JOHNNY'S POV

I saw headlights and the pretty girl with the red hair coming to me. She wrapped her arms around me tightly, so tight that I thought she would never let go. I just held her for awhile. Soda and Steve showed up to say bye, and she hugged everyone including Darry and Two-Bit. While she stood in front of Dally, she just muttered a thanks to him. He wrapped his arms around her neck, and for the first time we all saw Dally show emotion. It was true, he was sad that she was leaving, and he let it show.

"I'll miss ya kid, make sure to write Pony here, he'll read it to us all."

"Ima miss you too, Dally."

She stood in front of me, and we walked out onto the porch so we could be by ourselves.

"I'm going to miss you Johnnycake," she had a tear roll down her cheek.

I swiped it away with my hand, "I'm going to miss you too. I just know that if you love someone enough, you want them to be safe always. I want you to be safe always. You sometimes have to let go of things or people you love, so you can understand life more. I think when you come back, Ill be the same guy, just more grown up."

She wrapped her arms around me again, and I nuzzled my face into her neck.

"I love you so much, Johnny Cade."

"I love you too, Lynn Rhodes."

She let go, then looked at me for what I knew was the last time, and turned on her heel. I held onto her hand for as long as I could, but now she's gone, leaving dust behind the car.

I walked back inside and everyone seemed to be off in their own world, thinking about things. I missed her already, and I wish I could chase after her, and tell her that I didn't want her to go. I wanted to tell her that I'll never meet anyone like her ever again. I'd tell her, I never want to meet anyone else, and that she's the only one for me.

"I already miss her," I said aloud. Everyone just stared over at me with sympathy, sympathy that I didn't need or want.

"I do too Johnny," everyone looked over at Dallas.

He had his arms crossed, leaned against the kitchen doorway. We didn't dare ask why he cared. I went to sleep that night on Pony's floor, and I dreamt of her.

The last couple of days came and went in a blur, and I found myself, moving in with Dal at Buck's. He insisted that I not go back to the house, and I understood why. I sat on the edge of the bed, and he came in the door holding some eggs on a plate shoving it toward me.

"He Dal, can I ask you something?"

He nodded, pulling a cancer stick out and putting it up to his lips.

"Why'd you care so much about Lynn?" If anyone else woulda asked that question Dally woulda stomped 'em. I wasn't just anyone; I was like his kid brother.

"I watched Russ die. He wanted me to take care of her, I knew how much she meant to him. I knew how much she meant to Jerry too."

It was odd for Dally to pick up on someone's feelings, I mean he had none of his own, or so people thought.

"Is that the only reason?"

He sighed heavily, then sat on the bed next to me, "Johnny, look at me," I did.

"You only get one chance in your life to care about someone more then yourself. I may not be an emotional type of guy, but I know and sense what other people close to me feel. Lynn, she made you so happy, Johnny. For the first time since I met you all those years ago, you had a permanent smile on your face. She made you forget about all the stuff that happened to you, because she knew it all too well herself. I guess, I care about her, because you love her. You became like the little brother I never had. I guess…I love you in that way."

He looked away quickly, I had never in my life heard Dallas say anything that made a lot of sense like that did.

"I love you too, Dally."

"I know kid, I know."

That night seemed to end quickly, and the days turned into weeks. Weeks turned right into months. She never called, and I sometimes felt like she wanted to avoid all that happened here. I didn't blame her, but I just wanted to make sure she was okay. She never wrote Pony either, and he seemed to be a little sad about it. All the guys missed her somethin' awful, but I was the main one that missed her, and I had a feeling I'd miss her forever.

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Does anyone else smell a sequel?