A New Perspective

8

I had been asleep for a few hours, until I had heard footsteps coming over the hill. I quickly tried to pack up my things as quickly as I could. The footsteps slowed to a halt, and I froze.

"Hey, you need any help? You seem lost." The stranger said. I chuckled, "You know, you sound just like my buddy..." I turned around to be met with shaggy black hair and black puppy dog eyes, "Johnny..." I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. I ran up to him and hugged him for a long time. I pulled away and Johnny finally got a good look at me, "Pepsi..." he hugged me again. I didn't want to let go. I was relieved that he hadn't gotten hurt. I was crying lightly.

I pulled away and looked at him, touching his dark hair, "Your hair, it's—" "Gone?" Johnny said finishing my sentence. "We had to cut it all off. With our descriptions in the paper, we couldn't fit them. You oughta see Pony, he's got hair like you'd never guess!" He laughed. God I missed his laugh. The way that his eyes squinted a little bit and how his teeth showed and the way his mouth curled up. I guess I really did miss him. All the little things I noticed make me inexplicably happy. Johnny made me happy.

He and I walked down to the small storefront a few miles away. He dug into his back pocket and dug out some money. He looked into his palm, "$12.17. Hopefully this will get us what we need." Johnny started to walk around the store, grabbing up bologna, soap, bread, an extra switchblade, and a few packs of cigarettes. He knew me well enough, so he bought me two packs of Camel Blues. Boy, did Johnny know me well.

He barely had enough money for everything we needed. He packed everything into a crate, and we left the store. I grabbed out my pack and lit up a cigarette as we walked. "So," I said, "you really did that?" Johnny looked at me quizzically, "Did what?" I sighed, "You know... killed that kid?" "Oh." Johnny said quickly, "Socs, four of em. They were trying to drown Ponyboy in the fountain. They were gonna kill him. I couldn't let him die." I took a deep breath, "Family sticks together..." "Hm?" "Oh, nothing. Just a thing I say to myself sometimes." Johnny smiled at me again. His smile man, his damn smile.

"I really missed you JohnnyCakes..." I looked at him, I've never called him JohnnyCakes in person before. He smirked, "I missed you too Pepsi."

Luckily I got time to sleep a bit and rest my feet. If I hadn't, I'd be wincing from the pain. "How long until we get to where you guys are set up?" I asked, a little bit sleepy. "About five minutes. Don't worry Pepsi." I nodded and kept walking.

Five minutes felt like thirty, but luckily we got there eventually. I saw Ponyboy sitting on the back steps of the old church they were at. Johnny walked over to him, "Hey Pony, could I talk to you for a second?" Ponyboy nodded and followed Johnny a few feet over. "So I know this might come as a shock to you, but I found something incredible. It was on the ground just over the hill and I found it on the way to the store." Pony looked confused. "What'd you find?" "Look behind you."

There I stood, smiling. As soon as Ponyboy saw me, his eyes lit up like a child seeing an amusement park for the first time. "Pepsi!" He shouted and tackled me in a hug. "Golly, is it good to see you Pony, and glory your hair! What's it like bein' a little blondie?" I laughed, rustling his hair.

I ushered Johnny over and had him join the hug. I felt safe and secure. They were my family, and I loved them with everything I had. We all ended up going inside the church. I saw a copy of "Gone With the Wind" on one of the pews. "Y'all got anything besides bologna? I'm starving." Johnny looked at me, "You're starving? We've been eating bologna sandwiches for weeks!" I laughed, "I've been worried sick about you two and I haven't eaten anything in a week too!" We all laughed and hung out the rest of the night.

Golly did I miss these boys. They were the best things to ever happen to me. Hopefully we'll get home safe.