Johnny/Peanut... darn, no reviews.
"I got Johnny's back, you know Peanut" Norton says as they walked the dark streets of New Coventry, their jackets zipped and fastened shut ot keep the cold winter air out. "But, the stuff you put-up with from him surprise me."
"Wha'd'ya mean, Norton?" Larry asked looking up at his large friend, all he wanted to do was fnd Johnny and get him back to the Tenements without him going off and trying to kill all the Townies again. One trip to Happy Volts had been quite enough for the whole clique.
"I mean you're always stickin' your neck out there- more than the rest of us. We dunno why Johnny's not in school you go off, find him, and get him to come. Johnny's lying in bed over Lola- after about a minute you can get him to come out. What's that man? I mean.. I know you wer ebest friends before the clque, before Lola, but there more to it?"
Larry shrugged one shoulder, but then nodded, "Yeah. When we were kids- you know how Johnny's folks 're in the slammer, well, he was livin' with me. One night.. well, he got a little worked up..."
A little worked up? Larry socffed at his own lie. A little didn't even scratch the surface- Johnny could hardly breath one night he was so hysterical! Larry had held him for hours and all the older boy did was cry, and cry, and cry. Johnny hardly cired ever since, he used up a lot of his tears that night. Of course, Larry never understood why he'd been so upset. His father was an abusive drunk, and his mother never stopped him, never said a word. She resented getting pregnant so young, and resented her son for making her a mother. Now that they'd gotten tossed in prison, what did it matter?
"...I promised I'd never leave him alone."
That was true, more true than anything else in the world. He had meant it then, and he'd mean it forever. If Johnny went off and married a woman, setteled down, had children, Larry would eagerly be his best-man at the wedding, even if it hurt to see Johnny go to someone else. Johnny would be happy- if here was a woman there, and if she wasn't Larry would be. He'd eagerly be at Johnny's side. Forever. God, he remembered that night so well.
Johnny was sobbing, his face burried into the collar of Larry's pajama top- and he was hysterical, crying like the world had some to a crahsing and sudden halt and Larry just sat there, holding him. His arms around the older boys trembling shoulders.
"Ssshhh, Johnny, its okay" he whispered, "Its gonna be alright"
"D- don't g-go away- Larry- PLEASE?!" the last word was howled, "Please st-st- stay forever! Please? Please?!"
"Of course I will, Johnny. I won't go anywhere ever."
"I d- d- don't wanna b-b-be allooonnneeee!" he howled "No- I- I can't! Its too scary- too hard.. stay.." he was whimpering this, "please, stay"
"I'll stay. I'll stay forever and ever."
"Promise? Promise?! Don't lie t- to me- me Larrryy!"
"I'm not lying" he brushed away the tears. Johnny flinched but began to relax- slow, shallow breaths as he gripped his best friend's shirt and his eyes started slipping shut. Larry rubbed his back in soothing circles, his fingers brushing through his short chestnut hair. Repeating himself over, and over.
"I promise, Johnny, I promise."