Let It Be Me

Part 7

The next few weeks were a blur of washing machines, motor oil, short rides in Darry's truck, a quick shower and change, a long walk and then repeat everything again the next day. I was exhausted. I was hungry most of the time. And most of all I couldn't stop thinking about my dad. I knew I had to find a way to reach him and find out what was going on. I could hold on with this lifestyle for a little while longer if I needed to but it's not something I could maintain long term. I had to know what the deal was one way or the other.

Pony knew I was working at the DX with Soda but he hadn't come in to visit yet. I took that as a pretty good indication that he was through with me. Especially since Soda said he would usually come in for free Pepsi's after school and to tag along in the shop and try to learn what he could about auto mechanics. But in two weeks he hadn't stopped in once. I wasn't expecting the hollow feeling that gave me. Most of the time we were busy enough at the shop that I didn't have time to think about it. But it always slowed down after six o'clock and the last four hours were tough to get through. I kept waiting for the feeling to dull but it just wouldn't.

Two-Bit and Dally would pop in occasionally to swipe a pack of Kools and catch up with Soda and Steve. Two-Bit usually left with his sleeves full of candy bars, key chains, air fresheners, and all kinds of other things he didn't really want or need. He just liked to see what he could get away with and got a kick out of the fact that the answer always seemed to be "everything". I was just thinking about the fact that I hadn't seen Johnny yet when the bell on the door jingled and he stepped inside, peering up at me and Soda though his bangs.

"Hey y'all" he said with a half-smile. He seemed nervous.

"Hey Johnny!" Soda scruffed up his hair. "Where are the boys?" Johnny followed Soda's eyes out into the parking lot and then turned back to us.

"They ain't around" he said bouncing his shoulders a little. Soda's head snapped back.

"Out walkin' by your lonesome?"

Johnny nodded and I could tell by the way he glanced at me that he didn't want Soda to make a big deal about it. I already knew anyway. Soda had told me that Johnny had been a nervous wreck about walking by himself since he was beat up by those Soc's and left for dead. He never went anywhere alone. It made me feel awful about walking away from him that day I got upset at the lot and stormed home. Johnny was a good guy, and standing there in the ashes of my friendship with Pony I was determined not to be my typical self and push him away too. I'd be a better friend to him. Soda grabbed a bottle of Pepsi from the cooler and tossed it over to him.

"So what's goin' on at home, Johnnycake?" He asked, straightening up the inventory on the shelves. Johnny shrugged.

"Darry's hollerin at Pony about schoolwork." Soda made a face. "Dally was bummin' around but he took off for Buck's." He paused and smiled, his voice perking up a little. "Two-Bit brought a girl over." Soda's face popped up from behind one of the shelves.

"Which one? Cathy?" Johnny grinned.

"Nope. Audrey." Soda's face contorted into something between laughter and shock.

"Audrey?" Johnny nodded. "Tim's Audrey?" Johnny raised his eyebrows like things were about to get good. "Aww, man. What on God's green earth is he thinkin?"

"He ain't" Johnny replied. "That's the problem." Soda grabbed the price gun and started tagging the motor oil.

"Well, we know what he's thinkin' with anyway'" Soda suggested with a grin. Johnny looked over at me with a small smile.

"I know" he nodded. "You don't gotta say it."

Soda shook his head and continued pricing the rest of the rack. Every now and then he'd chuckle from behind the shelf. Johnny turned and put his Pepsi down on the counter, leaning onto his elbows.