By the weekend, Sally was sipping some orange juice at the kitchen table, looking over her weekend homework, and she couldn't help but feel as if her issues were unresolved.
Thinking harder on the feeling, she nodded mostly to herself.
It was time to settle things between her and Johnny, and Mary and Dillan.
Johnny was staring blankly at the book he had to read for Galloway's class- he didn't like to read. He didn't understand all the complex sentence structures and it annoyed him because he really didn't have that small of a vocabulary.
Sally looked to Johnny, "We're not done with our escapade of settling things, you know…"
He looked up at her- "Huh?" he asked. He had a red mark on his cheek from where his fist had been for the last hour and a half.
"Mary and Dillan." she said, frowning at the mark, "Having troubles with that book?"
He nodded, "It sucks." he told her flatly.
Sally lifted the book slightly, "Ooh… Yeah… Not one of my favorites. Dull, long winded, terrible, and unimaginative… Any ways, to other important things; We have to settle the dust between us and them."
Johnny made a face- like a child might of offered a food they disliked. "Why?" he asked.
Sally raised an eye brow at Johnny. "Johnny… Mary is your mother. You should at least make good with her."
He sighed, "It's fuckin weird."
"Yeah, well, everyone else thinks it's cute, but that doesn't change the fact that we might have hurt her real bad…" Sally responded, waving her right hand slightly.
He looked down. "We hurt her?"
Sally nodded, "In a way that needs time to heal. A pain that dwells in her heart, Johnny."
Johnny scuffed the ground and sighed, "Man."
Sally smiled sadly at Johnny, "She'd probably be at Dillan's… They'd probably be comforting one another. You and I, Johnny, are their kids and we pretty much slapped them in the face when we left…"
"Well she slapped me in the face when she picked him," he said.
"You asked her to never fall in love, Johnny. You asked her something she could never do. Would you find it fair if she told you to never date another girl after Lola?" She explained.
"I know" he sighed, "But it is a little different, Sal..."
"No. It isn't, Johnny. Would you want to be alone for the rest of your life because she asked you to?"
He sighed, "No.. but.. he's your stepdad! Our kids'll only have one set of grandparents!" he sighed.
"So what? What the fuck does that matter? Who cares how many grand parents our children have? They'll always have my crazy mother and your ass of a father to scoff at… So in fact, they won't have just one. That's a poor excuse, try again." she snorted lightly.
He rolled his eyes, "Ya want the drop-dead-honest truth?" he asked.
"Sure. Hit me with your best shot." she leaned back, arms crossed.
"I hate Dillan." he said, "So it's selfish and now you'll be mad 'cause ya like him but it's true. Mama can do a lot better."
"Why is it you hate him?" she asked, not insulted in any way. "You don't think he's better than your father?"
"He is.." he sighed, "In a way. But.. he pisses me off in a diff'rent way. Pop just ran off- pissed me off- hurt, yanno? But Dillan just sets me over the edge. He isn't real tough- he still lives with his parents!" he scoffed.
"His parents are paraplegics in wheel chairs… He's there to help out. Plus with the way my mother treated him, he needed to go where she wouldn't. Bullworth isn't a big city, she likes the noise, and what better place than home?" Sally explained.
Johnny frowned and leaned back, "He's a rich boy." he stated flatly.
"He's only a rich boy because he was raised that way, but would you like to know something extremely funny?" Sally smirked, "Wait here." and she went to their room and pulled out a few pictures she had taken from her mother's photo books, which she meticulously kept, then went back to the kitchen and set the pictures in front of Johnny, "He wasn't any more different than you!"
And in the pictures, was Dillan, far younger, Bullworth vest under a black leather jacket, hair greased and styled.
His eyes widened a bit, "The fuck?!" he jumped up to look at the pictures better, "The fuck?" he repeated, "How'd.. well.. then why'd he glare at me all the time if not 'cause I'm a Greaser?!"
"He finds me to be his daughter… If some boy just like you started dating our daughter, are you saying you'd absolutely be comfortable with him, even when you know that they are doing things like we are now?" Sally smirked.
Johnny opened his mouth to say he would but then he thought about it and sighed, "Well damn." he mumbled. She was right and he knew it. "He didn't have to act like it was a competition- the way he was acting with mama!"
Sally chuckled, "You would have done the same, Johnny… He was just like you when he was younger. You both knew that you could grate each other's grill by flirting and touching Mary and Myself."
He scuffed the balls of his shoes on the ground, "Sounds 'bout right.." he sighed.
Sally nodded and smirked, "No worries, it would have been the same if you both had switched places… So!"
"Ya wanna go apologize?" he asked her.
She glanced at the floor, "Might as well. I get bored without Mary to talk to over the phone." then, turning to look back at Johnny, she smiled, "Question is… Do you want to?"
"...I dunno" he sighed, "I'd have to talk t'Dillan, huh?"
Sally nodded, "Most likely. That would be best, Johnny."
"Okay…" he said, "But if he does that again I'm out!" he said.
Sally nodded, "Yeah, yeah… Lemme grab a jacket." and she snagged her letterman.
He nodded and shrugged on his own leather jacket. "You should bring that cross letter.." he told her, "Mama could read it over for ya. She knows Italian real good."
Sally frowned, "Cross… Oh! Yeah! Good idea!" and she disappeared into the bedroom. In minutes, she was folding the letter into her pocket, cross around her neck as always. "Let's go."
Johnny took her hand and grinned, "You think Dillan would be swayed to like me if he heard me serenade you?" he asked. He'd been doing it more and more lately. Usually some corny old song- something you wouldn't expect him to listen too.
Sally quirked a brow at him, "Uh… No. He would send you to that asylum… Happy Volts or whatever. Not a very good idea."
He frowned, "What a bummer. I had a whole new song in mind!"
"Oh, God…" Sally placed a hand over her eyes.
"Wanna hear?!" he asked, grinning excitedly.
Sally blinked, "Uhm… Not really. I think I've had enough songs for the time being, Johnny… you can sing to me on our wedding day, after I give birth, and any time after a couple of years…"
Johnny started laughing, "Okay okay- I just had to try it." he explained, "Norton said chicks dug it."
"Norton is a Baritone, you aren't." she then thought a moment as she opened the door, "Though, I don't think I'd much like hear Norton sing…"
"Norton sounds like them old black guys." he said, "Like in the swing songs of the day."
"Like Nat King Cole?" Sally asked curiously, leading the way down the stairs.
He shook his head quickly, "Like Satchmoe." he laughed.
"Satch-who?" Sally shrugged lightly, music, even though she enjoyed it, was not her specialty. Especially older music.
Johnny thought a moment, "The old black guy who sang 'what a wonderful world'... OH!" he gasped, "Like the guy in the temptations!" he said, "You know the Temptations, right?"
"Of course. Who doesn't?" she blinked, "Other than snotty kids who need a smack down."
Johnny laughed, "Right- well the low, low one in the Temptations. He sounds like that."
Sally stopped as they got to the street, "When did you hear Norton sing?"
"He sings all the time!" Johnny said, "Specially for his girl." he laughed.
"Norton has a girl? Since when? And why the hell haven't I met her?" Sally smirked.
"She lives down in Alabama." he said, "She hasn't been up a few months and we don't mention her when she's not around or he gets pouty." Johnny laughed.
"Oh, wow… Got him self a southern girl, huh? She a Southern Bell?" Sally chuckled.
Johnny shrugged, "She's awful strict." he smiled, "She don't even let him near another girl. He's heels over head for her."
"The term is Head over heels, Johnny. And I don't think she'd like me around much, then…" Sally chuckled, shrugging lightly.
"No- heels over head-" he said, "Bono sang it." he told her knowledgably, "And it sounds better. But she'd like you- you're my girl." he explained.
"D'you honestly think she would be able to like me if Norton's so in love with her when she acts like me and I act like her? We'd be more of a threat to one another than you'd know…" Sally chuckled, leading the way towards Dillan's place.
"...you'll just have t'meet her." he laughed, "You do got a point though."
"Of course I do." she shook her head lightly.
"You always do." he smiled.
Sally laced her arm around his back, "Aww… It's nice when I'm agreed with! Never shall I forget such actions!" she teased, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"You're.. really weird." he grinned and kissed her.
She kissed back, "No… Really weird would be this:" and she bit his jacket, shaking her head slightly, earning stares from a few people as they passed.
Emitting a small growl, she grinned up at him, black leather still between her teeth.
Johnny smirked, "Really weird and unreasonably sexy." he smirked and kissed her, "Why don't you do that in bed?"
"Because you whine when you don't get what you want as fast as possible. Then you whine in the morning how I bite too hard…" she snorted lightly.
"Bite anyway and hit me if I whine." he smirked.
Laughing loudly, Sally nodded, "Alright. Fine. We'll have fun tonight, then… IF!" she pointed up at him, "Things go well with Dillan and Mary."
He bobbed his head, "Yes ma'am!"
"Good." and the rest of the walk was spent in relative silence until they reached the door of Dillan's place, "Ready?"
He exhaled and nodded, "Yup."
Sally nodded herself and rang the bell. From beyond the door, a loud, but elegant and pretty bell rang, alerting every one in the house.
An older man, white hair, brown eyes, answered the door, "Hello Miss Givanno. Young Mr. Vincent. Come inside and I shall fetch Sir Dillan for you." he said, stepping aside as he saw them, ushering them into the foyer.
Sally smiled, "Thank you George." and stepped in quickly.
Johnny sighed- like it was his first time ever being there.
The two waited as George, the butler made his way up the stairs and to Dillan's study, where he sat going over Shakespeare with Mary.
"Sir Dillan?" George knocked, causing the couple in the room to look towards the door as it opened, "Young Vincent and Givanno are here."
Dillan stood abruptly, "They are?"
Mary stood as well, "My baby? He's here?"
George only nodded and stepped aside as the two rushed past and flew down the stairs to embrace their children.
Johnny hugged Mary back more tightly than he'd intended to. He had missed her- despite himself.
"Oh, Johnny! What the hell was the matter with you?!" Mary cried out, quickly coming to tears.
Sally smiled sheepishly as Dillan stepped back, "Sorry about hitting you…"
Dillan smirked, "It's alright. I understand."
Johnny bit his lip, "I'm sorry mama." he said sincerely.
She pulled back, "Don't you ever do that to me again!!!" she screamed, grabbing his head, then kissing all over it like any good mother would, "I didn't know where you were and I was worried sick… I couldn't eat or sleep!"
And it was visible. There were bags under her eyes and she looked exhausted and thinner than usual.
Sally grinned, "You gotta let up on Johnny, Dillan… No matter how much you bitch and moan about me being with or around him, it won't matter."
Dillan snorted, "Yes, yes. I figured that out already. I'll… Uh… TRY to be easier on th'boy."
Johnny was blushing, "Mama- mama- stop" he said quickly pulling away from her lips, "Mama- you 'ought'a sleep." he told her.
Mary scoffed, "Shut up! I'll do as I please! And right now, all I wanna do is hold my baby boy! I'll never let you go again!"
That got Dillan and Sally to look over, then share a glance and a small smile.
Johnny blushed, "Mama- I'm fine" he said- feeling embarrassed. She'd been this way all his life- he didn't know how to respond still.
Sally cleared her throat, "Come on Mary? Let's get you a snack or a big comfy bed, hm?"
Mary looked over at Sally, then nodded, "Yes… Food sounds about good. Then a long hibernation."
Dillan chuckled as the two women of his and Johnny's lives went towards the kitchen before turning to Johnny.
Johnny glanced over to him and wiped at his cheek with the sleeve of his jacket. Ice-breaker, he thought.. then blinked and said the first thing that came to mnd: "I got lipstick on my face?" he asked and immediately thought that was a dumb thing to say.
Dillan stared a moment, then chuckled and shook his head, "No, son. Listen… About Sally and Mary…"
Johnny nodded, "I over-reacted." he sighed, "It's mostly you're rich.. an' I was little after the break-up and made her promise.. I kinda.." he sighed, "I didn't wanna share her- especially with no rich hot shot, ya dig?" he said honestly.
Dillan cleared his throat a little, "I understand… I was just like you when I was younger and I had a terrible hate for myself when I made a few really bad decisions. So, I saw who I was in you and I put that self hate and turned it into a hate for you. I apologize for that…"
Johnny licked his lips, "It's... it's cool.." he glanced down, "I try not t'treat Sally bad." he said, "We argue but I try hard not to hurt her.."
Dillan frowned lightly, "Hurt her? Physically or emotionally?" he couldn't help but ask. It was his job, wasn't it?
"Emotionally." he said quickly, "I wouldn't hit a girl- my dad hit mama.. and it ain't cool." he said, "I'd never do what he did."
Dillan sighed lightly, and nodded in approval, "Good… Never hit a woman." he mostly said that to himself.
Offering a hand to Johnny, he asked, "Are we good?"
Johnny thought a moment, "First make me a promise." he said.
Dillan's brow furrowed, slightly wrinkling his forehead, "What is it?"
"No kissin' mama 'front of me, deal?" he asked.
"Same for you with Sally, then." Dillan filled in.
"Okay, deal." he said an shook Dillan's hand.
Dillan nodded, "It's a deal then." he then straightened his shirt, "I have my old leather jacket… It might fit you if you want it? It's still real nice… It was real expensive." and his tone slipped from Preppy to Greaser in a snap.
Johnny thought a moment, "I 'unno. This was my first one.." he said, "But the sleeves are gettin' a might short.."
Dillan smirked, "Then it just won't do for my future son-in-law… Come. And if you don't like it, I'll get you a new one as a wedding gift." he said, leading the way up to his room.
He followed, "They're way expensive, man." he said, "You sure?"
Dillan smirked at Johnny, "You do realize that I live in a mansion, right?"
Johnny looked around, "I didn' think'a that.." he admitted grudgingly.
"I'd buy you and Sally a house if you wanted, Johnny." Dillan admitted with a small uncharacteristic shrug.
His eyes got wide and he shook his head, "We're gonna make our way."
"I know. It really isn't Sally's style to get a huge amount of help… I figured you wouldn't like such an offer either." and he opened the door to his room, "I like larger, open spaces, so this place suits me well, but Sally, she almost asked for me to turn her room into an apartment due to how large it was…" he chuckled and walked over to a locked door, which was one of about five total.
Johnny followed, eyes going everywhere, "I'm that way too." he said, "If one rooms too big it 'ought just be a few rooms."
"Huh." Dillan chuckled and clicked on a light in the room. "This is my old closet. I keep it locked. Come on." and he lead Johnny into the 5x10 walk in.
Johnny's eyes snapped wide, "Jesus Christ!" he gasped, "How big IS this place?!"
Dillan chuckled, "Very. Can you imagine being a small child in this place?" and he went straight to the back and unlocked a large wood and glass display case with his old leather jacket in it.
Inhaling deeply, Dillan smiled fondly, "A lot happened in this jacket… Still smells new."
He blinked, "I cant believe YOU was a Greaser!" he said stepping closer to the jacket.
Dillan laughed, "Neither can I. Here… Let's see if it fits, hm?" and he took it off the display hanger and held the hook loop in one finger while offering his opposite hand for Johnny's jacket.
Johnny pulled off his and handed it over then took Dillan's and tugged it on. He extended his arms the whole way and smiled, "Alrigh.. it fits pretty good." he said.
"Looks good on you." Dillan nodded, neatly folding Johnny's jacket, shoulder to shoulder and slinging it over his arm.
"Thanks…" Johnny grinned, "I can really keep it?"
"Of course. If ever you need anything, I would appreciate it if you would come to me, first." Dillan offered, patting Johnny's shoulder in a slight brotherly fashion.
Johnny blinked, "As innnn?" he asked, wondering when he would ever have a problem Dillan could fix.
"Food, money, a place to stay, a lawyer, financial advice… Things along those lines." Dillan nodded.
Johnny shrugged and nodded, "Oh- okay." he said, "Sure... uhm... how we gonna find mama an' Sally now?"
The door to the bedroom opened, "What about us?" Sally asked, leading Mary to the bed and laying her down.
Johnny jumped, "Where'd you come from?!" he asked a little surprised. There were too many doors in this place- he was getting confused.
"Hallway, stairs, foyer, another hallway, kitchen." Sally informed in order from the room to the kitchen.
Dillan chuckled and moved out of the walk in closet and went over to Sally and Mary. "What happened?"
"Exhaustion… She's half here, half in la-la land…" Was Sally's answer.
Johnny bit his lip, "Alright- dumb ass move. I admit it."
Sally blinked at him, "Dumb ass mo-" she stopped as she saw the jacket, "That's not your jacket…"
"Nope." he said, "Dillan an' me're level now" he said, "Mine was gettin' short so he gave me his old one."
Sally nodded, "I see…" then turned to Dillan, "You kept your old jacket?"
Dillan chuckled, "Yes. I liked it and it was expensive. It's still pretty good condition wise."
"Don't condition before you Shampoo, Johnny!" Mary exclaimed, rolling over.
Every one blinked at her.
Johnny blinked too, "I don't even know what to say..."
"Maybe we should let Mary rest, hm?" Dillan asked, indicating towards the door. "How does lunch sound?"
Sally shrugged, "Watching Mary stuff her face was a little strange, but I'm up for some food."
Johnny sighed and left with Sally, and Dillan, "What's for lunch?" he asked.
Dillan pondered as they walked down the hall towards the stairs, "Dunno… Chef Bourghdo gets a little frantic…"
Sally chuckled, "He likes me. Thinks I'm a," she cleared her throat, "'Strrrange li'le girrluh!'" she mocked in a Russian accent.
Johnny blinked, totally confused, "You've got your own chef?"
Sally and Dillan chuckled at Johnny and both responded, "Yes."
Sally then grinned lightly, "I don't think he's from across the pond at all…"
Dillan snorted, "Really?"
"Really. He has not convinced me with his French Italian name and bad Russian accent." Sally pointed out.
Johnny blinked and shook his head, "I won't ask."
And they ate something that even the chef had trouble saying the name of, then sat around discussing what's been going on for the past few weeks they hadn't seen one another.
By about 5:30 pm, Sally and Johnny left and began home.
"Hey, Johnny? I gotta stop at the store to get a few things… D'you wanna come with or head home?" she asked.
"I'll tag along." he said to her.
She nodded and lead the way, "Get bread, milk, and anything else you want within reason… I'll get the other stuff." she said quickly when they stepping in.
"Define 'within reason'." he smirked at her.
"Healthy necessities. You may only get two forms of snacks that are not good for you. How's that for specific?" she smirked back.
"Aw man…" he huffed but kissed her anyway, "What're you getting?"
"Butter, fruits, vegetables… Boring stuff." she smiled, putting a basket in his hands.
"Okay." he said and went one way while she went the other. He got the required stuff quick then went to the snacks.
Sally rushed right to the feminine aisle and grabbed a few tests then quickly purchased them with a few baggies in case they were positive.
Anxiously tapping the counter as her items were rung up, she tapped her toe.
"Would you like a member-"
"Not right now. No deals, just bag it and point me towards the bathroom." she said desperately and fast.
The poor kid nodded and handed her, her change back and pointed towards the bathrooms, "Over there."
She nodded, "Thanks." and rushed off.
Johnny sighed- he was never any good with limits. Only two? TWO?! She couldn't be serious. But he knew she was.
He had no idea what she was up to and wasn't thinking about her other than how he might convince her to let him get four.
Sally stood at the sink, waiting impatiently, twirling her cross as she waited.
And a few minutes later, she looked at the test and sighed. "Negative…" she breathed a huge sigh of relief and threw it away before washing her hands and scramming as fast as she could to gather Butter, lunch meat, etc before spying Johnny in the snack aisle.
Walking up while he was distracted, she looked at his choices, "Done yet?"
He jumped, not expecting her but regained his composure and shook his head, "Nut-uh." he sighed.
She snagged two, "You get the other two." and started off towards the check out.
He grinned and did as she told him and followed her, "You got your stuff too?" he asked.
"Yep. We're all good." and she stepped to the one with the kid from before.
Shooting him a warning glare to keep his mouth shut, Sally watched as the kid began to ring everything up.
Johnny was of course as clueless as ever and was watching a car roll down the street.
The kid cleared his throat, "I think I've seen you two before…"
Sally eyed the kid carefully.
Johnny blinked and looked at him, "Huh?" he asked.
The kid nodded, "Yeah. You guys go to Bullworth! I was in the lunchroom when you two had your fight there…"
Sally grimaced, "Lucky you."
Johnny shrugged, "Its over now." he said.
"The fight?" the kid asked.
Sally glared, "No, you dipshit." she said sarcastically, "We happen to be here at the same time, in the same line because we recognized you! Do you have any logic skills?" she huffed. "We're better now. Drop the subject. It's not something we'd like to relive again."
The kid nodded, surprised and frightened, "You got it!"
Johnny looked at Sally, "You okay?" he asked, not caring one way or the other for the kid but she didn't usually get snappy without a reason.
"I'm fine. I just really hate stupid questions… Who ever said there was no such thing was retarded." she frowned, rubbing her head and paying for the groceries. "Let's go home."
"Alright doll." he said and took the bags from her. He insisted on always carrying the bags- Mary had ingrained it in his head to do that for girls.
Sally sighed, deciding not to argue about the bags, then tossed one final glare at the poor kid who most likely just pissed himself, and left with Johnny.
When they got home, she instructed him to put the bags down in the kitchen and then leave the kitchen so she could put everything away, which was a common thing.
Johnny moved too slow in the kitchen when putting things away and it irritated her greatly, so she resorted to doing it herself.
Johnny fled the room- taking the book he really hated- with him and hopped on the couch before he could possibly be in her way.
Sally sighed gratefully and put everything away, then quickly darted to the bathroom afterwards with her one bag and set them under the wooden hamper.
Satisfied, she promised to come back later on when Johnny was sleeping and finish off the tests, then left the bathroom, "You can return to the kitchen, Johnny."
Johnny looked up but didn't go back to the kitchen- instead he yanked her down onto the couch with him and showed her the book, "Make it fun." he said.
She laughed, "I'm not a miracle worker, Johnny."
"Yes you are." he smiled.
"How sweet of you to say so…" she said as she took the book and cleared her throat, "Maybe I should read it to you? Or you could read it to me?"
"You read it-" he smirked, "You're voice is prettier and at the very least you'll make it make sense."
She laughed again, "Alright… Where'd you leave off?" he pointed, and she began to read.
By about midnight, they were almost through with the book!
Johnny grinned at her, "Thanks baby." he said, sitting up and kissing her, "That was fun. We oughta' get some sleep now, though."
"I wanna finish up my home work before I sleep or I won't do it tomorrow. You go on to bed. I'll be there shortly." She smiled at him.
"Promise?" he asked and got up.
"Course!" she grinned, book marking the page before standing herself and moving towards the kitchen, where her things were.
Johnny kissed her goodnight then left to their bedroom.
Sally actually sat in the kitchen for a half hour, finishing her work, before getting up and heading to the bathroom and beginning her string of tests.
In another half hour, she had five positives, and two negatives.
She had sighed and pushed the five bagged tests under the hamper again and decided she'd go and see Dillan about an actual test at a hospital or something…
But for now, she was going to crawl into bed with Johnny and pass out.
And she did just that, laying half on top of him.