1. Chapter 1 (2/2)

"there was a bomb johnny," i said, turning a corner.

"where's pony? is he okay?" johnny asked, the worry evident in his voice.

"he's outside. he's fine, shaken up but fine," i said, turning another corner.

"dally, i'm scared," johnny said.

"it's okay johnny, it's okay to be scared," i soothed turning one last corner and seeing johnny, sitting in a corner were the lockers met the wall."johnny!" i called, running the rest of the way to him.

"dally!" johnny cried out, wrapping his arms around my neck as i reached him. he started crying softly.

"it's okay johnny. let's get you out of here. can you walk?" i asked, wipping the tears from his face.

"i...i think so," johnny said, pushing himself up off the ground.

i gave johnny a quick once-over and decided that he wasn't too badly hurt. "let's get out of here. you'll feel better when we get you out in the sun," i said, guiding johnny around the maze of rubble that had once been the high school.

"johnny! dally! are you guys okay?" soda asked, decending on us as soon as we left the building.

"soda, soda, calm down. we're fine," i said, gently pushing soda back a bit. "are the others here?"

"all of us but austin and two-bit. darry's real worried," soda said, leading us over to where the others were waiting. pony was sitting in steve's lap, resting his head on steve's chest, looking terrefied. darry was pacing back and forth in front of them, his eyes constantly flickering towards the school.

i sat down next to steve, leaning against the half wall behind us, johnny laying on the ground next to me, resting his head on my lap.

"you okay johnnycakes?" i asked him, running a hand through his hair.

"dally, i can't see."