Author's Note: Hello again for anyone who is still out there reading. I wrote this chapter a couple of times, and I don't know how I feel about it. It's really the part where I try to explore the boys' characters/relationships. It's hard because I don't want to just rehash stuff which was in the book, but try to predict/imagine how they would act in different circumstances. Also, a few years have past since the events in the book, and the characters would have matured a bit, I feel.
Anyway, if you have any advice on how to write these characters better, PLEASE let me know. I noticed that I actually had a few hits, and yet no one wrote any reviews! :( I appreciate all reviews (as long as the criticism is constructive and the praises are realistic... though I don't think I have much to worry about in terms of the latter). So PLEASE let me know what you think.
Usual Disclaimer: The Outsiders just ain't mine...
Ponyboy and Two-Bit, Steve and Soda pulled into the driveway at the Curtis house. Johnny was sitting on the front step, his knee jerking nervously. As the other four climbed out of the car, he stood up, still hunched over a bit, his black eyes wide and darting nervously up and down the street. He didn't call out to them as they approached.
Johnny was more nervous than ever, Ponyboy thought, while watching his friend's darting eyes and stooped over physique. He hopped out of the car and approached his best friend. Ever since the hearing, and Johnny being released with only probation, things had just gotten worse for his friend. Though the rumbles and fights between Greasers and Socs had died down a bit over the last few years, Johnny had become even more of a target than he had been. Except now it wasn't just his scared demeanour that attracted unwanted and often violent attention, it was his reputation as a Soc killer.
Over the last two years Johnny had gotten jumped so often that he now rarely left the house after dark, unless it was with at least two others. In addition to the scar from Bob Sheldon's rings and the burns over his arms and torso, Johnny had acquired a few more momentos, made from broken bottles or switch blades pulled in dark alleys. Ponyboy often wondered how it would feel to be reminded of every beating when looking at one's own reflection in the mirror. Each disfiguring mark wouldn't seem not unlike a brand of death and violence. It was no wonder that at 18-nearly-19, Johnny seemed defeated.
"What's happenin', Johnnycakes?" Two-Bit called, taking the steps two at a time. "I thought you were meeting with your probation officer this afternoon."
"Ended early." Johnny mumbled.
"How does it feel to be a free man?" Steve nearly shouted, dropping his arm over Johnny' shoulder as the gang headed inside.
"Yeah, free! Now you can party with us and quit your job!" Two-Bit agreed happily.
"I ain't quittin' my job." Johnny shook his head.
A few months back, Johnny's mother and father had a huge row. His father had left, but not until after giving Johnny a black eye and a bloody lip. Even though he was 18 now, Johnny still wouldn't fight back. Instead, he had gone to the vacant lot and been staying there until Ponyboy had found out. After that, Johnny had moved in with the Curtis brothers. He refused to live off their 'charity', though, and had quit school and gotten a job to pay Darry for his room and board. Ponyboy had been near tears when Johnny told him he was quitting school. They'd been in the same grade, what with Ponyboy skipping ahead and Johnny losing a year while he was sick. But it wasn't just that he had missed seeing his best buddy in class everyday, he just couldn't bare to see Johnny be a drop out, like Soda.
"I hate school anyway, " Johnny had consoled. "And I'm ain't like you or Darry… I'm no good at it. I'm just too dumb." He had continued.
"You ain't dumb, Johnny." Ponyboy scowled.
"Yeah, well, tell that to the teachers." Johnny shrugged. "Anyway, it's real nice of Darry to let me stay with y'all. And I ain't goin' to take advantage of his generosity. It wouldn't be fair for him and Soda to have to take care of me, what with me not being family."
"Johnny, you are family." Ponyboy had protested.
"No, I'm not, Pony." Johnny had shaken his head. Ponyboy knew how Johnny felt about his own mother and father. The mother and father who either ignored him or used him as a punching bag. He decided to say nothing more about family to Johnny. "I'm just gonna quit school, get a job and pay Darry for letting' me stay at your house." Johnny's voice had had a tone of finality to it, a quivering one, but one none the less.
Though he hated not seeing Johnny at school anymore, he was reconciled to it by the fact he now got to see Johnny every day at home.
"I can't wait for tomorrow night!" Soda exclaimed with a yelp as they all came crashing into the living room, tossing their work and school stuff all over. "A real party like we haven't had in ages. A 'Johnny's probation is over' party!"
"I am gonna get blind drunk. Who are y'all bringing?" Two-Bit asked, grabbing himself a beer from the fridge.
"Evie." Steve shrugged, helping himself to the chocolate cake.
"Cathy." Ponyboy said from where he slid onto the couch.
"I'm goin' stag." Soda announced, to everyone's surprise. "There are so many girls goin' to be there tomorrow, I want to keep my options open." Two-Bit nodded.
"Say, I like that idea. I was thinking about asking this new girl I met at the drugstore the other day, but I guess I'll go stag too. Still, someone should invite her. It just can't be me."
"Why can't it be you?" Johnny asked quizzically.
"Cause then she'll think I'm asking her on a date. But I'm not, see. I don't want to get saddled with her in case some better-looking girl comes along."
"Get saddled with her? Real nice. If you had any sense at all, you'd take whatever girl'd have you." Ponyboy shook his head and rolled his eyes.
"Would you listen to the mouth on this kid?" Two-Bit asked incredulously, taking another long haul off his beer. He set his beer down on the table and leapt at Ponyboy.
"Two-Bit, for the love of God lay off!" It was Darry, just in from work and slamming the screen door behind him. Soda and Steve, who were just about to launch themselves into the impromptu wrestling match, retook their seats.
"Mr. Muscles is home from work and in a bad mood." Steve muttered under his breath to no one in particular.
"Hey Darry, how was work?" Soda asked.
"Fine." Darry mumbled, heading toward his room.
"Jeez, Dar, glad to see you too." Ponyboy rolled his eyes from where he lay on the ground. The boys went back to discussing the upcoming party, and were regaining their enthusiasm when Darry appeared again half an hour later, showered and changed out of his work clothes.
"Pony did you start dinner yet?" He demanded, opening the fridge door.
"Not yet. We only just got in a bit ago. What do you want? I can start it now." Ponyboy rose and headed for the kitchen. Behind his back, Sodapop smiled to himself and sighed in relief. Not long ago Ponyboy would have taken Darry's question as an affront. But over the last two years, though Ponyboy could still be pretty mouthy at times, he was really trying hard to get along with Darry. Darry, in turn, tried not to get on his youngest brother's case as much. All in all, their efforts made for a much more peaceful home life.
As Darry and Ponyboy discussed dinner, Two-Bit turned on the TV and switched the channel to Mickey Mouse. Steve, after helping himself to a beer from the fridge, joined Two-Bit on the carpet. Soda remained on the couch, his eyes floating around the room casually. Then he noticed that Johnny was gone… He hadn't noticed his friend slip out, and wondered if it had been when the wrestling started or when Darry came in cranky that Johnny had silently excused himself. Soda could feel the faint outlines of a frown form itself on his face. I wonder if he'll ever be normal, he reflected.
Soda, not unlike his older brother, wasn't given to analysing his own emotions. He didn't often think about what he was feeling, and didn't bother much with thinking rationally and objectively about things. Soda was impulsive, he liked to fight when he got worked up, he liked to dance and joke around when he was happy, and when he wasn't one of those things he was probably asleep. It was also in his nature, however, to always want others to be happy. This was particularly true of those people whom he loved. If asked if he considered himself compassionate, Soda probably would have laughed. If asked if he considered himself sensitive, he would crack a joke or purposefully avoid the question. But the truth of the matter was that Soda was both. Seeing Johnny everyday brought out his compassion and sensitivity, but not the right words. It pained him to see his friend hurt and beaten down, and it frustrated him that he felt helpless to do anything to comfort him. Nevertheless, he rose from the couch and went in search of his friend.
Soda found Johnny on the front steps, sitting on the old swing Soda's dad had set up years ago. Johnny sat forward, his elbows on his knees, staring at something ahead of him.
Soda suddenly wished more than anything that Dally were there. Dally would know just what to say and do to snap Johnny out of this mental fog. But Dally was still in jail, and wouldn't be making an appearance.
"Hey Johnny," Soda grinned and collapsed on the swing next to his friend. "Whatcha doin' out here?"
"Nothing. Thinking." Johnny shrugged, but said no more.
"Aren't you excited about tomorrow night's party? I sure am." Soda began, but he knew that Johnny wasn't excited about it. Still, Johnny managed a semi-enthusiastic shrug. "You know, I was thinking, if we start saving now, then we could have a huge blow out when Dally gets released." That seemed to get Johnny's attention. He turned to look at Soda, his eyes wide and a half grin creeping onto his dark face.
"You think?" He said, sounding almost excited. Then, as quickly as the smile and joy appeared, it was gone again. "I guess that won't be for a while though." He turned back to staring at something.
"Not that long." Soda lightly punched Johnny's shoulder. He followed Johnny's eyes to the horizon, where the sun was setting over the roofs of the neighbourhood houses.
Soda opened his mouth to comment on the sunset, when both boys were distracted by the sound of a car pulling up in front of the house.
"Who the hell is that?" Soda wondered, seeing the white MGB pulling up. The passenger door opened and Cathy, Ponyboy's girl, stepped out. She brushed her charcoal hair over her shoulder and turned. Sitting in the driver's seat was a beautiful strawberry-blonde.