A/N Guess who's back with another chapter of Golden Gaze after a year! Exited?

Johnny's POV

I wasn't sure how I was going to tell Ponyboy about my deal with Dally. My heart burned for the both of them.

On one hand, I knew that I loved Pony. He was precious, with his whisky colored hair and bright green eyes, his hands soft and always covered in paint from his latest art project. He made my heart swell with love and passion.

But, then there was Dally.

How could you deny love to your bestfriend? He had protected me when I was most vulnerable, using his strength and witt to challenge anyone who dared to hurt me. He was mildly attractive too, in an unconventional way. His pointy ears and lopsided smile have him character, and the dog tags he wore made his long neck look desirable.

I was stuck.

I was stuck between two people that i loved for different reasons. Their personalities clashed each otherb but both fit into mine almost perfectly. The odds were slim for this to hhappen yet they did.

It terrified me all at once.

I wasn't sure what to do. No one had ever had any feelings for me before. I had constantly been over looked and belittled, as the ugliness and unoriginalness plagued me daily.

I wanted to be back in that burning church suddenly.

-

I found Ponyboy in the kitchen talking to Two Bit and Marcia. He was laughing at something. For a moment, I just stared at him, wanting to take in his beaming smile before it disappeared.

I was probably going to make him hate me for the rest of his life, despite the fact that there was nothing I could do to sort out my feelings right away.

I felt guilt, yet happiness all at the same time.

I breathed in, finding courage suddenly.

I walked up to him, the nervous energy pumping through my veins.

"We need to talk," I stated, before dragging him out of the room by his thin arm.

He looked back at me, unsure of what was happening. I didn't let him speak.

"Dally kissed me in the hospital!" I blurted, waiting for his reaction. Pony's eyes went dead for a moment.

"I always knew that that's why he was mad at me after the incident in the hospital!" he yelled. "I can't believe-"

"I kissed him back," I told him, cutting him off.

He got quiet all over again.

"Y- you what?" he asked, falling silent once more. His green eyes seemed to be gray now.

"I need a week to see how I feel," I responded. "I- I have strong feelings for you Pony, but that kiss wasn't bad."

I saw tears start to well up in his eyes.

"You know what?" Ponyboy started. "Fine, fine. Be with him! You always hurt me. You always find a way to come back and hurt me. You tortured me while you were in the hospital with your uncertainty, and then when you make it seem like I got you finally, you tell me there's someone else!"

I was speechless.

"...And not only is it someone else, it's one of our best friends!"

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach.

"...You break my heart, Jonathan Cade."

Just like that, Ponyboy was gone.