Chapter VIII
They came over to see Johnny. The screaming messed up his aim; the bullet didn't even touch him.
"You ruined it," was all that Johnny said hopelessly. Dallas grabbed Johnny by his shirt.
"Why in the damn hell did you think that killing yourself was a good idea?" he threw Johnny down. "Dammit Johnny, I should beat the tar out of you!"
"But she's dead."
"She ain't dead! " Dallas screamed at the top of his lungs. "The hospital called to tell us that she was doing better! She was doing better for you! For you, Johnny! Do you know how heartbroken she would be if you actually succeeded tonight!"
"No.."
"Well, I bet you ten to one that she would give up and die," Dallas started crying, but his voice was still angry. "That girl loves you Johnny. That damn kid loves you, and you just gave up on her!"
"I didn't give up on her-"
"Yes you did! Yes you did Johnny!"
"C'mon, we're going to see her. Only God knows how much time she has left." Dallas dragged Johnny to the car.
Johnny went into the front seat while Ponyboy just sat in the back, just staring blank. My best friend tried to kill himself, he thought. And almost succeeded. Dallas banged on the steering wheel. "You're going to fess up Johnny Cade. You're gonna tell her that you tried to kill yourself."
"Why don't you tell her?" Johnny snapped back. There were sirens, and a couple of police cars were trailing behind the car.
"What the hell? Now we got this crap on our hands?" Dallas threw his hands in the air, and pulled over.
An officer pulled up and said in a harsh tone, "We heard a gun go off. Know anything about it?"
"I tried to kill myself," Johnny said blankly. "I really did."
"Is he alright?"
"Well does it look like he's alright? I'm taking him to the hospital he's pretty messed up."
"Well, we're filing that," the cop replied.
"Go file it," Dally replied harshly. "I'm takin' him in." And with that, Dallas drove off.
"No visitors, sorry boys," the doctor replied. Dallas threw his hands in the air.
"That's a bunch of bull! You let us in now or-" Dallas grabbed out his switchblade- "You ain't gonna see another patient."
"I'll call the police," the doctor replied. Ponyboy just stared.
"But she's my sister!" Ponyboy lied, but Darry did sign as her guardian. The doctor looked at Ponyboy.
"Darrel Curtis is your brother then?"
Ponyboy nodded. He hoped the doctor would at least say yes.
"Well, you can go in, not these two," the doctor said, pointing to Johnny and Dally as he scratched his head. Dallas pointed the knife at his chest, his hand shaking.
"I will stab you."
"Dally? Johnny? Ponyboy?" they all turned their heads. Avianna's room door was open. Dallas put back the switchblade and ran in. Johnny went in first. He hugged her tight, and started crying. Her bruises were still bad, and her face was still weary, but she was not nearly as pale as when Pony and Two-Bit saw her.
"I thought I lost you," he sobbed. "Oh 'Anna I feel so terrible." She clutched him so tight, his heart beating so fast, she could feel it. She sensed something was wrong.
"What do you mean you feel terrible?"
Johnny broke.
"I-I.."
"You what?" Avianna was concerned. Johnny looked at Dally, who nodded.
"I tried to kill myself."
"What? Why?"
"Darry said that the hospital would call when you died, so I was going to kill myself."
"Oh Johnny," she started crying. "Why would you ever think of doing that?"
"I couldn't live without you." Avianna looked up at him.
"Yes you could," she gasped through tears. Johnny stopped crying.
"Oh my God I know Avianna, but I just love you too much to lose you, you have to live, you gotta!" Johnny burst into tears again as a police officer came into the room.
"Heard someone came in even though the doc said they can't."
"Whatever, you don't know anything you son of a-"
"Dally!"
"Well, please excuse yourselves. She's in no condition to see visitors other than family," the doctor told them.
"That don't make any damn sense! What the hell?" Dally screamed. "If she's in condition to see family, she's in condition to see friends."
"Besides, I want them here," Avianna whispered calmy, pretending to be in worse condition.
"Don't push it," a fiesty nurse was in her room. Avianna gave a scowl.
"Fine."
"No weapons in the hospital," the officer looked at Dally, "give it here." Dallas looked at him and gave him the 'I won't do what you say' look. "I'll have you arrested." The heart monitor beeped faster.
"Now look what you've done," Dallas said mockingly. "You're scaring her."
"Please leave," Avianna said to the police officer. "I want them here. I need them here."
The police officer tipped his hat and left.
"You what?" Darry yelled. Johnny was shaking. He looked like he was going to pass out. Ponyboy just stood there. They were all silent. Dallas nudged Johnny shoulder.
"I told you Darry I tried to kill myself," Johnny shook. "I-I didn't know what else to do. I thought she was-"
"You thought wrong Cade!" Darry sat down on the couch. "Do you know how bad everyone would have felt if you succeeded tonight?"
Johnny just looked down in guilt. "I'm sorry Darry, I was just so, so overwhelmed. I wasn't thinking about anyone but myself."
Darry just came up and patted his shoulder. "It's okay, kid. You go home now. Got it?"
"Yeah."
Avianna was talking with Johnny in the hospital. They talked about a lot of things. Johnny loved her so much. And this love was innocent, pure.
"I just wish my home life was better," Johnny looked at the wall. Tears were welling up in his eyes. "Like you. I know you gotta listen to your parents yell at you, but at least they don't beat you or each other."
"I know Johnnycake," she touched his face. Her health was going down, her heart rate had dropped drastically in three days. Johnny wouldn't leave her. He had to call the nurses for some food and water. Johnny was scared. More scared than he'd ever been. He might lose someone that meant the most in his life. Johnny had cried so hard while she was sleeping. He didn't sleep. He couldn't. She might die. "I know your thirsty," Avianna smiled. "Go, get a drink. I'll call you if I'm not feeling good." Johnny walked out of the room. He shouldn't have.
Avianna felt a horrible wave of pain in her chest. She looked at the heart monitor. It was dropping. "Johnny…" she began. "Johnny… JOHNNY!"
Johnny ran in, and Avianna was holding her chest. She was forcing herself to breathe. "Johnny, what's wrong with me?"
Johnny just held her, and screamed, "We need help over here!" Doctors and nurses came rushing in, and shoved Johnny out of the way.
"Oh my God her heart's stopping."
The heart monitor was beeping faster, and faster. Then it stopped. Johnny just burst into tears.
"Defibrillate her," was one of the doctors. The electric pulse made her body jump. Johnny just stood there, in utter shock. The heart monitor started beeping again as she breathed. The nurse turned to Johnny. "I am so sorry you had to see that."
Johnny just stood there, just staring at Avianna, shaking his head in disbelief. She looked like she was sleeping, just with bruises all over her face. He just sat down in a chair, a blank look on his face. One of the nurses covered her up.
"She'll be alright now," she told Johnny. He didn't say anything. Dallas pushed his way through the nurses. He was coming to visit, and knew something was wrong.
"Johnny, Johnny what's wrong?" he shook him. Johnny didn't answer. He was in too much shock. He stared at Dally with a blank look in his eyes.
"Her...heart stopped Dally," was the only thing he could get out. Dallas threw his hands in the air and banged the wall. He looked at the heart monitor. They must have revived her, he thought. Right in front of Johnny.
...
I'm sorry I leave you guys at cliffhangers...but its what I do...hope you like it!
