✓ | falling ➝ j. cade

xiii. bit of intimacy

❝I GOT ISSUES, BUT YOU GOT 'EM TOO. SO GIVE 'EM ALL TO ME, AND I'LL GIVE MINE TO YOU.❞
- JULIA MICHAELS, ISSUES

×

It had been exactly a week when Theodosia finally started talking to Johnny again. The week had been fairly uneventful for the Greaser. He was back to spending all of his time with the gang, particularly Ponyboy and Dallas. While Johnny didn't really mind, he often found himself missing Theodosia's company and her quirky stories.

The only person who knew what had happened between Johnny and Theodosia was Pony. Johnny figured Ponyboy would be the least likely to do something rash. Sure, as much as it bugged Johnny, he didn't want his friends doing anything stupid.

Opening his locker up that Friday morning, Theodosia's voice startled Johnny. He looked up at her. Theodosia was chewing on her bottom lip anxiously. Their eyes locked for a moment too long.

"Johnny," Theodosia said, breaking the silence,"can I talk to you?"

Johnny hesitated for a moment. Part of him wanted to say no. He didn't see the point of getting further attached to the girl if she couldn't accept his past mistakes, or at least that's what Ponyboy said when Johnny told him what happened, which Johnny had agreed with. Ponyboy made a good point. A really good point. But the other part of Johnny wanted to know what she had to say. So he agreed.

"Can we go somewhere that isn't.. here?" Theodosia asked, fiddling with her fingers.

Johnny nodded.

A small, shy smile found its way onto Theodosia's lips. She nodded towards Johnny.

"Follow me."

Instead of responding, Johnny followed Theodosia through a crowd of students. Most students ignored them but every once in a while, someone would whisper something to their neighbor. Johnny had long gotten used to it. Back after he first stabbed Bob and arrived from his seven months in the reformatory that he ended up sharing with Curly Shepard, people would stare and point and whisper whenever Johnny passed. Of course, it began less and less frequent as time went on. The only people who would ever really say anything about it to him were his parents. As always, they had harsh things to say. Nothing new.

"We're here," Theodosia stopped in front of a door Johnny didn't recognize.

As Johnny scoped his surroundings, he realized he had never been down at this side of the school. It was pretty deserted. There were no students and certainly no teachers.

Johnny watched as Theodosia pushed open the door. She flipped on the light. After his eyes adjusted to the change of light, Johnny saw rows and rows of chairs that were arranged in a half circle. In front of the chairs was a stand that held a thick folder. Against the wall were two large, shinny drums. They looked expensive. This must've been -

"The band room," Theodosia spoke Johnny's silent conclusion.

"How'd you know it'd be empty?" Johnny asked as Theodosia walked over to one of the black chairs and sat down in it. She turned around in the chair, resting her chin on the top part of where your back was supposed to rest.

"Mr. Laurens always goes to the junior high in the morning to play with them," Theodosia explained.

"There's two bands?" Johnny asked walking over to the drums, observing.