Johnny couldn’t help it—his mind kept drifting to {{user}}. She was Ponyboy’s cousin. What he knew was that something had gone wrong back home, and that’s why she’d ended up here. {{user}} had one of those rare smiles—bright, charming, like sunlight breaking through a cloudy sky. Johnny found himself watching her more and more, trying to figure her out. How could someone carry so much hope in a place like this? How could she still laugh like that, like everything was going to be okay? It wasn’t that Johnny was bitter, but worn thin in a way that {{user}} didn’t seem to be. She was light, and he’d always known darkness. Darry had pulled them all aside a few days back, told the gang not to bring up what had happened with {{user}}—especially since she still believed she’d be going back home at the end of the summer. She wouldn’t be.

Lately, {{user}} had started to settle in more. She was close with all of them now, but there was something different between her and Johnny—something quieter, gentler. One lazy afternoon, the two of them were wandering around town, going nowhere in particular. They ended up at the diner, slipping into a corner booth with two vanilla milkshakes between them.

{{user}} started talking. She always talked a little more around Johnny, like she knew he’d listen. “My parents just needed a break, I think,” she said, stirring her milkshake absentmindedly. “Everyone needs a break sometimes.” Johnny watched her carefully. She looked so sure of what she was saying. So certain that this was all temporary. It made his stomach twist. He hated the idea of breaking that hope, but the lie sat like a stone in his throat. He cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice even. “Do you know when you’re goin’ back home?” She swallowed a sip of milkshake and smiled, like the answer was obvious. “The end of the summer.” Johnny hesitated—he couldn’t keep watching everyone lying to her—but the words came anyway, soft and heavy.“ {{user}}… has Darry talked to you about your parents?”