Ti Amo da Lontano // Johnnyboy

Chapter Thirty Seven // Hundreds

One Month Later...

I walked into the DX, feeling the tears well in my eyes. Misery was taking over, manifesting my emotions. Every time my foot hit the ground, I felt my heart hatred for the world continue to grow. 

I managed to force myself to get to the counter, and sit down on the blue chair that was behind it. I immediately buried my face in my hands, unable to contain myself. 

The tears started to run down my cheeks, and I started to lightly whimper. 

I suddenly felt someone's hands on my shoulders from behind me. I barely moved, not wanting to face who it was. 

Of course, who ever it was, made me face them.

I looked them in the eyes. 

It was Steve and Soda, and their faces showed deep concern.

"What's going on, Ponyboy?" asked Steve. His voice was soft and gentle. I looked at his deep blue eyes, which looked mildly dull. 

He had barely talked to me since I had caught him and Dally making out on my couch. We weren't sure what to say to each other, or what to do. 

Dally wasn't around as much, either. Every time he was around Steve, he'd go out of his way to ignore him. I hadn't seen him speak to him in a month, just stare at him. 

I almost felt like I was responsible for ruining a budding relationship. 

I felt like they couldn't handle whatever feelings they had for each other, and they certainly couldn't deal with being gay in public, either. 

"Ponyboy? Ponyboy?" Soda chimed in, taking me out of my thoughts again. I blinked a few times. 

"What's wrong Pony? Why are you sobbing?" questioned Steve. I touched my cheeks, and suddenly realized that they were wet. 

"I realized that even though I've been working, I- I won't be a- able to go to Italy for Johnny! I'm a c- couple hundred short, and the flight is in t- three days!" I stuttered. Steve and Soda gave each other a look.

"Hey, buddy boy, it's gonna be okay! I'm sure you'll figure something out!" assumed Soda. Steve nodded slowly.

"I'm sure it'll all be fine," Soda started. "Remember, you and Steve will have a good time in Italy, and then you'll bring Johnny back."

I suddenly remembered something with Soda's statement. 

Steve was coming to Italy with me, since he was Italian. Not only did he need to come with me to translate everything, but he also wanted to go back to where he came from for a while. 

I felt like it was heartwarming, knowing that Steve would travel hundreds of miles with me. 

I sighed, the depression sinking in. 

"I'm gonna go see Cherry. Maybe I'll feel better," I mumbled. Steve and Soda nodded, acknowledging my existence. 

I walked out of the DX, on my way to Cherry's house.

-

I walked into Cherry's room quietly, when I was suddenly astonished with what I found. 

Cherry and Marcia were connected at the lips, softly kissing. 

Cherry's hands were holding Marcia's face, while Marcia's hands were on Cherry's waist. 

Their school girl skirts were ruffled slightly, and their shoes were kicked off, scattered around the room. 

I suddenly came to my senses. 

"Oh!" I exclaimed, a bit loudly. 

Cherry and Marcia quickly pulled away from each other, their hands going to their own sides. their cheeks were flushed a light pink shade. 

"Oh, hi Ponyboy," said Marcia, a bit flustered. She pulled her skirt down a bit, covering her thighs back up.

I gave her a small smile. 

"I can come back later if you're busy.." I started, trailing off. I felt my cheeks go hot from what I had just witnessed. 

Teenage lesbians, I thought to myself. 

"Oh, no! It's alright," Cherry replied softly. "Why don't you come sit down on the bed?"

I did as Cherry asked, walking towards the bed. I sat at the very end, careful not to touch either of them out of fear.

"What's going on?" I asked, wanting to know what was happening. Marcia and Cherry glanced at each other, before bursting into a fit of giggles. 

They suddenly grabbed each other's hands, interlocking them. 

"We're dating!" they both exclaimed at the same time, before blushing hard. They were both smiling hard, their eyes crinkling in the corners. 

"That's great, guys," I reassured. I felt myself began to sweat.

"Yeah, well, you're great advice got us together!" started Cherry. "You and Johnny gave me courage to ask Marcia to be my girlfriend."

When Cherry mentioned Johnny, I instantly began to cry again. 

"Oh! Oh my gosh! Are you alright?" questioned Marcia, rushing to my side. She put her small arms around me, making my head lay on her chest. 

"I just can't do it!" I sobbed. Cherry came by me, too. 

"What can't you do?" whispered Cherry in my ear. I caught a whiff of her strawberry shampoo.

It's ironic that her name is Cherry when she smells like strawberries, I thought to myself, foolishly. 

I was brought back to reality when I heard the girls calling my name. 

"I can't go to Italy!" I started, painfully. "I'm a few hundred dollars short, and I won't be able to get the money by next week!"

Both Cherry and Marcia gasped. 

"Oh, Ponyboy! I'm so sorry," apologized Marcia. 

I felt myself begin to shake. I couldn't seem to stop the stress from bothering me. I felt my hands start to sweat, too. 

Cherry suddenly got up, and walked to her desk. 

"Cherry, baby, what are you doing?" asked Marcia. There was only silence in the air. 

Cherry started rummaging through her stuff, before she picked something up. I wasn't sure what it was, but she walked towards me again. 

Cherry stuck out her hand.

A wad up roll of hundreds were in her hand. 

"These are for you, Ponyboy."