THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU // JOHNNYBOY

TWENTY | Just Ponyboy And Johnny

Johnny Cade
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Eventual / adjective
Happening at some indefinite future time or after a series of occurrences; ultimate.

DAY SIX OF VEGAS
FINAL NIGHT

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Me and Ponyboy slip into the diner down town of vegas, and the lights are dimmed low as we enter. The place has an orangey, firey hue to it. We slip into a booth at the diner and pluck menu's from the small crate at the end of the table. Darry and Soda are off to dinner aswell, with some old friends from high school. So we obviously couldn't tag along. Instead, we choose for one last date before we leave tomorrow.

I really liked Vegas, but I sure as crud miss Tulsa. I miss the curtis house. Kind of miss school, Tara, even a bit Toad? I consider me and Toad a bit even now, I got the revenge I wanted by slapping him, and it sure felt good.

"Johnny?" Ponyboy hums, I jolt and make eye contact with him. Next to him a waitress stands with her notepad out. "What about you? What do you want to drink?" Ponyboy asks with a smile. I panic, I haven't even looked at the menu yet! I scan the front of the menu quickly and choose the first thing I see: "A strawberry lemonade sounds good, please." I say.
"You got it." The waitress says, writing it down quickly and floating away. Moments later, she floats back to our table. "One water," she says, clinking the glass of water on Ponyboy's side of the table. "And one lemonade." She finishes, clinking my glass of lemonade on my side with a smile. I smile back. "Thank you." I say. The waitress nods and walks away. The bell placed above the door jingles and in walks a young ginger haired girl whos just about our age. Ponyboy's eyes widen. Does he know her? "Mary!" He shouts, raising his hand. Great. Mary perks up and looks around, then finally places her eyes on ours. She smiles and walks up to the table, standing before us, she greets us. "Hey, Pony! And hey . ." "Johnny." I say coldly. "Johnny! Nice to meet you, I'm Mary!" She says, giving me her hand to shake. I grab it and shake it, as I do I notice the freckles sprinkled all over her arms and hands. We let go of one another. "I didn't expect to see you here, Ponyboy. Just out to eat?" Mary asks. "Oh —" Ponyboy ponders, looking at me for approval for what he's about to say. "I'm actually here on a date — with Johnny." He says, which makes me flutter. Mary's eyes widen. "Ooh! — That's awesome! I actually have a girl of mine back home." Mary says, smiling to herself as she talks about this girl of hers. I enternally am drawn with relief by what Mary says. "Well," Mary says, "I'll leave you two to it." Mary says as she walks away from the table. "Wait, Mary!" Ponyboy calls. Mary turns around and smiles. "Yeah?" She asks sweetly. "Could we get your number? I wanna stay in touch." Ponyboy says. Typically, this would ruffle my feathers. But I know Ponyboy, and I know he just wants a friend — so does Mary. Mary nods. Ponyboy slides his phone to Mary and she presses her number into the keypad, saves her number in his contact, and slides the phone back. "You two have a nice date." She says kindly, walking away. Ponyboy faces me with a guilty look. "Did that . . Bother you?" He asks genuinely. I start to feel bad — I had never meant to make Ponyboy feel he has to be extra cautious just because I had a bad day yesterday. "No, not at all." I confirm. I doze off for a moment, but then I speak again. "I think I like Mary." I say. "Me too," Ponyboy says. "I think Tara and her would get along good." He adds. I nod in agreement. "They sure would." I reply.

The waitress comes back and we order our food. We both order hamburgers with a side of fries. As we wait for our order, we find ourselves in a deep conversation about home, and the people, the groups in Tulsa. Soc's and Greasers. "Why can't we just be . . One?" Ponyboy asks, I shurg. "It beats me. I sure believe we should just be people, too. Throw away all that greaser and soc stuff." Ponyboy nods, it goes silent after that. "I don't really think I'm a soc." I say. Ponyboy furrows his brows. "I think I'm just some guy, just Johnny." I add. "Then I'm just Ponyboy." Ponyboy says with a smile. "Back at Tulsa," Ponyboy starts, "We're just that 'gay soc and grease couple'." He finishes, I frown at that sentence but I know it's the naked, raw, truth. "But here, we're just 'Ponyboy and Johnny, the couple'. Lets make it that everywhere. Just Ponyboy and Johnny." I smile at his words. "Let's do it." I smile. Just Ponyboy and Johnny.

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Sodapop Curtis

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Two-Bit,

Me and Darry are walking back to the hotel our lots staying at. Our 'lot' consists of: Darry, myself, Ponyboy and Johnny. But I'm sure you know that. Though I don't think you've met Johnny.
We met up with the gang, from highschool, do you remember? Paul and his goons? They sure were pricks to you in Highschool, man. They aren't all that different now, either. But Paul says he's sorry, and that he wants to see you sometime, man. Just for lunch, he's not planning to jump you or nothing. We've had a blast out here — can't wait to see you whole lot when we get home. Tell Steve and Dally we'll be back tomorrow. Sure they forgot.
I'm sorry for not returning your calls, I heard your voicemails, promise. Ponyboy got blackout drunk, it was quite funny. But the after results were not funny. Darry practically disowned me!
We're gonna have one big dinner at our house when we get back. Invite the whole lot. No one else — none of you guys' girls. Just us and Johnny. I think you'll like him — he's quite a kind guy. He's only a bit shy. He fits in just fine with us.

See you soon,

Sodapop Curtis

When Darry and I walk back into our hotel room, it is awfully quiet. "Maybe the boys are still off doing their thing." Darry says, slumping his bag next to the door and slipping his shoes off. We hear a soft snoring in the room over, the living room, and so we furrow our brows and pile into the room. When we walk in, we see that Ponyboy and Johnny are fast asleep. I'm a bit stunned, because it is only nine o'clock. I laugh. "Our kid brothers found love, Dar'." I say pretty jokingly, but after I say it, I realize thats the truth. He's found love, and he's happy. This isn't some temporary, 2 week relationship-not-really situation. This is it, this is for the long run. They may not see it now, but I think I do. I smile to myself thinking about this.

Ponyboy is laying flat upward on the couch, while Johnny lays ontop of him, a bit wedged to the side of the couch, but still ontop. Ponyboy has his arms wrapped around Johnny's upper back. "We should probably wake them, gotta pack." Darry reminds me. I look to him. "Yeah." I reply. Hesitantly, I tap Johnny's shoulder. "Hey Johnny." I whisper. His eyes flutter open and he groans, staring at me. "Hey, Soda." He mutters. "We gotta pack up our things for tomorrow. I'd recommend you two get started." I whisper. Johnny nods, lifting himself away from Ponyboy, which makes my brother groan.

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Johnny Cade

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The hotel is completely empty of our belongings besides our outfits for the morning and the discarded clothes of the day. Me and Ponyboy sit in the middle of our room with our suit cases. "It's crazy it's all over tomorrow." Ponyboy says to himself. I nod in agreement. "I kind of miss Tulsa, though." I comment. "Me too. Miss the gang." Ponyboy replies. "I don't think I've met the gang." "You haven't? Two-Bit and all of them?" "Doesn't ring a bell . ." I say as I ponder. "Well, you're going to. The gangs coming over tomorrow when we get back — reunion dinner type thing. From what Soda told me you're more than welcome to come." "I'd like that a whole lot." I say with a smile on my face. "Great." Ponyboy responds.

Shortly after this, I decide to go to sleep — Ponyboy tags along shortly after. tomorrow morning we get up early for our flight, and go home. Back to normal. For now, goodnight Vegas.

Words: 1484

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A/N) i just went on a really long run and im so tired😭