A/N: S. E. Hinton owns all rights to the characters in The Outsiders and her other stories, I only own my imagination. This Johnny (Johnny 2.0) is my own creation (along with Mikey, Dave, Shane, Pat, & Neil), though he was unashamedly inspired by Ms. Hinton's Johnny. This might be the last chapter, but I'm not sure. Please let me know if you'd like me to add more. I love taking requests from you guys.
We finished the project by the skin of our teeth, but neither of us enjoyed it. At least it wasn't an oral presentation; I don't think either of us would've showed up if it had been. Completing that report was about as fun as getting a flu shot, a root canal, and an appendectomy all in one day. We sat out in the cemetery again after school, trying to blow smoke rings in the already humid air that signaled the beginning of a long, hot summer.
"I'm just glad it's done, kid. You wanna know how much I hated that thing?" Dal asked.
"How much?" I grinned, flicking the ash from my cigarette.
"So much that I blocked it out. Seriously, after we handed it in, I forgot what we ended up writing in that paper."
"I don't think my dad'll know either. I just feel bad 'cuz he has to grade the damned thing. It'll give him a migraine, and us an F minus."
"I don't think it's that bad, kid." Dal shook his head, pushing my hair out of my eyes.
"Oh, yeah? Just watch. Everyone else will get A's and B's, and we'll be stuck with the only F in all of his classes."
"I think those stoner kids'll have us beat. Did you see how high they were? They kept eyein' that one chick's cupcakes like a one-eyed cat lookin' in a seafood store window." He chuckled, remembering the scene in class earlier that day.
"I heard the munchies are awful if you don't have food. Still wanna get away this weekend?"
"Yeah. I think they're tearing that old motel down, though."
"That's okay, we still have Jay Mountain." I left a dollar as we got into the car, headed for freedom.
Windrixville felt different in the early summertime, and it wasn't just the weather's fault. Somehow, it felt more alive, if that was possible for a sleepy little backwater. We made it to Jay Mountain after booking a room in a new hotel in town, and we sat on the stone floor of the old church, reflecting on everything. "I like that new place. I hope it sticks around longer than that motel did." Dal said.
"Yeah, but I kinda miss that creepy little place. It was nice in a ratty, free candy advertisement on a van sort of way."
"I think all that black mold went to your head, kid. That place was no Hilton." He playfully shoved my shoulder.
"I know, but it was the first place we really went together besides here, and that'll always make it special."
"Don't start waxing poetic on me, kid. I think I'll get sick if you do."
"All I can quote is Frost, so you won't have to worry about that. I'm no Lord Byron." I said with a laugh.
"How's your relationship with your dad? Any better?"
"Much. We actually talk about Mom sometimes, and that gets him talking about his folks, too. I think it's helping everybody, except Mikey, out. Nothing but military school would help Mikey."
"Are they sendin' him to one?"
"I dunno, I heard the adults talking about it, but I fell asleep before they could finish their conversation. Dad doesn't kick me in his sleep nearly as much, either. Uncle Soda's technique really works."
"How about the nightmares?" He stretched, swatting a butterfly away from his face.
"I still get those all the time. Nothing's gonna change that, but I keep imagining you're sittin' up in that tree in your yard every time I have them, and it helps me calm down."
"Wanna know why I like that tree?"
"Yeah, I've been meaning to ask you about that."
"Well, when my old lady took off, the very first thing I did was get in that tree to see where she was goin'. When she didn't come back, and she didn't come back, I sat there anyway, thinkin' she would. Eventually, I figured that she'd cut out for good, but I go out there to think now. It calms me down, too. Helps me cope with all my baggage." He looked a little sad.
"Were you upset about your uncle Jack?"
"Nah, a lot of the guys who went to 'Nam died there. I'm just glad yours came back in one piece. A good family makes everything easier to handle. It was kinda weird how he reacted when I asked him about Uncle Jack, though. Was he real upset when I left?"
"No, he just drank a little more than usual. I'm worried about him, to be honest. He's been drinking a lot more lately."
"Maybe it's stress; just keep an eye on him and call the VA if anything weird happens. I have to do that with my old man sometimes." Dallas said, lighting a cigarette.
"I hope he's okay, I don't want anything to happen to him too." I studied the field below us, dressed for summer in deepening shades of green where the wildflowers didn't bloom. "It sure is pretty here."
"Yeah. Were you really scared of me when you met me, kid?"
"Uh-huh, I thought you were gonna jump me, or something. It sounds stupid now, but I was real nervous."
"What d'you think of me now?" His eyes were softer than I'd ever seen them.
"I still think you're a stone grease, and real tuff to boot, but I also think you're the best friend I could ever have. What did you think of me?"
"I thought you were jumpy, real quiet, and kinda wimpy."
"You're three for three, Dal. You should think about takin' up gambling." I quipped with a cheeky smile.
"But you're sweet too. Kinda like a chocolate-covered cherry. You break through the outer shell, and all the sweetness comes out. You also happen to be the weirdest kid with the weirdest family I've ever met, and I'm proud to call you my buddy. You still got that sock monkey?"
"Yeah, why?"
"'Cuz I have one too. If you let that get around, I'll stick you real good, kid." He fell silent for a moment, then added "But I'd probably kill myself after that."
"Why d'you say that, Dal?" I turned to look at him.
"I can't live in a world without my only friend. It's a rough enough time out there as it is, and it'd be even worse without you. I think that's how that one kid felt when your dad's buddy croaked."
"I guess that'd be the only way you could stay gold, huh?" I asked, remembering Johnny and Frost.
"Yeah. With you, I'll always stay gold, kid."