Johnny's Point of View

His smile, his laugh, his eyes, his love for movies and books, the way he shows me things I never would have been able to enjoy without him. These are just some reason why I love Ponyboy Curtis. I know I'm a boy and he's a boy but I don't care. People can laugh and insult me all they want, because I'm finally happy with who I am. Right now I'm just an 19 year old kid with a 17 year old boyfriend, but my whole life I've been hurt and kicked around and to be completely honest I considered myself to be worthless. That all changed about two years ago when I had almost been killed in a fire, but that's a whole other story. Basically after that whole incident , I realized that life really was worth living. I still remember Ponyboy crying and hugging me when the doctors said they had found a way to fix my back. He had told me that night he felt the same way I did about him, he loved me. If Pony-fricken-Curtis can not only except me but love me, than I was worth something. Once I realized that, everything got so much better. It sounds cheesy as hell but the sun got brighter, I laughed a little louder, I started opening up, yeah things at home are still bad but once I've made enough money I'm going to buy my own place and be completely free. Because of Ponyboy. Glory I love him so much.

Today is me and his three year anniversary and I realized that he's always the one to do things for me and I never do anything, I mean I've payed when we've gone to movies together stuff like that. But I've never taken him on one of those big fancy events you see in movies and stuff. So I decided that tonight I'd surprise him, pretend to forget that it's our anniversary but then all of a sudden blow his mind. I don't know if he'll like it or not but I hope so. He deserves the night of his life after all he's done for me.

I walk up to the Curtis house at around 6 and was greeted at the door by Darry, Pony's oldest brother.

"Hello Johnny!" he said, "I know you're looking for Ponyboy but I need to talk to you if that's okay." I nodded nervously.

He lead me into the kitchen and stared straight at me, towering over me with his big muscles and cold tough eyes.

"Look, I know you're a good kid Johnny, but I can't have another one of my baby brothers hearts broken again you hear?" I shuttered, I knew he was talking about what Sandy did to Sodapop.

"If you ever, and I mean ever, hurt Ponyboy in anyway, I swear to god I will kill you. He's going places Johnny, he's smart." he said bitterly

"I know, he's going to have a great life Darry." I tried to reassure him cause he was starting to scare me.

He smiled, "Yeah he's going to be so happy, I just know it." he drifted off a bit.

"But that's why you should know that you can't do anything to hold him back, nor can you ever break his heart or lay a finger on him unless it's affectionate alright? I don't want to scare you too bad but I'm watching you kid." he put a hand on my shoulder, I knew he wasn't trying to scare me and he was just protective. But by god when your boyfriend's older brother is Darrel Curtis, you're gunna be a bit scared.

I hear someone come in behind me and before I know it Ponyboy is on my back hugging me and kissing my cheek.

"Well it's nice to see you too." I laugh turning my head around and kissing his lips.

"Oh come on guys keep it PG." I look over and see Sodapop had come in the room. Pony gets off my back and muttered a quick sorry. I knew he wasn't though.

"Love to chat but we gotta go." I said winking at Soda and Darry.

"Alright well have fun you two. Back by 2 alright Ponyboy?" Darry said.

"Two in the morning? Thanks Darry!" Ponyboy says and he grabs a hold of my hand leading me out the front door.

"So what'd ya got planned for tonight?" Pony asks me as we walk down the sidewalk, he had been trying to hold my hand and I wanted to but I needed to pull this off.

"I was thinkin' we could just got see a movie and lay under the stars in the lot." I said trying to sound uninterested.

"Oh that sounds good, just laid back." he drifted off sadly, I felt my heart sink.

"Oh uh, I got you this-" he pulled out a box from his pocket, "- happy three years." he said smiling. This was going to be hard.

"Oh yeah! it's our anniversary isn't it! Wow thanks Pony." I opened the little box  and inside was a leather bound bracelet.

"I love it." I said putting it on then looking at him, his head was sunk down and his eyes were glassy. SHIT!

I grabbed his hand and started running, I cannot stand him miserable any longer for gods sake.

Ponyboy's Point of View

I can't believe it... Johnny forgot our anniversary. What if he doesn't love me anymore? He just said he loves the bracelet but it sounded sarcastic. What if he breaks up with me tonight? I look down at my feet and my eyes start clouding  up.

All of a sudden Johnny grabs a hold of my hand and he starts running, "Come on!" he yells. I just ran along, I had no idea where he was going but if he was running I probably should too.

He stops in front of a diner, my favorite one actually.

"What are you doing? I thought we were going to the Nightly Double."

"Okay listen, that was all an act. Of course I didn't forget our anniversary Ponyboy! I planned something kinda big, but I wanted to be a surprise. I'm really sorry." He's smiling vigorously, he leans forward and kisses my cheek.

Before I have time to ask any questions we're heading in the front door. All the tables are empty except one with yellow balloons and gold looking streamers all around it. Johnny walks towards it. No way!

I follow him quickly and sit down, a big idiot smile on my face. "Did you do this?" I ask looking into his dark eyes.

"Maybe." he smirked and grabbed my hand under the table.

"You're the best boyfriend ever." I laughed at my cheesy line and blushed. I don't think I've ever been so happy.

"So what'll have?" the waitress asked. We both ordered burgers and drank Coke. By the end of dinner I tried to pay the bill since I knew Johnny needed it, but he pushed me a side and payed anyway. Johnny said there was three stops on this night and we had started to head for number two. I don't know why but I just couldn't stop smiling. All through dinner Johnny had been talking and laughing and joking around, we hardly ever see that side of him but God do I love it.

We were skipping, literally skipping, down the street holding hands.

"We're nuts!" he laughed,

"That's okay it's fun!" I exclaim. I hadn't realized it but one of my shoes was untied and I tripped and fell straight on my face. Smooth.

Johnny quickly rushed over and shook me.

"Oh glory Ponyboy are you okay? Shit I'm sorry did I trip you?" I just laugh a little dusting myself off.

"No no I'm just an idiot." I stood back up and he did too.

"You aren't." he said under his breathe. "Come on, we're here actually." I looked to my right where he was pointing and saw a bench. but not any bench, this was the same one we had our very first kiss on. I sat down and he flopped beside me.

"I got you something." he said shyly pulling a thin rectangle shaped gift from behind his back.

"Oh Johnny you already payed for dinner!" I said grabbing the preset anyways.

Johnny simply shrugged and I started unwrapping. Inside was a beautiful twelve by six inch spiral notebook. the cover was gold.

"Oh Johnny... it's beautiful." I said looking up at him.

"That other one you carry around is getting really worn out, I thought I could get you a new one." he smiled shyly.

I grabbed his tanned face and pulled him into a passionate kiss, rested my arms on his shoulders. He kissing me back while grabbing my waist pulling me towards him, the feeling of the cool fall breeze and the warm touch of Johnny was pure bliss. This was just perfect.

Johnny pulled away and stood up. "Come on we got one more stop."

We arrived a little later at the lot, I thought we would just sit there under the stars like usual but I looked around and saw that Johnny had filled the spot we usually lie on with blankets and pillows, even candles.

"Johnny you shouldn't have gone though all this trouble just for me..." I said slowly sitting down on a blanket.

"Of course I did. Ponyboy Curtis you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Ever since I met you I felt in a way ... we were connected. all the times we spent together without having to say a word but understand each other's feelings. You have always been there for me. When I killed Bob, you weren't mad or anything, you ran away with me and comforted me when I was in pain. When I was in the hospital you came and visited everyday, distracting me from the pain and making me smile even when I was sure I was going to die. All those times you stood up for me and brought me into your home when I had no where to stay, lending me clothes when it was cold. Ponyboy Curtis you are the most kind hearted and beautiful person I've ever met. I am in love with you. I am hopelessly head over heals, in love with you." When Johnny finished I was left wide eyed. I've never heard him say so much in my life, and all that was about me? I felt the tears rush to my eyes.

"Johnny Cade goddamnit I am in love with you too." I quickly closed the gap between us and kissed him with everything I had. Running my hands through his hair and swirling his tongue with mine. When I pulled away he was panting a bit, he looked so gorgeous with the light of the moon and candles. His brown eyes were shining brighter than the sun and in that moment nothing else mattered.

I want to spend the rest of my life looking into those eyes. I thought to myself when Johnny and I crawled into my bed. He was staying over tonight and Soda was sleeping on the couch instead.

"Johnny this was the best day of my life. Thank you." I whispered kissing him one last time. "I love you Johnnycake."

"I love you too baby."