Forever - Johnny Cade

Chapter 5:

*Warning mentions of abuse*

I found myself waking up alone in Joey's bed.

The cool air has grown warmer, and I was no longer able to see my breath.

I crawl out of my blanket and step onto the cool floor, scattered with even more bottles and smokes than there were before.

I sigh in disappointment and parkour my way out of his messy room.

Once I reach the hallway, I hear the chatter from them coming down the hall, and I silently tip toe back to my room, locking the door.

I get changed, being sure not to make any sound that will cause them to have an excuse to beat me.

I pull on my shoes, thankful that I didn't leave them at the front door, so that I can make a quickly escape.

With a few calming breaths I unlock my door, and run out of my room, and right out of the house, ignoring the screaming calls from them, knowing I would pay for it later.

I stop running once I'm out of sight from their line of sight and make my way to the Curtis house.

When I enter, the only people inside are Johnny and Pony.

"Hey" I greet them.

"Hi, Kinsley" Pony greets me back as Johnny waves at me with a friendly smile.

"Hope you don't mind me hanging out with y'all" I tell them as I take a seat beside Johnny at the tiny table that they're playing cards on.

"Nah, it's not a problem, we enjoy having your company" Johnny says as he picks up a card, inhaling the smoke from the cancer stick between his teeth.

I smile at his kindness.

I wish the gang would stop smoking, especially Johnny and Pony.

They were both young, and they were ruining their bodies with these things and I hated to watch them do it.

On several occasions when I was with them while smoking I wanted to tell them to quit, but never did because it was never my business.

It seems that everyone I cared for was damaging their insides, and it made me wonder, if it really did help.

I sit quietly watching Johnny play his cards, completely embarrassing Pony.

Once again Johnny won, and he was picking up the large pile of smokes on the table.

"Pony, you ain't doing too well" I tell him as I eye his pile of only three smokes. 

Pony rolls his eyes as he deals out some more cards, "yeah yeah, I'll get him back" he says.

"I'll believe it when I see it, Johnny seems to be pretty consistent" I tell Pony as I look over to Johnny who had a tiny smirk on his face as he looked at his cards.

When Johnny showed me what he had already, I looked over to Pony, "just walk away while you still have your three smokes" I tell him, and Pony shakes his head, "your loss" I tell him as I lean back in my chair to watch the game.

I couldn't help but notice Johnny constantly flicking his hair back as it got in his face. 

His hair had grown a lot, and I don't think he had it cut in a long time.

So when Johnny finished robbing Pony of his last smokes I asked him, "do you need a haircut? I can give you one".

He looks up at me, still gathering the last few smokes, "I could use a haircut" he says.