Disclaimer: Man, I wished I owned 'The Outsiders'. Especially Johnny because Ralph Macchio's cute and he was perfect for the part (: But no...they belong to THE S.E HINTON ! She's one heck of a genius...However, I do own the characters you've never heard about in the book or the movie.

Nightmares & Reality

Chapter 1: Another Nightmare, Pony?

I woke up and screamed bloody murder. Another nightmare about Johnny and Dally. Another night with Soda waking up in the bed beside me screaming just as loud, "Pony, are you ok!" Another two hours and I'd have to get up for school. Another day at school when I'm tired from lack of sleep. Another day not going to track practice, but going home instead and falling asleep.

Yeah, you got it. This is my nightly/daily routine. It has been ever since the night of Dally and Johnny's funeral. They had one together because number one: that was the way we figured they wanted it and number two: it was cheaper that way, anyways.

I got up for school and I felt like I only got two more minutes rather than hours of sleep after my nightmare. This time it was about Johnny.

We were in the old church in Windrixville. Johnny went in to save those little kids, just like he did with me. Except one thing was different. I wasn't inside the church, but in my dream I could see Johnny and the seen or so kids that needed saved. He was struggling and Dally was just laughing. I couldn't help poor Johnny. It was as if I was stuck to the car seat like glue. Then I saw the church come down and Johnny walked out with flames all over him. I wanted so bad to help him, but I couldn't. I was stuck and Dally was just laughing and laughing and he wouldn't stop. Soda says I was screaming "Johnny! Johnny! I'll help you! Johnny nooooo! Johnny I can't get up! Please don't die Johnny." Then I remember he collapsed and just burned. Not only was I screaming when I woke up… I was crying, too.

When you're a Greaser like me and the gang, it's not really expected out of you to cry much. To tell the truth, though, I'm a real crybaby. So is Soda. I must get it from him. To get something from Soda is a good thing. I especially wish I had his looks. Hell, if I looked half as good as Sodapop, I could be a damn movie star. All the girls go after Soda. He works at the local gas station, DX, and all the girls pretend something's wrong with their car. Especially the Soc girls. They're the ones who have the money for check-ups anyways. They also don't realize he's a greaser right away. He doesn't wear as much grease in his hair as, say, me and Darry do. But, he also works at a gas station, so you'd think it'd be kinda obvious. The girls don't care, though. They go after his looks.

"Ponyboy! This is the THIRD time I've told you! Get up for school!" Darry yelled. I must've been daydreaming. That happens to me a lot since I don't get much sleep anymore.

"I'm comin' Darry!" I yelled back. I got up out of my bed and walked to my closet to get some jeans and a shirt. That took me about two seconds on account of me only having two pairs of jeans and about 2 different kinds of shirts to choose from: plaid or solid. That day I chose plaid and I walked in the kitchen for my breakfast.

Darry's cake is famous within our gang. Two-Bit and Steve especially love it. Lucky for me, Soda already went off to work and the cake just came out of the oven. Darry doesn't eat any to 'Keep his six-pack fit and tight.' So I got first dibs.

"Hey, Ponyboy! You walkin' to school?" It was my good friend Preston. He usually walks to school with me if I'm out there early enough.

"Yeah, that's where I'm headed." I yelled. "Wanna walk with me? I need to talk to you about my nightmare."

"Who was it about this time?" He asked when I got nearer to him so I wouldn't be yelling my nightmares to the whole neighborhood.

"Johnny."

Preston looked at his watch. "Whoa! We're gonna be late! Can you sprint and talk at the same time?"

"I'm not 'Wonder Boy', Preston. I can't do ten things at once!" I chuckled back.

"Well, do the best ya can!"

"Alright."

We sprinted and talked to school as I told him about my dream. When we got to school, he said, "Whoa. That's a freaky dream."

"You're tellin' me." I panted back. "Man, that was a tough run. Missing all those track practices really threw me off. Normally, I'd be able to run that far, no problem."

"Hey, I just thought of something. Aren't you supposed to meet Cherry tomorrow night at the Nightly Double?"

"Oh, yeah! I completely forgot!"

I was told by Cherry the day before that I was to meet her at the Nightly Double Saturday night. She told me on the phone, of course, so as not to risk her reputation. Heaven forbid she would talk to me at school. The one thing I didn't get though is that a lot of people from school go to the Nightly Double. Socs and Greasers alike. I wonder why she never cares about talking to me there?

"Come on, Pony! We gotta get to class!" Preston said.

That day at school went pretty fast. Amazingly, I got through it without drifting off into space in the middle of class. Friday down, Saturday to go. I started a new job at Walker's Grocery about a month ago. Darry thought It would take my mid off of Dally and Johnny. I work Wednesdays after school until seven and Saturdays and Sundays from eight o'clock AM to 3 o'clock PM. I was supposed to meet Cherry at eight tomorrow night. I got paid tomorrow so I would be able to get a new, decent shirt to wear.

When I got home, Two-Bit was sitting on our couch and Darry was yelling at him.

"Two-Bit, why don't you get a job! Hell, Pony's got one before you do! You could work with him! Work at Walker's! There's an opening isn't there, Pony?"

"Yeah, Dar."

"Well, I don't want a job. As you can see, I'm doing just fine as it is!" Two-Bit yelled at Darry

"Well, at least if you get a job, you wouldn't leave me, Pony, and Soda a huge mess to clean up afterwards!" Darry hollered back.

"Well, I consider that my job, then. Leaving ya'll a big mess."

"Why don't your job be to clean up our house 4 days a week and then we'll pay you for it. Fifty cents an hour." I suggested sarcastically.

"Ha ha. You're so funny I forgot to laugh. You should really try stand up comedy, oh wait, you're too busy lying around on your ass all day!"

Two-Bit came up with great comebacks. So mean, that you could just punch him in the face, yet so funny that you can't help but laugh.

"Well, I'm three years younger than you and I have a job. If I can get one, you can get one. Besides, Two-Bit, you're really good at jokes and stuff…you can keep customers entertained! Wait! That's it! YOU should do stand-up comedy!"

"Yeah, and I'm supposed to find a place that hires comics WHERE? Besides, Pony I don't have the patience to make up new jo…"

"PONYBOY MICHAEL CURTIS! WHAT IS THIS! AN 'F' ON YOUR REPORT CARD! Pony, and English is your best subject. I'm afraid to see what you got in the rest of your classes. WHOA! You've got so many 'F's on your report card that you're failing the tenth grade!"