Apparently, taking Johnny to one Buck's party wasn't enough.

You needed to take him to 10 or 100 more of them before he can break his shell.

On the 5th party, Curly Shepard, his older brother Tim and Two-Bit decided to come with us. For no reason except to 'hunt action' and 'have a gas'.

"When you mean by have a gas? Are you going to fill up your car with gas?" I asked stupidly.

"Car?!" Two-Bit exclaimed, and then laughed out loud, a deep laugh that could emerge from your stomach.

"What's so funny?"

"No one says car here, country boy! The only ones that do are the geezers and our old man's!" Tim yelled, and then gave me a punch on the arm. He joined Two-Bit for the laughing.

Johnny, instead of staying silent, then added "Country Boy? Atleast Country Boy's got a dick, then some of us Bare Asses,"

All four of us were shocked for a few seconds and then bursted out a huge laugh, one that might have woke up the neighbours, because the dark house was now filled with a light.

"A big dick in that matter," Curly replied and clapped a hand on my back.

I didn't care about that though. All I cared is that how Johnny finally decided to try breaking his shell.

Out of all the greasers I liked so far, were Johnny, Curly and Steve. I liked Ponyboy sure but he doesn't talk to me the whole time I was at his house, he fears that I'm taking his 'friend' away (said so in the book). Sodapop and I don't talk as much as well as Darry. Two-Bit and Dally were fun guys to hang around with but not my type, reminded me a lot of boys in my school back in my time, or world. Tim and I just met recently so I don't know what to say to him so far.

Meanwhile, Steve always talks to me about things that seemingly he knows that I liked such as now James Dean and Audrey Hepburn. Because of Amelia, I now am watching films of these great people. But he always keeps on asking me questions, as if he doesn't think I'm from the 'country' at all.

Curly Shepard is like a great friend to have. Amelia left me to go to Math and as soon as she left, Curly came and took me around town. We were joking around, having a great time and he's not that seemingly a jerk except to the Socs.

Johnny Cade, my now, I guess you can say, best friend, we have been inseparable ever since playing with the 'coloured' kids and it's making Ponyboy jealous. Very jealous.

We would stick to each other like glue.

"Hey, Teddy, do you want a cancer stick?" Curly asked me, he was holding out a pack of 'Marlboro' cigarettes. I took one, now for some reason wanting to taste smoked off pepper for some reason. He lit up my cigarette and did the same with his. He offered Johnny one but he shooked his head, he seemed still deep in thought.

I sighed and ran my hands in my hair. It's filled with now tangles and wisp. I should start brushing my hair soon, it does not suit my style.

We ended up walking in silence after that, with the few occasional jokes from Two-Bit and the words of Tim Shepard.

Curly was silent too, which was weirdly odd, because he usually fills the night with talks, and now with silence. I looked at him and he looked back mouthing a "Fuck you want?" and I slightly turned away, blowing off my smoke before putting out.

We reached Buck's in 2 minutes and soon as we walked in Two-Bit already was holding a beer and Tim already got his eyes on a black curly haired girl. Curly, Johnny and I went to the bar where we gave the bartendress each a dollar if she could get us three cokes and a cigarette packet.

All three of us ended up talking about the most randomest things we can ever talk about such as Cowboys, Marlon Brando (I don't know him other than the fact that he's dad's favourite actor, all time, number 1 favourite actor) and even the food Poutine for some reason.

"I never tried out poutine…" Curly admitted as he took a long swig of his coke. He was suppose to buy beer tonight but never got it due to the price. I offered to pay him but he shooked his head ("I'm might steal some tomorrow, ya know what I mean?).

"I did. My dad forced me to come with him to Quebec to go fishing down the river. It tastes good. Like good, good, good,"

Correction: My parents and I went on a trip to Quebec for summer vacation. Not only did I got to take a picture with Celine Dion but I got to eat Poutine. Loads of Poutine.

"Can you get me some poutine one day?" Johnny asked me quietly, making sure Curly didn't hear.

I nodded. "Yeah, why not?"

After a few moments at the party, it seemed like Johnny finally broke out of his shell. It also looked like that shell wasn't going to reform anytime soon. Curly and Tim left early, apparently their sister broke up with her "boy-toy".

"I don't get it. How could Two-Bit drink this piss in so much minutes?" Johnny asked me.

Two-Bit was on his fifth beer and was having a beer chugging contest with another greaser. The winner gets to sleep with the hot blonde that was beside the opponent greaser in front.

"Probably because he's a pissy person. BA DUM TSS!" I yelled, then improved fake drums.

Johnny laughed and so did I. Both of laughed like we had no care in the world.

After a few minutes, when I finally gave out a long sigh, Johnny looked at me with troubled eyes. His forehead creased and he swiped away the imaginary sweat forming on his forehead.

"What up?"

"...Nothing...What makes you think something happened?"

"You look worried...scared,"

"I'm not. I'm perfectly fine. See…" he forced out a smile as soon as he finished the sentence.

I shooked my head, taking my last sip of my coke.

"Wanna ditch and have a gas?"

"A gas? You don't even have a car,"

Johnny laughed, the worries in his eyes disappeared a bit.

"No dumb one, let's have fun,"

The mischievous gleam in my eyes must have been the answer he was waiting for.

We walked around the corner of Ian St, and Country Junction. Johnny told me that by far, this was the safest place in Tulsa that is apart of Greaser's territory.

"Why's that?" I asked him.

He shrugged. I didn't question any further.

We finally got to the place where he was wanting to go.

An pizza store.

"How come you wanted to go to a pizza store?" I asked him.

"For some reason, the guy who owns the pizzeria always leaves the back door open. I figured this was a safe place we could hang out. He also always leaves a couple of change and pizza in the fridge,"

"Does anyone know this?"

"Nope, just me and now, you," Johnny said. We walked towards the back and opened the door, closing it softly behind us. I found a booth where we both can sit and he bought out the warm pepperoni pizza from the oven all while holding 5 dollars.

"You going to tell Ponyboy about this?"

"...I don't know,"

That's when I got confused but kind of hopeful at the same time.

I decided to question it further.

"Why not? I think it's a great place,"

"I know it is. But…"

"Ponyboy's mad at me...Isn't he?" I asked.

Johnny looked up from his lap. By now we were both seated and ate only half of our first slice.

"No, no, he's not mad at you, he's-"

"He's mad at me because I'm hanging out with you more often," I added.

"...I don't think he's mad. More like jealous,"

Silence followed. We decided to continue eating but more questions came in my mind as I ate my last slice.

"I know why," I muttered, after chewing down my slice.

Johnny looked up. For once he looked scared and for once I felt sorry for a book character. I promised myself I wasn't here to form relationships, just to solve problems. But, sometimes you gotta break promises, especially if they are to save a inseparable friend.

"He loves you. You love him. Don't give me that I'm-not-flitty bullshit because you are. You're denying it because you're scared,"

Johnny sighed and his lips trembled a bit.

"Do you want to know why my parents hit me so much?" he asked quietly. Tears were starting to stream down his face.

I didn't say anything. I was too scared to talk about something that was never brought up.

"Because I came out to them as a flit. They're beating the flit out of me, they're…" he doesn't continue, instead he sobs a bit and then loudly.

I felt my eyes water too. I turned away and furiously wiped them, making sure Johnny doesn't see me cry because for one thing, I hate crying. It's not because it makes you feel weak because it makes you feel as if you can't solve a thing in this fucked up world.

"Hey, Johnny. You're great, you know that. You're the best, you know that," I said, got up and sat beside him.

"I am?"

"Golly, you're the greatest, the whole world would agree! Hell, even Ponyboy would fall heads over heals in love with you cause you so damn great!" I yelled.

Johnny was smiling, the tears have now stopped and he was gawking at me.

"Guess who's the greatest!"

"I'm the greatest!"

"You're the greatest bud!" I yelled. I got on top of a table and yelled "You're the greatest!". The big colourful refrigerator (later turns out to be a jukebox) was turned on and 'Jailhouse Rock' started to play.

"Let's rock, everybody, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block...Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock," I lip-synced the words and tried to do a dance somehow related to Elvis, but ended up falling off the table.

Johnny laughed and we soon just did some next random dance moves for the next hour playing some good old tunes.

I felt good as soon as we were done, no tears showing up my eyes and so was Johnny.

We sat on the floor, turning off the jukebox and just kept on panting, smiling at each other.

"Your funky, you know that?"

"My dance moves were that good?" I asked back. He laughed and gave me a mild punch on the arm.

"No, you doofus, your cool. You're a cool guy," Johnny said as a smile broke across his face. Even though we had been laughing our heads off and having the greatest time of our life, I realized that for the first time in a long time Jonny was actually, actually smiling - he was happy and carefree for the first time in a long time.

A few moments of quietness and stillness later, I say something that could one way benefit this whole 'change the story' thing.

"I know how I can get Ponyboy to fall in love with you," I say staring at the ceiling. I think I might have told him too much, but as I look at Johnny I see new part of that he never showed. Beneath all the worrying and anxiety when I look at Johnny I see his unwavering determination and I can tell that he made up his mind.

Seeing how determined Johnny is, encourages me help make their relationship a possibility in a world that against it.