𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑺 ✷ johnnyboy

CHAPTER THREE

"IT HAPPENED. I TOLD MYSELF IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AND IT HAPPENED."

Ponyboy Curtis

My head rests against the plush grass. I run my hand through the lime green strands. I make shapes out of the clouds. A dog. A shoe. A trophy.

Suddenly i'm scampering back. A group of Socs surround me, gripping blades and rocks in their hands. I try to crawl away, but their circling me, grinning wildly.

"Wanna know what greasers are?" Bobs voice comes from a Soc that isn't him. "White trash with long, greasy hair." This can't be right. Bob's dead.

I gasp for air as a blade is shoved up my neck.  A thin line is slashed across my throat, blood immediately dripping down my skin. I scream through the grit of my teeth. Rocks are pelting my limbs hard and I'm smarting badly. I lean my head back and let out an anguished groan.

The sharp point of the switchblade has penetrated my skin so many times i feel like i'm choking. And then suddenly I am.

My head is underwater. My visions cloudy, a fine mist covering my peripherals. I puff my cheeks out hard, trying to savor whatever air I have left in me. I feel tears developing in my eyes.

My body does a double take and gives into the need to breathe. I inhale a large gulp of water, liquid rushing through my nostrils so fast I feel like i'll pass out.  A tingling, burning sensation fills my lungs as more water floods into my system. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't bre-

I shoot up straight in bed, a scream escaping from my lips. My body's quivering so hard the whole bed is shaking. I'm choking on my own spit, my breathing hitched.

I hear Johnny sit up quick besides me. I'm wheezing so hard, all of the air i'm attempting to gather just pushing back at my lungs.

Johnny immediately wraps his arms around my shoulders. "Hey, Pony, your OK!" His voice is panicky but soothing. I tilt my head against his chest and squeeze my eyes shut.

I'm drowning in my thoughts, trying too hard to breathe. I've forgotten how, it feels like I haven't in years. I feel tears rolling down my cheeks and I want badly to wipe them away to show Johnny i'm not a crybaby.

"Whatever dream you had, it's over, okay? You're here, with me. You're okay." Johnny cradled my shoulders and whispers over and over into my ear.

I feel my limbs start to steady to a light tremble. I hug the blanket to my chest, refusing to open my eyes.

"Johnny..." I sputter through pursed lips, my fingers scrawled against the bedsheets.

"Yeah? Yeah, Pony?" He responds worriedly. "I know, you had a nightmare."

"It was real bad," I cry out, my body still shuddering. I grip my hands into a fist, digging my nails into my palms hard.

"No, Pone, don't relive it. You don't gotta talk about it," Johnny says, his warm hand cuffed around my face, slowly wiping away my tears.

I ignore him. "I was d-drowning." I say through shivering teeth.

"Well, your here, in bed, aren't you?" I can feel Johnny's smile from a mile away, even with my eyes closed. "Cmon, Pony, let's talk. Think of the sunsets. How've they been lately?"

"Oh, they've been real beautiful," I sigh, thinking of the pinks and purples blending into the clouds of the setting sun. I loosen my once tight grip on the sheets.

"When's the last time you've seen one?" Johnny asks, fixing my bedhead and wiping away the saliva on my chin. I cringe slightly at the thought of being babied by him, but it's oddly soothing, having someone there for me.

"I'm not sure, Johnny." My head lolls against the crevice between his crossed legs. My eyes are still shut tightly, I can't bare to open them whatever reason.

"What happened to digging them?" He sounds confused, maybe upset.

"I don't know, guess I don't have time. Or the interest." I murmured, tilting my head.

"But Pone, you have more time in the world, even with school. What's wrong, man?" Johnny nagged.

I sighed deeply. "The nightmares. It's all I think about." My voice is wobbly and sore.

"Their that bad?" He questions, and I nod sleepily. "Man, I didn't know that. I think about stuff like that all the time, but never like this. Are you sure your okay?"

"I guess I am," I say, fighting away the sleep. My eyelids droop as Johnnys hand strokes my shoulder.

Johnny readjusts himself, his stomach resting against my back, knees curled to my chest. His arm is wrapped right around my shoulder, his face nuzzled into the bone.

"Just try to sleep again, i'll be right here in case you need the comfort." His voice is muffled through my arm. I moan my words through my lips, not wanting to open them. I feel the world fade around me as I settle into sleep.

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total word count: 847

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