For the next week or so, they settled into a bit of a routine. During the day, they would lay low in the house, playing cards, napping, chatting, or Pony reading aloud from one of their books. They'd take their strange version of a bath every day or two, and run to the store about that often as well. Always just one of them, never together. They tried to stay out of sight during the day, and keep light in the church to a minimum at night. In the evening, they would light a fire in the small stove, and gather near it under their blankets, often huddled together for warmth. They had not kissed again, or even discussed their first one-although Johnny was aching to do both-but the closeness was nice. Evenings were the favorite part of the day for Johnny, in spite of the cold.
One morning, with the two deep asleep and cuddled tightly-Ponyboy in back, with his arm around Johnny-Dallas made another appearance, as usual sneaking in quietly.
"What is this?" Dallas announced from a few feet away, followed by his loud goofy laugh. Johnny bolted to a sitting position, and Pony Boy scooted away quickly.
"It's not how it looks, Dally." Ponyboy said quickly, blushing guiltily. "We were just really cold."
"Mmhmm." Dallas answered with a big smile, staring intently at them.
After a few awkward moments, Johnny stood up stiffly.
"What's the news, Dally? Tell us what's going on."
"We had it out with the socs. Kicked their asses." Dallas answered with a satisfied smirk, lighting up a cigarette. And now that Johnny had rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked a bit closer, Dallas did have a few bruises and cuts on his face.
"Awesome!" Ponyboy cheered.
"Yep, felt pretty good. Wish you guys could have been there."
Johnny just kept silent. He hated fights.
"Any news from Cherry?" Ponyboy asked eagerly.
"We've seen her again. She's still our spy, and willing to testify. So Johnny, you might have a chance of getting off. Pony, it sounds like they might send you to a boy's home."
"No way, never!" Ponyboy declared fiercely.
"Looks like we're stuck out here a little longer," Johnny said, looking at Ponyboy. "We've got some things to figure out."
Dallas left after a few hours, leaving them more supplies. The next few days passed very slowly. Ponyboy was in a bad mood or lost in thought more often than not, and was much less affectionate than normal towards Johnny. They slept apart, even on fiercely cold nights. Finally one morning, Johnny had had enough.
"What's going on, Pony? You've hardly spoken for days, and you're not yourself."
Ponyboy, his feet kicked up on an overturned milk crate, muttered something and continued reading to himself.
"Is it the kiss? Or that Dally caught us cuddling?" Johnny asked, coming to stand in front of his friend and crossing his arms.
Ponyboy started as if coming out of a dream, and looked up at Johnny with an earnest, apologetic expression.
"No no, it's nothing like that. I'm just worried. Things were bad before, with Mom and Dad dead and Darry and Soda stressed out and having to work extra hours. Darry and me fighting. Darry and Soda fighting. Now I might be going to a boys home."
"You sure it's nothing I did?" Johnny pressed.
"Definitely not." Ponyboy shook his head vigorously. "The kiss was nothing, we were just experimenting. Like kissing your hand for practice. And it's freezing in here, us laying close together for body heat just makes sense."
He may have been trying to reassure his best friend, but the words crushed Johnny.
"Then why didn't we lay together the last few nights, for 'body heat'?" he asked quietly.
Ponyboy got up and started pacing back and forth, looking at the ground and avoiding his friends' gaze.
"I don't know Johnny. I just…didn't want Dally to get the wrong idea. Like we're a couple or out here shacking up or something."
"Ya, that would be terrible." Johnny said quietly. His sarcasm was lost on Ponyboy, who clearly thought they were in agreement.
"Exactly. He sees that, tells Darry and Soda and Two Bit and the rest, and we'd never live it down. It would be constant jokes, and Darry would actually be worried about me on top of that."
"Nope, wouldn't want that." Johnny said softly, getting up and walking towards the back entrance.
"Where are you going, Johnny? We aren't supposed to be outside during the day." Ponyboy protested, throwing his arms up in exasperation.
"I'm just going for a walk. Be back later." And with that, Johnny disappeared out the back, out into the fields with no destination in mind. Ponyboy stood at the door watching him, a puzzled expression on his face.
Writer's note: Don't forget to vote in the poll, to help pick which direction their friendship/relationship goes! More coming soon...
