Enjoy this chapter! Read and Review!

He stood up staggering against the rolling waves. My heart pounded in my throat. The ache that I had been feeling; the suffering I went through, diminished. Ponyboy was standing in front of me. My best friend and all I wanted to do was jump with joy. But I couldn't.

Maybe you should have stayed away from us.

That wasn't an order, it was a suggestion. So why did I feel so obliged to obey? I couldn't stay away from Pony. It hurt too much.

Don't ever talk to me or Soda again…ever again.

He didn't mean it. Ponyboy always welcomed me to his home; he would never send me away. Would he? But he did. Ponyboy clearly didn't want me around then, so why would he want me back now?

"Never mind…I thought you were someone else. Sorry to bother you." What was I saying? Why am I running away from the one person who I can turn to?

"No wait, stop!" I heard running behind me, but I kept on walking away. He's just going to tell me off again.

"Johnny!"

I stopped, "Sorry you have the wrong person, I'm sorry for bothering you."

"Johnny Cade, don't be stupid. I know it's you. Why are you walking away?" he said breathless.

"Because you told me to leave you alone; and I'm not stupid," I stopped walking. Pony halted somewhere behind me. I kept my back turned.

"I…I'm sorry Johnny, I know you're not stupid, it's just, you're being childish. Please, come back," he was pleading with me. It had to be a trick. He just wants to yell at me some more. I turned around anyway.

"Ponyboy, I forgive you for what you said to me, and I'm sorry for what I said to you," I took a step towards him, but I was curious, "I just have one question, why didn't you look for me?"

He stood with his mouth opened in confusion.

"Johnny, I was upset. I told myself I wasn't going to think about you, because it hurt too much. The house, my house, was a mess. Soda and I couldn't handle it all, and I didn't need our petty fight to add to my problems. You understand, don't you?"

I watched him as he rambled off his disoriented answer.

"No, Ponyboy, I don't. Our fight wasn't 'petty' Ponyboy; I made a huge impact on my life. I thought about that fight, hell I even dreamed of it. It ruined my life!" I stopped to take a breath. Waiting for him to respond was agony. I could see the pain on his face and for some reason, I felt no remorse.

"It's funny how you make the fight sound like you were the victim in it all. It's not my fault you wouldn't listen to the truth," he retorted.

I gazed at him, "The truth?"

"Yes Johnny, the truth. The fact that it wasn't me who spread the rumor, that it was Rizzo who ruined our friendship. Johnny, why don't you believe me?"

Because I wanted to be right, once in my life.

I was wrong about my father and mother having even the slightest care in the world about me. I was wrong to hope for their love, wrong to want to love them back. I was always wrong, and I wanted to be right.

"I have to go. I have a party to get back to," I whispered.

I felt a hand wrap around my wrist, "Johnny, please talk to me. If we could just talk…"

"I gotta go. Bye, Ponyboy."

I yanked my wrist out of his hand and walked back to the party. I didn't feel cool anymore. I felt like a loser, like a greaser who has nothing to live for.

I felt like the old Johnny Cade again.

Pony's POV:

I watched him leave until I couldn't see him anymore. My hand still outstretched. I let it drop to my side. Was this friendship ever going to be mended?

And what is his problem? First he pretends that he had the wrong person when I could clearly see he knew who I was. Then he made it sound like the fight had a bigger impact on him than it did me! Well, I guess I made it sound like I put it behind me. Still, he knows me better than that. At least I thought he did.

"Ponyboy!" Hearing my name made me jump. I had forgotten about Sheila. "Pony, what was that about? Who was that?"

"It was an old friend of mine."

"Oh, why were you arguing?"

"Because there are some things that happen in life that change people, my friend and I happen to be two people who couldn't handle it as well as we thought we could," I said blankly.

Sheila placed her hand on my shoulder and turned me away from the spot Johnny was moments before.

"Does he not want to talk about it? Is he scared to?"

"I think he thinks that talking about it will make living harder. He's been though a lot, and a couple of recent events didn't help matters," I answered.

"Well, bottling it up doesn't help either," Sheila said, holding on to my arm tighter.

"I know, I want to talk to him about it, but I think he's too scared to confront it."

I heard Sheila sigh and she rested her head on my shoulder as we walked back towards the party. I didn't want to go back to the party now; at least I wouldn't be able to enjoy it. Sheila must have been thinking the same thing. "Do you want to go home?" she asked softly.

"You don't mind, do you? It's just I won't able to enjoy it. I don't want to spoil the fun…"

"Pony, it's alright. I think I'm done here anyway. I'll walk home with you," she interjected.

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'm positive," she said smiling.

She took my hand and we walked away from the party. She walked me back all the way to my house. I was grateful for her silence. She was very understanding, and I was glad I had her.

We came up to my door. The porch light was on and a few lights in the house were shining dully from the windows. Aunt Nancy must still be awake.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow Ponyboy."

"Tomorrow? Tomorrow's Sunday," I said questioning.

"Yea, you go to church don't you?"

"Oh, yea, I guess I should start going again. At least this time the guys won't…"

Tears stung at my eyes. The guys would never be able to do anything again. Sheila could tell I was upset about what I almost said.

"Get some sleep Ponyboy. It's been a long night."

"'Kay, I'll see you tomorrow at church," I said. I turned towards the door, but before I could open it Sheila grabbed my arm and turned me around. She pulled me towards her body and we kissed. Her soft lips comforted my trembling ones. I held her closer. She held me tighter. Her grip loosened and she stepped away. I didn't want it to end. I wanted to hold her in my arms forever. Let her take away my sorrow and throw it away.

"Night Ponyboy," she whispered.

"Night," I whispered back. I watched her walk down the driveway. She vanished behind the hedges. I opened the door and closed it quietly. I leaned my forehead against the door and took a deep breath.

"Ponyboy, is that you?"

Aunt Nancy came around the corner. She was holding her reading glasses and a book. I hastily wiped away the tears that started rolling down my cheeks. When I thought they were covered I turned around.

"Hey, Aunt Nancy, um thanks for letting me go tonight," I said, my voice trailing off. Before I could stop them, the tears slid from my eyes, down my cheeks, and dripped off my chin. Aunt Nancy walked forward and pulled me into a hug.

"Oh Ponyboy, what's wrong hun?" she asked, rubbing her hand on my back.

Hugging her back I answered, "I saw Johnny tonight."

She was silent for a few moments. She let me cry on her shoulder; waiting until my breaths were steady and not ragged.

"Did something happen between you two?"

I nodded my head unable to say anything. The tears choked every word I tried to say. She understood my silence.

"Did you two fight?" I nodded again.

"Pony, dear, not everything happens the way we want it to. We all handle troubles and trials differently. Johnny might be handling the situation differently. You may be ready to talk, but you need to be the patient boy that I know you are," she said stroking my back. I was glad Aunt Nancy understood me. She saved me from having to speak.

"In the mean time, turning to people who surround you now is the best choice. I can see that you haven't limited yourself to just me and Sodapop. Who was the girl?" I leaned away from her startled by this question.

"Um, her name's Sheila. I met her at school. She's easy to talk to. She understands your problems and you don't even have to say a word. Kind of like what you just did," I answered.

"Well you have a well rounded circle of comfort don't you? Come into the kitchen, I'll make you some tea to calm you down."

I starred at her confused at what she meant, "Wait Aunt Nancy, what do you mean by a 'well rounded circle of comfort'?"

She continued to get the tea ready. Turning and smiling she answered, "You have my motherly comfort, Soda's brotherly comfort, and Sheila's, well, physical comfort."

I sat at the kitchen table blushing, "You saw us kiss?"

"Yes, she is a very lovely girl. Just watch how far you take that 'physical comfort'," she said slyly.

"I will, you don't have to worry about that," I said laughing.

That night I stood at my window starring out at the ocean. I wondered when I would see Johnny again. Would it be a joyous reunion? A sad reunion? Or would it be another fight like tonight?

Only time would tell, until then I was going to try my hardest to find a way to relieve my pain. No matter what it took I was going to do it. I didn't want to live with this aching feeling anymore.

I just hoped Johnny would find a way to relieve his pain too. I wanted my best friend back, more than I ever wanted anything else.

Thanks for reading! I'll try to get the next chapter out soon!

Oh and the one sentence in here that use "talking about it will make living harder" I got it from the book/movie Sleepers.