Unlikely Paths Of Love (4)

(Crossover) The Outsiders/Karate Kid

CHAPTER 4

Johnny always seemed to wake up in unknown places.

He saw a young lady who looked about twenty one or so. She was very cute. She had big, hazel eyes and long, pin straight brown hair.

"Where...who...?"

"Johnny, I'm the school nurse. You passed out in the hallway. Luckily, your brother Daniel carried you here and offered to be here when you wake up, but I told him he had to go to class."

"What time is it?" Johnny asked groggily, stretching.

"Time for you to go home. Daniel told me he would come down to get you at the end of the day."

Johnny sat up and sighed. "Thank you for taking care of me, am I sick or somethin?'"

The nurse shrugged. "I presume so."

"Hmm..."

Daniel walked through the door. "Are you alright, Johnny?"

Johnny nodded. "I feel sick."

"Thank you for taking care of him, nurse Flora."

"No problem. Hey, are you two actually related? You look like twins."

"No no, we're not related, I'm his foster brother." Johnny said, standing.

"Well, you two are both absolutely adorable anyways. Goodbye, boys."

Daniel and Johnny walked to his car. "Man, isn't the school nurse hot? One day maybe I'll let her give me a 'health lesson,'" Daniel said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Johnny only looked at him with a look of shock and disgust. What the hell?! Johnny thought in his head. Nurse Flora was like 4 or 5 years older than us, and just...what the hell! Johnny thought. He hated her now. He definitely hated her.

Daniel playfully punched him in the arm. "Relax, man. I'm joking."

Johnny sighed in relief as they drove home.

"Mom, Johnny's sick," Daniel announced loudly as they walked through the door.

Mrs. Larusso was washing dishes. "Are you, Johnny? What happened? Did you throw up or something?"
She dried her hands and walked over to touch his forehead.

"He passed out in the hallway at school!" Daniel said with a broad grin on his face.

"Why the heck are you smiling, Daniel?"

"I got invited to a party this saturday."

"My head hurts..." Johnny moaned as he lay down.

"Here, I'll get you aspirin. Lay down in your bedroom, Johnny."

Johnny walked to his bedroom, changing into his pajamas and laying on the bed and pulling the covers over.

Mrs. Larusso walked in the room. "Here, I got you orange juice. Here's some aspirin. And let me take your temperature." She stuck a thermometer in his mouth.

Johnny uncomfortably played with the thermometer in his mouth.

Mrs. Larusso pulled it out. "Johnny, you're sick."

"Oh," was all he could manage.

Mrs. Larusso left the room as Daniel walked in. He knelt on the floor beside Johnny.

"Why'd I pass out?" Johnny asked.

Daniel shrugged. "Maybe 'cause your sick? But I remember I showed you that girl, Rosie. You stared at her for a while and said, 'Epina Piper' and then you fainted."

Johnny sighed. "Epina Piper's my girlfriend...or...ex-girlfriend..."

"Hey hey, woah, don't cry, man." Daniel said, consoling him.

"But what's that Rosie girl like?"

Daniel laughed. "Just 'cause Rosie and Epina may look alike don't mean they're personalities are. What was Epina like? I'll try to compare."

"Epina...she's very shy, sweet and tends to be clumsy. She was neither a soc or a greaser. But she really liked me. She got along well with my buddies. Her best friend was Ponyboy, and I accused her of having a crush on him. But...I loved her. She loved me. Soon she broke out of her shell and became brave and fearless—And sweet, shy and clumsy all at once. She loved reading and writing, too."

Daniel smiled. "Sounds like a nice girl. But pfft, Rosie is a no-funny-business girl who's life is dedicated to sports and classic rock music. Y'know, I heard she has five crates full of cassette tapes at home, all hers. Heard it from Ali."

Motherfucker Ali, Johnny thought.

"Rosie's all serious and sarcastic, even though she looks like Snow White."

She does, Johnny thought.

"So...I kind of recommend not making a move on her." Daniel said, making it sound like a question.

"Who knows, maybe under that layer of toughness and sarcasm, lies a sweet loving girl who likes sunsets or somethin.'"

"Right."

The two boys started cracking up. But Johnny had three people on his mind—Epina. Rosie. Daniel.

It was like three doors to his destiny. Sure, he didn't know Rosie all that well yet. But he would soon.

Epina—the one who was there for him even when times were tough? She loved him so much. She told him everyday. She died to defend his friends.

And Daniel. He took care of Johnny. He knew him so well in only a matter of a day. They looked alike, too. No. They didn't look alike. They were practically mirror images. But...did Johnny have a crush on him? His cheeks reddened at the thought of them kissing and tried to wave the thought away.

"So...anyways...is there anything you need right now? I can get it for you if you like."

Johnny was still reddened at the thought of them kissing. Then he inhaled, and decided to go for a bold move.

"A kiss."

Daniel leaned back as his eyes widened. "Wh-what?"

Johnny shrugged, but turned his head away and was as red as a tomato. "J-Just on the cheek. It'll help me feel better..."

Johnny was surprised when Daniel smiled and laughed. "Well, okay!" He leaned in and wrapped his arms around Johnny's neck, giving him a big kiss on the cheek with a 'mchwah' sound.

"There! You feel better now?" Daniel asked with a smile.

Johnny shrugged, fiddling with his hands and still reddened. "Y-yeah..."

"Well alright. I'll turn on the TV for you. Y'know, I'm really happy you're my brother. You're kind of my only friend who's a guy and my age."

Johnny smiled as Daniel left the room, closing the door.

Johnny touched his cheek where Daniel kissed him. It wasn't a soft, gentle kiss that he expected, it was a brotherly kiss.

Johnny felt frustrated that Daniel only thought of him as a brother. He wanted more.

He somehow started daydreaming about Daniel's pink soft-looking sweet lips on his, gently kissing...

He gasped as his eyes widened, blushing and shaking his head briskly. He should not be thinking of such things. He needed rest.

He sinked under the sheets, closing his eyes to take a nap.

Daniel and Ali were sitting on the curb outside his house.

"Is Johnny okay?"

"Yeah. He's sick, but he'll be better soon."

Ali sighed. "You know..."

"Hmm?"

She laughed. "...you and Johnny would be really cute together."

"Um, what?!" Daniel reddened.

"Don't worry! I'm kidding. You have me. Also, doesn't Johnny have a crush on Rosie?"

"Where'd you hear that?"

"I dunno. I saw him look at her and pass out in the hallway today..."

"Oh that? It's just because he's sick."

"Hmm. But do you think they'd be cute together?"

"Absolutely not."

"I think they would."

"Well that's your opinion."

Ali looked at Daniel. "Why are you being so defensive? Do you have something against her or something?"

"I...just don't think they'd mesh well."

"...or did you actually believe me when I said you and Johnny would be a cute couple...?" Ali asked with a smirk.

Daniel playfully punched her. "Jeez, Mills...you're funny."

"Aren't I, Larusso? But really, you two got serius chemistry."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Would you rather me date my brother or you?"

"Well..." Ali smiled mischievously.

"What a perv," Daniel said as he laughed.

"C'mon, I think Johnny really has a crush on you, Larusso!"

"Back to last name terms, are we now?"

"Daniel. C'mon. He likes you."

"Says the one who just said 'Johnny and Rosie forever, OMG team Josie!"

"I don't sound like that. And is that seriously their couple name? Josie? But c'mon, Janiel is way better. Josie sounds like a name of an annoying girl who likes roses and is a professional ass wipe."

"You like roses..."

"I do. But seriously. Rosie and Johnny got nothing on you and Johnny."

Daniel blushed. "First of all we're both boys. Second, we're brothers, third we look like mirror images, and four Johnny still loves his girl. Get real, Ali."

"I'm just saying that you and Johnny would be the number one cutest couple ever. Cuter than us. And we're pretty cute."

"We're not that cute."

"People are voting us for cutest couple at school. But if I could, I'd vote you and Johnny. Just saying."

"Enough, please. Can we get ice cream?"

"'Kay," Ali replied.

They walked together to the ice cream shop.

"I'll get some for Johnny too," Ali said. "What flavor does he like?"

"Peanut butter for me. I think Johnny likes bubblegum. He told me before."

"Aw, that is so cute!"

"What, that his favorite ice cream flavor is bubblegum?"

"Yeah!"

"You are so weird, I swear."

Ali payed for the ice cream. Daniel and her walked back to his house.

She ate her strawberry ice cream. "If we break up, will you and Johnny become a gay couple?"

"And what about you? Will you and Susan become a lesbian couple?"

Ali made a face. "Gross, Daniel."

He slapped his palm to his face.

"What was that?"

"A facepalm. It's a sign of frustration."

"That's weird. I hope it won't catch on."

They arrived back at his house. "Bye, Daniel! I had fun!" She walked away.

"Aren't you gonna kiss me?" He called out.

She turned and smiled. "Give Johnny a kiss for me!" And walked away.

Daniel walked inside quickly so the ice cream wouldn't melt.

He walked into their room. He shook Johnny gently. "Hey, Johnny. I got a treat for you."

Johnny moaned. "What is it?" He really looked sick, too.

"Ice cream. Do you like bubblegum?" He sat beside Johnny on the bed.

"Yeah. I dig that flavor."

"I got it for you with Ali."

"Thanks...but I'm too tired to eat it..."

"I can feed it to you," Daniel said immediately with a blush.

"Okay." Johnny was too tired to react.

Daniel used the little plastic spoon to scoop some of the ice cream. "Here," Johnny opened his mouth as Daniel fed him slowly.

"Mmm...that's real good ice cream."

"Here, have more." Daniel kept feeding Johnny the ice cream until it was finished.

"Thanks, Daniel." Johnny said weakly.

"N-no problem, Johnny. Rest up, okay?"

Daniel left the room to eat his own ice cream, but he realized it was already melted.