(Sorry for those who had to wait the internet box was down and had to get it fixed. Plus had major writers block and writing the sequel which is slowly being worked on. I do not own the outsiders or its characters. Enjoy!)

Chapter 10

The sun had hit my face as I walked out of school, it was going to be sunny for the next two days so I had to walk home. I kept getting strange looks at me a lot recently. The Socs didn't come near me at all and Cherry Valance never said "hi" to me at all when I saw her in the hallway.

I haven't see Johnny since the rumble, which was two days ago. I don't know when he was coming back or I finally drove him away. Johnny was the only one who understood me not any of the other guys. I was slowly getting depressed. Darry and Soda kept reassuring me that he will be back.

"Don't worry, he's probably somewhere collecting his thoughts or going hunting. I remember Steve gone for a week when I said I loved him. He came back happy and horny. Let's say that I couldn't go anywhere alone for about two weeks." That was the most awkward talk I ever had with Soda. I didn't want to hear the part about Steve but two days without Johnny felt like weeks.

"He's going through a phase, Ponyboy just don't worry about it." That was all Darry said.

I just kept hopping that I would wake up and Johnny would be lying next to me, propped up on his elbow, glancing down at me and then slowly leaning down to give me a kiss. I woke up today and saw the spot empty. I grabbed the pillow and hugged it. Walking to school on sunny days, like today; would be just another day of glancing over my shoulder to see if a Soc was following me. The guys was held up at the house watching TV.

"Be safe." Darry called over his shoulder as I walked out.

I shook my head to forget about this morning as I walked to the Dingo to grab a Coke and a candy bar when I saw on of my best friends: Curly Shepard.

Curly and I been friends for some time but he always got in trouble a lot, even his older brother would yell at him. He always played dare games with me or play chicken. One time me and Curly played chicken once with cigarettes against each others knuckles and Tim came by and knocked our heads together saying if we ever done that again he would kill us.

Curly's hair was slick-brown and he always drank in whatever mood he was in. I slowly walked over to him, he didn't go to flames in the sun so he wasn't a vampire. I am now cautious around people I never know if they would sink they're fangs into my neck.

"Hey, Curly." I waved at him.

He turned around and leapt off his seat to give me a one arm hug.

"Hey, Ponyboy," He let me go, his brown eyes twinkled in excitement. "Long time no see. So how's Johnny doing?" He had to bring up Johnny.

"He's doing...okay." I shrugged the sad feeling that fell over me. He narrowed his eyes at me, but didn't say anything about my hesitation at the end. Or how poor the 'okay' sounded as it did to me, which made me cringe.

"Whatever," He bought me a Coke and we went to sit on his car hood to catch up on some good times. We talked about who got shot or who stole what for why and when. He talked about when he was in the reformatory.

"I was doing a six month sentence," he threw his Coke on the ground. "but I got out early for good behavior." I was thinking that was what Dallas Winston would do.

He turned toward me. "So how have you been?" I took a sip of my Coke and shrugged. "I'm fine; my school work is a little behind but I'm doing fine. Been sick for two days and just now getting over a massive headache." He nodded. Taking a bit of my candy and we sat there in a comfortable silence.

"How have you been?" Curly smiled. "Oh, everywhere and anywhere but recently having feelings for a certain person." That made me curious. I saw his cheeks flush, he kept his eyes down and avoiding my gaze. I smiled, "Really? Who?" He put his hands on the hood and learned back. "Do I have to guess?" He smirked and nodded.

"I'll give you a hint, he's a greaser." That lowered my options...wait...did Curly say he? Since when was Curly into guys? "Okay is it someone I know?"

"Yep, and it's someone in your gang." I kept thinking.

"Is it Dally, Two-bit, or Steve? I got to tell you that Soda will be mad if you went after Steve." He got frustrated. "Its YOU, you are so obvious. It's always been you."

That got me flustered. Was I that obvious? "Really?"

"Yes..." He trailed off. His hand was on my neck and brought me closer his lips landing on mine. I struggled. His lips moved against mine, his eyes closed. I tried pushing away when I felt his tongue run along my bottom lip. During the struggle, we landed on the sidewalk and he pinned my hands above my head. I tried squirming to get his hold lose, but his groin met mine and he groaned. His hands went lower and stopped at my button jeans.

I made a fist and punched him in the face. I gasped for breath as he held his nose, checking for blood. "I'm with Johnny," I yelled. Thankful for no one being around for this. "You can't date someone who is unable to grow old." He seethed. His nose broken and blood running down his chin.

"He's a vampire your a human. A meat full of blood for him to chew on. Why do you think he left in the first place?" I stopped breathing. He smirked at me, I wish I hit him harder. "How did you know about Johnny being gone?"

"I have my ways," He wipped the blood away, then started walking to the driver side. "What do you mean? What did you do to Johnny?" I yelled. My chest felt tight, I never been too angry at someone. My nails dug into my skin and clenching my jaw together that I thought my teeth was going to break.

"Nothing Tim and Dally took him somewhere and they won't be back till later tonight. I just seeing what you do." He climbed in behind the wheel and closed the door. He rolled down the window and popped his head out, "Just so you know I won't give up on you. One day Johnny will leave you or hurt you." He started the car backing up and looking at me one more time. He drove away with my hands bleeding and my teeth hurting.

What he said that he will be back rose my hopes. I threw away my trash and started heading for home forgetting about school. I was walking up my steps when the door opened, an angry looking Darry was standing in the threshold. "Why did I get a call from the school that you didn't come back?" He crossed his arms. The bags under his eyes present.

"I heard that Dally and Tim took Johnny? Why did you guys lie to me and where did they take him?" I heard my voice crack. He groaned. "Who told you this?" He asked, "Curly." He growled and muttered under his breath about what an idiot he is.

"They took him back to Windrixville he had attacked Paul when he bit you. He accidently drank Paul's blood and he fell to the ground." I looked at him, my heart racing. "Other vampires blood is poison to us, we can't drink from other vampires unless it's from the one who turned us. Dally turned Johnny so he fed Johnny his blood and they took him to the church, hopping the scene will bring him back to normal. We didn't want to tell you because you would have went with them."

I probably would have done that. "Are they really coming back tonight?" Darry shook his head. "I don't know Pony, my guess is yes. For the sake of all human kind get in here before I drag you in." I laughed. Feeling lighter than I felt in two days.

The rest of the gang was watching TV I went to my room and grabbed a book. Curling up on the bed reading where I left off. I haven't even read a full sentence when Darry came in. "I don't think you should be reading you need to be doing homework. Do you want anything to eat?" I nodded sighing when he threw my pack at me. I reluctantly started writing my essay for English.

It was five when I got done. I walked to the dining room where a plate of eggs and bacon was there waiting for me. "Who made this?"

"Soda." Came the response. "WHAT?" He yelled at Darry. I giggled under my breath at the look on his face. Steve smiled and thrown his head back laughed. Soda looked at Steve and smiled his body shaking from Steve's laughing where he was leaning on. Two-bit laughed too, Darry coughed covering a chuckle and a smile. The air felt light everyone smiling and laughing.

I ate my dinner or breakfast whatever it was and went to mine and Soda's room. I was so tuckered out that I put on my pajama bottoms and fell asleep on top of the covers. I woke up a few hours later to someone tucking me in. I didn't realize I fell back asleep when I woke up again to see someone in my room. The light was turned on and what I saw stopped my heart.

"Johnny!" I jumped up to hug him but got tangled in the sheets. He caught me before I hit the floor and smiled at me. "You are a klutz Pony did anyone tell you that?" He helped me out so I was toe-to-toe with him. I pulled him into a kiss. His lips and mine moving together and I was losing air. I let go, reluctantly, and smiled at him. "Are you okay?" I asked. He gave me a soft smile, "Yes, I'm okay now."

I let out a shaky breath. He pulled me into his arms and I never wanted this moment to end. Him holding me and rubbing my back. "Do you want to got back to bed?" I nodded. He went to leave but I grabbed his wrist, "Stay."

He sighed, "Okay." He laid down and pulled me with him. I laid my head on his chest, his arm around my waist and it was really quiet.

"I love you, Johnny." I glanced up at him resting my chin on his chest. He pulled me up by my chin and said against my lips, "I love you too, Pony." He finally kissed me. He pulled away and I laid back down and fell asleep. His arm around my waist I felt safe.

(Ta-Da! Two more chapters and then a sequel. I'm sorry if it took a while but I had to work on other things like school work. Curly might be a problem for Johnny/Ponyboy in the future. I'll start writing the next two chapters this weekend. Please leave a review!)