Chapter Text
Johnny Cade was not the type of person who sought out confrontation. He was consistently quiet and tended to adopt a submissive demeanor. The root of this behavior lay in his home life—Johnny’s parents were abusive: his mother, verbally, and
his father, physically. His mother frequently demeaned him, calling him a “Useless little shit” while his father often referred to him as a “Fucking waste of flesh.” & “Worthless bitch”
Physically, Johnny was smaller than most boys his age, with a slight frame. He had large, dark eyes set in a tanned face, and his jet-black hair, heavily greased and combed to the side, was so long that it hung in shaggy bangs across his forehead. He almost always appeared anxious and guarded, perhaps a result of being violently attacked by a group of Socs months earlier, or from enduring repeated abuse at the hands of his parents.
Johnny’s life was filled with hardship and instability. However, there was one constant source of comfort and happiness in his life—Dallas Winston, known as Dally. To Johnny, Dally was more than just a friend; he was like an older brother, fiercely protective and one of the few people who made him feel safe. Even when people called him a “good for nothing greaser” or “Crybaby Cade.”Dally always stuck by Johnny’s side. Sometimes Dallas would even let Johnny tag along to the rodeo’s he does with his partner Buck Merrill, a lanky young man in his mid 20’s who spends the majority of his days drinking. Usually Buck made most of his money on bootlegging whatever he could find. Drugs,liquor, cassette tapes, you name it!
To be honest Johnny mostly kept to himself, he was the kind of kid who didn’t like fights or trouble unlike his friends. But the greasers called him Johnny Cake—a name that made him feel small and different. It wasn’t always nice, but it was better than what he got at home.
Dally was the only one who really cared. He was tough and didn’t take any nonsense from anyone, but with Johnny Cake he was protective. Sometimes Dally and his friend Buck took Johnny to the rodeo where he’d watch people get drunk and ride bulls. Johnny liked those nights. It made him forget about his parents yelling and hitting him.
One night, Johnny was sitting by the fence while Dally and Buck drank. Dally looked over and smiled. “Hey, Johnny Cake. You look like you need a break. Come on, let’s go have some fun.” He’d remark in a drunkenly romantic voice. He was pretty hungover, his breath as hot as the dessert as he grabbed Johnny’s hand like a child trying to show their parents the newest most interesting thing.
Johnny didn’t say much, but inside he felt a little better. Maybe things weren’t so bad after all. Maybe he wasn’t a “worthless mess up” like his father says or a “little bastard.” He’d look at Dallas as he was dragged along by his arm, his eyes going large, “Dallas where are we going?” He’d ask quietly. Dallas turned around and looked at him up and down before grinning deeply, his blue eyes glazing in the sunlight. “ You’ll see in a second Johnny Cake.. You’ll see.” He mumbled continuing to pull him along it barely felt like seconds before Dallas stopped grinning ear to ear.
To be honest Johnny mostly kept to himself, he was the kind of kid who didn’t like fights or trouble unlike his friends. But the greasers called him Johnny Cake—a name that made him feel small and different. It wasn’t always nice, but it was better than what he got at home.
Dally was the only one who really cared. He was tough and didn’t take any nonsense from anyone, but with Johnny Cake he was protective. Sometimes Dally and his friend Buck took Johnny to the rodeo where he’d watch people get drunk and ride bulls. Johnny liked those nights. It made him forget about his parents yelling and hitting him.
One night, Johnny was sitting by the fence while Dally and Buck drank. Dally looked over and smiled. “Hey, Johnny Cake. You look like you need a break. Come on, let’s go have some fun.” He’d remark in a drunkenly romantic voice. He was pretty hungover, his breath as hot as the dessert as he grabbed Johnny’s hand like a child trying to show their parents the newest most interesting thing.
Johnny didn’t say much, but inside he felt a little better. Maybe things weren’t so bad after all. Maybe he wasn’t a “worthless mess up” like his father says or a “little bastard.” He’d look at Dallas as he was dragged along by his arm, his eyes going large, “Dallas where are we going?” He’d ask quietly. Dallas turned around and looked at him up and down before grinning deeply, his blue eyes glazing in the sunlight. “ You’ll see in a second Johnny Cake.. You’ll see.” He mumbled continuing to pull him along it barely felt like seconds before Dallas stopped grinning ear to ear. "Were Here!" as Johnny looked up he saw the giant mansion belonging to Buck.