Love Who You Love

Chapter 3|| True Feelings And True Emotions

                      ~A Few Days Later~

     I woke up to my ribs aching an' my head pounding, definitely not something to get me in a good mood. I stood up an' got dressed as fast as I could, but putting on a shirt was Hell. I walked out of my room at Buck's an' out the door in the direction of the Curtis's looking for someone. Even if I was limping something mad, I didn't wanna steal Buck's car from him again. That thing was on it's last leg an' he'd kill me if it didn't start, literally. Besides, it was decent out so why not take a walk, right? I needed something to do, so I decided on one of the few things I do best; drinkin'.

Today I wanted to get shit faced. Two-Bit came back from Ireland yesterday so I finally got my drinkin' bud back an' Steve'll prolly come along, that'll be a trip. As I walked past the lot, I met up with Johnny. The poor kid looked more an' more terrified of the world everyday. He had a brand spankin' new bruise going from his jawbone to his temple, two black eyes an' a busted lip. Man, his parents got 'em good this time 'round. No matter how many times I say it, I wanna teach those no-good parents of his a lesson. An' one day, I just might.

While we were walkin', Johnny seemed nervous. More than normal. It just ain't like him to be that bad. He was shakin' like a leaf an' looked over his shoulder more than he already did.

     "Somethin' wrong there, Johnny? You're acting all nervous, more than before." I asked. No one would know this, but I love Johnny like a brother. He looks up to me an' practically worships the ground I walk on. I guess you could say we're pretty close. He hesitated, but nodded. I'm the only one besides Ponyboy that actually know what's botherin' the kid outside of Socs an' his parents. He's gay, an' the world hates him for it.

     "Y-ya. Pre-Pretty e-easy to tell h-huh?" He stuttered. Johnny sort of chuckled at the end. It was more at himself than anything. I shook my head an' looked down an' tried to think of what to say. I was never too good with words.

     "Well, what's got ya so jumpy? You're never this bad, man." I stated. It was the truth. He's been nervous about stuff before but he's never jumped five feet in the air when you talk to him. Somethin' had to be up.

     "You...you wouldn't understand..." he muttered. What d'you mean I "wouldn't understand"? We talk about anything an' everything with each other, even if we don't know exactly how to react to it.

     "C'mon, man. I know more bout stuff than ya think." I nudged his shoulder with mine. That alone was painful, and trying to keep up an' limp instep with him was killings' me. But I kept a straight face.

     He chuckled an' muttered a "yeah yeah" tryin' to wave me off.

"So....ya gonna tell me what's been buggin ya or not?" I said. An' for the first time I actually had a conversation that didn't involve crime, it didn't feel right.

"Maybe, it depends on if you know enough 'bout it." He told me. I don't know why he thought I wouldn't know a whole lot about somethin '. The only things I don't know a whole lot about is stuff in school. Anyone can easily outsmart me at school stuff.

     "C'mon. I'm might be dumb but I for sure ain't retarded! Quit stallin', Johnny. It's just gonna be easier if ya say it straight forward." I coaxed. He really was nervous about this 'cause his eyes were as wide as saucers an' he looked a little pale. The last time he was this bad was....was when the Socs nearly killed him.

"...I...I think I'm in serious danger..." he whispered, maybe even quieter. But I heard him loud an' clear. My eyes widened an' I felt hot, no one messes with Johnny without hearin' from me.

     "What?! What do you mean? What happened?" I looked down at him as we kept walking.

"It's a long story." He muttered. There he is with the stallin' again. I looked around for a minute before I looked down an' back up again.