Setting: Tulsa, 1965. Night. Late Fall

It was a late fall evening in Tulsa. The only sound that could be heard was the slight wind and the crunch of leaves beneath Johnny's feet as he walked through the empty field. Walking slightly ahead of Johnny were Dally and Ponyboy.

Dally had a cigarette between his fingers, taking long drags, occasionally muttering something under his breath. About a fight with tim, an encounter with soms Socs, maybe. It was always something with Dal.

Ponyboy Curtis was walking next to Dally, rubbing his arms and shivering slightly. He forgot his jacket again. He always did.

Dally took a drag from his cigarette and then looked over at Pony, noticing his shivering.

"Jesus, Pony. Y'know, one of these days you're gonna get hypothermia and I'm gonna be the one to explain to your brother that you froze to death," Dally scolded, which earned an annoyed eyeroll from Pony.

"You could just give me your jacket, y'know," Pony muttered.

Dally laughed in that obnoxious way that he always did, before saying, "Oh, you're funny, kid. No way in hell."

They walked a few more steps before Johnny heard something behind him. Faint rustling that definitely wasn't trees. Footsteps. He froze.

Dally walked a few more steps before noticing that Johnny wasn't following behind anymore. He turned around and looked at Johnny, "Hey, Johnny, what's wrong, man?"

Johnny swallowed nervously, biting his nails as his dark eyes anxiously darted around, "I hear footsteps, Dal. I ain't going crazy, I swear."

Dally rolled his eyes, looking around at the field. Nothing was there, "There's nothing there kid. I swear, ever since you were jumped by those Socs you've been shaking like a leaf at every little sound. It's nothing, Johnnycakes. It's just the wind. No Soc would be dumb enough to he out this kate without asking to be jumped.

Eventually, they all kept walking.

After a few minutes, Johnny heard the footsteps grow closer, and then—, "Johnny," a soft voice whispered behind him.

Johnny stopped in his tracks, whole body tensing up. But then, the voice spoke again.

"Babe," the voice said, softer this time. Familiar. Johnny turned his head. The person behind him wasn't somebody trying to jump him. It was his girlfriend. "Hey, sweetheart," Johnny smiles faintly, grabbing your hand and lacing your fingers together.

At this point, both Dally and Pony had turned around and noticed this. "Sweetheart?" Dally asked in a teasing tone, "does our little puppy have a girlfriend?"

Johnny's dark cheeks flushed, "Shut up, Dal. It ain't a big deal. Just my girlfriend."

You and Johnny had been dating for a few months now. But Johnny just hadn't said anything because he knew how his friends got. Especially Two-bit and Dally.

"Y'know, she's real cute, John. You're lucky, ain't ya?"

Johnny rolled his eyes, "Quit it, Dal." He warned.

After a few minutes, You and Johnny left Dally and Pony and started walking together, towards his place, even though his folks were always fighting and you probably wouldn't end up going there.

"You scared me half to death back there, you know," Johnny started quietly, his voice soft with affection, "What're you doing out so late?" He asked.