I cannot believe he just said that to me, and I don't know what feels worse: the fact he said it, or the fact that it's true. I'm not crying because it hurts too much. I'm well past the point of tears. There is one thing though I've always been good at, running.
I steal a glance behind me; AJ is running towards Joey looking angry. I stop and turn around afraid of what is going to happen. I have to know if I need to stop it.
Before Joey even sees AJ coming up behind him, AJ plants a massive punch in Joey's back. Joey instinctively turns around and smacks AJ hard in the cheek. AJ falls to the ground but quickly jumps back up and punches Joey in the stomach causing him to bend down clutching it. AJ takes this opportunity to send a massive blow to Joey's jaw. I run towards him.
"AJ stop!" I yell. He ignores me.
"I'm gonna kill you for what you just said, Richter!" AJ screams down at the helpless boy holding his bruised cheek. AJ jumps on Joey and begins punching him everywhere he could reach. He's really gonna kill him. Omigod he's really gonna kill him.
"AJ!" I'm screaming now, "JOEY!"
I reach them as Joey's blood begins to flow away from the tussle. I leap on AJ pulling him from Joey, who pushes himself off the ground. AJ flings an arm at me that collided into the side of my head. Everything goes grey. I barely feel myself hitting the cement. Now it's my turn to have blood flowing along the concrete. I can see Joey's clouded figure hovering over me telling AJ to call an ambulance. I feel Joey's strong hands clasp the side of my face. I remember the time Joey and I laughed together on the plane. Why can't it stay that way?
Joey's words come out muffled, "Come on stay with me, Sarah, come on. It's gonna be alright. AJ didn't mean it come on stay with me." Tears stream from his eyes, "Look the minutes those words came out of my mouth I knew they were wrong. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. Please forgive me." He puts his head by mine and holds me close. I feel his breath again. It's so nice to be close to him again.
My eyes were going in and out of focus, like when Rue died in The Hunger Games, "Joey," I choke. I don't know if what I'm about to say is the last thing I'll ever say. I'm scared, "I forgive you," He holds me tighter as I slip into blackness.