Johnny's Girl

"We're here Toni," My dad pulled in front of the school I would be tending.

"Dad, what's the point of even going to a public school, we'll be moving anyways in three months," I looked in my dads review mirror, and started putting on my lipstick.

"Honey I told you, we're here for at least three years, don't worry a bout a thing dear, " He rubbed the back of my neck, then took my lipstick away, tossing it in my book bag.

I grabbed the bag, and left my dads car, "Pick me up at three dad."

My dad has been in the military since he was seventeen. He said that he stayed in the Army so long, was to get me things, but I knew the real reason was to keep his mind off my mother. She passed away when I was three years old due to heart problems, but my dad doesn't talk much about her. We aren't rich, and we're not poor either my dad tells me all the time, 'remember Toni girl, just because you have money, doesn't mean we're better, and just because we don't have a lot we aren't nothings.' My dad grew up in Tulsa when he was a child, and when he signed up as a recruiter he was given a choice of California, or Texas, and my dad wanted Tulsa, because California was where we lost my mom.

I walked down the hall to the registration office to pick up my schedule. They seemed real busy, one of the women pointed for me to sit at the bench before I could say anything. I saw a boy come into the office, and drop off a time card, he paused, and smiled at me before stepping out of the office.

"You're name dear?"

I kept staring at where the boy had been standing before.

"Miss?"

"Oh, sorry," I grabbed my bag, and went to where the lady was waiting, "My name is Toni Breanne River."

"Yes, your parents registered you yesterday," She came around the counter, and stood in front of me, "Here you go dear," she handed me the slip which contained my classes, "If you need anything come here, okay.

I smiled as I started walking down the hall, "Room 32?"

"Hey there, your new right?"

I jumped when I heard a voice behind me, but smiled when I recognized him from the office, "Are you following me?"

He took the schedule out of my hands, "You're in my first class, follow me." He took my bag, and started walking.

"Hey, give me that," I hurried to catch up to him.

"Hey I was trying to be nice, and carry your bag," He stopped in front of room 32, "Here we are."

The teacher opened the door before the boy, or I even had a chance to grab the handle, "Keith Mathews, aren't you suppose to be in you study room."

"I thought he was in this class," I looked at the boy, then at the teacher, "The Ms., ….that lady in the office asked this boy to show me to my class since he was already there…."I lied, taking my bag from him, and walking into the classroom taking a seat beside an empty desk, and a boy.

The teacher believed me.

I walked around the library picking up the books I needed for my classes at lunch, not really paying attention to where I was going.

"I didn't catch your name," I smiled at the already familiar voice from this morning.

"Hello Keith," I tried balancing the books I had in my arm, while I reached for the last book I needed, causing all of them to drop, I knelt down to get them, but the boy already had them picked up, "Thank you Keith."

He shook his head, "Two-Bit," he smiled at me, "I'll help carry these to your locker. So you met Johnny Cade, in first period, he's my buddy." He lead me to an empty locker, "This is the best locker in the whole school."

I tried to see what made it any different then the other ones.

He could probably sense what I was thinking, "Alright it's not the locker itself, but I hear your neighbor is a great guy," he grinned.

"Hey, Toni?"

I smiled at the familiar voice from first class, "Hey Johnny, thanks for sharing your book with me," I looked at Two-Bit, "Thank you Two-Bit for the locker."

"Hey Johnny," Two-Bit patted his friends shoulder, "You want to see a movie tonight?"

"Actually, I was going to see…." He got shy suddenly, "Movie sounds good, Two-Bit."

"I have Mrs. Nasterson for science," I announced to stop the silence.

"Me to," Johnny helped put the books in my locker.

"Want me to walk you to your next class, Toni?" Two-Bit offered.

"Sure, you come to Johnny," I started walking with Two-Bit. He slid his arm around my waist, "Two-Bit?" I removed his hand from my waist, "Please cool it."

"So Toni, where did you move from," Johnny took a hold of my shoulder, and started walking away from Two-Bit, succeeding. "You alright?"

I smiled as we finally lost Two-Bit, "I was getting kind of nervous with him grabbing my waist. Just need to like someone enough for them to be able to hold me in any way."

Johnny let go of my shoulder quickly, "Sorry."

I stopped him before entering the class, "What were you going to see? Before Two-Bit asked you to go to the movies."

He blushed a little, "I was going to see if you wanted to go to the movies."

I smiled at the boy, "How old are you Johnny."

"Sixteen, Two-Bit is eighteen , he purposely got held back," Johnny lead me into the classroom full of students, and sat down beside me.

I leaned in towards him, "Pick me up at 5:00pm, tomorrow."

"Really?" He smiled at me, "Okay, you sure you don't want to come tonight?"

I smiled, "I thought you asked me out as on a date, I didn't know it was to hang out with all the guys. I could come tonight then."

"And tomorrow," Johnny added, "I keep an eye on our friend Two-Bit for you."

"My personal bodyguard," I smiled at Johnny.

He now was listening to the teacher. He had tanned skin, black hair, and brown eyes, with a mystery to them.

Johnny waited outside with me, for my father to pick me up, "Do you want to hang out until we go to the movies later?"

I heard my dads car honk, and him shout, "Hey baby girl!"

I leaned inside the car window, "Daddy, I was wondering if Johnny could come to our house, then go to the movies later."

My father looked Johnny up, and down. He was good at trying to intimidate guys who showed interest in me, "Come on kids."

Johnny jumped in the back seat, as I got in the front with my dad.

"What grade you in Johnny?" My dad likes silence just as much as I do, not at all.

"I'm a sophomore," Johnny watched as we pulled into the driveway.

My dad stepped out of the car, and watched as Johnny opened the door for me, then my dad waved at our neighbors, he looked at me, "Those are the Curtis's Toni, I believe one of them go to school with you."

"Yeah, Ponyboy does, he had to go to court so his brother could sign papers claiming him, and his other brother Sodapop, that's why you didn't meet him." Johnny surprised my dad, with the information, "Families should stay together," he said softly.

"Hey Johnny, you staying the night after the movies tonight?" The eldest Curtis hurried across the way.

Johnny nodded.

"Darry, this is my daughter I was telling you about, she's the same age as your younger brother," My dad looked at Johnny, "This is some one we picked up on the way home, he said he knew you?" Dad winked as to say he was just talking.

Johnny smiled at Darry, "You, and your brothers going to the movies Darry," he seemed to like my dads sense of humor.

"You bet Johnny Cade," Darry smiled at me, "You guys are always welcome to our house Preston, and Toni." (incase I forgot to mention, my dads name is Preston River.) Darry took my dad aside, "I want to talk to you for a moment Preston."

"Let's go inside Johnny," I took him by the arm, "I got lots of homework to get done."

Johnny stopped in the living room and whistled, "This looks exactly like Two-Bit's, and Steve's house. Mine looks more like Pony's, without the family love though," he joined me at the kitchen table.

I smiled as he sat beside me, "So what should we start with first Johnny?"

He leaned in, and kissed me, then pulled away blushing, "Literature, we have to write a poem about an emotion."

I really love to write, except poetry, "I don't like poetry."

"Me neither much, unless I have something on my mind then I write poetry," He started writing on his paper, not allowing me to peek at what he was writing down.

Dad came into the house, smiling at Johnny, and kissing the top of my head, "Hey baby girl, what kind of homework they assign you?"

"I have to think of a Science Fair project, and we have to write a poem as well," I gave a disgusted face to show my dad I really disliked my assignment, he laughed at my expression, "Don't worry about it, you have until Monday, it's Friday, get your coat, and go to the movies. He tossed Johnny and I a quarter."

Johnny set it on the table, "I got my own money, and don't worry about Toni, we'll see she make it back before mid-night, or whenever you want her back."

"Johnny, dad doesn't have a curfew for me," I kissed my dads cheek, and went to my room to grab my coat, then joined Johnny, who was already by the front door waiting, "Bye Mr. River."

"Nice meeting you Johnny, remember your always welcome here," Dad waved to me goofily, "I'll be polishing my rifle Toni."

I glared at my dad, then got Johnny out of the house, "My dads strange."