AN: Argh. And double 'argh'. Ok...Forgive the lack of italization for Jhonen's thoughts in the last chapter. Again, I screwed it up. I think, though, this time it was entirely my fault. Also, I have been forced to remove True Happiness as a result of someone saying it was above and over an 'NC-17' rating, even though that rating system does not apply anymore, I still cannot take a chance in risking my account to be deleted. I shall try to find a place for it to go. Until then, I ask that you be patient and wait. Thank you for your understanding. And a big thanks to all who review. Its completely appreciated, and it gave me incentive to keep going. Kudos in getting me motivated again.
Thanks,
The Management
Summer Colors:
ChApTeR tHrEe: These Questions Never Go Away:
Jhonen and Johnny walked down a sidewalk to the 24/7.
"Its quite a walk. Why didn't we drive?" Jhonen asked.
"I like to walk at night. The air is cool, its still early, as matter of fact, but its a clear night and the stars are out. And besides, everyone drives. Its not as fun as walking." Nny stated.
"Oh. Driving seemed less exerting." he said, adjusting his glasses. He could still make out traces of mud-like substance on them. His arm still stung. But other than that, it wasn't so bad. Johnny seemed like a nicer guy than Jhonen portrayed him as.
Until he freaks out and tries to kill you. Again.
Hush. I don't think he'll do that. Do you?
...Did I not just say that?
My God, you are the sarcastic little one, aren't you?
Condesending? That's not usually your style, Jhonen. What're you thinking about?
If you're me, aren't you supposed to know what I'm thinking?
I thought that would shut you up. Even if its only for a moment, its worth it. I hope you know I find you annoying.
Things were going alright. Until a guy bumped into Nny's arm so hard, it was like he was trying to take it with him.
"Hey, ass-chomp, watch where the fuck you're going." he snarled.
The man had a pinkish red mohawk, and an obscene amount of peircings in his face. It looked as though there was no room for anymore.
I wonder how he gets through airport security.
...They probably don't even check, knowing it would take hours.
"Ass-chomp?" Nny questioned, with that look on his face.
Jhonen knew what was coming. He raised his eyebrows, nervously adjusting his glasses again, and scratched his forehead, looking down, "Johnny, no, he's not worth it. Lets just go." he reasoned.
"Aww, how cute. Your sexy boyfriend is trying to bail your ass out of a fight you know you can't fucking win. Hey, who's the man in your relationship, fag?" the man asked.
Johnny looked like he was going to pounce on the guy. "Nny, relax. Just turn a blind eye and keep going."
Nny glanced at him over his shoulder like he was crazy.
Are you just going to let him kill this guy and ruin your spotless record of never killing anyone?
I was planning on it. I don't want to, but hey, why not? In calling Nny gay he called me gay, too. Thats...a double-whammie or something. Guilty by association. Because I'm traveling with him, I'm subject to the abuse, too.
Well, what do you normally do when you're subject to snide remarks by people?
I usually would pummel them with a series of sophisticated insults. Heh.
...So you're just going to let Nny tear this guy apart...
Yep. Thought so.
...DO I HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YA THERE BUDDY BOY!
Oh. Alright, alright. I'll intervene. Jeez...Pushy pushy...
Jhonen stopped Johnny before he could do anything drastic. He guided him behind his back, and assumed an intellectual stance.
"What is your name, sir?" he asked, eyeing him over the rim of his glasses.
"Billy," he said, "Why? You fuckin' comin' on to me, fag? Hey, you fuckin' homo, I think your man is trying friggin' to cheat on you!" he said, receiving a howl of laughter from the small posse that shadowed him.
"No, no. I find no part of you or your semblence even remotely attractive. But you seem to be quite enthralled in me." he said.
"What the hell did you just say?" he asked, a dumbfounded look on his face.
"Ah, profanity. The crutch of the intellectually deviant." he smirked. Nny watched, almost in awe.
"Dude," one of his friends said, "I think he just called you gay."
"WHAT! You're funny, you fuckin' fag! You WISH."
"Well it was you who called me sexy, wasn't it? And again, you who mistook my request for your name as a come-on." he said, "And still, you, thinking I might be homosexual, gave me your name."
"Man, I think he's right..." another friend said, moving slightly away from Billy.
"Hey, I ain't like that! I fuck bitches every night!" he spat, "And I love porn!"
"Oh. Manly. Well that right there gives us some indication of your level of homosexuality." Jhonen continued.
"What? What do you mean?" he asked, slightly confused.
"Well, when you watch your beloved pornography, do you prefer the male to have a small, half-flacid penis?" he asked.
"No, of course not! What kinda porn is that! I love a big, hard, throbbing... penis... HEY! You fuckin' tricked me!" he screamed, throwing a swing at Jhonen, who moved back slightly. The rush of air blew his hair a little.
"You even swing like a queer." the friend said again, "C'mon guys, lets get out of here." he said, and they left Billy.
"Now look what the hell you did!" he yelled, and Jhonen and Johnny were forgotten, and he took off after his companions, trying to gain their alleged 'friendship' back.
"That was incredible." Johnny said.
"Thanks. Y'know, he's a sad, sad guy. Taking off after friends who judge you by your sexual preference rather than your personality." he said, watching with disappointed eyes as the man fled.
"Indeed." Johnny said, "That seemed to cause more pain than actually killing people."
"I know. I still haven't killed anyone. Education is a great defense mechanism." he said, smiling a genuine smile. He loved the English language.
"Lets get some cherry Brain-Freezy's." Nny said, his goal still in his mind.
"Hey, what time is it?" he asked.
"Uhh...I have no watch." Nny replied, "What does it matter anyway?"
"If they turn the machines off at 2a.m...Would we not want to be time-conscious?"
"Oh, yeah. We could ask someone." Johnny suggested.
"Um, I think I'll do it..." he said, not wanting to risk another scene.
He approached a thin girl. She looked nice enough.
"Um, excuse me, miss, you wouldn't happen to have the time, would you?" he asked.
She turned around. She had a set of the most entrancing eyes he'd ever seen. Big, and bright. Brown. And brown hair to match.
"Um, yes..." she said, looking at a little blue digital watch that was strapped around her wrist, "Its 9:30pm." she said.
"Thank you." he said, and gave a kind smile.
"Whew." she sighed, and seemed to ease.
"What?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I thought you were another creep trying a cheap pick up line." she said.
He laughed, smiling, "No, no."
"Well, you're very polite. For that, I thank you." she smiled a beautiful smile.
"No problem." he said, and walked back to Johnny's side.
"That looked like more than asking for time." he said, his eyes narrowing, suspiciously.
"Just a small discussion. Nothing more." he said, still thinking about her eyes.
"Sure. I had that same look with Devi." he said.
"...No. Nothing of the sort. Its not like I could even be interested in her if I wanted to, anyway. She's not real. A 2 dimensional character. Meant to be just another blurry face. Part of a crowd of passionless people." he said, looking down.
"...And you only make it blatantly obvious that you don't want that." Nny said, smirking.
Jhonen looked into the stars.
Over the stars, you mean. If you like that girl, you should see if you can get in her pants before you get out of here.
...Why would I do that? That is not only disrespectful, but degrading.
What? The desire to fuck?
The desire to 'fuck' just comes with seeing someone attractive.
And you thought she was attractive.
So? That means I have to act like one of the sex-crazed monkey people?
Or like a man.
Ugh, you remind me of that asshole Billy or whoever he was. 'Fucking bitches' doesn't make a man manly. It takes more manhood to respect women than it does to degrade them.
Have you considered joining Womens Rights groups and getting french manicures?
Women deserve rights, asshole. They make BABIES. Future generations.
I thought you hated people.
I don't hate people. I find few worth giving that level of attention to.
...God, I hate your way of thinking.
What? Sensibly?
...Shut up.
Gotcha there, didn't I?
Not for long. I can still pry into your thoughts on that girl. You didn't even have the courage to ask what her name was.
That would be rude. If I see her again I might smile. Get off my back about it. How many random strangers would you ask the name of?
You initiated contact with her. You could've asked her name and gotten away with it.
Again, why would I want to know her name if I'm just leaving anyway? Whats the point in a connection I can't build on?
Ah. You want a connection. Is that why lovers and couples make you sick? You haven't found your connection yet. Well, if you want to find true love-
I'm not looking for true love.
-Don't interrupt me. Fine. If you're looking for your 'connection', you could get one with that girl, even if you're just leaving her anyway, you could still think back and remember her, and know not everyone is an asshole.
I know not everyone is an asshole. I just don't meet much more than social maggots.
And now you finally met someone, and you're not even willing to try to develop one of these connections you speak of?
What's the point if I'm just going to leave her!
You can REMEMBER her when you get back!
Again, you fail to see she is only a comic book character.
So? Find her. Have a connection while you can.
But what if it's like some creepy time warp thing, and I end up forgetting everything that ever happened when I get back to my dimension?
So then, just take more joy in what you'll have. If you don't have memories of what happened, you still had a connection, and maybe you'll even feel happier.
But I'll just have to leave her. What's the point if I can't even REMEMBER it, and especially if I couldn't stay with her?
Ah! You're NOT GETTING IT!
...Sometimes I'd rather not.
They approached the doorway of the 24/7, and got their drinks, paid the man and left. He looked like the clerk in the 'Meanwhile' that starred him, the one where the clerk was actually Satan. Jhonen smirked at the thought.
They left the store. Johnny went in a different direction. He crossed the street, Jhonen following him, wondering where they could be going.
As if he read his mind, Nny spoke, "We're gonna go to the park. I wanna watch the stars. I would go to the cliff, but I didn't bring the car, and I'd lose the moment if we went back to get it."
"Oh. Ok." he said, and they marched onward towards the park. Somehow, 'I toldjaso' didn't seem like a great thing to say.
He knew not many people would be there around this hour. Except maybe horny teenagers wanting to try and re-enact romance movies they've seen on TV and make out under the stars in an effort to fake something meaningful. But, like you eat around the bruise on an apple, they could just walk around the idiocy of humanity.
Jhonen looked around, slurping his Brain-Freezy, and something caught his eye. A group of shadowy people under a weeping-willow, giggling. Probably a bunch of pre-pubesent girls having a slumber party or something.
"Baboons." he muttered under his breath. They were a good 50 or 60 feet away.
"Who?" Nny asked. Jhonen had almost forgotten he'd been walking with him.
"Nothing. Human worm babies. Catching fireflies or something of the like." he said.
"Why would you say that?" Johnny asked.
"What do you mean?" Jhonen inquired. He couldn't understand what would inspire Nny to respond to that with a question.
"Isn't that the girl you were talking to before? The Time-Girl?" he asked, looking at her.
Jhonen squinted. Damn his vision. In the dark, he couldn't make out her image. He'd recognize her in a heartbeat though.
Speaking of heartbeat, did you notice yours increased when Johnny mentioned her?
What do you mean?
I mean, when you realized who Nny was talking about, your heart skipped a beat, and sped up.
So?
Heeeeeeugh...Do you read any romance ANYTHING! Classic sign of love-
I'm not in love. You're insane.
No, he's insane. Oooh, I think I hit a nerve. Love is something you don't even want to SAY, much less to be in.
Who are you to claim to know my censure on love or anything like that?
I'm part of you. Lets not get off topic, though. So, and I'll put it in your terms, a classic sign of 'connection' is increase in heartrate. Read any romance novel.
Just because a novel said so doesn't mean-
The novels are written by people who've been in love. Or in 'connection', as you say.
You can't be in a connection, idiot. You HAVE connections.
Ugh. So technical.
Well, when you screw up, I will ALWAYS be right there to point it out until you go away again.
Well, thats a lovely thought, but I'm afraid you're stuck with me. And if I could give you a cutesy smile, I would. And it still doesn't change the fact that you want to bone that girl!
WOULD YOU SHUT THE HELL UP!
...Ooo...Love and connections really ARE the touchy subject with you. You really need to get that under control. I think I know why though. You never really had any of your own with anyone, and you want to, and you find them difficult, and complex.
Shut up. Everything's complex.
With you, anyway.
When I do find a connection, or 'love', as you say, I want it to be real. Something real. I want just something real. Someone with which to drive down a winding road and to look up at whatever's above us. Be they stars, moon, or purple horseshoes.
Alright. Thats good. The first step's always admitting it.
Ugh...You're frustrating.
You think I'M frustrating! Have you ever tried reasoning with you before!
"Nny, I can't see her. Its too dark, they're in the cast-shadow of the the tree."
"C'mon," Johnny said, grabbing Jhonen's arm, and tugging him to their destination.
"Where're we going?" he asked.
"To the other side of the tree. I have a weird feeling about this. I can see her, even if you can't, but I can't tell who the other people are."
"What do you mean a 'weird' feeling?"
"I mean something strange is going on over there." he said, his eyebrows furrowing.
Why was he doing this? Why did he CARE? It wasn't him that had a 'thing' for that girl. Did Jhonen even have a 'thing' for that girl? Sure he did. That look was undeniable. He was interested. The problem was he just wouldn't admitt it. And her being a stranger and all probably didn't do much for his nerve. At least he knew Devi. He knew her name, her place of work and visited her everyday. And liked her a lot.
They got behind the tree. What Nny saw horrified him. That girl was being...There weren't words. Violated in one of the worst ways, maybe?
"What?" Jhonen asked, concerned, and Johnny realized he had gasped.
"Uh...Maybe I was wrong. I don't think its her...?" he said, hoping Jhonen would bite. He knew it was her.
"Liar." Jhonen muttered, and peeked over Nny's shoulder. He emitted a gasp as well.
"What the hell are they doing to her? Who are they?" he asked, verging sounding angry.
"By the incessent, bubbly, giggly, evil laughter, I'd say they're cheer-leaders." Nny said.
"What are they doing, though!" he asked.
"It looks like they're...Well...I want to say 'hazing', but I'm not quite sure she wanted to join the squad." he whispered with worry in his voice.
Her face was smeared with tomato red lipstick, magic-marker blacked out around her eyes, her beautiful brown hair was in frizzy, sloppy, lop-sided pig tails, and she was half clothed. They listened.
"Aw, c'mon," a girl who looked like a test-tube baby giggled, "Why not?"
"BECAUSE I don't want to be a cheerleader!" the girl said, trying with no avail to stay as calm as she could. She tried to run, but one of them pulled on her pantleg, which was the only article of outer-wear she had left, and was stuggling to keep her black bra on. She finally screamed.
"Just leave me alone!" she yelled.
Now might be a good time to jump in.
Gee, ya think!
Jhonen leapt over Nny, who gave him a strange look.
"Hey." he said.
Because that sounded threatening.
Shut up. I'm trying. I didn't have to do anything.
But you did.
What? Now isn't the time to get into this.
Sure it is. You would've done something before, but Johnny was in the way. And you would've gotten torn apart.
By cheerleaders? Please, give me SOME credit.
No, I don't mean they'd beat you up. I mean they probably find you good boyfriend material.
...Ew. Why?
C'mon...Tall, dark, mysterious. AND an artist? What girl doesn't want you?
...I'm not that tall. And actually, I didn't think I was that dark either. I don't really have that much of a tan. And as for being mysterious and artistic, I'm not mysterious, and my art would disturb anyone with a shred of morality. Hell-O! Johnny the Homocidal Maniac?
...Ugh. Fine. Go out there. Get pummeled by fan-girls.
God, do you ever shut up?
They looked at him.
"Uh, Jhonen?" Nny's voice sounded behind him.
"Yeah?" he asked, staring at them.
"I count eight, not including Time-Girl."
"You've kindly dubbed her Time-Girl. How nice. Eight? Oh. Beautiful."
"Once again, you forget who you travel with." Johnny said, smiling.
Then it clicked. Jhonen wouldn't have to really do much. Johnny would take care of it. And he could get Time-Girl out of there.
"C'mon." he said, picking her up, and sheilding her eyes as Johnny tore them apart with the knife he kept in his boot.
She heard screams and assumed the worst. He took her back around behind the willow tree.
"What the hell happened to you?"
"...Who are you?" she asked, blackish gray swirly tears streaked her face.
"I'm Jhonen Vasquez." he said, "Who might you be?" he asked, trying as hard as he could to seem as kind as he could.
"My name is Kaz." she said.
KAZ! Thats like three letters away from GAZ! WHAT THE HELL! Is my art trying to come back to haunt me!
Ok, ok. Relax. Just calm down. Breathe deeply, you know, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Kaz. So what? Maybe it's a coincidence. It's still a cool name. And somehow, very fitting of her features.
Alright...I'll breathe.
Its not like you to be shocked so easily.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes, for the most part. I want my shirt back." she said, and moved to get up and get it, but Jhonen knew what was going on just around the other side of the trunk of the tree she sat against, and sat her back down.
"I'll get it for you. Don't worry about it." he said.
"...Ok.." she said, hesitantly. She pulled her knees up to her chest, and hummed a song.
He came back, and handed her a dark blue shirt with what looked like gold Korean symbols painted on it.
"Thank you." she said, dusting it off and pulling it on.
"No problem."
"So what are you? A hero?" she asked.
"...Maybe. I did save the Pope from being abducted by aliens once." he said, supressing a smirk.
She smiled, "Oh, I see. Well, Mr. Jhonen, you're very impressive."
"Thank you, Ms. Kaz." he said, taking a mini-bow, and standing. He held out his hand to help her up.
"Johnny, can we go?" he asked, picking his Brain-Freezy up off a patch of grass.
"Yeah, I'm done here." he said, and shook drops of blood off of his hands, and sipped his Brain-Freezy.
"You never put that thing down?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What? My drink? No, never. Why would I?" he asked.
Kaz laughed, and Jhonen rolled his eyes and they left, making sure Kaz was guided so far around that she couldn't see the gore left under the tree.
"So are you guys walking me home or what?" She asked, as they walked along a brick-laden path that stretched across the park.
"I don't know. Where do you wanna go?" Jhonen asked her.
"Well, I'd like to spend more time with you," she said, smirking and looking away, "But if I'm annoying you, then I'll go home."
"Oh, no, I don't mind if you stay with us. I rather enjoy your company."
So he finally admitts it.
Knock it off.
...Mhm...Whatever...
I'm not going to get into this with you now.
"Ok, then I guess I'll stay with you." she said, smiling.
"Um..." he said, pressing his lips together, "You're hair is quite attractive..." he said, trying his best to hold in a laugh.
She realized her hair was still in revolting looking pigtails, and removed them, raking her fingers through it to smooth it out. It worked pretty well.
"Is all that crap they smeared on my face still there?" she asked.
"Yes. Did you think it would just disappear?" he asked, smiling.
Cute. Joanie loves Chachi. Johnny thought, looking around. Well, he supposed if he was a carbon copy of Jhonen, then Jhonen could find love here, like he did. Again, nice people are mixed in with social maggots. But what if he wasn't a carbon copy of Jhonen?
Thinking of it, Jhonen had said something about never having killed anyone. The whole "Bad Day" thing. Johnny, in essence, hadn't the 'art of dealing with a bad day' quite mastered yet. So, really, Johnny was Jhonen's way of dealing with a bad day, his own mastry of it.
He understood now.
He glanced at Jhonen. He and Kaz were quietly talking. Smiling and such. He used a tissue that was in his back pocket to wipe off her blacked out eyes, and the gloms of lipstick the vile creatures, aka: Cheerleaders, put on her face. He listened to them smile, and whisper and talk about stupid little things.
"So what's with you?" she asked Nny, looking at him.
He watched her out of the corner of his narrowed eyes, "What do you mean?" he asked.
"You're so quiet." she said, "I don't think I even know your name."
"You would, if you paid any attention to details. You should. To not do so is irresponsible, and will get you killed one day."
She raised an eyebrow, "I know that it's Johnny. I just figured a formal introduction would be more...Acceptable?" she said, supressing a smirk.
Johnny quieted. So she did know what she was doing, "Fine, Ms. Kaz. My name is Johnny C. But you can call me Nny." he said.
"Hello, then, Nny." she smiled, "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." he said, and they shook hands.
"Nny, may I speak to you privately?" Jhonen asked.
"Yeah, sure." he said.
"Stay right there." Jhonen smiled at Kaz.
"Because I was gonna go somewhere." she said, sarcastically.
They walked a few feet away, out of earshot.
"What do you think about taking her home with us?" Jhonen asked Nny.
Johnny shot daggers at him, "No."
"Why? I don't want to lose her."
And the truth comes out.
Shut up. I didn't mean it that way. I mean what if we never see each other again?
Did we not have a discussion about MEMORIES. I cannot stress that factor enough.
Jhonen sighed, and knew he'd hear it from his little conscience guy later. But for now, he'd just try to convince Johnny.
"C'mon." Jhonen said.
Nny looked disgusted, "You sound like a whiney baby." he said, "God, fine. But let me find out she went, like, exploring my house and there'll be hell to pay."
"THANKS!" Jhonen said, smiling, "Now I just have to find out if she wants to come."
"If you're gonna screw her or something, I have no condoms or any paraphanilia of the carnal variety, so-"
"WHAT? Why would I do that! I want to be friends."
"What KIND of friends?" Johnny asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't be a hole, ok." he said, glaring at Nny over the rim of his glasses.
They walked back to her and she agreed to go.
"It'd be ashame if we lost contact." she said.
"Indeed." he said, and they continued talking and whatnot.
AN: Yuck yuck yuck. I don't like how this one ended but I couldn't think of anything better. Let me know what you think about this idea for the next chapter: Zim, Gaz, and Dib appear for a few minutes at Johnny's house when they get back. I got the idea from a review...And I, very much, liked it, and want to use it. :-D Hit me back just to chat truly yours your biggest fan this is stan...I must refrain from listening to eminem...but its so addictive...God, I need help. I can just see the day when I walk around with a big 300 lb. chain around my neck and cornrows. Scary thought. Fo' sho'. Not.