I could still remember the first time I layed eyes on Johnny Cade. Romantically I mean. I had always known him, he was Ponyboys best friend, a loyal member of the Curtis Gang who helped my brother's out when they needed it. But I could still remember the first time I actually saw Johnny Cade.
The weather had been chilling and looking back on it, I guessed that's why I started to like the fall. A light breeze was swaying and it was perfect for sweater weather. My sweater had been new, being that Tim gave me and Curly a few dollars to go back to school shopping, I always got a little more because I didn't have a job. Curly had been working for Tim since he was a preteen.
My mood was sour and I guess you could say I was being bratty. For once, I, Angela Shepard had been embarrassed in front of everyone. Ponyboy Curtis had been my close friend and he humiliated me in front of everyone. I had countless names and labels going around but "whore" was their favorite. I felt disgusted. Upset. Angry. I was so upset that I failed to notice him smoking a cigarette against the abandoned car.
"Angela?" He called out to me.
I stopped crying, feeling even more ashamed that Johnny Cade had just found me crying in the lot. How weak could I get? Crying because your best friend rejected you. I looked up through my blurred eyes, eyelashes still full with my tears to see Johnny standing above me. It was chilly and he only had on that denim blue jacket, it definitely wasn't enough for this cold weather.
"What do you want?" I asked.
I quickly tried to wipe my tears away, in case someone else saw me and then it'd be even worse. Strangely enough, I felt comfortable in front of Johnny. I had barely knew him but I didn't mind crying so much anymore.
"I just don't like when chicks cry. You wanna...wanna talk about it?"
I could remember how awkward he looked, his hand playing in that greasy black hair of his. I heard around town that chicks were always going after Johnny so I knew he couldn't of been that embarrassed to talk to me.
"Fuck off."
"Alright. I know when I ain't wanted." He huffed.
He turned slightly but my stomach turned at the sight. I didn't really want to be alone but wasn't I supposed to be tough? Angela Shepard didn't need anyone to comfort her.
"Wait," I called out to him. "You don't have to go."
Johnny turned back, a small smile resting on his face as he squatted to sit next to me. Our backs both leaned up against an old couch that I was sure had bed bugs. "You was all out here by yourself?"
"I was at the Curtis' but I came out here to get some fresh air." Johnny explained as he smoked on a cigarette. "Sometimes it's...too much being with them."
I let out a soft chuckle. I definitely understood what he meant. The golden boys that did no wrong. They fit in with almost everyone. Everyone loved the Curtis', I had even been there before. Curly surely loved being around them, I guess it was to feel what he didn't get at home. Him and Ponyboy weren't so different, they were both smart despite the rumors, Curly just didn't have anyone patient enough to work with him. You get labeled slow real fast here in town.
"Sometimes they're too perfect." I replied softly.
It made him laugh and his laugh made me laugh. I loved the sound of it, it was almost childlike and full of joy and life despite his living situation. I turned to look at him, my heart stopping once our eyes met, I tried to remember when the hell I had ever seen a pair of brown eyes so pretty? Sure me and my brothers were known for our blue sapphires but Johnny had a weird sort of beauty to them. They sparkled.
"Did you sleep out here?" I asked after a while of sitting there.
"Yeah.."
I felt guilty, the way he responded was extremely ashamed. I should've known, everyone on this side of town had bad home problems but Johnny's parents were devious. Johnny and Tim had shared a couch at the Curtis' before, I could imagine he was never home but desperate for affection. I could understand. When Ma had her boyfriends over they usually went after Tim or Curly, beating them until they couldn't take it. Ma went after me but then again we never really did get along, she never failed to remind me that I was unwanted.
"Why're you out here?" Johnny asked.
"Well. Ponyboy kinda embarrassed me in front of the school. He probably didn't mean it...I know he didn't, but everyone loves calling me the towns biggest whore."
"Shit, Ang, you ain't a whore." Johnny said quickly. "The schools full of idiots anyway. Don't listen to 'em."
I sighed, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. "I know but things haven't been going so good y'know? Tim's been in and outta jail, Curly's always dealing drugs and I'm scared he's gonna get hurt."
"We gotta do what we can. It's hard surviving in this town. It's embarrassing but sometimes I gotta sell a little grass myself." Johnny admitted.
"Oh, I know that. But..he's been involved with mi tio, he's bad news. Can't be trusted."
Johnny didn't say anything and I was glad that he didn't. The silence was strange yet comfortable, if it had been anyone else that I was next to I'd be making a quick excuse to get the hell out of there. But Johnny was different. He had always been different.
I looked over at him, flashing him a smug smile as he played with the ends of his hair. It had never grown back right, not after that stunt he and Ponyboy pulled with the dead soc. It seemed like we had yet another thing in common, a completely fucked up hairdo. Ever since Bryon had cut it, it never had the curls I once had. It rested on my shoulders, dull and straight. Apart of me was too scared to grow it back out.
I guess your hair goes through trauma as you do. Johnny had served time in the local juvenile facility after recovering from his burn injury. I could still see the scars, patches of white and black skin resting on his wrists. I could only imagine how he looked without the jacket.
Johnny must have noticed my curiosity with his scars because he cleared his throat and pointed up, saying, "Look at the sky."
The day time had set into a beautiful gold pink color, it was beautiful, calming and relaxing. I had never been outside like this, admiring something as stupid as the sky. But I liked the way Johnny stared at it, like it gave him hope.
"It's golden..like us."
"Golden but not quite..Like a misfit?" I suggested, referring to the strange and random purple and indigo colors adding to the golden hue.
"Golden misfits then.."
That was just the beginning of Johnny and me.
