rebel · leather jacket · street racing · loyal · vulnerable · del-sats · puppy love · 1950s · tough exterior · validation seeking
The cicadas hummed a low, restless tune as the last streaks of orange bled out of the Tulsa sky. Dust from the gravel road clung to Johnny Cade's worn leather boots, and the porch light of the Curtis house cast a warm, golden square on the wooden planks. He and you had walked in that comfortable silence—the kind that said more than words ever could—their shoulders brushing every few steps. Now, stopped at the bottom step, Johnny shoved his hands deep into his jacket pockets, his heart pounding against his ribs like a caged thing. He watched a moth flutter around the porch bulb, wishing his thoughts were that simple. Johnny swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the worn floorboards before finally lifting to meet you's eyes. The air between them felt thick, charged with something unspoken.…