Hey guys! I'm back! I just wanted to let everyone know that updates should be coming about once a week (usually on weekends) to this story now that I'm less of a noob with this site. If I don't update one weekend, it will probably come a couple days later in the week. So stay tuned! (OMG that was so cliché. I'm sorry!)
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~Johnny~
The last thing I remembered about the night before was the look on that girl's face while she lay there on Ponyboy's couch, sleeping peacefully. I had sat there on that armchair next to her, and fallen asleep, I guess. But I had wanted to make sure she was safe.
My own sleep was suddenly interrupted by a loud voice, calling, "Hey, Johnny! The girl's awake! Says her name's Gracie or something!" I awoke with a start. I felt my face drain of all color, and I noticed that my hands were shaking. I quickly tried to steady them, but I must've looked pretty scared, because Pony immediately apologized for startling me.
"Gracie? Is that your name?" I asked the girl, and she nodded.
"Yeah… Why am I here again?" I told her about how she was hurt pretty bad by those Socs, but I knew what she really wanted to know.
"No, I mean, why did you bother to take me out of that alley? Me, a random girl from the streets?"
"I just, uh, didn't want them to hurt you…a girl... like.. like…" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. This was a memory I didn't want to relive. Don't think. Don't remember. Don't think about the rings on the Soc's fingers, don't remember how they were hurting you for fun...
I must have been silent for a while, because Gracie seemed to realize that I didn't want to answer and quickly changed the subject.
"So, Johnny," she asked. "Tell me about yourself."
This girl was really good at asking unanswerable questions. What was I going to say, that my parents hate me and the Socs beat me up? Then she would ask me more questions… make me relive more of the suffering I've experienced…
"Hey, Johnny! The gang and I are gonna go play some football! You comin'?" Ponyboy's voice sudden voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up at him gratefully. "You should probably get some more rest," he said, turning to Gracie. I've been saved, I thought, but as I followed him out of the room, I noticed a look on the girl's face. It was a look of curiosity and fascination, one that wanted to know more. A look that showed she cared.
I'd never seen a girl with that look on her face.
~Gracie~
I slept for what felt like days on Ponyboy's couch, drifting in and out of consciousness. A few times, I lay there half-asleep and listened to a few words I heard from the outside world. I was able to pick out Ponyboy's voice, and sometimes Johnny's, though not as often. There were a lot voices I didn't recognize, too, though. Once I heard a loud, tough-sounding one with a New York accent yelling, "What were you doing out there, Johnny? You could have gotten hurt, you could have gotten killed… Just for this stupid girl!"
I fell back asleep before I could hear Johnny's response.
I had dreams, too. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. I dreamt about my parents before they became selfish, alcoholic slobs who expected my other relatives to support them and their addiction. I dreamt about everyday things, like going to the drive-in with my girlfriends, or picking out what to wear for someone's party. But I had nightmares, too.
I remembered the Soc's voice. "Come with us, slut, and nobody gets hurt!" Then he had flicked out his switchblade…
I woke up screaming in cold sweat.
Unfamiliar faces rushed into my line of sight. I saw Ponyboy and Johnny, but who were the rest of these people? I was bewildered…and scared…I didn't know what to do. Most of the people gradually filtered from the room. My breathing calmed slightly. But I still didn't know what was going on. Then everyone and everything vanished, and I only saw Johnny.
"You alright, Gracie?" His quiet voice was somehow soothing, but I still couldn't help bawling like a baby.
"It was the Socs again… They were going to hurt me…" My words came out choppy and uneven, the phrases divided by my heaving sobs.
"It's okay now. They're gone. They ain't gonna hurt you no more." He took my hand to comfort me, and the tears gradually stopped streaming from my golden-brown eyes.
Thanks so much for reading, guys! I wanted to know, by the way, if you like how I give each character's side of a situation in separate chapters, or if you think it's repetitive. If you could tell me in a PM or review so I could improve the quality of my writing, I would love you forever! So please do so! :)
Also, thanks so much to those of you who reviewed! You are my favorite people right now, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support!
Again, please follow/favorite/review if you are inclined to do so! 3 you all!
XOXO,
TheMuffinChild