So You're Leaving?

Friday night

Friday night Will offered to take Dally, Johnny and Caroline out for ice cream. Dally jumped at the chance, not so much for the ice cream, but for the chance to meet this mysterious beauty that had set her sights on Johnny. Johnny had been very careful about keeping the two from meeting, which indicated to Dally that he really liked this girl. Johnny was so shy about stuff like that. When Will mentioned bringing Caroline, Johnny came up with one excuse after another until Will picked up the phone. Johnny's eyes widened and he lunged at Will. "No!" he cried. But Dally held him back. "Oh no you don't! I'm gonna meet this lady friend of yours and there's nothing you can do to stop it!" Johnny was laughing, but really struggling against Dally's hold as Will dialed the phone. "NO!" he kept yelling. Coal bit at Johnny's pant legs and Dally's arms, barking wildly, tail wagging. "Hello, Caroline?... Oh, could I speak with her? This is Will Cade from down the road." Johnny had stopped yelling, but he was still laughing and struggling. Dally was starting to laugh now too and his grip was slipping. "Caroline? Hey, it's Will Cade." Johnny finally went limp with defeat. Coal waited impatiently for more squirming and barked expectantly when Johnny just lay there. "Yes, Johnny and Dally and I are going out for ice cream, would you like to come? My treat! You would? Great! We'll pick you up in five minutes." He looked over at Johnny- his hair was a mess from struggling with Dally and his face was still beet red. "Make that ten. Ok, bye." Johnny felt Dally's hold on him loosen and he twisted around and belted Dally playfully in the arm. "OW!" Dally yelled and put Johnny in a head lock. The two got laughing again and Will came over to break them up. "All right! Johnny go make yourself presentable. Come on people, let's move! Sis!" he yelled. "Borrowing the car!" Ten minutes later, the three of them all piled into Tom and Wendy's car, since the Corvette only had two seats. Johnny was silent on the way over to pick up Caroline. He and Dally were sitting in the back seat. Occasionally, Dally would look over at Johnny, grinning and Johnny would just look out the window. "So, does she have a sister?" "No." "A cousin?" "No." "What about a friend? She must have some friends. Any good lookin' ones? Huh?" "Dallas!" Will laughed from the front seat. "Down, boy! We'll find you a girl. Wait your turn!" That got a laugh out of Johnny, but he truned silent again as they pulled into Caroline's driveway. Caroline was waiting on the front steps in a blue skirt and a white blouse, her hair again pulled back in a ponytail. Dally hopped out before the car stopped moving and headed for the front passenger side. Johnny got out too and waved shyly at Caroline. "Hi," he said softly. "Hi, Johnny!" she said smiling. She looked at Dally and then back at Johnny again. "Oh.. uh.. this is my buddy I was telling you about from Tulsa- Dallas. You can call him Dally," Johnny said shifting his weight uncomfortably from one foot to another. "You can call me...enchanted," Dally said and took Caroline's hand and kissed it lightly. Caroline reddened and giggled. "Nice to meet you. I've heard nice things about you." "Really?" Dally sounded truly stunned and almost disappointed. Caroline just giggled again and nodded. Johnny shut his eyes and groaned inwardly as he opened up the car door for her. They drove to a Dairy Queen in town and ordered hot fudge sundaes. Dally noticed how Will tried to keep him engaged in random conversations so that Johnny would have some time to talk to Caroline. Will would ramble on to Dally about this or that and occasionally, when he noticed a prolonged silence between the two kids, he would turn and start telling some crazy story that made them both laugh. Dally was impressed. He looked so much like Johnny, but he never shut his mouth. He seemed to really know what he was doing, though. By the time they finished up their ice cream, Johnny and Caroline were looking pretty comfortable. They were still both quiet as mice, but they seemed to be having a good time. "So," Will said, tossing his empty sundae cup into a trashcan. "Anybody up for a card game tonight?" "Sure," Johnny said. "You wanna come over?" he asked turning to Caroline. She smiled sweetly at him. "I'd like that. I just have to stop home and let my parents know how late I'll be." "No problem! We'll stop by your house on the way back," Will said taking the car keys out of his pocket. Dally watched the way Johnny and Caroline interacted with eachother. Johnny had never had a girlfriend, but Dally had seen girls hanging on him at bars and other local hangouts back in Tulsa. He had never had a good feeling about any girl that had showed interest in Johnny... until now. He felt completely relieved. It would make it that much easier for him to return to Tulsa when it was time to go. Little did he realize how fast that time was approaching.