Wishful Thinking | The Outsiders

3 || Finally Home

"Pony," Johnny mutters hoarsely, upon seeing the friend he wanted to talk to this whole time. Ponyboy's clear grey eyes well up with tears of joy. He missed his friend. He was probably among the most scared out of all his friends that Johnny would never see the light outside of that hospital again. They almost booked a funeral plan. It was a very serious ordeal.

"Well, look who looks real tuff," Sodapop laughs. "Welcome back, Johnnycake."

Johnny manages a very broken smile. He was too happy to register his feelings. His real family was right here. Even sitting in his front yard, he never wanted to enter the threshold of his parents' house again. Had he finally realized where his true attachments lay?

The three rescuers began to walk beside Johnny's squeaking wheelchair, with Dallas offering to take the handles for the one occupying the chair. The snow crunched beneath the wheels and their feet, a cold and overcast sky just touching the horizon. The dead trees and plants loomed out like twisted, distorted shadows, but they weren't frightening. All Johnny could think about was how they were here since he was little, and how he grew up seeing these very same trees. He didn't think he'd see them ever again. As soon as he got home from the hospital, weak and scared, his parents condemned him to his room until the court date. It was a miracle, and Dallas's good argument and persuasion skills, that earned him his freedom.

"Once we get home, we'll celebrate your arrival," Sodapop promises. "The whole gang will be so happy to see you." Everyone smiles at the prospect, for the gang of greasers that hung around with them could throw one heck of a party. When they were happy, and found something worth celebrating, they let the whole world know.

He was back. Johnny Cade, someone who was almost dead to the world, was back outside. Rescued. He had no possible idea what could ever happen next, especially with an approaching court date and two overbearing parents who didn't even want him. Even so, even with such heavy things to bear in mind, Johnny felt this happy feeling in his heart that he couldn't explain.

For once, Johnny felt like he was finally, finally home.

***

The Curtis home is a small white house, slightly overgrown, with a lot of greaser boys hanging around and slurping on their beers, smoking their cigars, and overall messing around. It's a very laid-back place where a lot of hoods who slunk around found shelter at night. The doors are always opened for them. It was something of a safe house for those who are frowned upon in society.

"Home at last!" Sodapop sing songs, jumping around on the deck of his house and grinning wildly. He, obviously, was the hyper one out of the group of friends. He was naturally just high on life. "Everyone's here today! Yay!"

"Yeesh, Soda, when are they not?" Dallas grumbles, though he couldn't conceal a small smile himself. The Curtis house was the gathering of the entire group of friends. There was seven of them. "Lets go inside already!"

"Hold your horses," Pony chuckles, a grin on his face. [A/N: if you can find the hidden pun, cookies. Everyone.] Dallas didn't listen: he practically flew inside of the house. "Guess we're going inside, now," he mutters under his breath. He pushes Johnny inside, Sodapop close on their heels. The reactions were immediate.

"Oh my gosh!" A muscular greaser rushes through the opened arch of the kitchen at the sound of their arrival, a jovial grin plastered on his face, as it always was. His hazel eyes twinkled with his natural happiness. Two-Bit Matthews was the happy one, always cracking jokes, and seeing the return of Johnny only made him happier. "It's Johnnycake! You're back! I missed you, buddy!"

"Johnnycake's back?" Another young man joined them, beer in hand, eyes peering to see if the rumors were true. Steve Randle, also known as Sodapop's best friend, was never one for mushy gushy things. However, he was happy to see his friend again. They all were. "Hey, man, what's going on?"

Johnny's cheeks tinge pink at all the attention that was turned on him. It wasn't something the kid was ever used to. He wanted to start crying and laughing all at once! It was like he was finally somewhere he actually wanted to be, and that was a rare feeling for him. "Hey guys," he manages to say, a lump in his throat. "I'm happy to be back."

***

Well, here it is. Another chapter. Please, don't be afraid to vote and comment. And uhm, don't like, get hit by buses and stuff. That would be bad.