Embracing the Future

Chapter 5: Scars

A/N: Thanks again to reviewers, srry it took a little longer for this to come out but I was trying to think of a chapter that'll lead up to something that's gonna happen. I normally get home and immediately start typing cuz the ideas have been like bursting out of my brain all day, it makes me space out during class all the time. Like one time (I hadn't written the story yet, but I was considering it) I was in science class and I spaced out and Mr.Burke said "Emily? Where are you Emily, Disneyland, California?" and I jumped and then shook my head and was like "Nope, Mars." And he raised his eyebrows and said "Really? I heard its very red." And I started to think this was funny so I was like "Yup, and its SO chilly there! And rocky." And he started talking about the science of Mars so I was safe. LOL neway on with the story....

Pony's POV

The sun hit my eyes as I grumbled angrily and woke up. I felt something snuggled up against me and I looked down and smiled seeing Arri there. The sun hit her dark hair making it shine. Her eyelids fluttered open and she cursed the sun and buried her head in my chest to block out the light. I stroked her hair till she fell back to sleep.

I needed to think, not just about Arri but the attack. There was something I couldn't shake from my mind, the fact that the blood loss should've killed me, I was supposed to be dead. But I wasn't. When it started to bleed I felt like something put pressure on it, made the wound not bleed as much and shrink, it was barely noticeable though. I'd overheard a doctor talking to a nurse, telling her I was a miracle. I couldn't help but wonder, that voice I heard when I got stabbed, had I just been hearing things? Or did it actually mean something that had to do with my survival?

Suddenly I heard a shriek and Arri's eyes snapped open and she jumped up. I could hear more muffled screaming I tried to make it out, "Where is she!!! She's not in there! You call me up telling me my daughter is here, and now she's missing!? WHERE IS ARRI?!"

Arri's eyes widened and she jumped out of the bed and ran for the door, I followed. WE both stood there as a nurse tried to reason with what was probably Arri's mother.

"R-really Miss, we're looking for her now. She shou-" the nurse stuttered but was cut off by Ri's sharp commanding voice, it was amazing how she could change like that in half a second.

"I'm right here." She said trying to keep the irritation out of her voice; she was glaring at the nurse angrily. I wondered what the nurse had ever done to her. "At least you didn't knock my mother out like you did me." My eyes widened, this was the nurse that wouldn't let her see me.

Arri had a look that could kill and opened her mouth to say more. I quickly walked up behind her and slipped an arm around her waist, careful of her ribs, reminding her to stay calm.

"Arri!" yelled her Mom in relief, "We thought you ran away, where were you?"

"I visited Pony, lost track of time and fell asleep, sorry." She replied though she didn't really sound sorry.

The nurse seemed to gain some confidence and said "You should go back to your room so we don't have to do it forcibly....again." said the nurse; he looked at her name tag, April. April winced and touched her shoulder, Ri smirked slightly.

She turned around in my arms so she was facing me and gave me a quick kiss, "I'll see ya later Pony." She said as I reluctantly let go and she walked away.

April turned to Arri's Mom and said, "Do you know where Arri got that giant scar on her side from, the side she didn't break her ribs on. It's a pretty big scar, what caused it?"

I snapped to attention, scar? What scar?

Her Mom's face darkened and she was silent before grabbing April's arm and pulling her out of earshot to tell her. I sighed and went back to my room. I'd ask Arri later.

Arri's POV

I smiled to myself; I see I left my mark on her. That nurse had it coming though, not letting me see him, it was totally ridiculous.

I was sitting on my bed lost in thought when the door banged open and in walked Soda and Darry. Soda beamed at me "You ok, Ri? You and Pony had us worried sick. Well Pony still has us worried actually." He said, a bit of sadness flickering across his face, which changed to one of confusion, he looked me up and down.

It made me nervous "What?" I snapped.

"Well," said Darry, "When we asked about Pony the lady just twitched and grabbed her shoulder and told me to ask you, that you should know. But they haven't let anyone in to see him."

I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing, "Wow, I didn't mean to scar her for life, just let me in. But really she and that doctor did NOT need to sedate me, I wonder if I broke that guys nose..."

Darry's eyes widened and Soda looked caught between amusement and horror. I giggled, "Well you see, since they dragged me back here, I snuck into his room at night and ended up staying there all night."

Darry's eyes were gonna pop out of his head, it was gonna happen any second, I just knew it. Pony looked shocked and amused but when he saw Darry he burst out laughing.

"Man, you might wanna pop those back in," said Soda "Or you really won't be able to see Pony."

I laughed; this gang had some SERIOUS issues. And I don't mean issues as in how we all had family problems, money problems and all that jazz but we were just so crazy sometimes. I would do anything for them, and I knew they would do the same for me.

They left a while later and I sighed and sat down on the hospital bed. I wanted regular clothes so I searched the room and found a suitcase my Mom had left with some stuff I might need. I smiled, for once glad about her obsessive ness and pulled on some clothes.

I'd just laid back down on the bed when Pony slipped inside my room. My eyes widened, "Pony, what are you doing here? I would've thought they had us both on lock down."

He shrugged then smiled and said "Me too, I guess they thought since we were caught we wouldn't do it again or something."

I laughed "I thought doctors were supposed to be smart."

He smiled and sat down next to me and got lost in thought.

"Pony? Pony!? PONYBOY!" I shrieked and he jumped and fell off the bed. A hand flew up to my mouth to stifle my laugh, "I'm sorry Pony, you ok?"

"Ow," He mumbled as I reached out a hand to help him up.

"What spaced you out so much?" I asked.

He was silent for a moment as he sat back down on the side of me where my ribs were broken. He suddenly leaned around me and lifted up part of my shirt revealing the scar that ran along my side, my eyes widened and I yanked my shirt back down. He was frozen in front of me, not believing he had seen that. He stared at me and finally said in a quiet shaking voice, "How'd you get that?"

I closed my eyes and drew in a shuddering breath, I hated to think about it, but I knew I would have to tell him eventually. "I'll tell you, but Pony please, don't look at me any differently."

He nodded, eyes never leaving my face, and I continued, "My Dad used to drink, a lot. It was never very bad, he would only drink when he got in a fight with my mom and even then he didn't ever touch us. But, slowly, his drinking habits got worse. He would go out and drink for no reason and come home screaming and yelling about nothing. One of the times he came home drunk, my Mom brought up his habits, and he," I swallowed, "he hit my Mom and stormed out of the house. My Mom thought he was probably going to go drink more so she went after him, forgetting about her bruised cheek, and left me alone. I was in the kitchen getting a drink when my Dad came back. He couldn't walk straight and was coming towards me. I backed away scared and asked him why he hit Mom, he just laughed and," I paused for a second and closed my eyes Keep it together Arri, keep it together. I opened my eyes and continued, "And he grabbed a knife off of the counter and came at me saying something about how it was my fault. I backed away and being the graceful person I am tripped and fell backwards, I was cornered. He started kicking me; I couldn't do anything so I huddled into a ball trying to deflect his kicks. He raised the knife and some of my senses came back and I tried to dodge it, he didn't stab me but he did give me a deep gash in my side," I stopped and ran a finger over the scar, "I screamed and fell back, just then my Mom came running in and my Dad fled. My Mom called the cops but they didn't catch him, they haven't caught him yet, h-he's still out there." My voice cracked, "This was a year ago, that's why I moved to Tulsa, we were running from him. Pony, I'm scared." I couldn't take it anymore and started sobbing.

I felt Pony pull me into him and I cried into his chest with him stroking my hair saying, "Shh, don't cry. I won't let him touch you, it'll be ok." He started to gently rock me back and forth.

Slowly I stopped crying though Pony continued rocking me. How does he do that? I thought as I fell asleep in his arms.

Again, sorry this took so long to come out and plus it's short. I couldn't figure out how to have her explain it to him and I got a new cell. Lol. I'll update soon!

Em