I'm not one for messy things.

"Join me for a smoke, I need to talk to you kid," Dally was now in front of me.

I nodded and we sat on the porch not saying anything for a bit. He had shut the front door, and I knew what he had to say, he didn't want anyone else to hear.

"You know, Russ got a place a few houses down, said you should go there. He knows what your mom did last night," he said taking a drag.

"How'd he find out?"

"Johnny told him last night, while you were asleep on the floor. I suggest you go stay with him, Johnny too."

I nodded, I really didn't know what I could say to a guy like Dallas Winston.

"I just know this, you better not hurt Johnny, he seems to like ya a lot."

"I won't, trust me," he smiled.

"I think I can, after all Russ is one of my best buddies, and he's one of the few I trust. You must be something to him, the way he talks about you. Here, you want a cancer stick?"

We smoked together and after a smoke or two, he and I walked back inside. Johnny was no longer on the floor, he was sitting on the couch with Pony. I sat between them, and looked over at Johnny, "hey, you wanna walk me home to get my stuff?"

He looked at me puzzled, "where ya goin'?"

"Ima stay with Russ, he has a place a few houses down, I bet it's somewhere between here and moms. Your staying too, so we gotta get your stuff too."

He looked down at his shoes, "Johnny, Ima go with you, don't worry."

He nodded and we walked down the street to my house and I packed all my things up in my bag. We went by Russ's and dropped it off there, and walked our way to Johnny's. He told me to wait outside, and he'd be back.

"No, I'm going in with you, if they do anything, I'll be there."

He gave a weak smile, and as soon as we were inside, I could smell the alcohol that was everywhere. There was a woman lying on the couch and I guessed she was Johnny's mom. We made it to his room, and then we heard the front door. He looked a bit frightened and threw his bag out the window, "we'll get it in a few, you should go out the window."

"No."

He shrugged and we walked back toward the front door, "this your slut Johnny?"

I already knew it musta been his dad, with a deep voice like that. Johnny didn't say anything a reached for the door handle.

"I said, boy, is this your slut?"

"No," his voice was barely above a whisper and he looked back at me.

I saw a hand fly across and grab his collar. I couldn't take it, and I whomped the guy something awful. Johnny and I belted out the door, and he quickly ran over and grabbed his bag, and we ran the rest of the way to Russ's. We didn't say anything as we sat on the old couch.

"I…I can't believe you did that. Now he's bound to kill me."

"You're here now, Russ will protect you, 'sides, what would Dallas do, if he killed you?"

He didn't say anything.

"Look, Johnny, it's ok that your scared, you just can't let it tear you down all the time."

He didn't say anything again, which I figured he was letting it sink in.

"I…I like you Lynn," he looked over at me, and gave a weak smile. He looked so nervous that I chuckled a bit.

"I like you too Johnny, and you're a greater person then you think you are."

"Thanks, would you…be my girlfriend?" he looked so nervous again.

"I'd love to be."