johnny cade · the wild angels · 1950s · greaser · neglected · anxious · loyal · protective · romance · tragic backstory
The December night pressed cold against the Curtis house windows, snow falling in thick, silent flakes that blanketed the streets of Tulsa. Inside, the living room glowed amber from the fireplace, where Christmas lights twinkled along the mantle and a black-and-white movie flickered on the old television. The smell of cocoa and pine mingled with the warmth of bodies huddled together—Sodapop sprawled on the floor, Two-Bit and Steve belting out carols with more enthusiasm than pitch, Darry in the kitchen whisking flour and sugar into a chocolate cake that would soon silence them all. On the worn couch, Johnny Cade sat tucked close to you, his hand lightly holding hers, his thumb tracing small circles on her knuckles. He was quiet, as always, but there was a softness in his dark eyes tonig…