JOHNNY'S POV

Dallas and I walked back to Pony's I told him I wanted to go get Lynn, but he wouldn't let me walk by myself, and he had something to say to Darry. We got to the steps, and Pony came outside quickly, scaring me a bit.

"Russ died, Lynn's been here for awhile now, crying."

He didn't need to say anything else, and I made my way inside faster then I thought. Soda was holding her, and he told me to be quiet that she was finally asleep. I just stared at her, she looked so peaceful. I sat on the other side of her carefully, and Soda tilted her my way.

"My arm was going to sleep," he said.

I just nodded and put her head in my lap. Her face was turned up facing me, and I could tell she had cried a lot, her eyes were red, and her face seemed a little stained. I put a hand on her cheek, then tucked her hair behind her head, so I could see her better. She looked so beautiful, even with everything that had happened lately, she seemed so at peace. I don't know when it was that I dozed off, but when I woke up, she wasn't there anymore. I looked around, and Dally wasn't here, and Two-Bit was passed out at the table. I looked at the clock, it was about 4 am. I figured she might be outside smoking. I walked out the door and she wasn't there. I looked over toward the park and saw her outline on the monkey bars. I made my way over there and climbed up next to her.

"I'm sorry I left Johnny, I shoulda woke you up and told you I was leaving," she said taking a drag of her smoke and handing it to me.

"It's okay, I understand. So, what are you gonna do now? I don't want you moving back in with your mom."

I looked at her, and saw a small smile on her face, "I'm not sure, it's the only place I have to stay here, unless I want to go back to Dallas and live with my aunt."

I looked at her and took her hand in mine, "as long as you promise me you'll come back."

"I'm still not sure what to do, what would you do?"

I couldn't believe someone was asking me for advice, which is not what everyone does. I had to think, if she left, I'd have no one, and I'd be back where I started. I just wanted her to be safe, away from all of this stuff.

"I'd go to Dallas, your aunt isn't like your mom or dad, right?"

"Not at all, she's one of the sweetest women in the world."

"Well, I just want you to be safe, and not have to worry about anything."

We sat in silence for a bit, and she kept my hand in hers, I'd lift it up every once in awhile and kiss her fingers. I'm in love with this girl, and I have to let her go. The only person I ever found that made me better, understood what I was going through. I guess it's my turn to help her out.

We left the park that night after another long talk about what she should do. I kept insisting that she go to her aunts, but I knew she didn't want to leave me, not at all. We got to the Curtis house and Darry was already asleep. Soda and Steve were out on a date, Two-Bit and Dal were out huntin' some action. We sat down with Pony and talked for awhile. She told him about her leaving, and called her aunt. She was out of the room for awhile, and Pony and I just got bored with the silence.

"She's really leaving, huh?" he asked.

"I told her she should, I want to make sure she's safe. She's not safe with her mother, and definitely not safe with her dad."

"It's gonna hurt a lot ya know?"

"I know."

She came back into the room, and told me her aunt was already on her way up here. She left us and went to pack all her things. Dally came by and asked what was happenin' so I told him what was gonna go down. He didn't seem so upset, but then again, I'm the one in love with her, not him.