An adjacent story line develops in Johnny's footnotes, detailing what is progressing in Johnny's life as he is assembling the narrative. It remains unclear if Johnny's obsessions with the writings of Zampanò and, subsequent delusions, paranoia, etc. are the result of drug use, insanity, or the effects of Zampanò's writing itself. Johnny recounts tales of his various sexual encounters, his lust for a tattooed stripper he calls Thumper, and his bar-hopping with Lude throughout
various notes he wrote through the book. The reader also slowly learns more about Johnny's childhood living with an abusive foster father, engaging in violent fights at school, and of the origin of Johnny's mysterious scars (House of Leaves, 505). This means Johnny has had a hard life, with many disturbing encounters. This influenced how he reacted to the events in his life, the good and the bad.

for anyone and anything

Why could'nt you see, you and me were one and the same. Back then, before i gave you myboby, my soul. You were my first i thought you were the one. We both feel, we both love as we hate. We both heal, the wounds burn still today. We want, we need. I'm glad to say i was stupid, stupid to belive you could feel, feel the touch of warm skin,skin that held your scent. The scent that could made me weak. Weak as i was i belived in someone. Someone who was never here. Never there ,there for me, when i needed them the most. When you where there, you where miles away. away from me, dreaming of a new life, leaving me behind. Too fall so deep, you could never reach me, no one could.a lie, a fake, nothing in its meaning. you said you were a mess, when it was me breaking down. crumbling to your will, your touch, even if it was cold. eyes as dark as night, holding secrets. i know im selfish, but im not careless. i never would have lost you if i didnt want too. i hate you, i dont want you back, i dont care. cry, beg, worthless attemts. i could never see inside of you, that scared me. i couldnt see you, not the real you. so why do i love you? feel i need you? id rather die, then be like you. you where sexy, when you fell from gace. so shitty, so lost, someone i could relate too. you cut me, bit me, scratched me, to be honest, i loved it,as it built. can you belive i actually thought, thought you were real. i guess they were right, i was naive before i met you as you, the real you. if i were as stupid as you said, i would have been like most stupid people and taken you back. when you called crying, begging,asking for forgiveness and death. so naive to belive id fall again, fall for that. all i need, i have. no longer weak, no longer deppressed, i am me again. so proud to be, with a better man, who showed me love. a man whos so much better then you, and yet so much greater then me.