Chapter One: Strange Behavior
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my own original characters. Graceland belongs to Jeff Eastin and the other producers of USA network.
For the first time since Mike left a month ago, things were starting to get back to normal. Well, mostly back to normal. Paige still watched over Charlie, making sure she didn't slip back into a heroin addiction. Charlie continued to watch over Briggs, unsure how much truth was behind his 'panic killing'. And Johnny... Johnny was the one that worried me most (surprisingly).
He became the enigma of the house, something that I always thought was my title. He still came out to bonfires and laughed with us, talked to us here and there. But for the most part, Johnny kept his distance. He's been spending more and more time away from the house, and when he's at the house, he's in his room. With the door shut. He's never kept his door shut, (not that I would know...).
It was strange for him. Beyond strange. And I'm not the only one who's begun to notice. "Jakes. Think you could attempt to, speak to Johnny for me?"Charlie asked. I looked at her, my brow furrowing.
"Seriously? Me? Talk to Johnny? You sure that's the best thing for me to do?"I asked. She huffed at me and crossed her arms.
"Please. He won't talk to me about whatever it is that's bothering him. Briggs has tried a night for the two of them at some club. That didn't work. Paige has even offered to help him meet some of her girlfriends. And he turned her down. Please... You're our last shot." she looked at me, pleading. I sighed.
"I'll... Try to talk to him. I'm not making too many promises though."I got off my bed and walked her out of my room while I made my way to Johnny's. I knocked on his door, softly.
"C'mon in. Not locked."I heard his voice. I opened the door, almost taken aback from the scene ahead of me. Johnny was laying on his bed. With a book in his hands. Reading it.
"John Sanford?"I questioned about the title. Johnny smiled and shrugged.
"He's one of my favorite authors. I love his Prey series."Johnny grinned. I raised an eyebrow.
"You. Read?"I asked, trying not to laugh. He shrugged.
"Honestly... I love reading. It's not surfing. But it's almost as good. Almost. Why? Didn't think I knew how to hold one?"he asked, a sort of venom in his voice. He must have noticed how he sounded, because he grinned at me. "What? Didn't think I knew about how y'all view me? It's alright. I know it's all for fun and games. Haha." The way he said it was supposed to make me feel better, but it didn't. Instead it made everything feel even more off.
"Not that. Just thought you were a... More active person. That's all."I shrugged, shifting my weight from foot to foot. Johnny gave a knowing smile, another thing that was throwing me off. Who was this man? Where was the goofball we all knew and loved at Graceland? Well... Liked. Loved is too strong a word.
"Unhuh."he threw his feet over the side of the bed and rose up, slipping his shoes on. He grabbed his book and hat, looking at me. "Now. If we're done here. I'm going to head out. Adiós."he moved past me. "Shut my door on your way out!"he called at me from the hallway.
I stopped, feeling somewhat stupefied. That man was not Joseph Tuturro. Or at least, he wasn't the one we knew at Graceland. Something was beyond wrong with him. Beyond. Taking a deep breath, I exited the room, shutting it. Turning around, I jumped up.
"Damn it Charlie. Let a guy know when you're behind him. Okay?"I swore. She studied my face before speaking.
"Johnny? How is he?"she asked. Well, guess there would be no small talk.
"That ain't Johnny. That man likes to read almost more than surfing. He just left me in there. And he... He was almost... Mean sounding to me. Mean."I shook my head. "Didn't know he had it in him."
"Not even when he shoved you against the wall a few months ago?"she asked, eyebrow arched. I sighed.
"I brought that on my self. I was drunk off my ass and starting trouble. He just took up for himself because I slugged him first."I reminded her. She sighed.
"Okay. So what are we going to do about him?"Charlie asked. I looked up, collecting my thoughts.
"I don't know? Maybe he's just suffering from Mike withdrawals. Weren't they like, super-close?"I asked. If looks could kill, I'd be dead.
"Close? Yeah. They were like best friends. But I don't think they had anything going on... Since Mike and I..."she trailed off. I raised my eyebrows, fighting a grin.
"Really? Do tell..."she hit me playfully. "Oww. Charlie..."
"Shut up. I need you to focus on John. Okay? He's acting like..."
"A bastard? A recluse? A lone wolf?"I suggested. She sighed.
"I want our Johnny back."she made her way downstairs. I took in a deep breath and walked back into my room, laying down on my bed.
"I want him back too..."I whispered.
