Beach Babe | The Outsiders | Johnny Cade

| Rumble | 62 |

Instead of pity Two-Bit just nudges me with something in a brown bag, I immediately take it and chug. It's a shitty beer that tastes like sweat and feet, but it's alcohol. Jesus Christ how I missed drinking- The whole thing is gone in a matter of seconds. I stand and step back a little so Two and Pony can see him.

"How they treatin' you, kid?" Two-Bit asks him.

"They- they don't let me put enough grease in my hair..." He croaks out, his lips almost twitch up into a smile. Please be okay, Johnny...

Two-Bit sat in the chair by the bed. "We'll bring you some hair grease next time, Johnnycake. We're having a rumble tonight." Johnny's eyes widened a little and he glanced at all three of us, lingering on me for a moment longer. "It's too bad you and Dally can't be in it. It's the first big rumble we've had not countin' the time we've whipped Shepard's outfit." Ponyboy hands him a newspaper. "Did you know you got your name in the paper for being a hero?

Johnny smiles ever-so-slightly. "Tuff enough." I throw the empty beer away and just watch him from the foot of the bed.

"You want anything other than hair grease?" Two-Bit asked. When Two-Bit took the newspaper back I got it, in big bold letters across the front page was DELINQUENTS TURN HEROS. I skimmed over it, it was all about the church incident and.. August. There was a whole column about his death and noble sacrifice. Fuck.

He manages a nod and looks over at Ponyboy. "The book, can you get me another one..?" He rasped.

Two-Bit and I looked at Ponyboy, both of our expressions questioning. Pony looked at us "He wants a copy of Gone With the Wind. You want to run down to the drugstore and get one?"

Two smiles cheerfully. "Okay, y'all don't run off."

"I'll join you," I say. I blow Johnny a kiss before we both slip out of the room.

Once we're a little down the hall Two turns to me. "Stace..? What's going on up there?" He taps my temple.

"I'm going to that rumble tonight. I'm going to rip everyone who was with August limb. By. Fucking. Limb." I say lowly. I mean it. Once we get in the elevator it's silent for a few moments. Johnny looks so bad, I'm starting to get really worried... he better make it through this.

"You can't fight tonight." Two says firmly. "Your nose is seven shades of purple, one light punch and you're laid out cold. Plus, Johnny needs you." He's got a point there, a good one at that. But I don't care, I need to see pain on the faces of everyone responsible for August. So much pain.

I try and sound tuff but it just comes out shaky and sad. "I don't care, Keith. I'm fighting." We start walking out of the elevator towards the drugstore across the street.

He matches my pace and looks at me with a worried expression, he sighs heavily. "I know I can't change your mind, so if you need help holler and I'll come over." I nod and we keep going. The second we get into the pharmacy I grab a six-pack of beer and start drinking one immediately. Two-Bit went to get the book.

I chugged three beers before we even checked out. GOD, I needed this... once we did we went back up to the hospital room, Two-Bit stealing worried glances at me the whole time. It pisses me off more than it should, I know I'm not okay and I don't need his pity. I don't need anything from anyone. I'm fine. Liar liar.