"He's in jail again?" Johnny questions, unable to keep the dissapointment from reaching his large dark eyes. "Man. That really sucks."
Johnny hated fighting. Ever since he was forced to kill Bob Sheldon, the unfortunate Soc, he ended up hating even the thought of fighting. Not only was it physically and mentally damaging, but it also just had no point. No one should have to fight in this world. It was just, well, crazy! And to think that one of his buddies were in jail again because of it, it just made Johnny sad.
"Aw, Johnny, it's not any different from any other day," Two-Bit reminds him, leaning back on the couch lazily. "Dal is always in jail, man. He's gonna be alright."
"Yeah," Steve agrees from beside Two-Bit, cake crumbs falling out of his mouth and making a huge mess everywhere. "We're Greasers. We're supposed to fight and be rough, and eventually have to do some time for it."
Darry walks through the arch that connected the kitchen and living room. "I finished the casserole," he informs his buddies. "If you wanna eat, head on in there." Steve and Two-Bit both rush in there, Sodapop crashes from his bedroom, and Ponyboy trails behind him. "Do you want help, Johnny?" Darry offers.
"No, thank you," Johnny sighs. He's going to be in this chair for the rest of his life. He might as well start getting around alone. Though, it sure was a lot of effort to wheel this chair. He was still so tired, even after a year. Eventually, he made it to the dinner table.
Perhaps, though left a bit breathless, Johnny was growing more able each day.
***
The jail in Tulsa was something Dallas was quite accustomed to. Actually, he thought of it to be something of a second home. The cell he sat in was more familiar than his own home. He didn't mind that he's been here for quite a few days. He didn't think anyone else would, either. They've never visited him before, but there they stood. Johnny and Ponyboy, intending to visit him.
"What're you squirts doing here?" Dallas questions, rubbing at his head and sitting at the visitor's booth. He was squinting at the two of them as if he'd never seen them before.
"We wanted to visit," Johnny says shyly, always being even quieter when confronting his hero. "I uh, heard about your little encounter and I wanted to see you. Ponyboy took me here." Ponyboy nods from behind him, still gawking around the building. He's never been inside a jailhouse before, obviously.
"You can call it an encounter. I call it a mini-rumble," Dallas grins in reply.
"But why'd you do it?"
Johnny's question erased Dallas's grin in a heartbeat. Of course, he didn't and couldn't ever mean any harm. Johnny usually never spoke up his opinion before, but all the fighting going on really got to him. Dallas takes a deep breath, thinking of the right words to use for an answer. Normally, he'd beat up whoever questioned him that way, but he wouldn't lay a finger on Johnny.
"Well, it's what I believe in," he mumbles. "I fight for what I want to defend. That's why I try to kick butt in rumbles. My people - the other Greasers - they're like my family. They're what I believe in. Going to jail after a fight, it's what I believe in. Running away from crime... it's what brings me life, man." His voice was uncharacteristically soft. "Johnny, man, you can believe that there is a lot of good in this world, but to me, it's another Hell. I fight because I believe in what I love in such a terrible place."
Johnny was shocked into silence, as well as Ponyboy. Johnny was never going to question a person about their motives for fighting ever again. Dallas was nearly in tears, and that was scarier than anything in the world.
The two of them had to be honest: they didn't think that Dallas loved or gave a care about anything or anybody. Fighting. A strange way of affection. The only way for a hood to display it.
***
A-wee-whoo. Another day, another chapter, huh? Well, I hope so far my book's been satisfactory. I'm so glad I could share my love for "The Outsiders" with you guys by sharing my fanfics. I wasn't sure I would get much readers by publishing this, but if you're reading this right now (whether you know me IRL or not), you've really helped an author out. Thank you.
So, who's your favorite Greaser?
Just curious! :3
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Wishful Thinking | The Outsiders
Fanfiction"Johnny, you're dying." At least, that's what the doctors thought. But when Johnny makes a miraculous recovery, he's released from the hospital - unable to walk. His friends rejoiced, his family remained the same, and the gang of seven special greas...
