Chapter Text
Johnny Cade
May 1963 / Age: 14
The smell of floral goes through my nose, but that immediately is replaced by the strong stench of dead cigarettes and drenching alcohol.
There's nothing I can expect, for 14 years I've been handling that. Nothing new but that scent of floral was something, though there was not a single flower in sight.
“John, get up—your lazy ass is going to do something today besides sit on it and do nothing.” The tone of my old man's voice bounced on the wall to my ears, a great way to start a morning; even though I wished I didn't wake up in my bed. This room wasn't considered a safe place for me except for Curtis’ place or that lot. But really—anywhere is a new home unless you put the right faith into it, not great to sleep with a half blanket or newspapers though.
My room is still surrounded by darkness but I can't bother to look at the clock, I can only rely on the window in my room; lucky I even have a room—used to share one with my parents and hear them argue, I hated when one of them would leave and the other stayed back and laid with me in bed and tried to comfort me by rubbing my back while I “slept” will haunt me because nothing replaced that feeling but the gang's arms around my shoulders. I drag my legs off my bed and out of the room that isolated me, I still end up putting on some wrecked jeans and that signature jacket the gang gifted me, they all were in it to gift me something...The short hall didn't stop my glory for long when I met with my mom on the couch with cans of beer with a half-empty bottle of alcohol lying on the small table in front of her.
“Johnathan, you're up; finally—hurry up with you and your father getting out of this house, you both burn my eyes.” She uttered between her gritted teeth, I don't have time to acknowledge her since the moment I wanted to open my mouth my dad budged in. “You're even lucky you're living in my residence , you hag. If I wasn't making a budget off myself; you would lay around in the streets with those greased juveniles of his!” My dad argued back, it shock me to bits when I heard them fighting so I end up escaping that place when I could, which is now—they won't expect me to be here sooner or later. When I walk farther from the house their yelling echoes, being deaf would've helped me a lot...
—
I'm walking to the DX, it's still early morning and I'd think that Soda and Steve are there working by now, better hope yet is that the whole gang is there but I'd doubt that. There are some small groups of younglings out in the streets, playing football and running around or just messing around with their bikes. Wish I could do that for the gang but Ponyboy is awful too young to be roaming these streets with me—I mean I have no strength and I could barely swing a single punch, majority of me relies on Darry or Dallas to save me. Dally is tuff , not scary tuff; he's more so an “I would wreck you” or “I'll keep you safe in return for this” kinda tuff...When I tell you Dallas Winston could throw you at a wall, he could—and he would. Darry is more so a guidance guy, he makes sure everyone stays put and is in their place...
I see the DX not so far from me, but I don't see Soda or Steve though...Might as well keep walking around, I could find myself walking towards the lot if I'm lucky. “Aye! Johnny, where you going, man?” I hear a strong toned voice from afar, I turn my neck—It’s Dally! My smile beamed so fast along with my steps.
“Hey, Dal! Where's Soda? Or even Steve—how are you not roaming around at some party-” Dally cuts me off with his grin, before hugging me in his arm around my neck and slugging my hair.
“Chill out, Johnny. I'm just stopping by, it's a good morning isn't it, man?” Dally snickered before lighting a cigarette and blowing the extra smoke in my face. “Yea...are we doing stuff later?” I ask but Dally shakes his head, and I feel disappointment in my heart. “If you want, we can hit the movies later. How's that sound, aye?” I couldn't wait til’ later, but later was the only option to get away from that house.
“Isn't there anything else? We can take Pony and whoever else to that diner.” I snub and he hands me a new lighted cigarette. “Hmm, maybe. You got some cash?” I shake my head but still begin to search through my pocket. “Only cash on me is a nickel and some random ace card I found in my pocket...” Dally shoved my shoulder, can't expect a kid like me to be carrying money around freely. “I was joking kid, come on; let's walk around, we can even walk to Darry’s place too.”
The Curtis' place, the place I wished I could stay forever of how long I've been living. We take the first steps in silence, and that lasts until 3 minutes after. “Come on man, talk about something while I'm smoking this bud, it's too quiet even if you're soft-spoken,” Dally uttered between his puffs. “What's there to talk about Dal? I mean, there are tons of topics but there's nothing good about them...” I think about something for a while, what about a movie? I've seen one in the papers and I think it's casting tonight. “Have you seen the movie The Apartment? I wanted to try to see that tonight because I'm sure it's casting, or I hope...” Dally tapped his cigarette.
“I don't think so man, what's it about?” He questioned. “It's about some guy having an apartment in the Upper west and has numerous affairs in it...I guess the guy's boss’ wife cheats on him with the guy whose affairs? I'm not sure, I don't remember what it said in the paper.” I toss my cigarette and step on it. “Sounds like you, Dallas—!” I laugh and he scoffs. “Come on kid, just go inside” I was having so much fun in such a short time I didn't realize we made it to the house...
Dally forces the gate open and I see Pony’s face through the peep of the curtain, I could tell he was happy to see us because seconds later I barely took a step into their yard and he jumped into my arms. “Hi, Johnny!” Ponyboy shouted, Pony was 12, two years younger than me, but he was growing too fast...Life does move pretty fast. “Hey Pony! How are ya’ early bird?” Pony starts rambling about how Soda made them chocolate cake this morning and how Darry nearly choked on his piece. I would've cherished a moment with a family member, a sibling would've been fine; specifically, a brother if I couldn't carry the ‘Cade’ name. Since I can't find a girl who would like to be picked up by a wussy boy like me...We step into the foyer and the entire gang is there, couldn't have felt warm and at home since now.
“Hey Johnny, hey Dallas. What's bringing you here?” Soda asked. He then handed me a plate with a thick piece of cake on it but I ended up handing it to Dally when he wasn't looking. “This kid was snooping the streets, thought we stop by and take Pony to that diner.” Dally munched on the cake and I sat down beside the couch near Soda. I gazed at the room, the walls were tinted yellow but still had some marks on them, everything was neatly arranged and the TV was blasting the local cartoons I'd never gotten to each yet.
“Say Johnny, you wanna go to the diner? Heard they have the specials out today, you guys should go! I and Darry have work soon anyway.” Darry rebuffed Soda as he walked into the living room. “When did your vocabulary get so much better than Ponys?”
They share a laugh before they're halfway out the doorway. “Keep Pony and Johnny safe, you hear, Dal?” Dally nodded with an attitude and waited til the two guys left. “You ready to cause a mess, man?” He had a devious grin on his face and Pony nodded, I had go agree anyway since there was no one else...