Multifandom Imagines

Cold Night

J O H N N Y    C A D E

The black sky of the night was like a void- empty, lonely, dark, almost peaceful if not for the absence of life. But the stars scattered across the overhead like paint flicked on a canvas had always mesmerised me. The sky and wind made me feel eternally free-the way a crispy cold breeze energises me when it chips at my face, and simply looking up at the everlasting sky makes my feel like I could fly- but this breeze was colder than crisp and the starless sky made me feel more grounded than ever.

"You stayin' here tonight Johnnycake?"
After a silent walk from the nightly double to the lot, the three of us were standing in a fairly spaced apart circle, trying not to seem cold.
"Yeah, my folks are fighting again. I hate it when they fight."
Out of pity, the three of us looked at our shoes, not knowing what to say. Ponyboy lifted his head to look into my eyes.
"Yeah I'll stay," I answered my buddy's silent question, "my parents don't want me home."
"Alright, well I better get going or Darry will have my head. He's been like that since mom and dad..."
The conversation ebbed away again, as we shared a small moment of silence for Pony's dead parents, who were better to most of our gang than our own. I felt guilt nibble at my stomach, here I was pitying myself because my parents don't want me home, at least they're actually here.
"You guys get too cold out here just come on over to mine," he told us, moving on and burying his grief.
"Yeah, ok."

Johnny and I made our way to the old, worn down couch. Letting out a huff, I plopped down as he started a fire before joining me. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as an arm rested across my shoulders and pulled me closer to a warm body- a barrier against the cold night. I rested my head on his shoulder, and the both of us snuggled closer to our heat sources.
"They still don't want you around huh?"
I moved my head down, my eyes staring at the captivating flames.
"Yeah me too," he said.
"At least we got our folks, Pony and Soda and Darry don't."
"It's okay to feel bad for yourself as well you know," he tried to reassure me, but he didn't get through to me.
"Not when my friends have it worse."
Trying to keep my face neutral as i stared into the dancing oranges and yellows of the fire, I sat up and crossed my arms. Johnny sighed and sat up straight as well, before noticing my shivering and lying down on his side, holding his arm up.
He must've seen the questioning look in my eyes, "you're cold, I'm cold, we might as well warm each other up. C'mon."
When i got close enough, he gently grabbed my hand and pulled me onto my back, then encased me with his arms while our legs tangled. Seeing as we spent many nights together at the lot, this was a normal occurrence to keep each other warm. He gazed at me, still lying on his side, while I focused my attention on the sky, seeing the stars were shining down on us- some stars, anyway, many clouds still blocked the fantasising view, dark clouds, ready to condemn us to their rainfall.

"You like stars," Johnny stated.
"You don't?"
"I like my view better."
I found his eyes firmly on me when I lost focus on the sky. I let out a small laugh, burying my face at the top of his chest and shaking my head.
"You flirt Johnny Cade."
"Who wouldn't?"
I punched his shoulder, the both of us laughing.
"You know I can't deal with flirting, stop that," I said when we had calmed down.
A smile rested on his face, he didn't reply. Though a few seconds later I felt a pressure on my head, recognising it as a kiss. I kept my face hidden in his chest, not wanting to showcase my pink tinted cheeks. After all this time I still didn't know if we were just close friends, or if there was something else. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know, what we have is enough for me.

The warmth throughout my body seemed to vanish, (not completely, it never did when I was with Johnny) I felt water seep into my skin as raindrops fell from the clouds that once again covered the tiny lights in the sky. Johnny and I started shivering, the fire was out and our body heat wasn't enough. We both had the same idea as we looked at eachother, then took off sprinting towards the Curtis' house, slipping and sliding on muddy puddles and laughing carelessly as we fell to the ground, racing to get there first.

I guess starless skies aren't always lonely when you have someone to share them with.