**Chapter 4: An Unexpected Encounter**

The next day, I decided to take a walk in the local park, hoping to clear my head and process everything I had seen the night before. As I strolled through the deserted paths, I noticed a figure sitting on a bench, staring at the ground. He looked up as I approached, and our eyes met. It was a boy I had never seen before, with a messy mop of hair and a pale complexion. He looked about my age, maybe a little older. There was something about him that seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. "Hey," he said quietly, looking away from me. I sat down on the other end of the bench, intrigued. "Hey," I replied, trying to sound casual. We sat in silence for a moment, watching as a group of kids played tag on the nearby field. The boy seemed lost in thought, and I found myself drawn to him. "My name is Vik," I said finally, breaking the silence. "Viktoria, but nobody calls me that." The boy looked at me, a hint of a smile on his face. "I'm Johnny," he said, his voice low and smooth. We talked for a while, exchanging stories and getting to know each other. Johnny was quiet and brooding, but there was something about him that seemed...deep. He had a way of listening that made you feel like he was really hearing you, like he understood. As we talked, I realized that Johnny was a Greaser, just like Dally. But there was something different about him, something that set him apart from the rest of the gang. "You're not like the others, are you?" I asked, curious. Johnny looked at me, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice cautious. "I mean, you're not like Dally or the others," I said, trying to explain. "You're...quieter, I guess. More thoughtful." Johnny shrugged, looking away from me. "I just like to think before I act, I guess," he said. "I don't always want to be in the middle of things." I nodded, understanding. "I know how you feel," I said. "Sometimes I feel like I'm just living in Dally's shadow, you know? Like I'm just 'Dally's little sister' and nothing more." Johnny looked at me, his eyes surprising me with their kindness. "You're not just 'Dally's little sister'," he said. "You're your own person, Vik. And you're not like the others, either." I smiled, feeling a connection to this quiet, brooding boy. "Thanks, Johnny," I said. "That means a lot coming from you." As we talked, I realized that Johnny was trying to warn me away from the Greasers. He seemed to think that they were trouble, and that I was better off without them. "Stay away from us, Vik," he said, his voice serious. "We're not good for you. We're just a bunch of troublemakers, and you don't need to get mixed up in our stuff." But I wasn't so sure. I felt drawn to the Greasers, to their sense of loyalty and family. And I felt like Johnny was a part of that, even if he didn't always show it. As we parted ways, Johnny walking off into the distance, I couldn't help but feel like I had just met someone special. Someone who understood me, someone who was like me. And I knew that I would see him again.