Sarah126: thanks :)
I guess he wouldn't do that for everyone, but it's Johnny and he only would do it for him ;)

5. Somewhere in nowhere

In the meantime at Johnny: he still sat in the bus and stared lost in thoughts out of the window until the bus driver asked him grumpy, "Tell me, my boy, where ya wanna go to anyway?"

Johnny jumped up frightened and said hurried, "Um, I guess I get off here!"

When he was outside he breathed out deeply and looked around. But this was just the wrong stop, because he ended up at an abandoned and run-down factory site.
There hang 5 homeless young ones and even a smaller kid around.
They all sat gather around a fire in a garbage can of sheet metal and looked at him odd and suspicious.
A bit scared Johnny walked past them slowly.

There one of the 3 boys suddenly spoke to him, "Hey, what ya wanna here? I would beat it as soon as possible if I were ya!"

Although Johnny was awful scared he tried to not let it show.
He only looked at the boy and touched already for his switchblade in his back pocket. If he had to he would use it as well.
He wouldn't put up with anything any more.
Not longer from the Socs, his old man or anybody else.

"Why ya look at me that way? Did I allow ya to look at me?" the boy grumbled further.

Johnny stiffened and tried to look fearless and tough, what also his recently given scar would contribute its part to that. He hooked his thumbs in his pockets and answered the boy as tough as he could in this moment, "None of ya business! Finally ya can't forbid me to look at ya the way I like!"

But before the boy could answer or react to it the second boy came to them and said to Johnny, "Hey! Who are ya? I'm Patrick! By the way that's Thomas! Ya don't need to be scared of him. Actually he ain't that dangerous!"

Johnny thought shortly if he should say his name. Actually he found him quite kind. "Johnny." he finally answered shortly.

The boy nodded and smiled at him friendly. "Well, Johnny... Tell me, I've never seen ya here before, ya ain't from here, are ya?"

Johnny shook his head hesitated. Should he really tell them everything?

"Nope. I'm from Tulsa... I... I ran away and didn't know where I should go and then I end up here..."

"Well, if ya like ya can stay here. I don't mind, on the contrary." Patrick meant and smiled at Johnny again.

"Really? But... but the others wouldn't perhaps..." Johnny meant after that.

"Don't worry 'bout 'em! I'm so to speak their leader. We ain't a real gang, but just all good friends. But they also wouldn't mind. And by the way, actually we're quite hospitable, if there are just the right guests! Come on, I wanna show ya everythin' and introduce ya to the others!"

Said and done: Patrick took Johnny by his arm and pulled him to the other young ones.

Then he introduced Johnny to the others, "Hey, guys! That's Johnny, he's from Tulsa and ran away from there. He's gonna stay with us from now on!"

Johnny replied still a little shy, "Hi together!"

"Come on, sit down!" an about 16 year old girl told him.

"Thanks!"

"I'm Isabell, Patrick's girlfriend." continued the girl with a smile.

Johnny nodded.

After that Patrick said, "Johnny, here are my other friends. Ya already met with Thomas. Then there are Ricky and Thomas' girlfriend Natalie and her sister Anna."

Those smiled at Johnny friendly.

"How old are y'all?" Johnny asked.

"I'm with 17 years the eldest of us. Isabell's 16, Thomas and Ricky are both 15, Natalie's 13 and Anna's with 9 years our youngest."

With these words Patrick smiled at Anna. Johnny couldn't also help smiling at the warm smile.

"Ya?" Patrick turned to him.

"Um, 16." Johnny answered and blushed.

Patrick nodded and hid that he reckoned Johnny much younger. That's why he said, "Ya know, Johnny, we've got a man here, who's called Enrico. We guess that's only a pseudonym.
This man is the leader of a competed group we've to fight against. He pays a visit to us from time to time to check us.
He belongs to the so called 'street mafia' and disposes over our life so to speak.
He gives us rules, orders and a 'job'. I wanna add this later once again!
I... I had a sister... Her name was Katelyn, but we all called her only Kat. She..."

Johnny swallowed and meant quickly, "Ya don't have to talk 'bout her if ya don't wanna to."

Patrick smiled at Johnny with sad eyes and replied, "No, it's ok.
She was just 10 years old. She found a cat. She loved animals more than anythin' and especially cats. That's also why she had this name.
She always would have one but I never could buy her one. Our parents died long ago. There she was only 7. Since then we live here on the street in this factory.
Well, anyhow she took the cat here and cared for it.
But after Enrico's rules ya ain't allowed to keep any pets.
One day he found it out. He was mad like crazy. His 'companions' that always come along with him, grabbed the cat of my sister and sliced it. Then they seized Kat and shot her in front of my eyes. Then Enrico meant to me and the others that this should serve as deterrence, that everybody should know what would await this one then..."

"My god, that's horrible! I'm... I'm sorry..." Johnny said and he meant it seriously.

Patrick only shook his head. "I hate Enrico. And one day I'm gonna take revenge on him for that what he done to me! He still gonna suffer for that!"
Patrick clenched his fists and growled.