Pretend (johnnyboy & curtis sister x cherry)

Chapter 5: Confessions

"Here, Johnny. You'll need this. It gets pretty cold in here. Sometimes I think this is the coldest room in the whole house." I say as I hand him a yellow blanket.

"Thanks, Lav. So what did you do today?" Johnny asks.

"Pony and I went to the football game."

"How'd they do?

"Lost again. 4 to 48. Don't tell any of the players I said this, but the team is really bad this year."

"Yeah, but Pony said the cheerleaders are good."

"Yeah..." I blush and think about Cherry.

Then there was silence. But it wasn't awkward. It was a comfortable silence. But then, nothing is ever awkward when I'm with Johnny.

"Johnny?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I tell you something?"

"Yeah sure, Lavender. What's up?"

"I haven't told anyone this, so you have to promise to keep it a secret. Okay?"

"I promise."

I take a deep breath, "Sorry this is just really hard to say. I've been dreading this conversation for a very long time."

"Lavender, is everything okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine it's just...". Here we go, "I like girls."

"Oh..."

"I know it's weird. I just had to tell someone. It's fine if you don't accept me."

"No, Lavender, it's fine. You love who you love. And I support you no matter what. You're like the little sister I never had. And besides... I'm the same way... but with guys."

"Johnny? You're gay?"

"Yeah."

"That's so cool. I'm glad you told me."

Johnny smiles with relief. Then we lay there talking for the rest of the night.

"So when did you know?" I ask Johnny.

"Since I was around ten years old."

"Geez! You've been in the closet for a long time!"

"Yeah, around six years I guess. How about you?"

"Well, I kinda always knew. But I only accepted that I like girls last year."

"Cool. So who's your crush?"

"What?! I don't have a crush!"

"Lav, I know you're lying. Who is she?"

"Ok, ok. It's Cherry Valance."

"Like, Cherry Valance as in the soc who's boyfriend I killed?"

"Mhm."

"You two would be cute together."

"You really think so?"

"Yeah. Do you know if she likes girls?"

"No. She's only shown interest in boys. But I guess there's always a possibility. So who's your crush?"

Johnny blushes. "Aw, I don't got one."

"Then why are you blushing like that, lover boy."

Johnny pretends to zip his lips shut.

"Who is he?"

"I'm not telling!"

"Come on, Johnny. You know I'm not gonna judge!"

"Ughhhh fine! It's your brother."

"Which one?"

"Pony."

"Oh my goodness! You like Ponyboy?"

"Yeah..."

"Since when?"

"Since forever I guess."

"Do you know if he likes you back?"

"Well, he seems to be pretty interested in Cherry."

""Ughhhh of course your crush has a thing for my crush!" I groan.

"Eh, it's okay. It's not like society would even accept either of us if we were with the people we fancy." Says Johnny.

"Well screw society! Love is love!"

"I missed this."

"What?"

"I missed talking with you. You're just really easy to talk to I guess. I don't have to hide anything from you." I smile when Johnny says this. I don't get compliments often.

"I've got an idea!"

"What is it?"

"Let's skip school tomorrow."

"I'm in. But do you think we can get away with it? Darry will have our heads if he finds out we cut school."

"Oh, I've got a plan for that."

"Hm?"

"Darry and Soda leave for work before we go to school, and don't get out until after we get home. So that takes care of them. And for the other guys... We tell them that Mrs. Cooper next door is driving us to school, and we're staying after to study in the library. And Pony and I only have three classes together. And he likes to ignore me during them so that shouldn't be a problem. He won't even notice I'm not there. We're definitely gonna get away with it. We're gonna have so much fun!"

"Sometimes... You scare me."

"Thank you."

"Like, how does your brain even plan out schemes like that?"

"I don't know..."

And with that, we both go to sleep, dreaming of what tomorrow will bring.