Riley's POV

I woke up and observed the room, looking for Johnny. He wasn't there. Was it even real? Did I just have a very intense dream?

I slumped out of bed and dragged myself to the kitchen.

"Morning sleepy." Ponyboy smirked. "Darry made some pancakes."

"Where is Superman?" I asked, getting myself a plate of the pancakes.

"Work."

"I had the strangest dream." I chuckled while I brought my food to the table to chow down. "I was in my room and-" suddenly, Johnny appeared, in my eyesight, waving at me as he sat on Darry's recliner. My jaw dropped and I lost my train of thought.

It was real?!

"Riley? Hello? Earth to Riley." Ponyboy snapped his fingers in front of my face.

"Oh," I shook my head. "Sorry."

"What was your dream?"

"That, I, uh, met Elvis." I lied as I shoved the pancakes down my throat.

"Wow." Ponyboy laughed. "Real weird."

"Yeah." I said, chugging down Ponyboys glass of milk.

"Hey!" He shouted and punched my arm.

"Thirsty." I said, never stop staring at Johnny.

"What are you looking at?" He asked, trying to follow my gaze.

"I don't really know." I said. "What do you see?"

"Did you get into Two Bits brownies?" Ponyboy asked.

"N-no, I didn't." I stammered.

"Well, I see an empty living room and my best friend freaking me out."

"Woah, I thought I was his best friend?!" Johnny shouted. He was a bit more vocal than I thought. But maybe he gained a few boosts of confidence since the gang saw him last.

"Hush!" I said out of instinct.

"Did you just shush me?" Ponyboy asked.

"No, not you." I said. I rubbed my temples and lost my appetite.

"Who were you talking to?" He asked.

"Nothing, no one." I blurted. I stood up and ran to my bedroom and shut the door.

I threw myself on the bed and went through everything. Ghosts aren't real, I must just be imagining it, since Ponyboy can't see him. I must be going crazy, maybe Darry can check me into the loony bin before I rip my hair out.

"Wow, that was rough." I heard Johnny say. I looked up and saw him siting in the chair.

"Do you want something from me?" I asked.
"Because I don't have much."

"No, no." He said sweetly. "I'm real sorry if I scared you. I just got real excited."

I felt sorry for him, if he was real.

"I'm still convinced that you are just a figment of my imagination." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "But, I can help you figure out whatever you want to figure out."

"I just want to figure out what my unfinished business is, and maybe find Dally, if he's still here."

"I still think I'm imagining you."

"How can I prove it?"

"I'm not sure."

"Hold on, I hear someone coming."

"What?" I asked as soon as the door swung open. I darted my eyes to the door and saw Pony standing there was a concerned look on his face.

"Who ya talking to?" He asked.

I looked over at the chair and it was empty once again.

"What do you want, Pony?" I asked.

"It's nearly lunch time. Want to walk to the Dairy Queen?" He asked. Slowly, pieces of his hair were standing straight up, as if he were touching static electricity. I watched intently as the pieces clumped together at the top.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing." I giggled and shook my head.

Johnny showed himself for a split second standing behind Pony, lifting pieces of his hair up and giggling, before disappearing again.

"Fix your hair."

Ponyboy ran his fingers a few times through his hair until it was back to normal.

"Thanks." He said.

"I'd love to get some lunch." I said.

"Cool. We'll leave at noon." He said before leaving and closing the door.

Johnny reappeared sitting right next to me on the bed.

"Is that a date?" He asked.

"No, we are close friends." I said.

"Okay, good."

"Why is that good?" I chuckled.

"No reason." He said sheepishly.

"Just tell me, Johnnycake." I rolled my eyes.

"You calling me that too?"

"Oh, sorry." I said. "The boys call you that so much, it's caught on."

"No problem." He chuckled. "It's okay with me."

"By the way, I believe you now." I said. "I'm not sure why, but I do."

"Oh good." He laughed.

"Now, you answer me."

"I just, don't see you guys together." He shrugged. "That's all."

"Ha, okay." I smiled. Since I didn't know him well, I didn't want to push him too far. Maybe later.

The phone started ringing which made us both jump.

"I'll get it!" I heard Pony yell throughout the house.

"Wonder who it is." Johnny said

"Aren't you a ghost? Can't you like teleport and shit?" I laughed.

"You clearly have never been a ghost, and watch too many movies." He chuckled and rubbed his little nose. "I can go through stuff and turn invisible if I want. I can't teleport."

"Shucks." I chuckled.

Pony came busting through my door.
"It's for you." He said.

"Oh." I shrugged and walked out to the living room. Johnny followed, walking right next to Ponyboy. I turned to face the two boys with the receiver up to my ear. Johnny looked longingly at Ponyboy, and Pony stared at me.

"Hello? It's Riley." I said into the phone.

"Riles? It's Robbie."

"Robbie?" A smile immediately painted on my face.

"Mom and Dad told me that you moved out."

"Sorta." I shrugged. "I'm a lot safer now, so don't worry about me."

He chuckled, "I won't. You can hold your own."

"Thanks." I blushed.

"I just wanted you to know, that I got drafted into the war. Vietnam. I'm listing this number as my family number, because I know that mom and dad won't give a shit."

I felt my face turn white. "What?"

"I'm sorry for telling you too late." I heard his voice break. "I'm leaving any minute now. I just wanted you to know that I love you, and I'll be home soon. Okay?"

"Okay." I sniffed. "I love you too."

"See you soon, Riles."

"See you s-soon, Robbie." I stuttered back and slammed the phone down before bursting into tears.

"What's wrong?" Pony and Johnny said at the same time.

I wiped a tear from my eye before saying, "my brother is going to war."

"Oh, god, Riley, I'm so sorry." Ponyboy wrapped me in a giant hug. Even Johnny tried.

My arm became covered in goosebumps.

"I'm sorry." Johnny apologized.

I mouthed, "it's okay", so Ponyboy wouldn't hear me.

"Do you want to go on a walk to clear your mind?" Ponyboy asked, slinging his arm around my shoulders.

"That would be good." I sniffed and wiped my nose.

"Come on, let's go." Ponyboy rubbed my arm and so shoved my converse on my feet and hid blue sweatshirt so I wouldn't get cold. He grabbed his grey one, and we were out the door.