part 3

My heart was racing from adrenaline and nerves. I couldn't tell if I was still excited about the greaser victory in the rumble or Chuck's surprise visit, when he told me that the police were searching for me now. I ran my hands through my hair, unable to stay still. My leg bounced up and down as I sat in the backseat of Dally's car, while he drove like a manic through the streets. His terrible driving made me even more panicked than I already was. A sharp migraine pierced through my head, pounding at my skull. Once again, I was feeling overwhelmed by everything that was happening. I couldn't focus on anything or anyone.

Dally's eyes stared at me through the rear view mirror. He was trying to say something to me, but I couldn't hear him. My ears were ringing from the painful headache that clouded my mind, making his words muffled. I stared back at him, narrowing my eyes to try and read his lips. "What?" I spoke in confusion.

"I asked if you were okay," he replied. Dallas wore a worried expression as he looked at me through his mirror. My lips parted but no words came out. I just nodded slowly. Dally hesitantly looked away, not believing me. I wouldn't either. I felt completely out of it. My mind was torn in different thoughts.

Dallas took a sharp turn on the road. My hands reached to hold onto the back of his seat in an attempt to stop myself from hitting the side of the car. "Jesus, Dal," I breathed. He mumbled an apology.

Behind us, a police officer switched on it's red and blue lights on their motorcycle and began to blare the siren. My eyes shut tight as the noise sounded obnoxiously, making my migraine worse. Dally slowed down his car and pulled it off to the side of the road. The cop behind us came to a halt behind the vehicle. Dallas kept his eyes forward but spoke to Ponyboy. "Act sick. I'll pretend like I'm taking you to the hospital." Then, he glanced at me in the mirror again. "Don't look at the cop."

I quickly nodded and stared at the ground, avoiding the cop as he approached the side of the car. "You've got to have a good reason for driving like that," he lectured Dallas.

"The kid fell off of his motorcycle," Dally lied. "I'm taking him to the hospital."

"How bad is he?" The cop asked.

"I don't know, man," Dallas replied. "Do I look like a doctor? He looks pretty bad to me."

The police officer was silent for a few moments as he glanced between Dally and Ponyboy. I felt his eyes on me until he looked away and sighed. "Follow me."

I lifted my head up again as the cop walked back to his motorcycle. Dally chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. "Sucker," he remarked.

The cop put his siren back on and drove off. Dally followed the officer like he was told. His finger tapped the steering wheel and I could tell that he was thinking about something. "I was crazy," Dallas said suddenly. "I was crazy about wanting Johnny to stay out of trouble, man.. If he was smart like me, he wouldn't have been in this mess. If he was smart like me, he wouldn't have ran in that church."

Ponyboy was laid back in the passengers seat. His eyes glanced at Dally as he continued to ramble on.

"You better wise up, Pony. You just better wise up, man," Dallas said. Ponyboy was starting to become nervous the more Dally lectured him. "You get tough like me and you don't get hurt! Watch out for yourself and nothing can touch you."

I placed my hand on Dally's shoulder. He flinched but calmed down. "You're scaring him, Dal," I said in a hushed voice. Dallas only nodded slowly and returned his attention back to the road.

I sat back again and took a deep breath. It was clear that all of us were feeling the weight of our realities right now.

»»——⍟——««

Ponyboy leaned on Dally and I as we helped him walk down the halls of the hospital. The three of us walked quickly towards Johnny's room to tell him the good news. I was nervous to see Johnny again based off of the last visit I had with Two-Bit and Ponyboy. He didn't look too well, and although there was no doubt that Johnny was a fighter, I didn't think that he could survive this time. I think everyone knew this, but was too afraid to admit it out loud.

Finally, the three of us reached Johnny's room. Dallas was the first to walk inside. "Hey, Johnny," he said. "We beat the socs, man." Dally stood beside his friend with a small, hopeful smile on his face. "We chased them right out of our neighborhood."

I watched in the corner of the room as Johnny struggled to speak. "It's useless," he uttered. The younger boy sounded and looked like he was in so much pain. I felt my heart breaking the more I watched this scene. "Fighting ain't no good."

"You know.. They're still writing editorials about you in the papers. About you being a hero," Dally changed the subject. He was trying so hard to remain hopeful and keep straight face, but I knew the sight of Johnny was killing him. "We're all proud of you, buddy. It's gonna be alright." Dally sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than Johnny.

"Ponyboy," Johnny whispered. His eyes slowly shut as he carefully turned his head to the side. Ponyboy moved closer to his friend. "S-stay gold, Ponyboy.. Stay gold."

Johnny's head lolled back to the side again and then he was silent. Ponyboy stood up straight. His eyes filled with tears. Dally shook Johnny's arm lightly. "Johnny.. come on, man."

I pushed myself off of the wall and shuffled closer to Johnny's bed, where he lay motionless. "Is he..?" I couldn't finish my sentence as I stared at my friend. He stopped breathing.

"So this is what you get, huh?" Dallas spoke aloud. "This is what you get for helping people?" Dally stared at Johnny's lifeless form. The boy who deserved so much better than what he was given was now gone, and there was nothing that any of us could do about it. "Come on, Johnny.. Don't die." Dallas rubbed his eyes as they became glassy. "Don't die on me now," he begged. "Please."

My breath trembled as I ran my shaking hands through my hair in an attempt to calm myself down. Tears filled my eyes but I didn't let them fall. I knew that Johnny didn't have much time left, but I wasn't expecting him to pass so soon. He was just a kid. He was so young. Now, the boy was gone.

Dallas stood up and made his way to the door. He slammed his fist against the wall, causing Ponyboy and I to jump. "Bastards!" He exclaimed. I watched as he leaned his head against the doorframe and then walked away.

I glanced at Ponyboy, who was still staring at Johnny. I wanted to go after Dally, but I wasn't sure if I should leave Ponyboy here alone. I slowly walked over to the boy and placed my hand on his shoulder. "Pony.. Are you okay?" I asked. It was a stupid question—one that I already knew the answer to—but I wasn't sure what else to say. Ponyboy didn't reply. He just kept staring. "Ponyboy, I need to go after Dallas.. Are you going to be okay?" I tried again.

This time, Ponyboy nodded hesitantly. "Go," he said softly. He understood why I needed to leave, and I was thankful for that.

I dropped my hand from his shoulder and turned on my heel. I quickly walked out of the room and began to make my way towards the nearest exit. I wasn't sure where Dally went or where he is going, but I needed to find him before he did something he'd regret. Hopefully, I wouldn't be too late.