THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU // JOHNNYBOY

TWENTY-ONE | This is it, This is The End

Ponyboy Curtis
____

Conclusion / Noun

The end or finish of an event or process.

LAST DAY IN VEGAS / HOME

____

Me and Johnny drag our luggage into the airport just like we did a week ago. My heart feels heavy, but I'm ready to see Tulsa again, see the gang. I notice a sniffling to my side, and turn to see Johnny stifling tears. Crying. I give him a sympathetic smile, putting my hand on his shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong, Johnnycake?" I ask, rubbing his shoulder as I try to comfort him. "I'm just — Grateful." he sniffles. The cracking and hurting in his voice gains the attention of my two brothers, Darry and Soda, and they turn to face us. "I'm grateful to you guys, for taking me on this trip." He whimpers through his tears. We all smile. "Awe, Johnnycake —" I swoon. "You're like family, now, Johnny." Soda says with a smile, patting Johnny's back. "Family?" Johnny whispers with a smile as he looks up at Soda. "Yeah — Family." Darry confirms. "You're the best family I've ever had, then." Johnny says, and I can tell there is no lie between his words. Soda and Darry embrace Johnny with a hug and I join in too, we all stand there, intertwined with one another, filled with love. As one big family.

Our group hug ends quickly, because of Soda's words: "I don't mean to be a mood killer, but we need to catch our flight!" Soda says, looking down at his watch. "Shit, you're right." Johnny sniffles a laugh. I'm a bit taken aback by Johnny's choice in words because rarely does he swear. It's always a bit stunning when he does.

We find our plane, loading into it and slipping into our respected aisles. Same as last time, Johnny and me next to one another, with Soda and Darry across from us. As we wait for the plane to take off, around twenty minutes from now, I admire Johnny's face. But his face makes me a bit upset. Johnny looks shattered. Broken. He doesn't look like he wants to go back home to the cruds of our town and his parents. I just hopes he knows it's gonna be okay. People aren't gonna crumple him up like a piece of paper anymore. No more being discarded, thrown out. Though I can't guarantee his safety, I sure will try to protect him more than I ever had. Vegas made me really realize how troublesome Tulsa really was. I mean — I always knew it was bad. But being in an entire new location with no soc's, no greasers, really made me realize how messed up that shit town was and how I needed to protect those close to me more than I ever had before. It's all so messed up. So rotten. The engine of the plane starts and slowly, we are elevated in the air. I close my eyes and tighten my grip on Johnny's hand knowing this is it, this is the end of Vegas for now. I doze off, and in my dreams, I am one with the clouds.

____

Johnny Cade

____

I watch the clouds outside with a heavy heart. Vegas really started to feel like home. My heart is shattered as we leave Vegas, then Utah, then Colorado, and soon enough, we're back in Oklahoma. Saying this out loud, it makes it sound like it was only a ten second trip — but it was much, much, longer. The longest hours of my life. The jet lag has really gotten to all of us — we are all very, very tired as we slump out of the plane into the airport we were in a week ago. The sun is almost too bright, I hiss as the light hits my cheeks. Ponyboy slugs behind me slowly, his hand tangled along mine as he rubs his eyes tiredly. He slept through the whole ride. I don't know how he does it. He could drop asleep anywhere if he really wanted to.

"Two-Bit's picking us up, you guys." Soda says as he examines texts on his phone. Ponyboy perks up at the name Two-Bit. "Man! Have I missed Two!" Ponyboy hollers — suddenly being wide awake. I chuckle at him and ruffle his hair. "He's on his way right now, should be here in ten-ish minutes. How about while we wait, we all go take care of last minute things. Bathroom, anybody?" Soda instructs, like he's our coach. Not a single person bats a hand. "Okay then." Soda mutters, sitting down on one of the airport chairs. I sit down, too, and Ponyboy follows. He rests his head on my shoulder and closes his eyes, snaking his hand under my shirt to my waist. I glare at him. "You cut that out." I whisper. Ponyboy opens his eyes and tilts his head. "Cut what out?" He questions. "Your hands! — Their cold!" I complain, Ponyboy chuckles and snakes his hands away from my waist.

After twenty minutes of waiting, we still have no showing of Two-Bit. Until we do. A scruffy guy with slicked back hair, a leather jacket, and a funny mickey mouse shirt trots over to us in frustration. "Ten minutes, huh?" Soda mocks. "Ha-Ha. Very funny, Sodie." The guy groans monotonically. I can assume this is Two-Bit. "Why so late, Two?" Darry asks. "I've been here for awhile now! It's just this darn place is so confusing. It's like a maze." "You darn right." Ponyboy says. "Heyy, Pony! You look awful! What happened to you, bud?" Two-Bit jokes walking up to Pony and I. He shakes my hand. "Nice to meet you. Johnny, right?" Two-Bit asks. I nod in confirmation. "Cool, cool. I'm Two-Bit! Well — actually, Keith, but the gang calls me Two-Bit." Two-Bit chuckles. "Alright, everybody! How about we get on home yeah?" "Yeah!" We all cheer and chuckle as we follow Two-Bit out to his car.

It is a tight fit in the car. Two-Bit's driving and Darry sit's in the passengers seat, but you and me both know that Darry is just going to try and back seat drive. Darry's just like that. Me, Ponyboy, and Soda are crammed in the back. Me in the middle, Soda and Ponyboy at my sides.

We drive into the drive way of the Curtis house and it feels ethereal. I'm home — back in Tulsa. I've been in Tulsa for an hour or two now but it's really only hitting now that I am back. Everything was a blur, a still picture. Until now. A couple people sit out on the front, cooking things on the grill, smoking, laughing, having a good time. And when they see the car pull in they all cheer, running up to the car and yelling different names. Two-Bit! Darry! Soda! Ponyboy! No Johnny, but that's alright. They hadn't known me yet. We pile out of the car and I get a pat on the back. "You must be Johnny yeah? Pony's boy?" the guy asks. I nod my head. "That's me." I say. "And you are?" "Steve. The names Steve. Want some steak? It's just about done cooking on the grill." Steve offers, pointing to the grill with his thumb. I say, "Yes, please." and I follow him to the grill. Grabbing a steak for myself, and one for Ponyboy.

As the evening goes on, more and more people roll in. A guy named Dally, guy named Paul (he says he too just came back from Vegas. Pretty cool.), even my friends Toad and Tara pull in for a little bit. Though, Ponyboy keeps giving him the stink eye. I don't think Ponyboy ever got over what happened when we were walking to the bridge. The fight. The getting ganged on. Luckily, Toad doesn't bring any of his trashy 'Socials' friends. You know, speaking of stink eyes, Two-Bit kept giving Paul stink eyes for the first hour or so. Until Two got pulled aside by the guy and they spoke off to the side of the house, hugged, made up, whatever they were doing. I wonderered what their history was, but I wasn't going to push it.

Me and Ponyboy sit on the porch of his house and laugh together, watching our friends and family have fun with eachother. Suddenly, Steve stands up on his chair and starts clinking his glass with his fork. Everyone goes silent and we all turn to face Steve in confusion. "I'd like to make a toast!" Steve shouts with a big smile. "To Ponyboy and Johnny!" He shouts, lifting his glass in the air. Ponyboy and I are left in a flustered mess, but we take the toast with honor. Everyone raises their glass and shouts: "To Ponyboy and Johnny!" In unison. It feels good, finding my place in this town. My place is here, with Ponyboy, with my newfound gang. Friends.

And I feel eternal.

____

Ponyboy Curtis

____

Me and Johnny lay in my bed, hand in hand with smiles on our faces. It is long into the night, and Johnny decided to stay here for the night. He's going home in the morning. I'm kind of upset, because I can't stand being away from him. But I know he wont be gone forever. He just wont be here. Right next to me. Just down the block. No matter our distance, our love is eternal. Undying; immortal. I tell him this and he smiles wider. "Oh, Ponyboy." He whispers, leaning into my touch. I smile widely at how perfect this boy is. "I've never known somebody like you before." I whisper. "So perfect." I add. Johnny blushes, and whispers a response. "I've never known somebody like you, either. And I'm glad I haven't, because you are perfect for me. Nobody else could compare. That is no lie." "Truth?" I ask. "Truth." Johnny replies. The truth. "You saved me, Ponyboy." Johnny says, tearing up a bit. I bring my hands to his eyes and wipe away his tears. "I don't want you to cry, Johnny." "I'm just so . . So happy. So happy to be loved by you." "I'm so happy to be loved by you, too." I reply, breaking our distance with a kiss. This is no lie. This is the truth. The unapologetic truth. And though, one, day Johnny and I will become a memory, a still picture, a rumored whisper, right now, Johnny and I are here. And we are alive. And all my mind can think about is how perfect Johnny is. We are infinite, him and I. And that is the naked truth.

Words: 1782