Johnny And Ponyboy Novels & Stories

The man was tall, with hair that used to be perfectly slicked back. His gray shirt was torn, revealing blackened skin and peeling flesh. "Don... Donny?" Bima’s whisper was barely audible. It was him. Donny, the leader of the 'Pretty Boy Thugs' in middle school, who used to love mocking him as 'Toothpick Bima.' Donny, who always showed off his biceps from working out at some cheap gym. Now, Donny, the king of bullies, was just a walking hunk of meat. His eyes were sunken, filled with the white haze of death.

“Good day, Ruby and Carmine. If you are through for the day, l will love to take you back to the hostel.” “Good day to you. Thank you for that gesture, Johnny. Let's go,” Carmine spoke while Ruby looked on with an angry face. Then, Johnny and Stanley turned and they followed silently. They walked to the car park, ignoring the prying eyes of their colleagues. Meanwhile, Johnny was on top of the situation because his deportment never faltered. He hung his fanny pack on his shoulder and his white T-shirt upon his tapered jeans made him to appear more handsome.

“Wanna try?” Bobby thought for a moment, thinking of all the old slides they showed in health class of black lungs full of tar and shit, but in the end, he sat forward and stuck the cigarette between his lips, like he’d seen all the other big kids do, and Johnny Lee before he’d split. “Sure,” he said with a weak shrug, “why not?” Sandy leaned forward and flicked the lighter. “Here’s what you do. Breathe in a little when I light it but don’t breathe too deep or-”

Nothing to make a fuss about. He transferred by the end of the week. People said he “moved upstate”. But I knew better. I remembered. I always remembered. Because Pinegate Hollow doesn’t have room for soft things. Especially not boys who look too long. Especially not at other boys. And especially not when they get seen.

Vee hops out from a corner and hugs me. “Hi Vee!” I say excitedly. She's grinning like she's on drugs, her hair is dyed purple and she's in a Gothic outfit. She looks behind me and her smile disappears. She must have locked eyes with Jaxon. “What's up guys!” Johnny, her boyfriend, appeared with two bottles of beer. He's in a black tank top and a pair of ripped jeans. He stumbles back when he sees Jaxon. “Jax, say hi,” I scold him. He's frowning too much and he's scaring them. He's the biggest person here. I'm really dating a giant, aren't I?

“What about it?” “Who were those boys Loa? Why were they helping us?" “You're asking me,” I snort, kicking at a rock as we walk to school. “I was surprised as you. They’re Z level boys, so I'm not sure what happened yesterday." “Where’d you go?” “With Sammy.” “Sammy? As in Samuel Blue?” “I guess,” I shrug, glancing at her. “You know him?” “Of course I know him! Everyone knows him!”

I couldn't help but laugh, it felt good to see Stacy like her old self again. "Hey, what'd I do?" Mandy asked. "You'll get used to it, I promise." Jonathan added. "Shut it, kid." Mandy snapped back at the boy. "Look, I may not look like it now, but I grew up in the streets and we don't take disrespect very likely. I'll only let it go because I have people I respect, unlike others who smoke cheap weed in the bathroom." Johnny said revealing Mandy's secret. "You little-"

I don’t want to be caught skipping class on my first day here. “Don’t worry, it’s just my brothers,” he said. I frowned. “How do you know that?” He hasn’t touched his phone once since we got here, so it’s not like he got a text or anything. He shrugged, and then—truly—his brothers appeared through the woods. Johnny and Mike froze. Mike didn’t seem very pleased to see me, while Johnny just glared at me like he wasn’t sure I was real. Johnny looked like an angel that escaped heaven just to be here. He did not look like the typical redheaded boys I’ve met. His hair was like silk—shiny even from a distance, perfectly styled—and his bright amber eyes glaring at me made me extremely flustered.

Johnny opened the door and paused. Two scooter ass punks sidled up to Lizzy. Greasy-haired teenagers with pants sitting halfway down their legs. One of the dickbags, donning a hooped nose piercing, propped his foot up on the seat next to her and leaned in. She folded her arms defensively. The other, with blue-tipped hair, bent over to pick up the dog. Johnny slammed the car door, flexing his muscles as he zeroed in, marking the ringleader. Definitely Mr. Nose Candy, who was now gesturing wildly in her face.

And now, here they were. “Shit.” “Johnny. Watch your mouth.” She glanced over her shoulder into the backseat. “What’s wrong?” The old Gameboy she’d bought for him at a thrift store in Clifton Heights warbled. Arcs of light from the tiny screen played across Johnny’s forehead, accentuating the angles of his nose and cheeks, flaring in the hollows under his eyes. “Only two lives left. Thing’s fuckin’ hard.” She faced forward and squinted at the rain-blurred road. “Don’t swear, honey. It’s crude.”