On The Outside

Chapter 15: the night everything went wrong

It was a week before Johnny's 17th birthday.

I can't believe they've been living with me since October!

Darry was already 21!

Lili and Jake already are 13!

It's honestly so shocking how everything can change with a simple wish.

I was with Ella, Sky, Lanna, Lili, Beatrice, and Everly walking around Alderwood mall.

"What if I get this?" I said as I pointed to a diamond necklace.

"HOW ON GODS GREAT EARTH ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR THAT PAULINE?!?!?" Lanna exclaimed with wide eyes.

"I stole the family credit card!" I said proudly holding the card between my fingers.

"How did the heck did you get that?!?" Sky asked.

"It's easy when you have your siblings wrapped around your finger." I grinned cheekily.

"Still, it seems dumb to use your family credit card on a diamond necklace." Lili said crossing her arms.

" 'Diamonds are a girls best friend.' " I said shrugging a bit.

"Oh my god." Ella said shaking her head.

"Oh come on! I'm dumb not stupid! You think I'm stupid enough to buy a diamond necklace?" I said grinning at them.

"I mean that sounds like something you would do, Pauly." Ella said to me.

"Yeah I agree with Ella." Beatrice said.

"Honestly, I'm not sure if you would do that on purpose or on impulse." Everly said squinting a bit.

"Probably both." Lilianna said with a laugh.

"Ugh! I'm offended!" I said dramatically.

"YOU SHOULD BE!" Ella said jokingly.

"As if!" I said slapping a hand onto my heart.

"Calm down, Jamal!" Lanna said putting a hand on her shoulder.

"MY NAME IS NOT JAMAL!" I yelled.

"SHUT UP EMILY!" Lanna yelled.

"I'M NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS!" I said, quirkily.

Oh god I'm so cringe!

"OH NO SHE IS BECOMING A PICK ME!" Ella screeched.

"Why? Why did I agree to come here?" Lili asked shaking her head.

"Well, I'm going back to normal now!" I exclaimed.

"Ok so...heLLo MotO." Sky said.

In all reality, I was trying to buy a present for Johnny.

He didn't want to get anything but I wanted to get him something.

He deserves something for his 17th birthday.

-A few hours later-

I was wrapping presents for Johnny before my friends came over.

By 5:30, all 9 of my friends had came over.

Everly, Ella, Jake, Lili, Lanna, Azzy, Will, Beatrice and Fin were there.

We decided to play a game to pass the time.

Whoever stayed off their phone for until they had to go home won the game and would get a full size snickers. 

We all sat there, being everything but wanting our phones.

Or at least I thought because Ella had a pretty good poker face.

"GAHHHH I CAN'T TAKE IT MUCH LONGER FUCK!" She said as she grabbed her phone from the table.

I laughed and turned my head to look out the window.

To my surprise, the window was replaced with a dining room that looked familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it.

I turned back to see our phones gone except Ella's because she grabbed it moments before.

"I don't know what was in those airheads but I'm suing that company." Ella said looking around.

Where the hell were we?

-Johnny's POV-
It was a week before my 17th birthday.

Another year closer to death.

That what I used to think at least.

I was sitting out on the porch in front.

Never thought that I would have an actual birthday especially without my parents.

It felt peaceful for once in my life.

There was one thing though.

I couldn't understand why but I missed Tulsa.

I missed seeing Soda and Steve workin at DX.

I missed staying at the Curtis house.

I missed a couple of things but otherwise I love my life now.

I took out my lighter to light up cigarette.

Pauly said I should stop smoking but I've gotten better I think...

Before I lit it up I decided to make a wish.

"I wish we could go back to Tulsa. Just for a couple of weeks. Then we would just head back home. Nothing would change. But just for one day I wish we could just...go home."

I blew out the lighter.

All of a sudden, I looked to my left and I couldn't believe my eyes.

I was back in Tulsa.

What in the fuck did I do?