btw, THIS WILL NOT END LIKE THE MOVIE. 

I wanted to say that because there will be a scene from the movie later on in the chapter. Creds to queen S.E. Hinton.

//

❝maybe some people aren't meant to be saved.❞

"NAOMI? WEIRD SEEING you here. I haven't seen you in like a week." Johnny spoke, walking up to me. 

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What are you doing out here walking by yourself? Dal would kill you if he found out."

Johnny chuckled. "I was actually trying to look for Dally. I was going to ask him if he wanted to come to the Nightly Double tonight with me and Pony. You can come too if you want."

I smiled at his offer. Johnny was the sweetest thing and needed to be protected no matter what. I could tell Dally cared about him, and I could tell Johnny practically kissed the ground Dally walked on. 

"I'll think about it." I replied, walking with him towards Buck's.

Johnny cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "How you holdin' up?"

I glanced down at the ground and flashed him a fake smile. "I'm always alright, Johnny. I will be. I'm used to it."

"You know, you shouldn't be living by yourself, Naomi. You could live at the Curtis's. They probably wouldn't mind at all." Johnny offered, making me laugh. 

"As much as I would appreciate that, the Curtis household is not a hotel. They're struggling enough, and I'm not going to intrude. I'll find somewhere to live. I can't keep up with bills because I don't have a job." I chuckled, upset that I had to leave the house and bedroom I lived in my whole life. 

Dally and I had our first kiss in that bedroom. 

Johnny's eyes lit up. "I have an idea! If you wouldn't mind roommates that is." 

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. "What's your plan?"

//

"DALLY, C'MON, THINK about it! It would be the best thing ever! I'd get to live in a house where I don't get abused to death, and you'd actually get to sleep in a house." Johnny was trying to persuade Dally to move in with me. 

Dally didn't like the idea at all. 

He shook his head. "Nah, Buck would miss me too much." 

"I probably would, but get the hell outta here, Dally. Move in with Naomi." Buck's voice came from the doorway, making me smile. 

Dallas rolled his eyes, snatching a bag from the corner of the wall. "Fine. Let me get my stuff." 

Johnny looked so happy, I couldn't help but smile for him. He wouldn't be hurt by his parents anymore, Dally would be able to sleep in an actual house, and I got to keep the house that held tons of memories. 

Dally and I haven't spoke about what happened at Buck's and we prefer to keep it a secret. I didn't want to bring up me crying like a crybaby, and Dally didn't want to bring up the fact that he was being nice for once. 

Buck didn't let us live it down though. 

We arrived at my house and I went to my bedroom to find clothes to wear for the Nightly Double tonight. I came out wearing jeans and a t-shirt with my jacket over me, my hood on top of my head. 

Dally chuckled and spoke in a sarcastic tone. "You sure got dressed up for tonight."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. Let's go." 

Pony was already with us. He must've came over while I was getting dressed. We started walking towards the Nightly Double, Dally purposely tripping people on the way there, making me laugh. I started doing the same thing until Johnny told me to stop.

I had a soft spot for Johnny, just like I have a soft spot for Maya. I'll listen to them when they really need me to. 

Pony groaned. "Of course the Soc side is under construction. Now, there's gonna be Soc's in our side."

Dally smirked. "That makes it even better, Pony."

We took our seats behind two of the preppiest Soc's in town. Cherry and Marcia. I was sitting beside Dally and Ponyboy and Johnny sat beside me. Dally glanced at me and smirked, making me furrow my eyebrows. 

"Cute redhead, huh?" He asked me, pointing towards Cherry. 

I rolled my eyes. "No."

He got up beside her ear. "Are you a real redhead?"

Marcia started chuckling and Cherry didn't answer him. Dally sat back in his chair and then turned towards me. "Are you real?"

I scoffed. "No, Dal, I thought I was a piece of paper."

Pony started laughing beside me and even Cherry and Marcia started chuckling. Dally ignored me and put his feet up on the back of the chair, making him fall over. I immediately started busting out laughing, along with Pony and Johnny. 

Dally sat up, a small smirk on his face. "I'm winning now, Naomi. Four to three."

Pony looked confused and I told him about the laughing competition me and Dal have. Dally got right back next to Cherry's ear. "How can I find out if this is your real red hair?" 

"If this is the same red hair you have on these," He looked down and then touched Cherry's eyebrows, "these eyebrows, too?"

She scoffed, and I could feel her rolling her eyes from in front of me. I immediately started feeling angry and upset. "Dally, she has a boyfriend, so get the hell off of her."

He turned back towards me, anger washed over his face. "Last time I recall, you don't defend Soc's." 

"And last time I recall, you hate Soc's, not flirt with them." I sassed, crossing my arms. 

"Who's gonna make me? That boyfriend of yours... Parker?" A hint of amusement flashed on his face, making me clench my fists in a ball. 

"Cut it out, Dal." Johnny spoke from behind us. 

Dally handed me a coke. "Here, maybe this'll cool you off."

I poured the coke in his face. "Maybe this'll cool you off! Stop being such a mean bastard all the time, will ya?" I snapped, venom laced in my voice. 

Dally wiped the coke off his face, and he got up in my ear. "You shouldn't have done that." He growled. 

He stood up and stormed out of the Nightly Double. "You okay, Naomi?" Johnny and Pony asked. 

I waved my hand, dismissing it. "I'll be fine."

Cherry and Marcia turned around, smiling at me. "You sure have some guts, talking to Dally like that." 

I scoffed. "Yeah, and he has some guts talking to me like that. Once I see him, it won't be pretty." 

They started laughing and I sighed. "I better get you home, Pony. Let's go." 

They stood up with me, waving to Cherry and Marcia. We went up the Curtis's porch and Johnny and I walked in with Ponyboy. 

"What's up, Naomi?" Soda questioned, doing an arm wrestling contest with Steve. 

I chuckled and ruffled Pony's hair. "Just taking this one back where he belongs." 

"Thank you, Naomi. I appreciate it." Darry smiled. 

I shook my head. "Don't thank me." I turned towards Johnny. "Well, let's go. The darker it gets, the more dangerous it is."

//

"WHAT IF SOC'S come up to us, Naomi?" Johnny asked, his voice full of fear. 

I wrapped my arm around him, pulling him close to me. "We'll be fine, Johnny. If anyone comes near us, you run, got it?" 

"I don't want to leave you behind though." Johnny replied. 

"I can take care of myself. You run. Okay?" 

He nodded, even though I could tell he wouldn't want to leave me in that situation. We were walking in silence until I saw headlights from behind us. I turned to Johnny. "Run. Now."

He hesitated, but ran in the direction of my house. I heard a car door slam behind me and I pulled out my switchblade, turning around towards them. It was just Randy, and surprisingly, Bob wasn't with him this time. 

"What are you doing out here, Naomi?" He slurred, making me laugh. 

"Slicing your neck is what I'm going to do if you don't get back in your car and leave." I snapped, pulling my switchblade out in front of me. 

"You think I'm scared of you?" He questioned. He pulled out a black object, making my eyes go wide. A gun. 

He put it up to my head. "Randy, what are you doing?" I whispered. 

No matter how many fights the Greasers and Soc's get in, ninety-nine percent of the time, no guns are involved. 

"What? Are you scared for once in your life?" He chuckled, put his finger on the trigger. 

I closed my eyes shut and felt the gun being lifted off of my forehead. I opened them to find Parker aiming the gun towards Randy. 

Randy ran off in his car and Parker turned towards me. "You okay, Nomi?"

I nodded, giving him a small smile. "Thank you, Parker."

He shook his head, walking beside me and putting an arm around me. "Don't thank me."

We arrived at my house and Dally and Johnny were sitting on the porch. "Oh, Naomi, thank goodness you're okay!" Johnny shouted, running towards me. 

I laughed as he pulled me into a hug. "I would've gotten shot if it wasn't for Parker." 

Johnny pulled away and smirked. "So, you're Parker?" He turned towards Dally and then back towards Parker. 

Dally rolled his eyes and went back in the house, slamming the door. What the hell is wrong with him?