Chapter Text
CHAPTER ONE.
:Johnnys afterschool rest stop.
*Johnnys POV*
…I feel like somebody’s watching me..things are weird. I felt on edge hearing leafs crackle behind me and the breath of people trying not to laugh maybe..and it smelt of smoke and I doubt it was coming straight off of me.I’d just gotten out of school and Ponyboy had decided to stay to read some book he thought was tough in the library. I must be paranoid or whatever you call it but..still I feel the need to find a buddy of mine and better safe then sorry. I clutched my blade. -it wasn’t there- I gulped realizing it and my heart sunk. I’m doomed and I noticed my pace slow down and panicked spotting the DX without turning back because after all they couldn’t know I knew. I rushed into the DX to see Soda and Steve’s faces behind the counter seeming to be deep in a conversation about some obscure movie Steve had probably just seen before they turned to me as the doorbell jingled and they must had been able to read me real well because Soda instantly raised an eyebrow and Steve’s attention focused in onto him and he put a oil stained rag into his pocket “Hey Johnnycakes ya alright there?” His wide grin and comforting eyes reminding me to take a breath “I think somebody’s following me.” I said bluntly putting my hands in my jackets pockets looking down at the floor hearing Steve’s feet shuffle from behind the counter “I’ll take a look.” He said before exiting the DX and a silence filled the room quickly being interrupted by Soda
“Got a blade?” He asked and I nodded no “really? Ya want one?” He laughed and I nodded but I also knew that if a Soc found me with a blade I’d be toast immediately. But in that moment I didn’t care it felt necessary.“Here man.” I looked up and caught a switchblade Soda tossed me. It feel dense but it would surely do me good right? “Thanks man.” I say with gratitude “no problem. It’s a real tough one too.” I looked at it and gulped as the sun came through the DX doors and made its sharp blade glimmer. “You goin home today Johnny?” I met his eyes and put the blade in my pocket feeling the weight of it practically dragging me down but more metaphorically then really. “I guess.” I shrugged. “I’m sure Dar wouldn’t mind if ya came over tonight. After all the doors always open.” I hate freeloading over at the Curtis household. Especially how awkward things could get when Darry had to scold Ponyboy for whatever it was then. “Nah I’ll be alright.” I said despite not looking forward to reuniting with my mom and dad after I’d been sleeping in the lot for half the week and at Two-bits and the Curtis household the rest.
“Ya want a lift? Dar will pick me up in about two hours and ya could help us clean the bathroom” he teased “Hm..” I thought on it worried about whoever might have been following me outside but my thoughts were interrupted by Steve coming in “I didn’t see nobody.” He shrugged ruffling my hair as he walked next to soda and with my hair grease rubbed his hair and Soda teasingly pushed him “Yer callin Johnny crazy?” And Steve grinned “Yessir” “maybe it was in my head after all.” I interrupted “Alright. But still that ride? Ya gonna take me up on it I’ll even sit in the back.” I gave it a bit more thought but the gang had already seen me as a pet and it sort of bothered me sometimes “Nah I’ll be alright man.” I gave him a soft smile “Whatever you say.” Soda said grabbing a lollipop and tossing it to me and paying 5 cents for it “Here. Somethin sweet for ya troubles.” Soda gave me a brotherly protective smile He treats me like I’m another Ponyboy despite the only couple month age gap between us “Maybe it’ll soothe yer crazy brain.” Steve commented and Soda elbowed him and “Thanks Soda. I’m gonna head home before it’s too late now.” I smiled walking out hearing Soda and Steve’s goodbyes which made me smile quite a lot smelling the gas and feeling relief wash over me. Maybe it really wasn’t anything and I was just being a total weird freak and something was wrong with me.
*SODAS POV*
That was odd. Johnny didn’t really act like that despite being a nervous wreck he wasn’t usually paranoid. Anxious yes but he was convinced there was really someone behind him..Maybe Johnnys just been extra stressed and such recently. I paused for a moment reflecting on the interaction but got interrupted by Steve’s house key’s rattling and I looked over to see him packing up his things and I looked to the clock. 6:27 PM. 3 minutes before Steves shift ended and almost 3 since Johnny had left.
“Ya leaving Randle?” I ask fidgeting with a magnet I’d found outside that morning “Nah I’m just organizing my things together” he said sarcastically and I roll my eyes grinning “Lucky. We ain’t get to see many cool cars after 6:00 and my shift don’t end till 9:00” I blew my lips making a vibrating raspberry sound “Sucks” Steve teased “Man screw you” I laughed and waved bye and he smiled before leaving.
I had 3 hours alone in the DX and it wasn’t anything I’d been looking forward to for sure.. the silence after Steve left had me reflecting on practically every life decision I’d made since birth hearing the train outside and the cars drive by..Finally we had a customer and it was of course a Soc with an attitude trying to buy alcohol but I refused to sell him anything and he went off looking for a fight I’m sure. I began to doze off abruptly woken by Darry. “Little buddy it’s time to close up.” He reached behind the counter as I yawned and stretched grabbing the keys and handing them to me. “Thanks Dar.” I started locking up the register “Is pony home?” I asked realizing he’d usually walk home with Johnny but Johnny had been alone when he came and in his panicked state didn’t say anything about Pony. I know if something was wrong with Pony, Johnny probably would’ve said something so I wasn’t all to worried bout it. “I just got off of work. Why?” He asked “No reason really just.” I paused “Johnny had stopped by earlier.” “Uh huh?” It wasn’t unusual for any of the gang to come by afterschool “Said he felt like somebody was followin em” I said walking out the door with Darry, locking it behind us “Oh?? That’s weird. What did you do?” Darry asked opening the drivers side of his truck “gave em a blade and Steve looked around to see nothing” I said putting my seatbelt on “Sure it wasn’t just pony following him?” Darry asked “Nah. Johnny didn’t say anything about Ponyboy he must’ve went with Twobit somewhere or something.” I guessed
“Yeah probably.” Darry said and the rest of the car ride went something like this.
: “Ya dig the Beatles much Darry?”
“Nah.”
“Elvis?”
“I guess.”
“Hell ya mean “I guess.” God do you just watch the roof paint dry all day?”
“yes.”
…..crickets
“Touché”
Once we got home I rushed inside sort of expecting a guest but more specifically Johnny. Instead I saw Twobits freeloading ass “Hey Twobit” I said bothered turning my attention to Pony who sat on the floor next to his backpack eating cereal watching mickey with Twobit “Hey kid. How are you?”
“Good” “Where were ya afterschool today?” He pulled out a book out of his bag and I didn’t even bother to so much as read the cover as he said “the library.”
“Cool. Have ya seen Johnny.” Darry said in his serious tone “At school? Yea” “no I think Darry means afterwards.” I said “No.” He said “I did” Two bit states I turned taking a breath of relief until Twobit added “not” laughing hard. “Oh shut up Twobit” I said
“Damn tough crowd. But what’s up? Why yall so eager on cademans whereabouts” he kicked back on the couch watching Mickey per usual. “Cade man..?” Pony quietly mumbled in comedical disbelief “Soda says he seemed paranoid earlier.” Darry adds going to the bathroom closing the door and changing into dirty sweats and a trashy shirt in record time while Twobit cocked his eyebrow up at me “He said he heard people behind em. But Steve looked and didn’t see nothin.” I shrugged as Darry came out from behind me patting my back “He probably just hit his head in gym” Twobit laughed looking at pony who grinned “He seemed fine at school.” Which was clearly a lie. Everyone knows Johnnys never fine. “Well as fine as he could be..” pony added
“I think yall are just overreacting” Twobit sat up stretching and leaving without much notice. I shook my head exhausted at Twobit “Bye to you too” I said sarcastically. “He’s right. I wouldn’t lose sleep over this Soda.” Darry said shutting off the lights and going to his bedroom exhausted and today was one of the days he got off of work early. “I wasn’t gonna.” I said looking towards pony and his cereal “goin to bed soon little buddy?” I asked pony “I guess.” He put his cereal in the sink and went to the bathroom and I fell onto our bed exhausted and drenched in sleepiness.
Why did I have such a gut feeling that it was so much more than just an odd encounter with Johnny today? Johnny always had rough days and messy moments and I’d known Johnny for awhile and so had everyone else but I’d also known Darry didn’t like getting himself worked up on things even though he couldn’t help it, Twobit wouldn’t take anything seriously to the last second, Pony would hide it infront of everyone but me that he’d been overwhelmed with anything,Steve would do the most only after knowing for sure, and Dally would be the last to worry. Maybe I was the one working up everybody for no reason. Maybe I’m the crazy one.My thoughts were interrupted with Pony’s silhouette in the doorway
“scoot over Soda.” And I did just that too tired to respond as he climbed into bed I felt the mattress holding our weight as it had since mom and dad died. Silence. “Soda.” Pony spoke “hm?” I mumbled tired “I heard people saying the socs were drinking at school.” He said “really?” I mumbled rubbing my eye “Do you think they did something to Johnny?” He asked “nah kid.” I reassured him “Maybe they were goin to but Steve didn’t see anyone. Plus I gave him a blade. The cades got a blade” I tried to lighten the mood “More of an excuse to cut him to bits.” Silence filled and I swing my arm over pony “Listen kid. Just don’t worry.” “Alright.” I couldn’t fall asleep quickly and I could’ve sense pony couldn’t either but we both chose not to talk to eachother after that for the rest of the night.