// Ponyboy's Pov //

We set off to leave immediately after we got everything that we needed. I didn't care what anyone thought of me at the moment and I ended up leaving with me holding Johnny's hand.

He didn't mind though, he just blushed and squeezed my hand gently. You could tell he was scared though, the way he was looking down slightly and he walked slowly.

We walked out of the castle that way, the bag I had slung over my shoulder. I knew where we were headed but I didn't really know how long it would take us to get there.

My goal was to get Johnny and I over to where Soda was, he might be able to help in some way, if he excepted us that is. . . If he didn't, I don't care, as long as I have Johnny with me nothing else matters.

We were just arriving to the village when I heard Johnny gasp from next to me. I turned to look at him quickly.

"What's wrong Johnny," I ask worriedly.

"I-i forgot my b-bear," he mumbles out quietly. "I-i know I-it's childish but I-i need it."

"Well Johnny. . . You know we can't go back there but I have an idea," I said with a smirk.

"W-what's your idea," Johnny asks softly.

"You'll see Johnny. You'll see," I said with a smile.

I squeeze his hand reassuringly and start walking to the place where my idea would be held. It was a local toy shop that I knew of, my mom used to get me lots of toys from that place.

We arrived there and Johnny looked at me funny. I smiled at him and pulled him into the shop, bringing him to the stuffed animal section.

"What are we doing in here," Johnny asks me.

"Which one do you want," I ask gesturing to all the stuffed animals.

"Ponyboy. . . You don't have to do this. I can't have you waste money on me like that," he says looking at me.

"I know I don't have to. . . I want to," I said with a grin plastered across my face.

"F-fine," he said letting go of my hand and looking at the shelves.

The shelves were full of all sorts of stuffed animals, all of them a different size. It was kinda cute to see Johnny skimming the shelves in awe.

"I want this one," Johnny said pointing at the top shelf.

"Which one," I ask looking at him.

"I want the bear with the blue bow," he says with a smile.

"Alright," I said reaching up and grabbing it for him.

I handed him the bear and he instantly hugs it close to himself and giggles. He smiles lightly and stare at him.

He looked like an adorable little kid hugging the bear. I smile at him and bring him over to the counter.

"That'll be $5," the cashier says.

I gladly reach into my bag and pull out the money, handing it to him. He smiled at us and nodded his head slightly.

"Have a nice day boys," he said.

"You too sir," I reply.

Johnny looks at me with a smile and pulls me into a hug. I hug him back softly and he pulls away from me.

"Thank you," he says.

"It was no trouble Johnny. Anything for you," I say taking a hand and looking his nose.

He giggles quietly and a light blush dusted his cheeks. We leave the shop and start walking through the village.

"Can I put my bear into your bag Ponyboy? I don't want to ruin it already," he says.

I nod and he hands it to me and I put it into my bag carefully. Zipping up my bag, I sling it back over my shoulder and continue to walk.

I feel something soft touch my hand and I look down seeing Johnny lacing his fingers with mine. He sighs quietly and continues to walk closely by my side.

I start swinging my hand back and forth slowly, his hand going with mine. Looking over at him, he has a goofy grin on and looks over at me.

"I-i. . . I love y-you Ponyboy," he says softly.

"I love you too Johnny," I say with my face heating up slightly.

We've never said "I love you" to one another before so it shocked me when he said it. Especially with the conditions we're in right now.

He could have packed up and left but he didn't. He could have pretended to hate me but he didn't.

He stuck around with me and that means so much to me. He means so much to me and I would​ never let anyone take him from me.

We finally left the village and walked along a dirt road, the sun still high up in the sky. Johnny panted next to me and I looked at him worriedly.

"Are you okay Johnny," I ask him.

"Y-yeah. My feet hurt is all," he replies in between his breaths.

I stop walking and take the bag off of my shoulders. He looks at me funny and stops as well, sweat beading his forehead.

"Come here," I say making grabby hands.

He nervously walks over to stand in front of me. I slip the bag onto his shoulders and smile lightly.

"Alright. . . Now I need you to get behind me," I say.

"What," he squeaks out.

"I'm going to let you on my back so you don't have to walk anymore," I said with a shrug.

"O-oh. . . Okay," he says moving to stand behind me.

"Jump up on my back and wrap your legs around my waist and put your arms around my neck," I stated.

I heard him sigh and he jumped up slightly, doing as I told him. His arms wrapped around my neck and I held his legs so he wouldn't fall off​ of my back.

"Better Johnny," I ask.

He rested his head onto my back and I felt him nod slightly. I started walking slowly and looked ahead of me.

"Johnny," I ask.

He didn't respond to me though, it turns out he fell asleep.