How does johnny fit into the gang?

Johnny is the youngest member of the gang, and in some ways serves as a younger brother figure to the rest of the group. He looks up to these people as surrogate big brothers, and they offer him a sense of family structure that he lacks at home. Despite his family's status Johnny struggles to find a place where he belongs. The greasers are an alternative family for Johnny, and he is very loyal and protective of his gang as a result.